Latin Name: Hypericum perforatum
Family: Hypericaceae
Part used: The herb
Energetics: Bitter, sweet, astringent, cold dry.
Iris: All types.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider
Safe alongside Herb
- Aciclovir
- Acitretin
- Betamethasone
- Buspirone hydrochloride
- Caffeine
- Carbamazepine
- Clopidogrel
- Cortisone
- Dacarbazine
- Debrisoquin
- Dexamethasone
- Dextromethorphan
- Ellipticine
- Gabapentin
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Glyburide
- Hydrocortisone
- Ibuprofen
- Idarubicin
- Indisulam
- Isotretinoin
- Levothyroxine
- Meloxicam
- Methylprednisolone
- Midazolam
- Mycophenolate mofetil
- Mycophenolate sodium
- Mycophenolic acid
- Phenelzine
- Pravastatin
- Prednisolone
- Quazepam
- Tegafur
- Thalidomide
- Theophylline
- Tolbutamide
- Triamcinolone acetonide
- Vadimezan
- Zidovudine
Unsure alongside Herb
- Prescribe with caution as interactions are inconclusive.
- Agomelatine
- Bupropion
- Clomipramine
- Glibenclamide
- Gliclazide
- Methylphenidate
- Naltrexone
- Nortriptyline
- Phenprocoumon
- Rosiglitazone
- Sertraline
- Sildenafil
- Simvastatin
- Tramadol hydrochloride
- Voriconazole
- Warfarin
Avoid alongside Herb
- Actinomycin D
- Alprazolam
- Aminoflavone
- Amitriptyline
- Anastrozole
- Apixaban
- Aplidine
- Atorvastatin
- Bisantrene
- Bortezomib
- Busulfan
- Chlorzoxazone
- Ciclosporin
- Citalopram
- Colchicine
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cytarabine
- Dabigatran etexilate
- Dasatinib
- Daunorubicin
- Desvenlafaxine
- Diazepam
- Digoxin
- Docetaxel
- Doxorubicin
- Duloxetine
- Erlotinib
- Erythromycin
- Esomeprazole
- Etoposide
- Etravirine
- Fexofenadine
- Fluoxetine
- Gefitinib
- Gimatecan
- Ifosfamide
- Imatinib
- Imipramine
- Indinavir
- Ingenol-3-angelate
- Irinotecan
- Ivabradine
- Lamivudine
- Laromustine
- Letrozole
- Mephenytoin
- Methadone
- Methotrexate
- Methoxymorpholinyl doxorubicin
- Mitomycin C
- Mitoxantrone
- Mofarotene
- Nemorubicin
- Nevirapine
- Nifedipine
- Oestradiol, estradiol
- Omeprazole
- Oxycodone
- Paclitaxel
- Paroxetine
- Quetiapine
- Ritonavir
- Rivaroxaban
- Seliciclib
- Sorafenib
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Talinolol
- Tamoxifen
- Teniposide
- Thiocoraline
- Tipifarnib
- Topotecan
- Trabectedin
- Tretinoin
- Triazolam
- Valspodar
- Venlafaxine hydrochloride
- Verapamil
- Vinblastine sulfate
- Vincristine sulfate
- Vindesine
- Vinorelbine
- Zolpidem
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- Pregnant or nursing women
- Oral contraceptives
- Prescription antidepressants
- Cardiovascular drugs e.g warfarin, Calcium channel blockers, Cardiac glycosides, Beta blockers.
- If undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, antiretroviral therapy, immunosuppressive therapy, and anticoagulant therapy. May cause photosensitivity.
- Anticoagulants (drugs that thin the blood).
- Digoxin (for heart failure).
- “The Pill” (14 cases of unwanted pregnancies).
- Statins (drugs that lower cholesterol).
- Cyclosporine (immunosuppressant for autoimmune conditions and anti-rejection for organ transplant).
- Protease inhibitors (anti-retroviral in AIDS / HIV).
- SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors): Fluoxetine, Paroxitine, Citalepram (Cipramil).
-
Tricyclic antidepressants: amitryptilene, dosulepin, clomiprami.
-
MAOIs (Mono-Amine Oxidase Inhibitors) – antidepressants, not commonly used.
-
Serotonin supplements & precursors (incl. 5HTP).
- Can catalyze mania, palpitations, suicidal tendencies (serotonin syndrome).
