St. John's wort and various tools based on it are popular in many countries. This plant was used in ancient times and continue to use today - only today fewer people collect it themselves in the wild, and increasingly buy it in pharmacies.
Medicinal properties of herb St. John's wort even more numerous than the number of chemicals in the plant
. The properties of these substances are still not well understood, and this is one of the reasons that St. John's wort is not completely safe natural remedy that can advise almost everyone
. On the contrary, before starting to use drugs with St. John's wort (or even dried St. John's wort, assembled with their hands), it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor
. However, this suggests a greater degree not that it is potentially dangerous, and that is - strong a medicinal plant, which, like any drug has its own side effects and limitations to the use of
. Nevertheless, it successfully used for thousands of years, and despite the emergence of new potent medicines, St. John's wort yellow flowers remain popular drugs from the natural pharmacy
.
How useful herb St. John's wort
The indications for the use of St. John's wort herb are:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications
- With the autoimmune disease it is recommended to use St. John's wort oil. It is rubbed into the affected joints with light massaging movements;
- Infections - St. John's wort effective against some viral and bacterial infections. As a rule, drink a decoction of St. John's wort infections, but may also be useful in capsule and tincture of alcohol;
- Dry skin. St. John's wort oil stimulates cell regeneration, improves the circulation in small blood vessels near the surface of the skin, making the skin better saturated with moisture;
- Mild and moderately severe forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is assumed that St. John's wort relieves the symptoms of the disease, weakening its characteristic anxiety;
- Mild to moderate depression. St. John's wort, like many prescription antidepressants block the reuptake of serotonin, so the symptoms of depression are less pronounced;
- Insomnia. St. John's wort helps sleep, easing stress, anxiety, and other psychological symptoms, which often interfere with healthy sleep. In addition, St. John's wort is useful for gastritis, diarrhea, hemorrhoids), liver diseases, nervousness, headaches, cystitis, amenorrhea.
St. John's wort during pregnancy
In spite of all the beneficial properties of herbs St. John's wort
The herb St. John's wort and its use in medicine
Take it during pregnancy is not recommended. The reason for this is that the data is not based on which one could conclude security Hypericum for pregnant women. Currently, doctors do not recommend taking St. John's wort in the three months before pregnancy, as well as throughout the life of carrying a child. Those who are not planning to conceive should stop taking St. John's wort immediately as soon as it becomes aware of the pregnancy, or if you suspect pregnancy. Be sure to tell your doctor that you are taking St. John's wort when pregnant.
St. John's Wort during breastfeeding
Information about the safety of hypericum while breastfeeding is also quite a bit. It is known that a very small amount of the active ingredients of Hypericum is derived together with breast milk; getting into the child's body, these substances appear to have no effect on its development, but it is unknown what effect, if any, they have in the long term. Because of these uncertainties breastfeeding is on the list of contraindications to the use of St. John's wort.
Other contraindications
Taking St. John's wort is not recommended for people with poor health, including those who have chronic or acute diseases. Children can be given only on doctor's advice.
Without prior consultation with the doctor St. John's wort should not be used for those who accept antiepileptic drugs, anticoagulants, including - aspirin and drugs intended for HIV-positive patients. In addition, St. John's wort is best not to take in conjunction with the combined oral contraceptives - the components of this plant increases the likelihood of unintended pregnancy.
Side effects
- Side effects of St. John's wort may be:
- Increased anxiety or panic attacks;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- High blood pressure;
- Sleep disorders;
- Constipation;
- Dry mouth;
- Headache;
- Nausea, dizziness;
- Hair loss.
Since in many cases, side effects are a consequence of improper use of St. John's wort, using this herb, you must follow the instructions on the package or, better yet, your doctor's instructions.
St. John's wort and the sun - a dangerous combination
Over time, scientists discover new properties of St. John's wort, including, and potentially dangerous. Thus, it was recently discovered that hypericin - active substance which herb Hypericum contains a large amount may cause damage to the eye when exposed to bright light.
St. John's wort, which is sold without a prescription, has phototoxic properties. When it is processed in the body of the hypericin gets in your eyes, and if shortly thereafter a person is exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation, for example, for a long time under the open sky on a sunny day or a solarium, hypericin may cause in some structures of the eye changes gradually can cause the development of cataracts. Scientists have found it very disturbing discovery, because today St. John's wort in one form or another is used by millions of people, and many of them do not take any measures to protect against UV rays. Moreover, some people use St. John's wort in combination with light therapy - usually in winter when short daylight hours can stimulate increased symptoms of depression.
Because cataracts
Cataracts - how to solve the problem completely?
developing long - 5-10 years - a result of the dangerous UV rays and St. John's wort is noticeable not at once. St. John's wort is especially dangerous in combination with ultraviolet light for people who are at increased risk of developing cataracts. However, all patients who take St. John's wort is not recommended to sunbathe (as in the open air, and yet in a solarium), a long time in the sun, and, especially, to go outside without sunscreen
Sunscreen is not just for the beach
. Now experts continue to study the medicinal properties of herbs St. John's wort, and it is possible that in the future will be known new risks associated with this medicinal plant. This once again confirms what doctors have long said: the means of alternative medicine should be treated with the same caution as a prescription drug, they should be strictly defined doses and only after consultation with a specialist.
