Presentation of St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort has been used for therapeutic purposes since ancient times. Its virtues have earned it many nicknames such as Midsummer’s Day grass, fairy grass or even the devil hunter. This plant, which is usually found on roadsides and in fields in a dry and sunny environment, can be recognized by its numerous small flowers with five yellow petals. St. John’s Wort also has another peculiarity, it takes its name from its leaves which seem to be pierced with thousands of small holes (its botanical name is Hypericum perforatum).
Properties and benefits of St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort has several therapeutic properties proven by clinical studies performed with placebo.
It is, for example, used in the treatment of mild and moderate depression and mood swings, because its effectiveness has been confirmed by around thirty controlled studies. Its antidepressant effects are more particularly linked to the hyperforin contained in the flowers of St. John’s Wort.
St. John’s Wort is also used to relieve symptoms associated with menopause such as hot flashes or irritability, to help with smoking cessation or even in the event of sleep disorders.
St. John’s Wort has also been recognized for hundreds of years for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, mild analgesic and healing effects on skin problems such as insect bites, burns or minor irritations. This is due to another active principle, hypericin. The World Health Organization also recognizes its use for “cuts, irritations, minor burns and viral infections of the skin”.
Using St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort can be consumed in several forms:
- in capsules of dry extracts or infusion, in particular for the treatment of depressive states;
- in oil in which the flowers have been macerated, to apply the substance to the skin in order to relieve irritation and muscle pain;
- in herbal tea, in particular to fight against fatigue and stress.
In any case, it is essential to seek the advice of a doctor before starting treatment with St. John’s Wort.
Contraindications of St. John’s Wort
The active substances in St. John’s Wort may interact with other drugs. This plant should therefore not be consumed at the same time as certain antidepressants, anticoagulants, antimigraine drugs or even contraceptive pills and follow the recommendations of a health professional. The intake of St. John’s Wort is also not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 5 and transplant recipients.