ACTIONS
- Alterative
- Astringent
- Anti-bacterial (H. pylori)
- Anti-viral
- Anti-neoplastic
- Cardio-tonic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Relaxing nervine
- Analgesic
- Anthelmintic
- Anti-galactagogue
- Diuretic
- Antidepressant
- Sedative
- Antispasmodic
Main Constituents
- Flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin)
- Hypericin
- Pseudohypericin
- Phloroglucinols (hyperforin and adhyperforin)
- Essential oil
- Dopamine
- Noradrenaline
- Melatonin
- Salicin
- Sterols
- Minerals: Fe, Cr, Mg, Mn, K, Zn.
Main Uses
Digestive System: Painful piles, GI ulcers
External Use: Puncture wounds, Bites, After vaccinations
Bacterial, Viral and Fungal Infections: Thread worms
Integumentary System: Dermal herpes
Teeth: Reduces pain of dental extractions
Mental/Emotional: Anxiety, Depression, Stress, OCD, Panic, SAD syndrome
Nervous system: Neuralgia, Sciatica, Tingling hands and feet, Injuries to parts rich in nerve endings, Shooting, Stitching pains
Musculo-Skeletal System: Spinal damage, Post-operative pain, Pain in coccyx, Physical shock
Endocrine: Menopausal nervousness, Menstrual cramps, Insomnia
Reproductive System: Prostate spasms
More About St. John’s Wort
Traditional Use:
St John's wort is an excellent remedy for topical first aid use, as an ointment, compress, wash and oil.
For nerve pain and shingles it is always better if an external application is also supported by internal use.
This herb is a gentle remedy especially suited to children and the elderly. It is anti-inflammatory, analgesic and vulnerary, and is one of the best remedies for treating burns, ulcers and wounds presenting inflammation and pain.
It nourishes and supports the nervous system and is useful in spasms, nervous tension and depression, due to its restorative effect - promoting relaxation and recuperation of the energies and spirit.
St. John’s Wort is great for lower nerve issues, such as sciatica. It also has a strong effect on the bladder and can help in cases of difficult, painful urination especially arising from nerve issues around the bladder. It can address incontinence and bed-wetting.
A fantastic antiviral herb, as the Hypericin may interfere with the reproduction of retroviruses, therefore inhibiting HIV. Effective against Influenza, Herpes, Hepatitis B and C.
Recipes:
St. John's Wort Tea
Ingredients:
- 1-2 teaspoons of dried St. John's Wort flowers and leaves (or a St. John's Wort tea bag)
- 1 cup of boiling water
- Honey or lemon (optional, for flavor)
Instructions:
- Boil water and allow it to cool slightly, so it's hot but not boiling.
- Place the dried St. John's Wort flowers and leaves or a St. John's Wort tea bag in a cup.
- Pour the hot water over the St. John's Wort.
- Cover and steep for about 5-10 minutes.
- If desired, you can sweeten the tea with honey or add a splash of lemon for flavor.
- Drink the tea while it's still warm.
Important Note: As with all herbal remedies, it's crucial to consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using St. John's Wort, especially if you are taking other medications or have underlying health conditions.
Drug-Nutrient Interactions
With Special Thanks to Mark Kerin
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References
Depression
Clinical use of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) in depression: A meta-analysis.
27 clinical trials with a total of 3808 patients were reviewed. St John’s wort had comparable efficacy as SSRIs for mild-moderate depression.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28064110/
Depression
Hypericum perforatum in the treatment of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders: Current evidence and potential mechanisms of action.
St. John's wort may exert potent antidepressant effects and represents an efficacious and safe treatment.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30461013/
Alzheimer’s disease
Neurobiological effects of Hyperforin and its potential in Alzheimer's disease therapy.
However, hyperforin has been shown to have cognitive enhancing and memory facilitating properties. Importantly, it has been shown to have neuroprotective effects against Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30461013/
Neuropathic pain, antihyperalgesic
St. John's Wort reduces neuropathic pain through a hypericin-mediated inhibition of the protein kinase Cgamma and epsilon activity.
Our results indicate SJW as a prolonged antihyperalgesic treatment through inhibition of PKC isoforms and their phosphorylation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20045676/
Depression
Acute treatment of moderate to severe depression with hypericum extract WS 5570 (St John's wort): randomised controlled double blind non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine.
In the treatment of moderate to severe major depression, hypericum extract WS 5570 is at least as effective as paroxetine and is better tolerated.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15708844/