Buy essay on St. John’s Wort

There are a lot of different useful vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements in hands of contemporary health care system nowadays. The main aim of this paper is to observe St. John’s Wort as one of the most efficient plants in the power of therapeutic effects on human health. Thus, it is necessary to research St. John’s Wort benefits, possible side effects, restrictions, and documented toxic effects when taken with other medications.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an old member of the St. John’s family also titled as Hypericaceae. This plant has a very long history of medical use; it was a well-known herb even in ancient Greece, where it was generally used to treat a wide range of illnesses, including a big variety of nervous disorders. In such a way, St. John’s Wort is an old popular remedy and its wide application is conditioned by complex chemical composition.
St. John’s Wort preparations have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic and sedative effect; they accelerate tissue regeneration, strengthen heart function, and increase vascular tone. Moreover, they are effective in ascariasis and dwarf tapeworm. According to Mccabe (2002), St. John’s Wort is one of the most commonly used and purchased kind of herbal products in the United States.
Observing St. John’s Wort benefits it is important to mention that St. John’s Wort is widely used as a sedative herb in psycho-emotional problems as depression, insomnia and migraines. Its tinctures and extracts are used as astringents and antiseptics in colitis, diarrhea, to lubricate the gums and mouth rinses for the prevention and treatment of gingivitis, stomatitis. St. John’s Wort preparations relieve spasms of blood vessels, improve venous circulation and blood flow to certain internal organs, increase diuresis. A bitter substance in this herb helps to stimulate gastric secretion and improve appetite. Healing properties of St. John’s Wort effectively allowed to use it in the treatment of anemia, jaundice, mastitis, migraines, hemorrhoids, kidney disease, liver and respiratory tract. Hypericum is also used to treat skin eruptions, allergies and ulcers for external use.
Thinking about St. John’s Wort effect in the struggle against mild depression, Paquette (2000) stated that St. John’s Wort preparations combine the antidepressant effects of several pharmacological groups of antidepressants. For example, it increases serotonin in the brain cells, while the lack of this substance in the nerve cells can cause depression. Moreover, it is good that St. John’s Wort has no as many harmful side effects, as various pharmacological agents have. According to different scientific researches, the main active ingredient that has an antidepressant effect is hypericin. In addition, hypericin exhibits photosensitizing, antimicrobial (active even against Staphylococcus aureus), and antiviral effect.
According to Sanderoff (2001), it becomes understandable that St. John’s Wort is not harmless remedy even for all its popularity. Observing possible side effects and restrictions, it is important to note that people do not have use St. John’s Wort in hypertension for a long time. The use of this medicine is contra-indicated during pregnancy. St. John’s Wort strong tea may cause symptoms of acute gastritis in those people who suffer from gastritis or hyperacid gastric ulcer; its overdose may cause severe cramping and pain in the gut.
Information about documented toxic effects when taken with other medications shows that it is prohibited to use amino acid, tyrosine, tryptophan, amphetamines, and to use inhalers simultaneously with St. John’s Wort use. Mccabe (2002) emphasized that St. John’s Wort can not be combined with beer, coffee, wine, chocolate, smoked or pickled foods, yogurt. It also can not be combined with medication for hay fever, with nasal drops, and any kinds of drugs are also excluded. St. John’s Wort preparations should not be taken by patients with high temperature. The remedy prolonged use reduces sexual potency and also can cause hives.
Thus, taking everything into consideration it is possible to say in conclusion that St. John’s Wort is a really very useful herb and the study of the unique properties of St. John’s Wort continues to this day. There were observed not only positive effects of the herb, but also its possible side effects, restrictions and documented toxic effects. Finally, it is necessary to remember that St. John’s Wort treatment can be done only under medical supervision, because an overdose may occur undesired hormonal disbalance.

References
Mccabe, S. (2002). Complementary Herbal and Alternative Drugs in Clinical Practice. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, Vol. 38.
Paquette, M. (2000). Does Your Assessment Include Alternative Therapies? Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, Vol. 36.
Sanderoff, B. (2001). Herbal Medicine: Use with Caution and Respect. Generations, Vol. 24.