wort

wort
1. A suffix in the popular names of many plants, such as liverwort, lungwort, woundwort, etc. 2. An infusion of malt. [A.S. wyrt, a plant]
- St. John's w. a shrubby perennial (Hypericum perforatum) with numerous orange-yellow flowers whose petals may be speckled black along their margins; a herbal antidepressant that compares favorably with standard synthetic psychopharmaceutical agents in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.In medieval folk-medicine this herb, traditionally gathered on the eve of the feast of St. John the Baptist (June 24), was used against various illnesses, including hysteria and epilepsy, as well as witches' spells and diabolical possession. In Europe, St. John's w. is widely prescribed for the treatment of depression. The herb has been shown in placebo-controlled trials to lessen depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep disturbances, insomnia, anorexia, and feelings of worthlessness. EEG studies have shown that it improves sleep intensity without increasing total sleep duration or interfering with REM sleep. In clinical comparisons it was only slightly inferior to the tricyclic agents imipramine, amitriptyline, and desipramine in abolishing depressive symptoms. In addition, memory and other mental functions may be improved instead of being blunted as with prescription antidepressants. No controlled studies comparing the efficacy of St. John's w. with that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been published. Fewer than 3% of subjects in clinical trials noted any side effect s. Those most frequently experienced were gastrointestinal irritation, allergic reactions, fatigue, restlessness, and photodermatitis. The principal active ingredient of St. John's w. is believed to be hypericin, which has been shown in vitro to inhibit the uptake or biodegradation of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. It also binds to γ-aminobutyric acid receptors on CNS neurons and improves the signal produced by serotonin after it binds to its receptors. Ongoing studies seek to define the psychopharmaceutical potential of this agent more precisely and to confirm the safety of its use. Because it inhibits monoamine oxidase, at least in vitro, its use with other antidepressants is not recommended. It is not considered appropriate during pregnancy or in the treatment of severe depression with serious risk of suicide or of depression accompanied by psychosis.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Wort — (IPAEng|wɝt) is the liquid extracted from the mashing process during the brewing of beer or whisky. Wort contains the sugars that will be fermented by the brewing yeast to produce alcohol.After the barley has sprouted, then halted of sprouting… …   Wikipedia

  • Wort — Wort, n. [OE. worte, wurte, AS. wyrte; akin to OD. wort, G. w[ u]rze, bierw[ u]rze, Icel. virtr, Sw. v[ o]rt. See {Wort} an herb.] An infusion of malt which is unfermented, or is in the act of fermentation; the sweet infusion of malt, which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wort — Wort, n. [OE. wort, wurt, AS. wyrt herb, root; akin to OS. wurt, G. wurz, Icel. jurt, urt, Dan. urt, Sw. [ o]rt, Goth. wa[ u]rts a root, L. radix, Gr. ? a root, ? a branch, young shoot, ? a branch, and E. root, n. Cf. {Licorice}, {Orchard},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wort — Sn std. (8. Jh.), mhd. wort, ahd. wort, as. word Stammwort. Aus g. * wurda n. Wort , auch in gt. waurd, anord. orđ, ae. word, afr. word. Dieses aus ig. (w./oeur.) * werdho n. Wort , auch in l. verbum, apreuß. wirds m., lit. var͂das Name .… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Wort — Wort: Das gemeingerm. Substantiv mhd., ahd. wort, got. waúrd, engl. word, schwed. ord ist z. B. verwandt mit lat. verbum »Wort« (↑ Verb) und lit. var̃das »Name« und gehört mit diesen zu der idg. Wurzel *u̯er »feierlich sprechen, sagen« (vgl.… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • Wort — [Basiswortschatz (Rating 1 1500)] Bsp.: • Er las die Zeilen Wort für Wort. • Was ist das Wort auf Englisch? • Weißt du, wie dieses Wort auf Englisch heißt? …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • Wört — Wört …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Wort — Le wort est un liquide à forte teneur en sucre qui a été obtenu par le mélange d eau chaude et d orge malté dans un mash tun. Ce liquide est transféré du mash tun vers le fermenting vat ou washback. On y ajoute une levure et débute alors le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • wort — (n.) a plant, O.E. wyrt root, herb, from P.Gmc. *wurtiz (Cf. O.S. wurt, O.N., Dan. urt, O.H.G. wurz plant, herb, Ger. Wurz, Goth. waurts, O.N. rot root ), from PIE root *wrad twig …   Etymology dictionary

  • Wort — Wort, 1) (in der Mehrzahl Wörter, wenn sie nur in der Vereinzelung, als Theile der Sprache, hingegen Worte, wenn sie im Zusammenhang als Theile der Rede in Betracht kommen, z.B. zweisylbige Wörter, durchdachte Worte), ein Sprachlaut od.… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Wort — Wort, Verein von Sprachlauten oder einzelner Sprachlaut, der eine Vorstellung, Empfindung oder einen Begriff ausdrückt. Jedes W. besteht aus so viel Teilen oder Silben, als Exspirationsstöße zu seiner Hervorbringung erforderlich sind, und jede… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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