St. John's wort Description

St. John's wort - St. John's wort is a long-living plant with yellow flowers. St. John’s wort contains many chemical compounds, some of which are believed to be the active ingredients that produce the herb's effects, including the compounds hypericin and hyperforin. How these compounds actually work in the body is not yet known, but several theories have been suggested. Preliminary studies suggest that St. John's wort might work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical messenger serotonin, or by reducing levels of a protein involved in the body's immune system functioning. St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders as well as nerve pain. In ancient times, doctors and herbalists wrote about its use as a sedative and treatment for malaria as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today, St. John's wort is used by some people to treat mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders.