Hypericum perforatum, commonly known as St. John’s Wort, is a flowering plant in the family hyperocaceae. It is a perennial plant growing up to 1 meter tall with many yellow flowers with clearly visible black glands around the outer edges.
St. John’s Wort has been used in traditional medicine since at least the 1st century AD. The oil from its glands can be extracted, or its above-ground parts can be ground into powder.
Published at healthline.com, a Cochrane Systematic Review found that St. John’s Wort cannot be effective in treating major depression. A 2016 review of 35 studies concluded that St. John’s Wort reduced symptoms of mild to moderate depression more than a placebo or similar to prescription antidepressants.
A 2017 analysis of 27 studies determined that St. John’s Wort had similar effects on mild to moderate depression as antidepressants. Those researchers also noted that fewer people stopped taking St. John’s Wort compared to antidepressants.
Another study indicated St. John’s Wort can be effective at treating wounds, bruises, burns, and sores. However, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the substance for depression or any other medical condition. The FDA, in fact, classifies St. John’s Wort as a dietary supplement, not a drug. Therefore, the agency doesn’t test it for safety and effectiveness.
Dr. Jeremy Wolf, a licensed naturopathic physician, explained that St. John’s Wort creates many actions in the body. “It is a strong antidepressant and may elevate mood and individuals with mild to moderate depression,” he said.
He notes that St. John’s Wort is not recommended for individuals with severe depression. Dr. Wolf said, “St. John’s Wort also has strong antiviral activity that may also promote healing and repair of wounds.”
Depression is the most common mental illness, affecting close to 4% of people worldwide. It is characterized by symptoms like sadness, anxiety, decreased appetite, and the loss of pleasure in activities. Published at verywellhealth.com, St. John’s Wort is prescribed for depression in some European countries and is commonly used as an over-the-counter supplement in the United States.
Studies show that around 56% of people who use St. John’s Wort respond positively to treatments versus 35% of people treated with a placebo, a sugar pill without active medicine.
St. John’s Wort is as effective as a common prescription antidepressant.
When it comes to other symptoms of the menopausal transition. Published at menopausenaturalsolutions.com, hot flashes are another complaint where St. John’s Wort shines in the research. One particular study called The Effects of St. John’s Wort on Severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes in premenopausal, perimenopausal, and post menopausal women. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, found a significant improvement around the four to eight-week mark of treatment.
So it’s not a magic pill with instant results, but it’s a genuine treatment option, especially for women not on any pharmaceuticals and who can’t or don’t want to use hormone replacement. In this study, there was no significant difference between the intensity of hot flashes in both the treatment and placebo group at baseline, by week four, no participants were experiencing severe hot flashes in the treatment group, compared to 43% of the participants in the placebo group.
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