Known in our country as St. John's wort (or St. John's wort), this plant with small leaves and yellow flowers is often used to make tea. It is considered by the people to be good "for calming and sleeping", but have you ever wondered what the scientific evidence for the benefits of St. John's wort really is?
It is known that many supplements that are purchased in pharmacies - whether they contain herbal extracts or some other ingredients - do not actually work, although pharmaceutical companies produce them abundantly and cunningly advertise them. Scientists analyze and test the effect of all these supplements and their content in detail, so today we know that, for example, cranberries do not help in the treatment of urinary tract infections, as it has long been thought, and aloe vera does not help digestion. Moreover, it can cause diarrhea, upset electrolyte balance and adversely affect kidney function.
However, with St. John's wort is a different story. This plant lives in moderately warm areas, grows up to a meter in height and blooms from May to autumn. In some countries it has become so widespread that it is considered an invasive and dangerous weed, harmful to grazing livestock. At the same time, it is widely grown for its significant medical benefits.
Namely, many studies have proven that compared to the placebo effect, St. John's wort has a significant impact on the treatment of depression. Even, in many cases, St. John's wort extract has been proven to be more effective than antidepressants, but it has another advantage - much less negative side effects than the usual drugs for depression.
According to the data of the World Health Organization, published this year, more than 400,000 people in Serbia suffer from depressive disorders, or 5% of the population. Depression is the cause of about 800,000 suicides a year worldwide. Given these benefits of St. John's wort, and very few risks, researchers note that in many cases, St. John's wort should be given priority over common antidepressants. This is especially recommended in cases where the treatment of depression does not involve specialist doctors, as is usually the case in the United States, but general practitioners. At the same time, promising studies investigating the influence of St. John's wort on memory are on the horizon.
St. John's wort is really a very medicinal plant, it is widespread everywhere.