St. John’s wort is an herb from the plant species Hypericum perforatum and is also known as Tipton’s Weed. The plant is indigenous to Europe but varieties of the plant can be found worldwide and especially in subtropical regions of North America, Turkey, Russia, India and China where it thrives as an invasive weed making once productive land unviable for agricultural vegetation or livestock.
As an herbal product, St. John’s wort is grown commercially for the extract of the hypericum which is well documented as a viable herbal treatment for some forms of depression and has been in use since first being used in ancient Greece.
How is St. John’s Wort used as an alternative medicine?
St. John’s wort is an herbal product that can be purchased over the counter in most countries without a prescription, Ireland is an exception. The extract from the plant is usually found in tablet or capsule form but may also be found in some teabags and also in liquid form.
In some countries, it’s a cost effective treatment for mild cases of depression especially with children and adolescents. There are many conflicting reports to its effectiveness with cases of major depression and among adults.
Studies are being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of St. John’s wort for treatment of somatoform disorders, which are mental disorders that have physical symptoms of diseases or injuries which have no identifiable cause. Other studies are testing for effectiveness with alcoholism, PMS, and also Parkinson’s disease. What are the Side Effects?
The most common side effects reported when using St. John’s wort are gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, confusion, tiredness, sedation and photosensitivity (visual sensitivity to light and more rapid sunburns.)
It’s important to consult your doctor before taking any herbal products because they can and do interact with other prescribed medications. For example, St. John’s wort is known to interact with benzodiazepines, oral contraceptives, Opioids, and antidepressants like MAOI’s, TCA’s and SSRI’s and many more.
St. John’s wort has mood enhancing properties so do your research if you are taking ANY other prescription drugs.
My personal experience with the product
I have personally taken St. John’s wort in capsule form partly because I didn’t get the results I was hoping for after my eye surgery last year. I have type 2 diabetes and am on blood pressure medications but cannot report any adverse affects from taking this herbal product.
I can also say that within a couple weeks of taking the product friends and family were commenting on how chipper I was and I did become more active. It’s hard to say if the herbal product had something to do with my turn around since I am a pretty strong willed and determined person and I stopped taking it after my 60 day supply ran out.
Herbal remedies pre-date history. Using botanicals to treat and prevent illness, known as herbal medicine or alternative medicine, is practiced by as much as 80% of the world’s population. In fact, in China and a few other countries, herbal medicine is considered primary health care as it’s been in use for thousands of years.
Ancient Herbal Remedies
One overwhelming fact about herbal remedies is that it is part of a multi-billion-dollar industry with very little regulation or oversight. Regular prescription and over the counter drugs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and before any are given the FDA stamp of approval they go through years of clinical trials and testing. Herbal medicines have a lighter degree of regulation by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. In this Act, herbs were reclassified as dietary supplements rather than food additives. It forbids manufacturers from making unreasonable health claims but it also makes it the FDA’s responsibility to prove that an herbal product is unsafe for consumption whereas the manufacturers of prescription and over the counter drugs have to prove their product is safe and effective towards its claims of benefits before it can be marketed. Herbal medicine manufacturers have a wide berth to market their products so consumers must be aware of the claims being made.
Research the herbal product before you purchase it
Don’t be a Target
Because of the lack of real regulation of the herbal remedy market, herbal product manufacturers can target consumers that are desperate for their products. They target people who have chronic or incurable health problems. Why? Because these people have nowhere else to turn and the traditional methods of treatment are not helping. You should take special precautions and do your research before purchasing any herbal products if you are suffering from any of the following:
Alzheimer’s Disease
Arthritis
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Insomnia
Impotence
Memory Loss
Obesity
Cancer
Just remember the old saying, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Honestly, if there were any one herbal product on the market that could cure ANY of the above diseases it would be the most popular product in the world and not some product that is being hawked on a late night infomercial.
What is Alternative medicine?
Protect Yourself from Fraudulent and Harmful Claims
People who suffer from chronic and incurable diseases have to protect themselves from fraudulent claims. I suffer from a couple chronic diseases (more about that here) and I would try anything, within reason, if I though it would help my situation. But I’m also a pretty savvy consumer now and rarely buy into “snake oil” pitches like I did when I was first diagnosed. I’m not claiming that ALL herbal remedies are bad for you. I truly believe in the power behind natural health. I just want the you, the consumer to take precautions against fraudulent and harmful claims. This is what I have learned about herbal remedies and supplements:
Too much can harm you – There is a reason why the FDA requires a “nutritional facts” with % Daily Values on all products that claim to have nutritional value. As a consumer, it’s your responsibility to make sure that the nutritional products you consume meet your dietary needs and to understand that too much of any component can be harmful. Example, it’s been documented that large doses of vitamin A over long periods can reduce bone density and may cause liver damage and birth defects.
Drugs don’t mix – 25% of all pharmaceutical grade drugs in the US are made with natural herbs but some herbs, like some medicines, cannot be taken together. Some herbal medicines may seem harmless for treating a simple ailment but may cause serious problems if taken with other medications. Example, Ginkgo biloba can cause excessive bleeding if taken with aspirin or other blood thinning medications.
Manufacturers and Labels lie – Since there is little regulation concerning the production and marketing herbal medicines, and since warning labels are voluntary on these products, the consumer must approach these products with a “buyer beware” attitude. Would you be surprised to learn that many herbal supplements don’t even contain the ingredients they claim?
Before you make any herbal remedy purchases, do your due diligence and research the product and the manufacturer’s claims about the product. Check out the resources from the FDA and from Consumerlab.
When it comes to cold prevention, no herbal product has a more established history as that of Echinacea. People have been swearing by the cold prevention powers of the Echinacea plant for many generations. In fact, it was widely used by Native Americans to treat colds, coughs, sore throats, toothaches, and even snakebites.
It was believed that Echinacea could fight the onset of colds and the flu by giving a boost to the users’ immune system but recent studies are casting doubt on that claim. However, many experts are in agreement that the use of Echinacea is effective in the treatment of the early stages of upper respiratory infections. And again, there is no evidence that it will help prevent those infections.
As you may well know, the cold and flu industry generates over a $100 Billion each year and you can be certain some of that money is being spent to disrepute competition.
What are the Side Effects?
The reported side effects from taking Echinacea are mostly allergy related. Abdominal pain, nausea, and dizziness have also been reported.
It’s important to consult your doctor before taking any herbal products because they can and do interact with other prescribed medications. Echinacea contains properties that have an affect on the immune system so only take products that have been tried and tested or come from well experienced herbalists.
Other uses of Echinacea
Echinacea, also called the purple cone flower, is a part of the daisy family. The plant has a very colorful flower and is widely used as an ornamental plant in gardens. The plant can grow to between 2’ and 4’. They reseed and grow in clusters. This plant is mostly found through out central US but can survive in more humid climates of the South East US.
