How to Use St. John's Wort to Treat Rheumatic Pain

Rheumatism is a general medical term used to describe a variety of different disorders that cause pain and weakness. When people speak of rheumatic pain, they usually refer to arthritis symptoms. Though the term isn't used in the medical community anymore, it can still refer to conditions like tendonitis, fibromyalgia and repetitive-motion injury. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antidepressant properties, St. John's Wort is often used as a natural remedy to treat rheumatic pain.

Things You'll Need

• 300-mg. capsule of St. John's Wort
• St. John's Wort oil extract

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Instructions

• 1

  Seek a specific diagnosis for the cause of your rheumatic pain. Since the term can refer to so many conditions and types of pain, it's important to know exactly what is causing your pain.

• 2

  Treat any significant underlying medical conditions that might be causing the pain before turning to St. John's Wort as a source of relief. Rheumatic pain can be a symptom of serious immune-system illnesses, such as lupus, which should be treated with the help of your doctor.

• 3

  Discuss your plan with your doctor and ask for a referral to a holistic practitioner if she is uncomfortable with your choice to use homeopathic remedies. Do, however, talk to your doctor about any possible interactions of St. John's Wort with your regular medications.

• 4

  Use St. John's Wort both internally and externally to treat your pain. In addition to working as an anti-inflammatory agent, St. John' Wort is frequently used as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. The sedating effect of the herb may reduce any emotional distress caused by your rheumatism.

• 5

  Purchase St. John's Wort in capsule form at your local health-food store, pharmacy or grocery store. Because of its increasing popularity as an antidepressant, capsules of the herb are sold in many convenient locations.

• 6

  Use a preparation that contains at least 3 percent of the active ingredient, hypericin, in each 300-mg. capsule. An adult dose of the herb is 1 capsule taken 3 times a day.

• 7

  Apply an oil extract of St. John's Wort to joints that are causing you pain. The oil is easier to find in health-food stores than in pharmacies. The topical application can provide some temporary relief by dilating the capillaries and increasing blood flow to the area.