st johns wort extract st. john's wort (hypericum perforatum), a common shrub-like perennial, bears bright yellow flowers that contain numerous therapeutic substances when dried. europeans have used the herb for centuries to calm jangled nerves and heal wounds, among other ills. and so it's not surprising that north americans have recently embraced its use as a treatment for depression and conditions associated with it. not only is st. john's wort effective and relatively free of side effects, it also costs under $20 for a month's supply, about 75% less than the most popular antidepressant drugs. in germany, where doctors routinely prescribe herbal remedies, st. john's wort is the most common form of antidepressant--more widely used than the drugs prozac or zoloft because it has far fewer side effects. health benefits although st. john's wort has been the focus of a number of well-regarded studies, researchers still don't know exactly how the herb works. a pigment called hypericin has long been identified as a key medicinal ingredient, although other compounds are now similarly believed to contribute to the herb's therapeutic effects. in general, st. john's wort appears to boost levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which affects the emotions. the national institutes of health (nih), in washington d.c., are currently conducting multiple studies on the efficacy of st. john’s wort for many psychological conditions. because of its widespread use among the public, the nih is also in the process of conducting research to determine st. john’s wort effects on other commonly prescribed drugs. a number of other uses for st. john's wort have been proposed as well, many of them related to the herb's antidepressive actions. the herb is even being investigated as a treatment for alcoholism, panic attacks, and general anxiety. specifically, st. john's wort may help to: ? relieve mild to moderate depression. careful analysis of 27 different studies of st. john's wort including 2291 study participants concluded that the herb works better than a placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate depression (1). and because it helps promote sound sleep, st. john's wort is particularly beneficial for those who suffer fatigue, low energy, or insomnia as a result of depression (2). the herb may also aid in treating depressive elements of chronic fatigue syndrome and seasonal affective disorder (also known as sad or "wintertime blues"), a type of depression linked to the shortage of daylight in the fall and winter(3). ? control certain pms and fibromylagia symptoms. many women experience depression as their primary symptom of pms (premenstrual syndrome). in such cases, st. john's wort may be worth a try. take the herb regularly for this purpose, but be patient; it may take one or two menstrual cycles for the active ingredients to reach therapeutic levels in your system and lessen emotional upset. european women have been turning to this herbal pms cure for years. in the case of fibromylagia, st. john's wort may not only ease depression but also improve tolerance to the widespread muscle pain associated with this chronic condition. in fact it's used in much the same way that conventional antidepressants are prescribed for fibromyalgia. ? ease anxiety, stress, and chronic pain. the depression and tension often associated with these conditions may lessen with st. john's wort. ? ward off infections. st. john's wort has been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral properties. it's particularly effective when applied topically (in the form of an ointment) for the treatment of burns, cuts, scrapes, and minor skin irritations(4,5). some preliminary laboratory studies indicate that st. john's wort might also be useful against herpes simplex, influenza, and the epstein-barr virus (the cause of mononucleosis). clinical trials are still needed to confirm these findings, however. ? relieve hemorrhoids. st. john's wort cream or ointment can soothe the pain of hemorrhoids. burning and itching may lessen as well. the ointment may even help to shrink the inflamed and swollen tissue. note: st. john's wort has also been found to be useful for a number of other disorders. for information on these additional ailments, see our dosage recommendations chart for st. john's wort. ******************************************* if there are any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. bring nature to better life! organic herb inc. address:n0.1038shanshuirenjia3rd,kaiyuanroad,xingsha,changsha,china contact : ms.lily liu phone +86 731 4060868 mobile +86 135 1747 5149 fax +86 731 4023669 email: lily@organic-herb.com msn messenger： lily@organic-herb.com website: http://www.organic-herb.com