St Johns Wort Health BenefitsSt Johns Wort A member of the genus Hypericum and a member of Hypericum perforatum species, St. John ’s wort is a flowering perennial herb native to North America, Europe, Turkey, Russia, India, and China. It is widely known for its medicinal worth. The St Johns wort has extensive and creeping rhizomes. It can grow to as high as one meter, with its branches emerging in the upper section of the stem, while its leaves are narrow and without stalks. The leaves, which are yellow-green in color highlighted with transparent dots, can be as long as 12 mm or longer. The flowers are bright yellow with visible dark spots, and have 5 petals. Each flower measures up to 2.5 cm across, and emerges at the ends of the branches in the upper section. Its sepals, too, pointed at their ends, have dots in the tissue that are glandular. The perennial herb blooms every late spring and early to mid summer. At this season, the flower buds or seed pods are crushed to produce the reddish/purple liquid. Depression, especially mild to moderate, is among the predicaments that St Johns wort is famous for. It is also used for treatment of depression-related disorders such as anxiety, tiredness, loss of appetite, and difficulty in sleeping. The herb is also used to cure palpitations, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], seasonal affective disorder [SAD], and obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are also laboratory studies involving this humble herb for its possible role in helping an individual in quitting to smoke, fibromyalgia, migraine, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, bug bites, bruises and scrapes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and muscle and nerve pain. It is already being tested in treating cancer, HIV/AIDs, and Hepatitis C, although research is inconclusive. St. John’s wort is extracted of oil which is used to alleviate inflammation, muscle pain, bruises, scrapes, nerve pain, hemorrhoids, bug bites, and wounds. However, a word of precaution is given by the experts. Direct application of the herb onto the skin poses too many risks as it can impel serious light sensitivity. Today, St. John’s wort is found abundant in Canada, and the United States. The plant is seen on meadows, woods, and on the road. In Australia, this plant was considered to be a weed. At the present however, it is cultivated as a crop and Australia is a supplier of 20% of the world’s St. John’s wort. St. John’s Wort has been in use since the ancient times. Its name is derived from the famous John the Baptist because it blooms around June 24, the birthday of the equally famous historical person. Similar Posts Take $10.00 Off Your $200 Order! Use coupon code 10off200. Top of St Johns Wort Listed under Growing Herbs |