Can St. John’s Wort Help My Anxiety?
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, an estimate of 18.1 percent of Americans suffer from different anxiety disorders. The female and teenage population is more likely to experience various mental illnesses. Anxiety has introduced them to other major complications like depression, fear, phobias, stress, to name a few. To prevent further psychic menace, patients prefer to use herbal medicines like St. John’s Wort.
What is St. John’s Wort?
St. John’s Wort aka Hypericum perforatum is a herbal medicine harvested from a wild plant that grows yellow flowers. It is a top-selling and efficacious anti-anxiety supplement of the US market as reported by the National Institutes of HealthTrusted Source. It treats acute anxiety, insomnia, and depression issues.
St. John’s Wort and anxiety
The flowers and roots of St. John contain active chemicals like hyperforin and flavonoids, which play a crucial role in producing efficacy. This herbal medicine limits the usage of neurotransmitters like GABA, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine in the brain. Resultantly, the brain makes effective use of the neurotransmitters to produce a good effect. It also mitigates the count of panic and anxiety attacks. The interaction of St. John’s Wort and GABA in mind produces anxiety-relieving effects. It is usually ingested in forms of capsules and liquids like tea. The recommended dosage ranges from 600 to 1800 milligrams. The usual dose is 300 mg thrice a day with a meal. It is strictly prohibited for children.
Quoting 2019 small human study, 48 participants voted in favor of St. John’s Wort that it helped them in feeling better by ignoring negative vibes. The medicine did not alter any of their memory functions. In contrast, a minor study was published in the journal, Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, which revealed that St. John’s Wort did not help patients in recovering from anxiety disorders.
Pros
- It can be used to treat other potential diseases like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Tobacco addiction, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
- It causes fewer side effects than the harmful allopathic anxiety-relieving medicines.
Cons
- It may trigger dangerous side effects, for example, daytime dizziness, fatigue, upset stomach, gastrointestinal issues, sensitivity to sunlight, skin allergies, and dryness in the mouth.
- It may react with other medicines in the body and reduce their metabolization to work effectively. The recovery process by the medicines gets hindered. St. John’s Wort is not recommended to the patients who consume the following medications:
- Indinavir for HIV treatment
- Contraceptives
- Cyclosporine
- Cancer drugs
- Antidepressants
- Few patients might suffer from Serotonin syndrome after regularly intaking St. John’s Wort with other medicines. This illness can cause diarrhea, sweating, palpitations, agitation, and tremors.
The takeaway
St. John’s Wort supplements are readily available in the market at cheap rates. However, it is recommended to consult a qualified healthcare advisor or doctor to get complete guidelines about the dosage. It is also essential to read the product labels, brand name, and manufacturing license before purchasing any St. John’s Wort supplements.