St John's Wort

As a result of the fast-paced lifestyles we are leading, stress, tension and anxiety are becoming a way of life. The need for a safe, natural alternative to help us maintain a sense of well-being and a positive outlook in the face of increasing stressors has never been more evident.

Background

St. John's Wort is a bushy perennial plant with numerous yellow flowers. The plant is native to Europe but is now found throughout North America, particularly in northern California, southern Oregon and Colorado, where it can be found growing wild. St John's Wort, used since the middle ages in Europe, is now being recognized by modern scientists and researchers as having uniquely beneficial constituents for supporting a positive outlook. Early Christian mystics named the plant after John the Baptist. It is traditionally collected on St. John's Day, June 25, soaked in olive oil for days to produce a blood red anointing oil known as the "blood of Christ."

How It Works

The benefits derived from St John's Wort have been attributed to the ability of its active ingredient, hypericin, to inhibit the breakdown of neurotransmitters in the brain. The herb also inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO) and works as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI). Both MAOI's and SRI's are drugs widely prescribed to treat depression. St. John's Wort should not be taken with any other antidepressants; do not stop taking any prescribed medications for depression without speaking to your doctor. Research has shown Hyperforin in St. John's Wort to reduce beta amyloid deposit and reduce inflammation in the brain.

Benefits/Common Uses

St John's Wort has been used for many other complaints. The most common uses are listed below.

Active Ingredients

There are over 50 active ingredients in St John's Wort. Among them are hypericin, ( increases
capillary blood flow and is a MAO inhibitor), tannins, (act as an astringent to heal cuts and
wounds), pseudohypericin, flavonoids, and procyanidins. This standardized St. John's Wort
preparation is based on modern clinical studies, which suggest that 900 mg of St. John's Wort
extract, standardized to 0.3% hypericin, is effective for promoting mental well-being.

Other Ingredients: dibasic calcium phosphate, stearic acid, modified cellulose gum, colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate.

Suggested Use: One tablet three times daily, between meals, or as recommended by your health care professional. For best results,
use this product for at least six weeks.