St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a history of use as a medicine dating back to ancient Greece, where it was used for a range of illnesses, including various nervous disorders. St. John's wort also has antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been applied to the skin to help heal wounds and burns. St. John's wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States.
In recent years, St. John's wort has been studied extensively as a treatment for depression. Most studies show that St. John's wort may help treat mild-to-moderate depression, and has fewer side effects than most other prescription antidepressants. But it interacts with a number of medications, so it should be taken only under the guidance of a health care provider.
DO NOT use herbs to treat severe depression -- where you have trouble functioning day to day, or have thoughts of harming yourself or others. Always see a doctor if your depression is making it hard for you to function (See "Precautions" section).
There is good evidence that St. John's wort may reduce symptoms in people with mild-to-moderate, but not severe (or major) depression. In many studies it seems to work as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a popular type of antidepressant often prescribed to treat depression. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and sertraline (Zoloft). In addition, St. John's wort doesn't seem to cause loss of sex drive, one of the most common side effects of antidepressants.
St. John's wort contains several chemicals, including hypericin, hyperforin, and flavonoids. Researchers aren't exactly sure how St. John's wort works. Some have suggested that the herb acts similar to an SSRI, increasing the availability of the brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters help improve mood. Scientists thought that hypericin was responsible, but now they believe that other chemicals in St. John's wort may help.
Not all studies agree, however. In one study, St. John's wort was found to be no more effective than placebo for treating depression. But these studies should be weighed against the majority that have found St. John's wort helps depression. For example, in the same study, Zoloft also failed to show any benefit in treating depression. Many other studies have compared St. John's wort to Prozac, Celexa, paroxetine (Paxil), and Zoloft, and found that the herb works as well as the drugs. Other studies are ongoing.
St. John's wort has also shown promise in treating the following conditions, a few of which are related to depression.
St. John's wort is a shrubby plant with clusters of yellow flowers that have oval, elongated petals. Scientists believe it is native to Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, and the western United States. The plant gets its name because it is often in full bloom around June 24, the day traditionally celebrated as the birthday of John the Baptist. Both the flowers and leaves are used as medicine.
The best-studied active components are hypericin and pseudohypericin, found in both the leaves and flowers. However, researchers are not sure whether these components are responsible for St. John's wort's healing properties. Scientists are studying St. John's wort's essential oils and flavonoids.
St. John's wort can be obtained in many forms: capsules, tablets, tinctures, teas, and oil-based skin lotions. Chopped or powdered forms of the dried herb are also available. Most products are standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin.
Most studies on St. John's wort have been conducted in adults. However, one study (more than 100 children under age 12) indicated that St. John's wort may be a safe and effective way of treating mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression in children. Never give your child St. John's wort without medical supervision. Children who are being treated with St. John's wort should be carefully monitored for side effects, such as allergic reactions or upset stomach. You should not try to treat depression in a child without a doctor's help because depression can be a serious illness.
It may take 3 to 6 weeks to feel any effects from St. John's wort.
DO NOT stop taking St. John's wort all at once because that may cause unpleasant side effects. Gradually lower the dose before stopping.
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.
St. John's wort is often used to treat depression. If your depression is causing problems with your daily life, or you are having thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself or others, you need to see a doctor immediately. St. John's wort should not be used to treat severe depression.
You should see a doctor to make sure you have the right diagnosis before taking St. John's wort. Your doctor can help you determine the right dose and make sure you are not taking medications that might interact with St. John's wort.
Side effects from St. John's wort are generally mild and include stomach upset, hives or other skin rashes, fatigue, restlessness, headache, dry mouth, and feelings of dizziness or mental confusion. St. John's wort can also make the skin overly sensitive to sunlight, called photodermatitis. If you have light skin and are taking St. John's wort, wear long sleeves and a hat when in the sun, and use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 or higher. Avoid sunlamps, tanning booths, and tanning beds.
Other potential concerns about St. John's wort are that it may interfere with getting pregnant or make infertility worse; that it may make symptoms of ADD and ADHD worse, especially among people taking methylphenidate; that it may increase the risk of psychosis in people with schizophrenia; and that it may contribute to dementia in people with Alzheimer disease. More research is needed.
Since St. John's wort can interact with medications used during surgery, you should stop taking it at least 5 days or more before surgery. Make sure your doctor and surgeon know you are taking St. John's wort.
DO NOT take St. John's wort if you have bipolar disorder. For people with major depression, there's some concern that taking St. John's wort may increase the risk for mania.
