St. John’s Wort Plant for Minor Depression, Muscle Aches and Fever Blisters

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCwmRvXZmz7pwNgAcvAHRZ12_X9rupuxp569Wdaa_DrX39J_04JeJOexgn2jUlYucadckwej15CYnpr940-wGWoyjDQ5Z1SdC1sva65hOlONQw3LYFcLggRLTav3R5rEWy-Nj9N4GGpY/s1600/7-Hypericum+perforatum-articlemostwanted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCwmRvXZmz7pwNgAcvAHRZ12_X9rupuxp569Wdaa_DrX39J_04JeJOexgn2jUlYucadckwej15CYnpr940-wGWoyjDQ5Z1SdC1sva65hOlONQw3LYFcLggRLTav3R5rEWy-Nj9N4GGpY/s1600/7-Hypericum+perforatum-articlemostwanted.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <h1 class="chapter" id="c29"> <span class="medium"><em>Hypericum perforatum</em></span></h1> <div class="nonindent"> <span class="dropcaps"><b>articlemostwanted</b> - T</span>he sunny yellow flowers of St. John’s wort harbor a strange secret. Bruise the delicate petals and they seem to bleed. The blood-red liquid is an oil released from tiny, dark-colored glands scattered along the petal margins. In ancient times, a plant that “bled” was assumed to possess great powers. During the rise of Christianity, the herb came to be associated with John the Baptist (<em>wort</em> is the Old English word for “plant”). It was said to bloom on the saint’s birthday, June 24, and to bleed on August 29, the anniversary of his beheading. The earliest use of the name may date to the 6th century, when the Irish missionary St. Columba carried the herb with him into northern Scotland. The genus name, <em>Hypericum</em>, is from the Greek and means “over a picture or icon”—a reference to the custom of draping the herb over religious images to strengthen their powers in banishing demons. For many centuries, St. John’s wort was a symbol of protection against evil but also a prized medicinal herb, with the power to heal the body and to ease the troubled mind.</div> <div class="nonindent"> <br /></div> <h2 class="section" id="c29-s01"> <strong>Therapeutic Uses</strong></h2> <div class="nonindent"> <em>Minor depression</em></div> <div class="nonindent"> <em>Muscle aches</em></div> <div class="nonindent"> <em>Fever blisters</em></div> <div class="extract"> Modern scientists are confirming what the ancients knew. In 2009, researchers evaluated 29 clinical trials conducted on St. John’s wort for mild to moderate depression and concluded that it is more effective than a placebo, as effective as standard prescription antidepressants, and associated with fewer adverse effects than prescription medications. St. John’s wort has gained global recognition as an effective treatment for minor depression, with 2007 worldwide sales exceeding $100 million.</div> <div class="indent"> Antidepressant medications are also used to treat severe forms of premenstrual syndrome. A pilot trial using St. John’s wort for PMS at the University of Exeter in England reported that a majority of women experienced a 50 percent reduction in symptoms, including anxiety and depression.</div> <div class="indent"> St. John’s wort oil is highly regarded as a topical agent. When the flowering tops are infused in oil—olive oil is best—the oil turns ruby red after sitting in the sun for several weeks. It is massaged into the skin to relieve pain or made into an ointment for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Basic science and animal studies have confirmed that the oil eases inflammation of the skin and fights bacteria.</div> <div class="indent"> St. John’s wort is being investigated for use in viral infections. Hypericin, one of its active constituents, has been shown to be highly active against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex 1—the virus known to cause cold sores and fever blisters.</div> <h2 class="section" id="c29-s02"> <strong>How to Use</strong></h2> <div class="nonindent"> <em>Tea:</em> Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon herb. Steep 5 to 10 minutes. Strain. Drink 1 to 3 times per day.</div> <div class="nonindent"> <em>Tincture:</em> Use 2 to 3 droppersful in 1 cup hot water or lemon balm tea.</div> <div class="nonindent"> <em>Capsules/Tablets:</em> Most research has been done on products guaranteed to contain specific levels of key ingredients. To find a supplement, look for one standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin or 3 to 5 percent hyperforin. The dose for these products is 900 to 1,500 mg per day.</div> <h2 class="section" id="c29-s03"> <strong>Precautions</strong></h2> <div class="nonindent"> St. John’s wort appears to be safe. The main risk is the potential for interaction with prescription medications. Safety during pregnancy has not been established.</div>

St. John’s Wort Plant for Minor Depression, Muscle Aches and Fever Blisters

Hypericum perforatum articlemostwanted - T he sunny yellow flowers of St. John’s wort harbor a strange secret. Bruise the delicate p...

