St. John's Wort for Mental Health? Let's Talk About It (St. John's Wort)

You've probably heard that there are various herbal remedies for things like stress and anxiety. Sometimes you hear about these things from a friend or on the internet. One such herbal supplement that is being talked about by many people is St. John's Wort. So today, let's talk about it, exactly, without hiding anything. Is it really good? Is it dangerous? Who should not use these? All your questions will be answered in this article.

What is St. John's Wort?

Simply put, St. John's Wort is a shrub-like plant with yellow flowers. Its scientific name is `(Hypericum perforatum)`. The origin of its name is quite interesting. It gets its name because it blooms around June 24, the birthday of Saint John the Baptist. “Wort” is an old English word for a plant. So, for thousands of years, people have used the flowers and leaves of this plant for various medicinal purposes.

It is especially popular as a treatment for depression . However, this is where we need to be very careful. As doctors , we do not recommend the use of St. John's Wort. There are several reasons for this:

• Lack of solid evidence of results: Some older studies have shown that it is good for mild depression. But newer, more reliable research has found that it does not help moderate to severe depression. That is, it is like taking a placebo .
• Variety of products on the market: The amount of active ingredient in a St. John's Wort pill made by one company can vary greatly from one made by another, making it difficult to get the right dosage.
• Lack of proper regulation: Herbal supplements like these are not as strictly regulated as regular medicines, so we cannot be 100% sure about their quality, purity, and safety.
• Dangerous reactions with other drugs: This is the most important and dangerous thingSt. John's Wort can interact with many other medications you take, reducing their effectiveness or causing dangerous side effects.

What is St. John's Wort actually used for?

Scientifically, no benefits of St. John's Wort have been definitively proven. However, people use it for a variety of things.

Its main use is to reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate depression . However, as we mentioned earlier, new studies have not confirmed its effectiveness. It has been clearly proven that it is not effective in treating severe depression.

In addition, there are several other uses for these, but there is still insufficient scientific evidence for these.

• Menopausal symptoms : Things like hot flashes .
• Insomnia: By using before going to bed.
• Wound healing: By applying it to the wound as a lotion.
• Neuralgia: Apply St. John's Wort oil to the affected area.

What are the dangerous side effects and risks?

There are a variety of side effects that can occur from using St. John's Wort. Some are mild, while others can be more serious.

Will this cause weight gain?

No. There is no evidence that St. John's Wort directly causes weight gain. If someone who has lost weight due to depression and has lost appetite, gets some relief from this, they may regain their appetite and gain some weight. Other than that, this medicine does not directly cause weight gain.

Who is not the best person to use this?

For some people, using St. John's Wort can be very dangerous. If you belong to one of these groups, do not use it under any circumstances .

Biggest risk: Problems with other medications

This is the most dangerous thing we all need to be aware of. St. John's Wort can interfere with the effectiveness of many other medications you are taking, or can interact with them to create a potentially life-threatening condition.

It is especially dangerous to take St. John's Wort if you are taking medication prescribed by a doctor for depression or another mental illness. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that controls our mood. Medications for depression, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), work by increasing the levels of this serotonin in the brain.

St. John's Wort also affects serotonin levels. So, if you take both of these together, serotonin levels in the brain can increase too much, leading to a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome .

Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome:

• Heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Increased body temperature (fever)
• Seeing things that are not visible (Hallucinations)
• Sweating heavily

If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU).

In addition to SSRIs, St. John's Wort interacts with many medications , including birth control pills, heart medications, HIV treatments, and cancer medications. Therefore , do not use it without consulting a doctor for any reason.