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An Effective Herb for Depression
St. Johns Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) is also known as Klamath Weed or Tipton's Weed and is widely known as an effective herbal remedy for depression and sadness.
I have personal experience with this herb. A few years back I was in a low period where I was feeling overwhelmed and very sad. I tried a St. Johns Wort supplement and found that it worked incredibly well. In the end I had to actually cut my dose back due to its effectiveness.
There are at least 370 different species of this amazing plant in the plant genus, Hypericum, discovered to date. This herb thrives in subtropical areas of the world. These include Asia Minor, North America, India, Russia, China and Europe.
This perennial herb flowers yellow and is traditionally harvested on June 24. This is where it got its name; June 24 is St John's day. St. Johns Wort is easy to identify. The yellow flowers are normally about twenty millimeters across and are found late in the Spring to early summer. If you smash the seeds or yellow flowers you will discover a purple/red colored liquid.
This herb is not all glamor and glory. Many countries consider it to be a noxious pest of a plant. When it is consumed by livestock it can cause many problems from depression of the nervous system to photosensitization. It can even cause death among
ranging animals.
The Cochrane Review, which conducts research on medicine and gives reports based on evidence, claims that St. Johns Wort is similar to antidepressants that exist on the market, today. It is considered very effective for treating both depression and major depression.
The beauty of this herb is that compared to antidepressants that are manufactured today it has half the side effects. Compared to older, trycyclic, antidepressants it has 5 times fewer side effects. To me that's a major event. One of the single largest problems with prescriptions is the overwhelming amount of side effects they cause.
Some countries, such as Germany, often prescribe this herb to treat depression symptoms. It is dosed out in several ways including: capsule, tablet, tincture and tea (loose or teabag) forms. It works wonderfully in children and is very cost effective.
The cost of medicine in North America has people constantly seeking out a cheaper alternative and this natural plant is often found to be the solution.
The only type of depression that St. Johns Wort is not effective in, according to studies, is dysthymia. Dysthymia is termed as chronic depression which is not as severe as major depression or depression.
Although it has been found to be most effective in treating depression there are other ailments that it is often used for. Hyperforin is a chemical in the plant that is thought to help treat alcoholism.
It is also used to holistically treat ADHD by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine. The studies on these two uses of the plant have not been thorough nor conclusive.
Check with your local herbalist to see if they have any recommendations. You can often combine St. Johns Wort with other herbs to achieve the results you are looking for.
About the Author Dee Braun, a single mom of 6, is a Certified Aromatherapist and natural health practitioner. Click now to visit Remedies4.com at http://www.Remedies4.com/ - a large directory full of free natural health ebooks covering common ailments, illnesses, health conditions and natural healing techniques.
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