St. John's Wort - Herb for this Lunar Cycle

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Botanical Name:

Hypericum perforatum L.

Common Names:

St. John’s Wort, Goatweed, Klamath Weed, Tipton’s Weed

Family:

Hypericaceae

Plant Description:

St. John’s Wort is a perennial herb native to Europe and Asia, now widespread in temperate regions globally. It grows 1–3 feet tall, with opposite, oval leaves containing translucent dots (“perforations”) visible when held to light. It produces clusters of bright yellow, five-petaled flowers, typically blooming around the summer solstice (St. John’s Day).

Parts Used:

Aerial parts (flowering tops), preferably harvested at full bloom

Constituents:

• Naphthodianthrones: Hypericin, pseudohypericin

• Phloroglucinols: Hyperforin (key active compound)

• Flavonoids: Rutin, quercetin, kaempferol

• Tannins

• Essential oils

Traditional Uses:

• Mood and nervous system support: Traditionally used to calm nerves, ease sadness, and relieve tension
  (Weiss, 1988)

• Wound healing: Applied topically for cuts, burns, and nerve pain
  (Hoffmann, 2003)

• Digestive aid: Used historically to relieve gastrointestinal complaints
  (Mills & Bone, 2000)

Modern Herbal Uses:

1. Mild to Moderate Depression

• Numerous clinical trials support its use in treating mild to moderate depressive disorders, with effectiveness comparable to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in many cases
  (Linde et al., 2008; Ng et al., 2017)

2. Anxiety, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and Nervous Tension

• Often used for general mood regulation, nervous irritability, and seasonal mood imbalance

3. Topical Use for Wound and Nerve Pain

• Oils and salves used externally for neuralgia, sciatica, burns, and wounds; thought to support nerve regeneration
  (Hoffmann, 2003)

Pharmacological Actions:

• Antidepressant (likely via inhibition of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine reuptake)

• Anxiolytic

• Anti-inflammatory

• Antiviral

• Vulnerary (wound healing)

• Nervine

Dosage (Traditional and Clinical Use):

• Standardized extract (internal):
  300 mg standardized to 0.3% hypericin and/or 2–5% hyperforin, taken 2–3 times daily

• Tincture: 1:5 in 40% alcohol, 2–5 mL up to 3 times daily

• Infusion: 1–2 tsp dried herb per cup of water, steeped 10–15 minutes, up to 2–3 times daily

• Topical oil: Applied 2–3 times daily to affected area

(Clinical depression should always be managed under medical supervision.)

Safety and Contraindications:

• Safety class: 2d (use with caution; significant drug interactions possible)
  (American Herbal Products Association, 2003)

Cautions:

• Can cause photosensitivity, especially in fair-skinned individuals at high doses

• Not for use in severe depression without professional guidance

• May interfere with many medications via induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes (notably CYP3A4) and P-glycoprotein

Major Drug Interactions:

St. John’s Wort may reduce effectiveness of the following:

• Oral contraceptives

• Antiretrovirals (e.g., for HIV)

• Immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclosporine)

• Anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin)

• Chemotherapeutics

• SSRIs and other antidepressants (risk of serotonin syndrome)

Always consult a physician or pharmacist before combining with pharmaceuticals.

References:

1. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press.

2. Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2000). Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Churchill Livingstone.

3. Weiss, R. F. (1988). Herbal Medicine (trans. Meuss, A.R.). Beaconsfield Publishers.

4. Linde, K., Berner, M. M., & Kriston, L. (2008). “St John's wort for major depression.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4:CD000448.

5. Ng, Q. X., Venkatanarayanan, N., & Ho, C. Y. (2017). “Clinical use of Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort) in depression: A meta-analysis.” Journal of Affective Disorders, 210, 211–221.

6. American Herbal Products Association (2003). Botanical Safety Handbook, 2nd Edition.