Women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should not take St. John's wort.
St. John's wort interacts with a large number of medications. In most cases, St. John's wort makes the medication less effective. In other cases, St. John's wort may make the effects of a medication stronger.
If you are being treated with any medications, you should not use St. John's wort without first talking to your doctor. St. John's wort may interact with many different medications, including but not limited to the following:
St. John's wort may interact with medications used to treat depression or other mood disorders, including tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Taking St. John's wort with these medications tends to increase side effects, and could lead to a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. DO NOT take St. John's wort with other antidepressants, including:
St. John's wort may reduce levels of these drugs in the body, making them less effective:
Theoretically, taking St. John's wort along with clopidogrel may increase the risk of bleeding.
Taking St. John's wort at the same time as dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, can increase the risk of side effects, including serotonin syndrome.
St. John's wort may lower levels of the medication and make it less effective. DO NOT take St. John's wort if you take digoxin.
St. John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of these medications, which are taken after organ transplant, or to control autoimmune diseases. There have been many reports of cyclosporin blood levels dropping in those with a heart or kidney transplant, even leading to rejection of the transplanted organ.
St. John's wort appears to interact with at least two kinds of medications used to treat HIV and AIDS: protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that St. John's wort not be used with any type of antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV or AIDS.
There have been reports of breakthrough bleeding in women on birth control pills who were also taking St. John's wort. It is possible that the herb might make birth control pills less effective, leading to unplanned pregnancies.
This medication makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight. St. John's wort also increases skin sensitivity to light. Together, they may have a dangerous impact on skin sensitivity to the sun.
Based on animal studies, St. John's wort may interfere with reserpine's ability to treat high blood pressure.
St. John's wort can increase the effect of drugs that have a sedating effect, including:
St. John's wort may speed up the breakdown of Xanax in the body, making it less effective.
St. John's wort can lower levels of this medication in the blood. Theophylline is used to open the airways in people with asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.
St. John's wort can increase the risk of side effects, including serotonin syndrome, when taken with these medications:
St. John's wort reduces the effectiveness of warfarin, an anticoagulant (blood thinner).
Because St. John's wort is broken down by certain liver enzymes, it may interact with other drugs that are broken down by the same enzymes. Those drugs may include:
Ang-Lee MK, Moss J, Yuan CS. Herbal medicines and perioperative care. JAMA. 2001;286:208-216.
Apaydin EA, Maher AR, Shanman R, et al. A systematic review of St. John's wort for major depressive disorder. Syst Rev. 2016;5(1):148.
Beaubrun G, Gray GE. A review of herbal medicines for psychiatric disorders. Psychiatr Serv. 2000;51:1130-1134.
Biffignandi PM, Bilia AR. The growing knowledge of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L) drug interactions and their clinical significance. Curr Ther Res. 2000;61:389-394.
Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:359-366.
Breidenbach T, Hoffmann MW, Becker T, Schlitt H, Klempnauer J. Drug interaction with St. John's wort with cyclosporin. Lancet. 2000;355:576-577.
Breidenbach T, Kliem V, Burg M, Radermacher J, Hoffman MW, Klempnauer J. Profound drop of cyclosporin A whole blood trough levels caused by St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) [letter]. Transplantation. 2000;69:2229-2230.
Brenner R, Azbel V, Madhusoodanan S, Pawlowska M. Comparison of an extract of hypericum (LI 160) and sertraline in the treatment of depression: a double-blind, randomized pilot study. Clin Ther. 2000;22:411-419.
Briese V, Stammwitz U, Friede M, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH. Black cohosh with or without St. John's wort for symptom-specific climacteric treatment -- results of a large-scale, controlled, observational study. Maturitas. 2007;57:405-414.
Carai MAM, Agabio R, Bombardelli E, et al. Potential use of medicinal plants in the treatment of alcoholism. Fitoterapia. 2000;71:538-542.
Caraci F, Crupi R, Drago F, Spina E. Metabolic drug interactions between antidepressants and anticancer drugs: focus on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and hypericum extract. Curr Drug Metab. 2011;12(6):570-577.
Carpenter DJ. St. John's wort and S-adenosyl methionine as "natural" alternatives to conventional antidepressants in the era of the suicidality boxed warning: what is the evidence for clinically relevant benefit? Altern Med Rev. 2011;16:17-39.
Chung DJ, Kim HY, Park KH, et al. Black cohosh and St. John's wort (GYNO-Plus) for climacteric symptoms. Yonsei Med J. 2007;48:289-294.
