The Magic Ingredient – St John’s wort
Who doesn’t want to be that little bit healthier? Especially if improving your health involves minimal effort. With this in mind we’ve made it our mission to bring you news each week of a product, a foodstuff, an exercise technique or a pill that promises potentially magical health-giving properties.
This week’s magic ingredient: St John’s Wort
Not to be confused with: Ian St John, warthogs, genital warts
Hold on for a second, I don’t want to hear about any sort of wort, I had one there a couple of weeks ago around my groin and I couldn’t stop itching the bugger… No, you’re confusing it with warts, a type of blister usually found on the hands or feet or in some gruesome cases such as yours, genitalia. Frankly, if I were you I’d get that looked at.
Eh, it’s gone now anyway, at least it’s not as itchy as it was anyway. Well if it’s not warts, what the hell are ya talking about?
I’m talking about St John’s Wort, or to give it its proper, more scientific and more unpronounceable title, Hypericum perforatum, a yellow-flowering herb that is known worldwide as a treatment for depression.
What has St John got to do with it? I haven’t heard of that fella since the TV show he was on back in the day, what was that called again?
I can only assume you mean Ian St John, former Liverpool and Scotland striker and had you been listening earlier, I told you not to get him confused with this week’s magic ingredient. St. John’s Wort has nothing to do with Ian St John but instead refers to the fact that the herb traditionally flowers on the feast day of John the Baptist, St John’s day,  which falls on 24 June every year. Incidentally, that show was called Saint and Greavsie, but hasn’t been on the air since 1992. You’re showing your age there bud.
My auld fella used to watch it; I was only a little nipper at that stage. So anyway, this wort thingy is good for chasing the blues away yeah?
Yes indeed. Clinical trials conducted by the well respected Cochrane Collaboration have found that extracts of St. John’s Wort have been found to have similar efficacy levels as other anti-depressants, but with fewer side effects.
It is also known to be effective in treating alcoholism, somotaform disorders, basically ailments that do not have an identifiable cause and in great news for men the world over, recent evidence has suggested that it may lessen the impact of the common physical and behavioural problems suffered by women when they’re on the blob.
I’ve found that chloroform is pretty effective for that as well…
Yeah, that’s dangerous and highly illegal territory you’re drifting into there. This stuff will help control your missus’ (Although given what you’ve told me already, I’d be surprised if you had one) wild mood swings and won’t see you end up in prison as a result.
Ok, no need to go all judgmental on me there Dr Phil. Surely there’s a catch?
There always is isn’t there. Although side effects are pretty rare, there has been evidence of gastrointestinal problems, confusion, dizziness and sedation caused by its use. In extremely rare cases, it can cause visual sensitivity to light and sometimes produces free radical molecules in the body which can harm body cells and in some cases cause cataracts.
If you say the side effects are rare, I’ll take my chances. How do I take the stuff?
Good man, nothing ventured, nothing gained eh? In Ireland, you need a prescription for it, but that’s based on the fact that if you are in fact depressed, you should be going to your doctor first before seeking a quick fix.
It’s available in many forms including ointments, capsules, tinctures, teas and even oil based creams, but if it’s the cream you go for, don’t be tempted to put it anywhere near that wart of yours that, despite your claims to the contrary, you continue to visibly itch on a regular basis.
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