St Johns Wort Side EffectsSt Johns wort is a shrubby perennial that has bright yellow flowers when in bloom. It has been used for centuries for various therapeutic purposes and the St Johns wort supplements are produced from the dried flowers. It is native to Europe, North Africa and Western parts of Asia. St Johns Wort Side EffectsSide Effects of St Johns WortYes, there are St Johns Wort side effects.Here are some of the most commonly reported side effects of St Johns Wort: upset stomach, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, sensitivity to sunlight (especially people with fair skin). What about hypertension and St Johns Wort? Some people claim that they experience hypertension caused by St Johns Wort (hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure). However, we cannot find any scientific study that conclusively shows a link betweenhypertension and St Johns Wort. Don't take this to mean that hypertension caused by St Johns Wort isn't possible, however. One important thing to remember with any herbal supplement is that different people will react differently to them. If you believe you have hypertension caused by St Johns Wort, you should stop taking the herb immediately and talk to your physician. However, the literature currently shows St Johns Wort to be a safe herb, notwithstanding the St Johns Wort side effects mentioned above. A few more precautions are in order: anyone on prescription medications, such as antidepressants, should talk to their physician about St Johns Wort before taking it. Possible interactions between medications and the herb are certainly possible. Pregnant and nursing women should also refrain from taking St Johns Wort, as they should any herbal supplements, unless having consulted with their doctor. The Benefits of St Johns WortSt Johns Wort is most well known for treating mild depression. In some countries -- such as Germany -- physicians prescribe St Johns Wort for depression even more than popular prescription drugs for depression, such as Zoloft and Prozac.Other benefits of St Johns Wort include: alleviating anxiety, stress, promotingrestful sleep, and helping symptoms of PMS. Also of interest is that St Johns Wort may help people who have seasonal affective disorder (such people become depressed in the winter months from, it is believed, the lack of sunlight during those months). Nutritional-Supplement-Info's OpinionSt Johns Wort appears to be an interesting herb. Like other medicinial herbs there are positive aspects and potentially negative ones. It's always important to be mindful of both.Standard dosage of St Johns Wort is 300 mg per day, taken with meals. Make sure your supplement is standardized to 0.3% hypericin, which is the active component of the herb -- the active component is what is responsible for its therapeutic properties. The National Institutes of Health is currently conducting a study on the efficacy of St Johns Wort. It will be interesting to see what the results show.
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