by Belinda Brown

Created on: October 02, 2010

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is typically used as a natural alternative to treat the symptoms of depression, except for that of major depression in the Western world. St. John's Wort has been scientifically proven to reduce the symptoms of depression. It has also been used to treat nervous conditions. St. John's Wort can also be known as Chase – devil, Tipton's weed and Klamath weed.

St. John's Wort is native to Europe and can be found growing wild in subtropical regions such as North America, Turkey, Russia and India. It's name sake had been generated from the European holiday, St. John's day as the plant flowers on this particular day. It is usually seen growing wild in meadows all over Europe. It can be seen grown throughout Australia, although it is described as a noxious weed. St. John's Wort is extremely toxic to cattle and livestock.

It is seen as a plant roughly around one meter high and blossoms a yellow flower. The flower is what is used for medicinal purposes.

Traditionally, St. John's Wort has been used to ward off evil spirits and continues to be used as such today.

Apart from treating depression, St. John's Wort can also be used to treat various other disorders including mental disorders such as somatoform disorders, alcoholism, and it is also said to help with ADHD, although scientific studies have since denied this claim. St. John's Wort is also said to be beneficial with assisting with premenstrual syndrome.

Although St. John's Wort is a herb, it is not to be treated as harmless. High doses can cause an overdose. Some people have been known to have adverse reactions after taking St. John's Wort. These adverse reactions include dizziness, tiredness or having sensations of sedation and confusion. Although it is extremely rare, some people have been known to suffer bouts of photosensitivity after taking the herb. St. John's Wort should be taken with caution and should not be taken without advice from a medical practitioner.

It has been known that St. John's Wort interferers with the birth control drug Implanon. Any woman who is using Implanaon should avoid St. John's Wort all together. St. John's Wort can also reduce the effectiveness of many other prescription medications, especially heart and HIV medications and it is recommended to consult a doctor before taking.

St. John's Wort was particularly popular and used regularly by the Native American to treat various ailments. They used it as an anti – inflammatory, antiseptic and as an astringent.

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