De Smet P, Touw D. Safety of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) [letter]. Lancet. 2000;355:575-576.
Food and Drug Administration. Risk of Drug Interactions with St John's Wort and Indinavir and Other Drugs. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; February 10, 2000. Public Health Advisory.
Gaster B, Holroyd J. St. John's wort for depression. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:152-156.
Geller SE, Studee L. Botanical and dietary supplements for mood and anxiety in menopausal women. Menopause. 2007;14(3 Pt 1):541-549.
Harrer G. Hypericum and phototherapy. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 2000;89:2123-2129. Review.
Hubner W-D, Kirste T. Experience with St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in children under 12 years with symptoms of depression and psychovegetative disturbances. Phytother Res. 2001;15:367-370.
Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group. Effect of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;287:1807-1814.
Kasper S, Anghelescu IG, Szegedi A, Dienel A, Kieser M. Superior efficacy of St John's wort extract WS 5570 compared to placebo in patients with major depression: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial. BMC Med. 2006;4:14.
Kobak KA, Taylor LV, Bystritsky A, et al. St John's wort versus placebo in obsessive-compulsive disorder: results from a double-blind study. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005;20:299-304.
Kobak KA, Taylor LV, Warner G, Futterer R. St. John's wort versus placebo in social phobia: results from a placebo-controlled pilot study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005;25:51-58.
Kumar A, Singh A. Protective effect of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) extract on 72-hour sleep deprivation-induced anxiety-like behavior and oxidative damage in mice. Planta Med. 2007;73:1358-1364.
Linde K, Mulrow CD. St. John's wort for depression (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library. Issue 4, 2000. Oxford: Update Software.
Meinke MC, Schanzer S, Haag SF. In vivo photoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of hyperforin is associated with high antioxidant activity in vitro and ex vivo. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2012;81:346-350.
Mischoulon D. Update and critique of natural remedies as antidepressant treatments. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2007;30:51-68.
Morelli V, Zoorob RJ. Alternative therapies: Part 1. Depression, diabetes, obesity. Am Fam Phys. 2000;62:1051-1060.
Obach RS. Inhibition of human cytochrome P450 enzymes by constituents of St. John's wort, an herbal preparation in the treatment of depression. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2000;294:88-95.
Piscitelli S, Burstein AH, Chaitt D, et al. Indinavir concentrations and St. John's wort [letter]. Lancet. 2000;355:547-548.
Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine. Philadelphia, Penn:Hanley & Belfus, Inc. 2002:315-321.
Ruschitzka F, Meier PJ, Turina M, et al. Acute heart transplant rejection due to Saint John's wort [letter]. Lancet. 2000,355.
Sarino LV, Dang KH, Dianat N, et al. Drug interaction between oral contraceptives and St. John's wort: appropriateness of advice received from community pharmacists and health food store clerks. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2007;47:42-47.
Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:796-799.
Sarris J. St. John's wort for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2013;36:65-72.
Schempp CM, Winghofer B, Ludtke R, Simon-Haarhaus B, Shopp E, Simon JC. Topical application of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L) and of its metabolite hyperforin inhibits the allostimulatory capacity of epidermal cells. Br J Derm. 2000;142:979-984.
Schrader E. Equivalence of St John's wort extract (Ze 117) and fluoxetine: a randomized, controlled study in mild-moderate depression. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000;15:61-68.
Shelton RC, Keller MB, Gelenberg A, et al. Effectiveness of St. John's wort in major depression: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2001;285:1978-1986.
Sood A, Sood R, Brinker FJ, Mann R, Loehrer LL, Wahner-Roedler DL. Potential for interactions between dietary supplements and prescription medications. Am J Med. 2008;121:207-211.
Stevinson C, Ernst E. A pilot study of Hypericum perforatum for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2000;107:870-876.
Volz HP, Laux P. Potential treatment for subthreshold and mild depression: a comparison of St. John's wort extracts and fluoxetine. Comp Psych. 2000;41(2 Suppl 1):133-137.
Warshowsky A. Uterine fibroids (Leiomyomata). In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 55.
Woelk H, for the Remotiv/Imipramine Study Group. Comparison of St. John's wort and imipramine for treating depression: randomized controlled trial. BMJ. 2000;321:536-539.
Yue Q, Bergquist C, Gerden B. Safety of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) [letter]. Lancet. 2000;355:576-577.
Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. |
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.