| St. John's wort (p. 461).
Yohimbine has been shown in several double-blind studies to help treat men with impotence (p. 98);3'4 negative studies have also been reported.5,6
How Much Is Usually Taken?
A tincture of the bark is often used in the amount of 5 to 10 drops 3 times per day. Standardized yohimbe products are also available for the treatment of impotence. A safe daily amount of yohimbine from any product is 15 to 30 mg.7 Yohimbine should be used under the supervision of a physician.
Are There Any Side Effects or Interactions? People with kidney disease or peptic ulcer (p. |
| Soapwort
st. john's wort (p. 461) (topical/oral)
See also: Homeopathic Remedies for Cold Sores (p. 543)
Herbs That May Be Helpful
Lemon balm (p. 440) has antiviral properties. A cream containing an extract of has been shown in double-blind German research to speed the healing of cold sores.18 Application of concentrated lemon balm creams or ointments several times per day is most likely to be effective.
Licorice (p. 440) in a cream or gel form is applied directly to herpes sores 3 to 4 times per day. Licorice extracts containing glycyrrhizin should be used. |
| St. John's wort, goldenseal (p. 429), myrrh (p. 446), and echinacea (p. 417).
Are There Any Side Effects or Interactions? Refer to the individual herb for information about any side effects or interactions.
Colic
Colic is a common problem in infants. A colicky baby is healthy but has periods of inconsolable crying. During the crying spell, the infant may experience abdominal distention and excessive gas, drawing up his or her legs. Colic usually develops within a few weeks of birth and disappears by the baby's fourth month. |
Dr. Mary Dan Eades
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 Avoid prolonged sun exposure while using St. John's wort; it :an make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
• There is some evidence that acemannan, a compound found in iloe, may be beneficial in treating AIDS. Test-rube studies show it d be active against HIV
• Astragalus, while not having demonstrated any anti-HIV effect, i an immune booster. Caution: Do not use if you have a fever.
• A research report claimed that the root extract of black-eyed isan stimulates the immune system better than echinacea extracts.
• Blessed thistle contains compounds with anti-HIV activity. |
Christian Ratsch
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 Germans used as a sedative and in modern phytotherapy is generally regarded as a natural tranquilizer (Becker 1994). st. john's wort and the oil it yields do indeed exert a psychoactive effect, but only upon patients suffering from mental or emotional afflictions. As a rule, healthy individuals do not notice any psychotropic effects, even after ingesting large amounts.12 Such uncertain cases—to the extent that they are known— have not been included in these monographs. |
Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D.
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 Add tincture of st. john's wort or calendula tincture to water. Ledum tincture is also excellent. The wound should heal in 3 to 5 days.
FRACTURES
Fractures must be set by a professional.
Water Therapy
While waiting for the physician to arrive, or on the way to the hospital, fractures may be contained by applying ice bags. This controls internal bleeding.
Later during rehabilitation, you can improve blood circulation in arm and wrist fractures by frequently immersing the entire arm in hot water for
3 minutes, and then in cold water for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times. |
Susun S. Weed
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 J6an'svyort
Hypericum perforatum
Other Names: st. john's wort, Klamath weed Type: Tonifying +
Found in: Temperate regions worldwide; pastures, roadsides. Part Used: Flowers in bud, flowers in bloom, flowering tops. Actions & Uses: Internally—Heals nerves; relieves pain; inhibits cancer growth; reduces caked breasts, shrinks enlarged glands, counters swelling in breast tissues; relieves/prevents muscle aches; antiseptic; anti-microbial, antiviral, heals shingles; antidepressant, anti-tumor; anti-cancer. |
Dr. Cass Ingram
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 John's wort
90 caps wild high flavonoid st. john's wort and wild rosemary
LivaClenz
1 floz. extra virgin olive oil, oils of wild cumin, rosemary, oregano & sage
Oil of Ginger
.45 fl oz. extra virgin olive oil and ginger oil
Oil of Cinnamon
.45 fl oz. extra virgin olive oil and cinnamon oil
Juice of Coriander
12 oz. coriander essence from high mountain wild coriander
Essence of Lavender
12 oz. lavender essence from high mountain wild lavender
NukeProtect™Oil
NukeProtect™Caps
NukeProtect™Juice
1 floz. 90 caps 12 fl oz. |
| Royal Kick) — take 4 or more capsules every morning before breakfast.
• st. john's wort (wild high flavonoid type is best) — take 2 to 4 capsules with breakfast.
• Juice of Rosemary — add an ounce twice daily in juice or water.
• Nutri-Sense crude rice fractions/polish drink mix (as a completely natural source of thiamine and niacin) — take 3 or more heaping tablespoons in juice, water, or milk once or twice daily.
Things to avoid
• refined sugar and sweets, especially soda pop
• ice cream
Spider bites
A bite by a spider evokes a great deal of fear, but it is mostly overplayed. |
| Nervousness/irritability combat kit
• st. john's wort (wild and unprocessed) — take 2 to 4 capsules in the a.m.
• oil of lavender (wild type in extra virgin olive oil) — 2 drops under the tongue twice daily. Also, rub on the chest, neck, and soles of feet.
