St. John's wort: what it is for, contraindications, how to take and more!

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Jennifer Sherman

Do you know the benefits of St. John's Wort?

Used in traditional medicine, St. John's Wort is a natural remedy and can act in the treatment of depression. In addition, it helps in the healing of inflamed skin, and can fight bruises and burns. Its substances have an effect on the nervous system, restoring and calming.

With it, the full functioning of the brain is rebuilt, having hyperforin and hypericin, and headaches are alleviated, treating attention deficit, chronic fatigue and even PMS. For having anti-inflammatory effect, it can prevent gastritis, helping as a laxative.

People who suffer to sleep can find in this plant a solution for sleep, and can improve the quality of it. The flaking of the skin that can be characterized by psoriasis is treated, including treatment to eliminate the inflammation of this disease. Now, learn what are the benefits of St. John's Wort!

Understanding more about Erva-de-São-João

Called hypericum or St. John's wort, it consists of yellow flowers. It has its natural treatment, alleviating serious health problems and can be found in many formulations. The individual himself can prepare it, and it can be found in compounding pharmacies.

Its properties act to strengthen immunity, mainly to prevent fungi from developing. Called as that which is a tonic, it is also antiviral, analgesic, healing and antipyretic. Heart palpitations are alleviated, improving mood and serving for menopause.

Some of its active ingredients can act with chemical effects on the brain, providing dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline. Read on to understand other factors that supplement St. John's Wort!

What is St. John's Wort

With the scientific name hypericum perforatum, the St. John's Wort is a dry plant that can be seen in capsule and tincture form. Also, its shrub is small, being 1 meter long. Its glands are sessile, opposite and with translucent effect.

This process can be analyzed by placing the plant against the light and evaluating its coloration, which has black dots and yellow formulation. Its margins can still contain pigments that characterize red, further elevating its formula.

Origin and characteristics of Erva-de-São-João

Originally from Europe, St. John's Wort is found in North Africa and Asia. Star-shaped, it is yellow and has other characteristics that complement its name of John the Baptist. It blooms around June 24th, especially on the feast day commemorating the one who preached righteousness and virtue.

Its geographical distribution still goes through New Zealand, Australia and South America. Other information still formulate it by the botanical, branched and medicinal aspect. In other words, it can be used in a very versatile way.

What is St. John's Wort used for?

St. John's Wort serves to be natural antidepressant, combating mild and moderate levels. It helps in the fight against smoking, treating menopause and anxiety. In this process, the central nervous system can distribute actions that present serotonin, raising all issues.

Its substances protect from headaches, mental illnesses, hemorrhoids, gastritis, etc. It is diuretic, cicatrizes, removes insomnia and acts to soothe various pains. With it, fatigue is treated, balancing the system of excess appetite or loss of it.

Properties of the plant St. John's Wort

Properties found in St. John's Wort may have great potential related to its analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and spasmodic actions. Neutralizing, it acts against free radicals, mainly against oxidation of the cells.

Its other ingredients still complete the protection against premature aging, preventing expression lines or wrinkles from appearing. In other words, these assets greatly benefit the skin, promoting firmness and real constitution. Therefore, its use can bring great benefits.

Benefits of St. John's Wort

Including actions that help improve sleep quality, St. John's Wort can prevent gastritis, act as a laxative and diuretic, promote relief from muscle and headaches, and is added to psoriasis treatment. In addition, it ranges from anxiety to depression.

Skin that needs healing can receive it, healing bruises and burns. Just one cup before bedtime is enough to keep a person in their full calm. It can also act against indigestion.

Keep reading the article to understand all the benefits that the St. John's Wort plant can provide to the consumer!

Helps in the treatment of depression

Long used to reduce anxiety, St. John's Wort treats symptoms of depression. It calms and gives a good brain function. The components capable of formulating these benefits are hypericin and hyperforin. Both go directly to the central nervous system, elevating all substances.

Serotonin gains space, improving the mood of those who have mild or moderate depression. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that this recommendation needs medical prescriptions, mainly by the concrete system of a qualified professional.

Helps the healing of the skin

The medicinal plant Erva-de-São-João has a healing effect, helping closed wounds. The process is accelerated by the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action, quickly recovering the cells that have been lost. The treated plant also prevents microorganisms from proliferating.

