Improve Your Mood With St. John's Wort

St John's Wort is a plant that in ancient times was used to treat malaria, wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, it is more commonly used to treat mental disorders, depression, and anxiety through tablets or tea made of the flowering tops of the plant. Although there has been quite a bit of controversy over this supplement because of the possible side effects, it also has some very beneficial qualities if used correctly.

Some of the disadvantages of this supplement have been brought to the attention of medical researches in recent years and this has drawn considerable attention to the proper use of it. One side effect that may result is an increased or developed sensitivity to sunlight so, dependent on where you live, you may have to be very careful when exposing your skin to the sun. Other side effects include anxiety, dry mouth, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and headaches. Perhaps the side effect to be most wary of is that St. John's Wort can interact with other drugs the person may be taking at the time, affecting the rate at which the drugs are broken down by the body. This can be problematic in that, if the drugs you are taking are essential to your health, such as treatment for HIV or a heart problem, the drug may not work the way it is supposed to.

On the other hand, for people who are generally in good health and are not taking medications or drugs, St John's Wort can be quite effective in treating depression, anxiety and even insomnia. This is because this plant contains active ingredients which reduce the breakdown of serotonin in the body-these increased levels will usually relieve depression and anxiety. Other recent research even shows that St. John's Wort may slow the growth of retroviruses like HIV and AIDS, in animals.

Conclusively, St John’s Wort can be quite beneficial if it is prescribed under the correct conditions. Anyone looking into taking this drug should first consult with their doctor as well as a herbalist, if possible.