• Royal Kick premium grade royal jelly — take 4 to 6 capsules every morning. Use more if needed to combat stress or anxiety.
• oil or juice of sage — add a few drops to fruit juice or hot water as a tea. If using sage juice, add a tablespoon to juice or hot water. |
| St. John's wort — take 2 capsules twice daily. Things to avoid
• loud noises and bright light; Note: keep the individual in a dark quiet room until help arrives.
Conjunctivitis
Hurricane Georges struck the American South like a hydrogen bomb. It blasted through the U. S. Virgin Islands in September, 1998, destroying thousands of homes and displacing thousands. One of the consequences was the spread of infection, and conjunctivitis was top on the list. Pink eye incidence was 30 times higher than normal as a result of the hurricane. |
| The key to achieving significant results is to select a st. john's wort product high in naturally occurring flavonoids. It was previously believed that a specific chemical, called hypericin, was the major component responsible for curative effects. However, Laakmann and Schellenberg, publishing in Germany, have thoroughly determined that it is the flavonoids that are mostly responsible for this herb's therapeutic powers. Essentially, if the product is low in flavonoids, it fails to work. |
| What's more, recently it was discovered that st. john's wort is one of the few plants which contains a considerable amount of naturally occurring melatonin. This combined with the fact that it contains the calming neurotransmitter GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) largely explains its brain enhancing/antidepressive properties. It is also high in essential oil, which has been a favorite remedy of herbalists for hundreds of years. The essential oil was famous in Medieval times for its wound healing properties.
Unprocessed St. |
Andrew Chevallier
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 St. John's wort, and crampbark. For aching muscles, drink 1 cup twice a day.
Tablets usually also contain other herbs. Take for arthritis. e=S Decoction (to make, p. 290). For painful joints and aching rheumatic muscles, take 'A cup 3 times a day.
¦ Fevers & pain White willow is taken to manage high fevers. It may also be used to ease headaches and head pain.
¦ Menopause By reducing sweating, white willow helps hot flashes and night sweats.
Self-help Uses
¦ Arthritis & inflamed joints, p. 313.
¦ Back pain due to joint inflammation, p. 313.
¦ Hot flashes & night sweats, p. 316. |
Andrew L. Stoll
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 The antidepressant effects of st. john's wort may be delayed by two to six weeks. If there is no response by week two or three, the dosage may be increased to two capsules (600 milligrams) twice per day. The maximum recommended dosage is approximately 900 milligrams per day, but extreme dosages of 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams per day have been used under certain circumstances.
SAMe (S-Adenosylmethionine)
History. |
Gary Null
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 To deal with the pain of the condition, one should take st. john's wort (hypericum perforatum). This substance has a molecule that works like a pharmaceutical drug without any of the drawbacks or side effects.
Magnesium salts are also useful for those facing pain from torso or joint aches. Many people are already deficient in magnesium. It is a calmative mineral, obtained from nuts and seeds that are raw and unroasted. Nuts are also beneficial in that they contain essential oils, including the omega-3 fatty acids, which also have mild anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce pain. |
Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D.
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| Capsules and/or tincture of st. john's wort act on the nervous system to control bedwetting. Try 2 to 30 drops of gentian tincture in water at midday or evening. Or try sweet sumac, a North American plant that most herbalists use specifically for bedwetting: 5 to 10 drops in water 2 times a day. Hyperforat (Klien), Suburgen (Vogel & Weber), and Nierenklar (Salus) are effective German products that can be ordered through your pharmacy or health food store. |
| St. John's wort, which has just been rediscovered by the entire world as an effective antidepressant, has also been judged to be highly productive in clinical trials of enuresis (bedwetting)." Other herbs that are successful for bedwetting are sweet marjoram tea; 20 drops of gentian tincture in a glass of water at midday and in the evening; or chamomile or linden tea to relax a tense child.
In addition, on occasion, before bedtime, take a 10-minute hot shallow (sitz) bath followed by a few seconds cold sitz bath. Dry the body and go to bed immediately. |
| The two healing oils that are most effective are castor oil or st. john's wort oil. In a pinch you can use heated olive oil. The oil has four actions here: It provides its own healing power; makes the area feel warm; keeps the clay supple; and in the right combination prevents the clay from drying and flaking. Reinforce the heating action by initially applying a hot water bottle over the poultice. After the hot water bottle cools down, discard it, but keep the poultice on as long as you can, preferably overnight. This can be repeated as often as needed. |
| Chamomile, st. john's wort tea or tablets, and valerian tablets or tincture help to tranquilize and calm the body. Drops of valerian tincture or a strong chamomile tea may be placed in the bathwater to allay agitation.
We often need to be stimulated out of a depressive mood. Avoid hot baths at this time and concentrate on any of these animating techniques: Before taking a bath, activate the skin by dry brushing, or during the bath vigorously rub the skin with a wet washcloth, sponge, or loofah. Once a week apply a coarse salt friction glow to the shoulders, torso, arms, thighs, and knees. |
| For bloody urine, take one small sip an hour of st. john's wort tea.
