St. John's wort

What is St. John's wort? 

St. John’s wort is a popular herbal supplement that is derived from a yellow-flowered plant called Hypericum perforatum. It is commonly used for the treatment of depression and anxiety.

How does it work?

The active ingredients in St. John’s wort, hypericin and hyperforin, are believed to increase the levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain, which can improve mood and reduce anxiety.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredients in St. John’s wort that are important for its medicinal properties are hypericin and hyperforin.

What forms does it come in?

St. John’s wort is available in various forms including capsules, tablets, teas, tinctures, and topical preparations.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

The use of St. John’s wort for medicinal purposes dates back to ancient Greece where it was used to treat a variety of ailments.

Summary:

St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement commonly used for the treatment of depression and anxiety. It works by increasing neurotransmitter levels in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The active ingredients in St. John’s wort are hypericin and hyperforin. It is available in various forms including capsules, tablets, teas, tinctures, and topical preparations. Common side effects of St. John’s wort include dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, and increased sensitivity to sunlight St. John’s wort should be taken in the recommended daily dose, which ranges from 300 to 600 milligrams per day. The length of time it takes for St. John’s wort to work can vary, but some people may experience improvement within a few days to a few weeks. The best time to take St. John’s wort is a matter of personal preference and can depend on individual circumstances. It can be taken with or without food.

What does St. John's wort help with?

St. John's wort is a bright yellow wildflower. People in Europe have used it for hundreds of years. They took it for low mood, worry, and nerve pain.

• Low mood that is mild or moderate (depression)
  Strong evidence — many large, well-designed randomised trials in people. Several large trials tested the herb against standard antidepressant drugs. In those trials it did about as well for mild to moderate low mood. People taking the herb reported fewer side effects. The trials did not cover severe depression.
  Evidence grade A · Traditional tier T2
• Winter mood dips (seasonal depression)
  Early evidence — several clinical studies, small and preliminary. A number of clinical studies looked at mood that drops in the darker months. People in these studies reported better mood. In some of them the herb was used along with light therapy.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Mood changes before a period (PMS)
  Early evidence — early clinical research against a dummy pill. Early studies compared the herb with a placebo, a dummy pill. Women taking the herb reported less irritability, low mood and tension. Physical signs, such as cramping, did not improve as reliably.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Mood swings around menopause
  Early evidence — some human trials, alone and with black cohosh. Some trials tested the herb on its own. Others paired it with black cohosh, another herb. Women reported less anxiety, low mood and irritability. These studies did not use hormones.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Nerve pain, bruises and sore muscles (oil rubbed on the skin)
  Early evidence — some clinical evidence for skin use, plus long folk use. The oil has a long folk history for nerve pain and bruising. Some clinical evidence supports putting it on the skin for pain. The tradition is much older and wider than the research.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Minor wounds and red, irritated skin (used on the skin)
  Early evidence — small or early human studies plus laboratory work. In lab studies, the oil calmed inflammation and slowed some germs. Some human evidence points to faster healing of minor wounds. Skin redness also went down in some of this work.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Poor sleep that comes with low mood
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — no sleep trials on file; reports from people in mood studies. The library holds no trial of this herb for sleep itself. People taking it for low mood often reported sleeping better. That change came as their mood lifted over the first few weeks.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T2
• Everyday anxiety and nervous tension
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — tradition and user reports; no human anxiety trial on file. Many people say the herb eases worry and edginess. The library holds no human trial of it for anxiety on its own. Any effect builds over weeks. It does not act in minutes, as anti-anxiety drugs can.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2

What St. John's wort has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to help severe depression, and the trials on file did not include it.
• It has not been shown to help depression with psychosis, such as hearing voices.
• It has not been shown to calm a sudden wave of panic within minutes, the way anti-anxiety drugs can.
• It has not been shown to reliably ease the physical parts of PMS, such as cramping.
• It has not been shown to help sleep problems that are not tied to low mood.

How to read this:

Grades here rate the evidence, not how strong the herb is. A means steady results in randomised human trials. B means one good human trial. C means small or early human studies. D means weak or mixed human evidence. Insufficient means lab work, animal work, or tradition only. This page lists options and reports what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a promise of results. St. John's wort reacts with many medicines, so talk with your doctor first.

What can it help prevent?

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Migraines

Which foods are rich in it?

St. John’s wort is not naturally present in food.

What are possible side effects?

Common side effects of St. John’s wort include dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, and increased sensitivity to sunlight.

What’s the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of St. John’s wort varies depending on the form and the individual, but a typical dose ranges from 300 to 600 milligrams per day.

How many days does it take to work?

The length of time it takes for St. John’s wort to work can vary depending on the individual and the condition being treated, but some people may experience improvement within a few days to a few weeks.

What time of day is best to take it?

The best time to take St. John’s wort is a matter of personal preference and can depend on individual circumstances.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

St. John’s wort can be taken with or without food.