Does St Johns Wort have any side effects or precautions?
Documented side effects of St John’s include gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. nausea), allergic reactions, fatigue and photosensitivity to sunlight in sensitive people with fair skin. The management of the last includes the use of sunglasses and sunblock creams. How quickly does St John’s Wort work? St John’s Wort extract should be taken continuously for up to eight weeks before clinical improvement in mood may be noted. How St John’s Wort works to alleviate depression Nobody knows for certain. In fact, there are not one but several antidepressant agents in the plant. However, the strongest candidate for a single antidepressant agent is hyperforin, a phloroglucine found in the plant. Research has shown that St John’s Wort extract seems to alter brain chemistry by inhibiting the breakdown of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine and noradrenalin. This results in an increase in the level of neurotransmitters responsible for mood and emotional stability inside the brain.
