St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum super function.St. John's Wort Extract.

Contents

• Basic Botanical Info of St. John's Wort.
• St. John's Wort:Origin and Phytochemicals.
• St. John's Wort and the Treatment of Depression.
• Why might the U.S. trial have contradicted the European research?
• Why is St. John's wort used as an alternative therapy for depression?
• Does St. John's wort work as a treatment for depression?
• Folklore:St. John's wort.
• St. John's wort As a Ward.
• St. John's wort Administrations.
• Research update of St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum and hypericin.
• Photo Gallery of Hypericum perforatum.

Why might the U.S. trial have contradicted the European research?:

"Some of the earlier studies in Europe were conducted in primary-care practice settings with physicians who may not have had any experience with research in depression," says Shelton."We selected highly respected researchers here in the U.S. who were more experienced with doing a study on depression."

 What is St. John's wort?

 St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum in Latin) is a long-living plant with yellow flowers. It contains many chemical compounds. Some are believed to be the active ingredients that produce the herb's effects, including the compounds hypericin and hyperforin.

 How these compounds actually work in the body is not yet known, but several theories have been suggested. Preliminary studies suggest that St. John's wort might work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical messenger serotonin, or by reducing levels of a protein involved in the body's immune system functioning.

 For what medicinal purposes has St. John's wort been used?

 St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders as well as nerve pain. In ancient times, doctors and herbalists (specialists in herbs) wrote about its use as a sedative and treatment for malaria as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, St. John's wort is used by some people to treat mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders.


 What is depression?

 Information on depression is available from the National Institute of Mental Health. Here is a brief overview.

 Depression is a medical condition that affects nearly 19 million Americans each year. A person's mood, thoughts, physical health, and behavior all may be affected. Symptoms commonly include:

 Ongoing sad mood
 Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that the person once enjoyed
 Significant change in appetite or weight
 Oversleeping or difficulty sleeping
 Agitation or unusual slowness
 Loss of energy
 Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
 Difficulty "thinking," such as concentrating or making decisions
 Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
 Depressive illness comes in different forms. The three major forms are described below. Each can vary from person to person in terms of symptoms experienced and the severity of depression.

 In major depression, people experience a sad mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities for at least 2 weeks. In addition, they have at least four other symptoms of depression. Major depression can be mild, moderate, or severe. If it is not treated, it can last for 6 months or more.

 In dysthymia, a milder, but more chronic form of depression, people experience a depressed mood for at least 2 years (1 year for children) accompanied by at least two other symptoms of depression.

 In bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, a person has periods of depressive symptoms that alternate with periods of mania. Symptoms of mania include an abnormally high level of excitement and energy, racing thoughts, and behavior that is impulsive and inappropriate.

 Some people still hold outdated beliefs about depression--for example, that the emotional symptoms caused by depression are "not real." However, depression is a real medical condition. It can be treated effectively with conventional medicine, including by antidepressant drugs and certain types of psychotherapy (talk therapy).

Reference:

• St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum super function.St. John's Wort Extract.

This article written and edited via herbalist of MDidea Extracts Professional. They run a range of online descriptions about this herb,including general information related and summarized updating discoveries from findings of professional scientisits this field related.Describe style aimed to form a useful detecting literature space where the intertwined threshold and related questions raise out and visualize themselves.

♣ last edit date:08th,Oct.2010.