The Unsung St John’s Wort Helping You Sleep

Trouble sleeping is very common nowadays. Between our normal everyday stress and what we got from the shutdown, people just aren't sleeping well. Coronasomnia is a new type of sleeping issue, one many people face.

You're probably looking for a more natural way to get better sleep. Helping your body do what it does naturally is much better than trying to take a medicine to force yourself to sleep. And you've probably seen melatonin, valerian, and chamomile as the typical go-to herbs.

But you might not have thought of St John's Wort. This simple herb is well-known for helping people with depression feel better. So, if you're having some depression that's interrupting your sleep, St John's Wort might be something you want to look into.

On top of that, Saint John's Wort oil used topically can help reduce nerve pain, especially pain associated with neuropathy. This little herb is very diverse and can help you in a multitude of ways.

The Unusual Addition Of St John's Wort for Sleep

Insomnia and depression share a lot of symptoms and causes. The great thing about St John's Wort is that many of the components and actions of this herb work the same for both. The primary phytochemicals that do this are hypericin and hyperforin, both studied thoroughly and used in antidepressant medications.

St John's Wort stimulates the GABA receptors in the brain, opening it to the various neurochemicals and hormones that help induce sleep. Melatonin is what most people know for sleep, and using St John's words allows your natural production of melatonin to do its job.

But it also helps the production of serotonin and blocks serotonin reuptake, similar to many SSRI medications do. Common SSRI drugs are Prozac, Laprexo, Zoloft, and Celexa. Fortunately, St John's Wort is not addictive the way many medications are.

The most significant difference between St John's Wort and medications is that St John's Wort will not work right away. It takes a little time to build up in your system, so it could take one to three weeks to see a difference.

It should not be taken by women who are pregnant. It can also interfere with people who are taking contraceptives, anti-seizure medication, and anticoagulants. And people who are already taking anxiety, depression, or sleeping medication should never combine St John's Wort with these medications.

Surprisingly, St John's Wort helps promote natural circadian rhythms, allowing the body to raise and lower its natural hormone levels to let you sleep at the proper time. That means you feel better during the day and sleepy at night.

Trying to fight the circadian rhythms negates many of Saint John's more positive effects, so you should allow your body to sleep earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning.

If you are dealing with depression and anxiety, St John's Wort helps reduce mild depressive and anxiety symptoms, improving stability and calmness naturally. And without the addictive nature of the medication, when people stopped using the herb, the results persisted.

How To Use St John's Wort To Help Sleep

You should talk to your doctor before taking St John's Wort, primarily since insomnia and depression can be related to other health issues. Also, if you're taking any medications, you should discuss the interactions.

Most studies show taking St John's Wort in the area of 300 to 1200 mg per day achieves the effects most people are looking for. We know that's a wide range, so we recommend starting at a lower dose. This can help stop any unwanted side effects.

It's best to divide your dose into several small amounts. Depending on the supplement you take, splitting into two or three doses will give you a bigger benefit, allowing your body to absorb more of the St John's Wort and achieve results faster.

We recommend taking St John's Wort with food, as occasionally the oil carriers can upset people's stomachs.

And here's the big thing: if you are a woman, avoid taking St John's Wort during your menstrual cycle. Because of the hormonal changes, you could find your insomnia or depressive symptoms worse without this break. Men typically do not report this issue, as they have stable hormones throughout the month.

If you decide to give St John's Wort a try, this one can help you get more sleep as long as you use common sense. Natural sleep