The ancient Greeks and the Romans believed that taking this herb would keep away evil spirits. Today this sunshine herb has become very popular with the treatment of mild depression as in recent years more people are looking for natural remedies.
St. John’s Wort is a shrub with golden yellow flowers and it is grown all over the world. Wort is an Old English word that simply means plant. It has been used for centuries as an old English cure to calm nerves. The supplement is made from the dried yellow flowers, which contain hypericin and hyperforin.
What it Does
St. John’s Wort is mostly used to treat mild depression. Scientists are not sure exactly why it works but it is believed to have a good effect on the brain, improving the mood by enhancing the levels of the brain’s natural chemicals including serotonin, thereby giving relief to the symptoms of depression. It has become very popular worldwide as an effective method for treating mild depression. It has since been used for various other ailments Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), stress, menopausal symptoms, anxiety and sleep problems. It is also believed to have antiviral/antibacterial properties.
Research
In Germany, where doctors routinely prescribe herbal remedies, St. John’s Wort is the most common form of antidepressant. Furthermore, the prestigious American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology devoted a whole issue to 17 different papers reporting on its benefits. One study followed more than 3,000 patients with mild to moderate depression and found that 80 percent of them were either feeling considerably better or completely free of symptoms after taking the herb for only four weeks. Generally St. John’s Wort is considered to be effective in treating mild depression as one report says, “Taking St. John's Wort improves mood, decreases anxiety and helps patients to sleep well”. Evidently, St. John’s Wort takes time to build up in the blood, so allow at least four weeks before you begin to notice improvements. However it should not be taken for periods of more than 8 weeks.
How common is depression?
Between 7 and 12 percent of men suffer from diagnosable depression, and 20 to 25 percent of women. The reason the women’s rates of depression is so much higher may be due to postnatal depression or baby blues.
If you are feeling low it’s important to talk about it. Talking about problems and getting social support is linked with being healthy. People with persistent low mood should consider counseling or attending a therapist who will help you feel better and start to find joy in life again. Your doctor will be able to refer you, and may also suggest a course of medication that will help ease any symptoms. If you have symptoms of a major depression you must seek help from your doctor who will treat this problem for you and you should not try to cope alone.
Help Yourself
Action improves mood.
Notice 'thinking errors' — are you over generalizing? For example, do you imagine every pain is a deadly disease? Do you tell yourself everything is going wrong when only one thing has gone wrong?
Tell someone how you are feeling.
Don’t spend time thinking. Plan a busy day.
Exercise. Physical activity relaxes you and boosts your level of endorphins in the brain that make you feel happy
Take time to look good — it will make you feel better.
Eat a regular a healthy diet and a banana every day.
Avoid alcohol. It is a depressant.
If you have a problem, start taking small steps to deal with it.
Remember all things pass and you will soon feel better.
Caution
If you are on any medication including the contraceptive pill you must not take St. John’s Wort without consulting your doctor. It is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Recipe of the Week
Rhubarb Crumble
This is my favorite weekend pudding it is very quick and easy to make.
Ingredients
12 sticks of rhubarb
6 tbsp water
8 tbsp caster sugar
For the crumble topping:
250g self-raising brown flour
100g butter
150g light muscovado sugar
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
Cut the rhubarb into small pieces the size of your thumb.
Place in a sauce pan and cover lightly with water, sprinkle caster sugar and cook until soft.
Place in an oven proof dish.
Make the crumble topping:
Put the flour into a bowl.
Rub in the butter with the fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Stir in the sugar.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over stewed rhubarb without pressing it down. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/gas mark 4 for 30 — 40 minutes until golden.
Serve the crumble hot with custard or ice-cream or cream.
Ask Alva
Would a zinc supplement be helpful for me as my wife and I are trying to start a family?
— William
You can get sufficient zinc from having a large steak. Other good sources are brown bread, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts and eggs. Zinc is important for fertility in both men and women so it is vital to have a balanced healthy diet.
— Alva
Healthlines: St. John’s Wort
