Think of where qualities like strength and flexibility are needed in the body, and you are probably thinking of tissue containing the mineral silica. It is found in the bones, cartilage, artery walls, hair, nails and skin.

Deficiencies will show in all of the above. Hair and nails may become brittle and the skin will lose some of its ability to heal, as well as its moisture and elasticity. Arterial walls will weaken and bone and cartilage development may be hindered. There is now some evidence to suggest that the silica may help shield the body against the harmful effects of aluminium and may provide some degree of protection against the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Silica is available in most fibrous fruits and vegetables like celery, rhubarb, mango, asparagus and particularly lettuce. It is a major component of many of the vegetable skins and husks we often throw away. To take better advantage of the silica in our food, therefore, choose wholegrain foods and eat vegetables and fruit with their skins when possible.

Herbal sources include horsetail, which contains not only high levels of silica, but also the minerals necessary for its absorption by the body. Take it with care, in conjunction with herbs containing a mucilage such as slippery elm or marshmallow, as it can be harsh and scarring to the kidneys. A supplement of silica in tablet form is probably preferable for the treatment of deficiencies. Limit your daily intake to about 30-40mg/day.

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This complaint is caused by a type of herpes virus (Herpes zoster) and is related to chickenpox — it is similar in appearance but more restricted in the areas of the body that are affected. Shingles can be particularly painful, accompanied by a fever of about three days duration. The pain and rash range along the intercostal nerves, under the ribs and running under the armpit to the back. It can also affect the face and shoulders. The rash or spots eventually form blisters and open weeping lesions. Even after these have begun to heal, the pain in the affected area may continue to be intense.

Like the rest of the diseases caused by the various herpes viruses, shingles is not curable. And there is only limited success in countering the symptoms. However, recent reports have suggested that such treatments as Vitamin E, taken orally and applied directly on the lesions, can reduce the pain. Vitamin C injections have also been found to be effective in both reducing pain and drying up lesions.

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Sarah suffers from a typical case of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. People with this condition are very sensitive to the amounts of environmental light and become depressed when these levels fall below a certain threshold, such as during the short dark days of winter. Although the problem probably has a genetic basis, the severity of winter depressions depends on the amount of light in a susceptible person’s environment. Often people with SAD who have lived in different locations report that their problem is worse the further away they live from the equator, with depressions lasting longer and being more severe than when they live in more tropical climes. For some reason not yet understood, women are more susceptible than men to SAD, especially when they are in their reproductive years.

When depressed, people with SAD tend to oversleep. Often they just feel like curling up in bed and being left alone. They empathize with hibernating bears who are free to laze away the winter without the responsibilities that beset us humans all year round. Such responsibilities often overwhelm the person with winter depression, who can barely rouse herself and get going, let alone tackle the chores, work and personal commitments that are part of ordinary living. Overwhelmed by these demands, the person with SAD feels like a failure and anxiety and depression are always close at hand. One source of comfort is often food, especially sweets and starches, which are consumed in great amounts, resulting in unwelcome weight gain.

Seasonal affective disorder is extremely common and has been estimated to affect about 5 per cent of adults. Another 15 per cent are estimated to suffer from a milder form of the condition, subsyndromal SAD or the winter blues. Although most people with the milder version of SAD do not seek out medical attention, the dark short winter days nevertheless interfere with their productivity and creativity and make life feel dreary and dull. It is estimated that approximately one in five people suffers from emotional or behavioural disturbances as a result of the winter.

Light deprivation for any reason will tend to depress these susceptible individuals. Two or three cloudy days in a row, a windowless office or the scarcity of light in their ground-floor flat are all quite likely to lead to a lack of energy and a slump in mood.

Once the connection is made between the amount of environmental light and the drops in mood, however, the condition feels immediately less burdensome. As Sarah put it, ‘understanding the problem is half the battle.’ The other half of the battle can be won with the help of light therapy, St John’s Wort and other antidepressant strategies.

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Social phobia, one of the most common hidden causes of distress and anxiety in everyday life, is estimated to affect approximately one in eight adults. People with this problem have a persistent and powerful fear of being scrutinized, evaluated or being judged by others. As you can imagine, this condition results in considerable impairment of functioning as it prevents people from asserting themselves in work or social situations. Although people with this difficulty may simply appear shy to outsiders, actually they spend a great deal of time worrying about being embarrassed, and engaging in painful fantasies of being ridiculed or humiliated.

According to Dr Michael Liebowitz of Columbia University in New York, a pioneering researcher in the field of social phobia, there are several lines of evidence suggesting that brain pathways involving the neurotransmitter dopamine are disturbed in social phobia. To a somewhat lesser extent, pathways involving serotonin also seem to be involved in this condition. Studies indicate that anti-depressants may be of some value in the treatment of social phobia. As St John’s Wort has been shown to influence both dopamine and serotonin pathways, there is reason to consider that the herbal remedy might be of some benefit in social phobia. As several of the stories in this book have indicated, after starting the herbal remedy a number of people report becoming more outgoing and less shy, and more willing to take the initiative in a social or work situation.

Currently social phobia is a greatly undertreated problem, in part because it is not recognized by clinicians but perhaps also because the very symptoms of the condition – fear of being judged and humiliated – may prevent people from bringing their problem to the attention of a professional. For these people, an herbal remedy that can be purchased over the counter may be enormously appealing. Although formal studies of this use of the herb are needed, early evidence suggests that if you are painfully shy or afraid of making a social overture or asserting yourself, St John’s Wort may really be worth a try.

As we can see, there are many possible roles for St John’s Wort in everyday life – for stress, low energy, down feelings, insomnia, premenstrual symptoms and painful shyness. Small wonder that the ancients thought this herb capable of miracles, and attributed magical powers to it.

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