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Peppermint for Indigestion, Irritable bowel syndrome, Muscle aches, Tension headache, Colds and coughs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPzlWb-ER2mswTYqOUSY34CV3GYcHPql4-sqsHpYL4fDBMwLa4z18JaKHsX8n6X7GvlL_NzOGjuOsgfWZCnguOzFfwd1Yb8keZGbYoVsQXcujZvz-OOrHr8tPLI0t-mAnU7ilAD6Bbyw/s1600/21-peppermint-articlemostwanted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPzlWb-ER2mswTYqOUSY34CV3GYcHPql4-sqsHpYL4fDBMwLa4z18JaKHsX8n6X7GvlL_NzOGjuOsgfWZCnguOzFfwd1Yb8keZGbYoVsQXcujZvz-OOrHr8tPLI0t-mAnU7ilAD6Bbyw/s1600/21-peppermint-articlemostwanted.jpg" /></a></div> <h1 class="chapter" id="c22"> <span class="medium"><i>Mentha x piperita</i></span></h1> <div class="nonindent"> <span class="dropcaps">P</span>eppermint is the aromatic plant that gives the candy of the same name its cool, refreshing taste. It is one of more than two dozen species of mint that belong to the genus <i>Mentha</i>. The name comes from Minthe, a nymph in Greek mythology who has the misfortune to be loved by Hades, god of the underworld, and subsequently was turned into an insignificant little plant by Hades’s jealous wife. According to the story, Hades tries to make it up to Minthe by sweetly scenting her small, green leaves. While several mints appear to have been cultivated since the time of the ancient Egyptians, peppermint is a relative newcomer. A natural hybrid of two other mint species, it was discovered in England in 1696. Cultivation of peppermint spread rapidly across Europe, and colonists transported the herb to the New World. Today, peppermint ranks near the top of the world’s favorite flavorings. It is also a respected herbal remedy for upset stomach and other digestive issues.<br /> </div> <h2 class="section" id="c22-s01"> <b>Therapeutic Uses</b></h2> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Indigestion</i></div> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Irritable bowel syndrome</i></div> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Colds and coughs</i></div> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Muscle aches</i></div> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Tension headache</i></div> <div class="extract"> Peppermint is a long-standing digestive herbal remedy. This aromatic herb calms the muscles of the digestive tract and improves the flow of bile from the gallbladder, thus helping the body to digest fats. It is for these reasons that peppermint alleviates intestinal gas, reduces abdominal cramping, and can settle an upset stomach. Studies show that peppermint oil, especially when combined with caraway seed oil, is equal or superior to conventional treatments for indigestion.</div> <div class="indent"> Peppermint oil is the most widely studied herbal product for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), characterized by recurring abdominal pain along with bouts of constipation, diarrhea, or both. IBS disproportionately affects women, and there are few effective treatments. The majority of clinical studies show that peppermint oil is superior to placebo and equivalent to prescription medications for improving IBS, especially when diarrhea is the predominant symptom. Peppermint oil is very well tolerated.</div> <div class="indent"> Peppermint and its active constituent, menthol, are good for the respiratory system. A cup of warm peppermint tea can thin mucus, help loosen phlegm, and relieve a stuffy nose. The Food and Drug Administration approves the use of mentholated ointments, lozenges, and steam inhalants for coughs. Applied to neck and chest, the vapors quickly relieve coughing. Applied topically in products such as BENGAY and Tiger Balm, peppermint also soothes the skin, reducing itching from bug bites or poison ivy and relieving arthritis and headache.</div> <h2 class="section" id="c22-s02"> <b>How to Use</b></h2> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Tea:</i> Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves, or 6 to 8 fresh leaves. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Enjoy 2 to 3 times per day after meals.</div> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Capsules:</i> 500 to 1,000 mg dried peppermint leaf taken after meals. Sustained-release peppermint oil capsules are used for IBS. In studies, 0.2 ml peppermint oil was given 2 to 3 times a day with meals.</div> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Lozenges:</i> For sore throat and cough, lozenges should contain 5 to 10 mg menthol. Children under 2 should not be given menthol products.</div> <div class="nonindent"> <i>Topical:</i> Ointments and rubs are available. Apply 2 to 3 times daily, or as directed.</div> <h2 class="section" id="c22-s03"> <b>Precautions</b></h2> <div class="nonindent"> Do not use peppermint if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or if you have a hiatal hernia, as peppermint can make heartburn worse. Note: Never apply peppermint oil to the face of an infant or small child under the age of 5, as it may cause spasms that inhibit breathing.</div>

Peppermint for Indigestion, Irritable bowel syndrome, Muscle aches, Tension headache, Colds and coughs

Mentha x piperita P eppermint is the aromatic plant that gives the candy of the same name its cool, refreshing taste. It is one of mo...

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