In this way, it prevents infections from developing. Complications are barred, because the body's natural stimulus acts to eliminate all infections and bacteria, having the influence of St. John's Wort to eliminate anything that can build up even more fungus or viruses.

Acts in the treatment of burns and bruises

Burns and bruises can be treated with St. John's Wort, but it depends on the level of the wound. Therefore, it is easier to treat first-degree burns, because these are affected by the superficial layers of the skin. Initially, they may present redness, pain and swelling.

Blisters can also develop, and bruises are visible from trauma that a particular site has suffered and can appear blue, purple or red in color. Thus, they can be eliminated with effective treatment using St. John's Wort.

Acts in the treatment of psoriasis

With an active that absorbs the visible light, UV, the St. John's Wort works with photosensitizing mechanisms. In other words, it acts for the treatment of skin diseases. Psoriasis and eczema are softened with it, mainly for its atopic administration, which is based on its principles.

Its application needs to be controlled according to each need, needing a medical aid for this. Therefore, it is necessary to follow all the indications of the specialist in question, not failing to use that which could alleviate the case.

Improves headaches and muscular pains

Headaches are common, as well as those that are muscular. St. John's Wort can help in these processes, mainly to ease. Some problems can intensify the headache, such as lack of sleep, stress, exposures or items that squeeze.

As for muscle pain, it can occur from inflammation in the fibers, and they may have been cracked and ruptured. The pain can be deep, constant, dull, chronic and acute, but with the help of the St. John's Wort plant, this can change.

Prevents gastritis

The anti-inflammatory effect of St. John's Wort acts in the prevention of gastritis, because it is characterized in acute and chronic form, with treatments that can be lengthy. The evolution of treatment depends on the correct dosage and patient, but with the prescriptions that can evolve the state of the individual.

Causing burning, gastritis gives a strong burning sensation and needs medical monitoring to be treated. This issue can not be eliminated, but the indication of St. John's Wort can help alleviate the problem.

It has diuretic and laxative action

The Erva-de-São-João has a diuretic action, causing the body to promote the loss of water in addition to weight with its formulation. In addition, it is also a laxative, stimulating the large intestine and acting artificially. It is important to emphasize that the effect of the herb only occurs from the moment calories are absorbed by the body.

In this release process, a doctor should be sought out, assisting his patient in the correct dosages, not exceeding what should be consumed and preventing other problems from being developed with the supplement of the herb in question.

Improves sleep quality

Giving calmness, St. John's Wort eliminates stress and anxiety, letting an individual get full rest. An adult needs 7 to 8 hours of rest, aiming for all productivity during the day, and a teenager needs 8 to 10 hours.

Thus, insomnia and mental stress are treated with this herb, giving the regulation a person needs to restore their respective energies. Major sleep disorders are eased, bringing what is needed to be able to maintain a healthy life.

How to take St. John's Wort

Having distinct formulations, St. John's Wort is found in capsule or oil, in addition to being home made. Its agents are responsible for producing neurotransmitters, presenting satisfaction, cheerfulness and pleasure. All three can transmit noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin.

These doses taken act with gentle principles, but traditional to the methods that the herb can present. Therefore, crises are alleviated, providing stability, well-being and comfort. Continue reading the article to learn how to take St. John's Wort!

St. John's Wort tea recipe

The St. John's Wort tea recipe needs boiling water that sits for 5 to 10 minutes with the branches. This process adds the correct dosages of each item, not exceeding and using what is needed to intensify its present properties.

With this tea, it is also possible to make a wet compress and use it to treat specific pains, in indicated and prescribed places. Therefore, it can be used to ease rheumatism, muscular pains and migraines.

Ingredients

Only two ingredients are needed to make the St. John's Wort tea: 250 ml of boiling water and a teaspoon of the herb distributed between 2 to 3 grams. These ingredients still help in the process of weight loss and antioxidant action, releasing that which does not add anything to the organism.

How to do

First, the tea should be boiled, and after it cools down, the herb should be added. Then, the next step is to strain it and make the infusion in a mug. It can be taken 2 to 3 times a day. Warm or iced, it can be drunk according to each taste. To sweeten it, the individual should follow what he wants, and it can be sugar or sweetener.

