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“It is normal to experience feelings of depression for short periods of time. However, prolonged or unexplained depression should be examined and treated. St. John’s Wort has been proven to be quite effective for mild to moderate depression, acting as a mood enhancer.”

(Mark Stengler, Mark, ND, The Natural Physician, alive books, 1997.)

St. John’s Wort is a shrubby perennial plant with yellow flowers that on closer inspection are covered in small dark dots that stain your finger if rubbed. In Christian folklore it was thought that the dots appeared on the anniversary of the beheading of John, thus the name. The Greek physician Dioscorides recommended it for numerous maladies including sciatica and snake bites.

Antibacterial and Antiviral
St. John’s Wort has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Ointments made from St. John’s Wort have long been used for burns, bites and other wounds. Now the antiviral activity of St. John’s Wort is being studied as a treatment for HIV infection. The major antiviral factors are hypericin and pseudohypericin. “Experimental studies have found that these constituents exhibit strong antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (the viruses that cause herpes sores on the mouth and genitals) and two different flu viruses (influenza virus types A and B).” ( Brown, Donald J. Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health. Prima Publishing. 1996.)

We recommend checking with your knowledgeable health professional for correct dosages before self-medicating

Lightens Mood Naturally and Safely
It is the antidepressant activity of St. John’s Wort that is grabbing most of the attention. Eminent European physician Rudolf Fritz Weis recommends it for the treatment of restlessness, anxiety and depressive moods. “It was found that it had not only a sedative effect but specifically antidepressant properties. St. John’s Wort has therefore justifiably made a place for itself in the treatment of depressive illness. It should be remembered that these are chronic conditions, requiring treatment over a very long period of time. The mood-lightening effect does not develop quickly- it is necessary to give the drug not just for weeks, but probably for two or three months. The first effects will usually be noted after two or three weeks.” (Weiss, Rudolf Fritz. Herbal Medicine. AB Arcanum, Gothenburg, Sweden. Beaconsfield Publishers, Beaconsfield, England. 1994.)

Recent Studies Conclude
St. John’s Wort has few of the debilitating side-effects of most antidepressants. A double-blind study demonstrated the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort to treat mild to moderate depression. A group of 105 patients were given 300 milligrams of St. John’s Wort extract three times a day or a placebo. They were evaluated at the beginning of the study, and two and four weeks later. At the end of four weeks 67% of the treatment group had responded positively to St. John’s Wort in contrast to only 28% of the placebo group. Within two weeks the group taking St. John’s Wort had fewer feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. They also slept better.
The authors noted that St. John’s Wort has a good balance between effectiveness and side effects. “The therapeutic value of an antidepressant does not only depend on its antidepressive effects, but also on the type and extent of the side effects occurring in the treatment … because the best preparation is useless if the patient refuses to take it regularly … the Hypericum preparations were found to have an antidepression effect in the treatment of mild and moderate depressions which can be compared to the therapeutic effect of traditional antidepressants, and did not cause any undesirable side effects.” (Harrer, G. and Sommer, H., “Treatment of mild/moderate depressions with Hypericum.” Phytomedicine, vol. 1. 1994.)
Rudolf Fritz Weiss, author of Herbal Medicine, comments on the use of St. John’ Wort for enuresis or bedwetting in children: “St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum, acts via the nervous system in the treatment of bedwetting.”(Weiss, Rudolf Fritz. Herbal Medicine. AB Arcanum, Gothenburg, Sweden. Beaconsfield Publishers, Beaconsfield, England. 1994.) He suggests ruling out organic cause for the problem before using St. John’s Wort.

The Actives That Make It Work
Although it has a complex chemical profile, two compounds in St. John’s Wort stand out - hypericin and psedohypericin. Both have clinically proven antidepressant and antiviral activity. In fact quality extracts are standardized to hypericin levels. As with most herbal medicines one or two compounds do not act alone. St. John’s Wort is no exception and contains quercetin, tannins, pectin and choline.

Safety of St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort may cause photosensitivity in some people. The very fair-skinned and those with known photosensitivity should be cautious of the sun or tanning beds while taking St. John’s Wort.
Do the cautions for MAO inhibitors apply to St. John’s Wort? The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia downplays that concern: “Tyramine-containing foods and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac® are contraindicated with MAO inhibitors. However, reports of in vivo MAO inhibition with Hypericum are lacking. Considering its widespread use throughout Europe and a lack of reported side-effects in numerous studies, it is unlikely that negative interactions with these substances will occur with Hypericum use.” (American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium, “St. John’s Wort: Hypericum perforatum. Quality Control, Analytical and Therapeutic Monograph.” HerbalGram No. 40, Summer 1997.)

     Herbal Factors has produced a standardized extract of St. John's Wort with the same potency as in clinical studies - 300 mg. of 0.3% Hypericin.

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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Please see a qualified healthcare professional if you have questions about your health.