A macrobiotic remedy is to sip adzuki bean water. Prepare it by adding 1 tablespoon of adzuki beans to 2 quarts of boiling water. Reduce by boiling down to 1 quart. Add a pinch of salt.
A series of acupuncture treatments can often provide relief from various kidney pains.
Magnesium and B6 are beneficial. Magnesium, especially in magnesium citrate form, helps by making internal calcium oxalate crystals more soluble and consequendy easier to excrete. |
Andrew L. Stoll
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| Thus, there are no data to indicate whether the antidepressant effects of st. john's wort are inferior, superior, or equivalent to the SSRIs.
The second problem with comparative studies is the lack of a placebo control. Placebos are inactive substances matched to look just like the real medication. Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials remain the only way to be sure a treatment has true biological activity. |
Andrew Chevallier
See book keywords and concepts |
| Alternatively, take echinacea tablets or capsules, or make an infusion of st. john's wort and drink up to 1 cup a day.
Herbs Garlic (Allium sativum, p. 56), ginger (Zingiber officinale, p. 153), lemon (Citrus limon, p. 81) Remedy (Internal) Eat 1-2 cloves of garlic and 1—2 slices (1 g) of fresh ginger a day. Remedy (External) Apply either fresh ginger, half a clove of garlic, or lemon juice to unopened cold sores, shingles, or pox marks up to 6 times a day.
Herb Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis, p. Ill) Remedy (Internal) Make an infusion and drink up to 5 cups a day. |
| Related Species
A number of Hypericum species contain hypericin, but in smaller quantities than st. john's wort.
Key Constituents
¦ Volatile oil (carophyllene)
¦ Hypericin & pseudohypericin
¦ Flavonoids
Key Actions
¦ Antidepressant
¦ Antispasmodic
¦ Stimulates bile flow
¦ Astringent
¦ Sedative
¦ Relieves pain
¦ Antiviral
Parts Used
Flowering tops are picked when the flowers are opening.
Bright yellow petals have oil glands containing hypericin
Dried flowering tops
& Key Preparations & Their Uses
Cautions Can cause sensitivity to sunlight. Restricted herb in some countries. |
Andrew L. Stoll
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| In mild unipolar major depression, it may be used if the clinician and patient choose this agent over conventional prescription antidepressants or other natural mood-elevating substances, such as st. john's wort or omega-3 fatty acids. In moderate or severe depression, especially where suicidal thoughts or safety is an issue, SAMe should be used only as an adjunct to more standard prescription antidepressant therapies.
SAMe is generally not to be used in those with a suspected diagnosis of bipolar disorder. |
Lesley Tierra
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 Mother can rub a little birch, clove or st. john's wort oils on baby's gums to help ease irritation. Chamomile homeopathic tablets can also be very effective.
Most children go through stages of intense activity and some are even hyperactive. Herbs very effectively ease any tension and calm the child. Try a combination of 2 parts each chamomile, lemon balm, valerian and zizyphus seeds and 1 part each licorice root and hawthorn berries. This is best made into a glycerine tincture. A little cinnamon and anise oils can be added for flavoring. Give 3-7 drops as needed throughout the day. |
Dr. Mary Dan Eades
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| Echinacea boosts the immune system and enhances lymphatic function.
• st. john's wort is a natural blood purifier.
• Strengthen the immune system using goldenseal. This herb also cleanses the body and has antibacterial properties.
Dosages may vary, depending on the duration and severity of your symptoms. Consult a qualified herbal practitioner. Let your physician know of your decision to use herbs; not all herbal remedies can be used in combination with conventional pharmaceuticals.
What makes them worse? |
Lesley Tierra
See book keywords and concepts |
| Examples: echinacea, garlic, st. john's wort.
Aperient: mildly causes bowel movements; use for constipation and mildly sluggish bowels. Examples: yellow dock, Oregon grape, bitter herbs in general.
Aromatic: has a sweet, spicy or fragrant aroma. Examples: peppermint, fennel, cardamom, cloves, ginger, angelica.
Astringent: dries up secretions and has a constricting or binding effect to the tissues which tones tissues and muscles; use for any undesired secretions, swollen tonsils and hemorrhoids. Examples: bayberry bark, squaw vine, schisandra. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 In the German Commission E monograph, the amount of st. john's wort taken is typically based on hypericin concentration in the extract, which should be approximately 1 mg per day.53 For example, an extract standardized to contain 0.2% hypericin would require a daily intake of 500 mg (usually given in two divided dosages). Many European studies use higher intakes of 900 mg daily and this has become the accepted daily dosage in modern herbal medicine. Recent research suggests, however, that hypericin is not the antidepressant compound in St. |
Frantisek Stary
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 Perforate st. john's wort is an exception. It is distributed throughout most of Europe, western and central Asia to the Altai and the Himalayas in the south, and has become naturalized on all the continents. The flowering top parts devoid of the lower, leafless, woody parts of the stems are gathered at the beginning of the flowering period. They contain di-anthrones, e.g. hypericin, the flavonoid glycoside hyperosid, an essential oil, catechol tannins and ancillary substances. |
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