St. John's Wort Oil

Constituting the assets of St. John's Wort, its oil adds the extraction and maceration of the aerial parts, besides they are transformed into a vegetable liquid. Generally, this process takes the flowers, but also the leaves and the buds of the plant in question.

Extra virgin olive oil is part of this process, and can be sunflower or olive. Its color is characterized in red by hypericin, acting as a great natural remedy. In addition, it acts as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and healing.

St. John's Wort Capsules

Only 1 capsule of St. John's Wort can be taken at a time and it is recommended to take it 3 times a day, varying according to the doctor's prescription. Children between 6 and 12 years old can take only one, also varying according to the pediatrician's prescription.

It should be taken after meals, with its effects beginning to act in 3 to 4 weeks. With it, tiredness, sadness and depression are reduced. The treatment needs to follow the established rules, because the dosage may vary, and each one has its singularities.

Other information about St. John's Wort

There is other information regarding the process of making Erva-de-São-João, such as where to find it, the price to pay for it, etc. Need to pay attention to the fact that its frequency needs a medical referral, the herb can give some side effects.

In this sense, there are contraindications, especially for individuals who cannot use it. Therefore, in most cases, medical prescriptions are essential. Read the following topics to understand these and other information about St. John's Wort!

Price and where to buy St. John's Wort

Varying the values according to its formulation, the Erva-de-São-João can be found not only with its branches for tea, but also in oil and capsules. Thus, a package with 30 grams is close to the value of R$ 12,50.

As for its pills, they are found from R$ 25,00, having brand variations. Its extract is located at a value above the others, 500 ml usually costs R$ 65,89.

To find any of these products, consumers can go to markets, pharmacies, natural product stores or online stores.

How often can St. John's Wort be taken?

The frequency to take St. John's Wort is different for each person, taking into account their needs and precisions. The traditional insertion varies from 2 to 4 ml, being 3 times a day and in extract. However, the ideal is to seek a medical specialist, mainly for the prescription that he will indicate.

In addition, another important information fits the fact that the administration of the herb cannot be on its own, aiming at the well-being and health of the individual. Ingesting more than necessary can cause some problems and discomfort, requiring a direction to the hospital.

Possible side effects of St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort side effects appear for those who exceed 900 mg per day for up to 12 weeks. Upon experiencing diarrhea, restlessness, tingling skin, and dizziness, a doctor should be sought out.

There is not so much concrete information about the use of the oil on the skin, but the application with sun exposure is not indicated and should always be done with the help of a sunscreen. Sensitive skin should not use the oil because of irritation, in addition to other discomforts that can develop.

Contraindications to St. John's Wort

Not allowed to be used during pregnancy, St. John's Wort may cause birth defects in babies. Also, women may experience cramps, drowsiness and restlessness during this period.

An individual with bipolar disorder cannot ingest either, in view of their manic period, which can be high. Those in the Alzheimer's stage can become demented, and people with schizophrenia can have psychotic conditions.

Finally, surgical procedures, interventions and post-operatives are not recommended for those who use the herb, also complicating anesthesia issues and giving severe cardiac effects.

St. John's Wort has many benefits!

With several benefits present, St. John's Wort has been portrayed in this article with all its indications. It serves for many issues, including those that can decrease attention deficit symptoms. With it, chronic fatigue can be treated, adding an improvement in irritable bowel and PMS.

Its use also improves migraine, fatigue, hemorrhoids and genital herpes. But its use needs a medical follow-up, mainly by the full report of each patient, and may vary from person to person. With an antioxidant action, it is possible to eliminate free radicals, also preventing premature aging of cells.

In addition, the herb also decreases the chances of a cancer development, and its properties are able to act with antibacterial, analgesic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects. It can be ingested in tea, capsules, by extract or tincture. Thus, you have several options to consume this herb in the best way!

As an expert in the field of dreams, spirituality and esotericism, I am dedicated to helping others find the meaning in their dreams. Dreams are a powerful tool for understanding our subconscious minds and can offer valuable insights into our daily lives. My own journey into the world of dreams and spirituality began over 20 years ago, and since then I have studied extensively in these areas. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with others and helping them to connect with their spiritual selves.