St. John's Wort has slowly become one of the most popular herbs for treating mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is said that the St. John's Wort plant got its name from the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. It is said that the knights would use the plant to the terrible wounds that they came across on the Crusade battlefields. St. John's Wort also had a supernatural aura attached to it. In those medieval days, many believed that St. John's Wort had the ability to dispel evil spirits.
People who suffered from mental disorders were often given the plant in order to calm the so-called evil spirits. St. John's Wort was often also associated with choleric disturbances and humors. Some believe this is because of the plant's yellow color. The yellow color of St. John's Wort has caused some people to associate the plant with hysteria and jaundice.
The taste and character of St. John's Wort has alternately been described as cool, drying, bitter yet with a hint of sweetness. The main constituents of St. John's Wort are glycosides, volatile oils, flavonoids, tannins and resins. The primary actions of St. John's Wort can be described as analgesic, astringent, antidepressant sedative, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and restorative toward the nervous system. There are many ways to prepare St. John's Wort to take full advantage of its properties. One of the most popular ways to take St. John's Wort is through a capsule or tablet. These have become so popular that they are now available at most local drugstores and pharmacies.
However, taking St. John Wort as a fresh herbal remedy is always recommended as it ensures that you are receiving the best quality and potency available. Here are a few ways you can take St. John's Wort naturally. You can take St. John's Wort as an infusion to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety or emotional upsets. St. John's Wort is also recommended to treat the symptoms associated with menopause or premenstrual syndrome. Some herbalists also use St. John's Wort to treat colds and infections. St. John's Wort is often combined with elderflower to treat colds.
St. John's Wort is often also prepared as a wash or cream. As a wash, use an infusion of St. John's Wort to bathe wounds, bruises, skin sores, or other skin problems. As a cream, you can use St. John's Wort to treat areas of localized nerve pains. In the past, St. John's Wort has been used to treat the painful symptoms of conditions such as sprains, sciatica, cramps, and it has even been used to treat help relieve breast engorgement during lactation. Cream made with St. John's Wort has also been used as an antiseptic and styptic. As an antiseptic, St. John's Wort cream can be used on sores, skin ulcers and scrapes.
St. John's Wort can also be prepared as an infused oil or tincture. As infused oil, you can use St. John's Wort on burns and muscle joint or inflammations. As a tincture, take several drops a day for a minimum of two months to treat nervous tension or depression.
For thousands of years, people have enjoyed the health benefits taken from a wide variety of medicinal plants. Garlic, ginger, and willow bark are just a few of the natural remedies that have been used by people all around the world in an effort to fight off illness and preserve health. Like our ancestors, we too can find remedies within our natural surroundings. Herbs offer solutions to some of modern society's most pressing problems, which includes quitting smoking. Being aware of the dangers of smoking is an effective way to motivate a smoker to drop this habit. The first danger of cigarettes is nicotine addiction. Many harmful elements are contained within a single cigarette stick, and the most damaging of these is nicotine. When an individual smokes frequently, his body develops a dependency to the said substance, which becomes harder to break over time. This primary effect of smoking in turn paves the way for other dangers to occur. Once a person becomes addicted to cigarettes, he will be at risk of acquiring numerous short- and long-term health problems such as emphysema and bronchitis. Aside from the said ailments, other equally foreboding dangers of cigarettes are various types of cancer. Cigarettes contain more than fifty chemicals, all of which have been found to increase the risk of developing cancer of the lungs, bladder, kidney, throat, and the mouth. The dangers of cigarettes affect not only the person using the said product but the people around him as well. Those who are exposed to second-hand smoke may suffer from the same illnesses. Fortunately, there is a powerful herb called St. John's Wort that can help stop smoking naturally. ?Wort? is an Old English word for plant. St. John's Wort increases levels of dopamine to counteract cravings to smoke cigarettes. Known botanically by its Latin name, Hypericum perforatum, for its seemingly perforated leaves, it may have gotten its common name because it blooms around June 24, the Feast of St. John. It is native to many parts of the world, including the United States. The ancient Greeks utilized this herb for everything from the healing of wounds to the treatment of melancholy. St. John's Wort is one of many herbs used by holistic, alternative medicine practitioners to demonstrate the healing powers of Nature. The herbal medicine is commonly used for treating certain kinds of mild to moderate depression. Advocates of using St. John's Wort claim that it is non-addictive and free from the usual side-effects of conventional antidepressants. Indeed, many general practitioners prescribe and actually prefer it over many synthetic drugs. Researchers suspect that St. John's Wort might help restore the balance of the neurotransmitter serotonin and dopamine during the time when smokers have their first craving of the day. This would help them replace the morning coffee and cigarette with a hearty breakfast and so ensure sufficiently high blood sugar levels to avoid mood swings later in the day. Women, in particular cite mood swings as one of the major reasons for not giving up. St. John's Wort is uniquely formulated to help smokers ?kick the habit.? It helps quench the desire for tobacco, stimulates circulation and respiration, expels phlegm, calms the nerves, and relieves withdrawal symptoms. It is also effective for addressing symptoms of anxiety, depression, nervousness, and insomnia. Even though clinical studies to support the effectiveness of St John's Wort for smoking cessation therapy is still deemed insufficient, many already consider it to be a viable treatment option. Instead of taking prescribed drugs, it is worth trying to stop smoking naturally by using St John's Wort, and alternative that is safer and cost-effective. Sometimes, choosing to stop smoking naturally by using alternative means such as St. John's Wort means going against a doctor's advice. However, it is always best to consult your doctor first if you plan to use St John's Wort to kick the smoking habit.
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Scott Meyers has sinced written about articles on various topics from Diabetes Treatment, Health and Skin Care. Scott Meyers is a staff writer for , a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers. Scott Meyers's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Cecill Artates has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cure Anxiety, Health and Fitness. Cecill Artates is a writer, athlete, and women's health advocate. She is also active in promoting sports and health among women and the youth in disadvantaged communities. She is currently researching on various alternative methods and medications.Choose. Cecill Artates's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.