Zanthroplex (Hypericin) from LifeLink
Hypericin is a highly
concentrated extract from flowering tops of the
plant Hypericum perforatum—a stocky,
yellow-flowering plant also known as St. John's
Wort. "Wort" is the Old English word for plant.
Hypericum has been used since ancient times to
treat wounds and almost any other condition one
can think of, many of them probably without any
real efficacy. Hypericin does, however, have
several proven areas of application:
- for improving mood via its
anti-depressant and anti-anxiety properties;
- as an antiviral active
against cytomegalovirus, human
papillomavirus, hepatitis B, and herpes
(shown in animals), and skin warts;
- for reducing
depression-related anorexia, hypersomnia, or
insomnia.
Hypericin has also shown
promise for treating cutaneous T-cell lymphoma,
since it preferentially kills malignant cells.
Limited experimental support also exists for
hypericin as a treatment for seasonal affective
disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The
most common side effects associated with
hypericin are skin rash and extreme sensitivity
to light.
Caution: Do not use hypericin with other
antidepressants, and avoid taking it with
tyramine-containing foods (e.g., cheese, red
wine, yeast, and pickled herring). Hypericin can
cause bleeding during pregnancy, and it can
reduce the bioavailability of antiviral drugs.
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