St. John's Wort (
Hypericum perforatum) is a natural source of precursors to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Thus, this herb can be an extremely important addition to many mood disorder treatment protocols. Ancient healers used to say that this herb held the sun inside of it, and that when it was consumed by a human, that it brought the healing powers of the sun directly into the person's cells.
The herb may be used to treat:
- Addiction
- Depression/Anxiety
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Some menopause symptoms
- Stress disorders and symptoms
St. John's Wort should not be taken continuously over the long-term. Take a week long break every 8 weeks. During this break, assess your emotional and physical states carefully to decide if you need to continue taking the St. John's Wort. The effects of this plant are subtle at first, but they can be very powerful when taken with the
correct combination of other herbal remedies in conjunction with a healthy diet.
Start by taking a lower dose of St. John's Wort at first. This supplement contains 350mg per capsule. The authors of the blog recommend starting by taking 1 capsule daily for a week, and then assessing how you feel. Some people will need 2 capsules to feel the full affects of this herb, while other people thrive with a lower dose.
Some people prefer to take St. John's Wort in a liquid form, like with this
tincture from Hawaii Pharm.
NOTE: St. John's Wort may interact with certain pharmaceutical medications. Talk to a licensed professional about the medications you're taking and whether they're safe to consume with St. John's Wort before starting to take this herb.
