St. John’s Wort, known scientifically as Hypericum perforatum, is a flowering plant from the Hypericum genus and has been used as a medicinal herb for its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties for over 2,000 years. Greek physicians in the 1st century recommended the use of St. John’s Wort for its medicinal value and believed the plant had mystical and protective qualities.
The uses of St. John’s Wort, dating back to ancient Greece, include treatment for various nervous disorders or mood disorders.
St. John’s Wort is most commonly used as a natural remedy for depression and other common issues such as anxiety, fatigue, loss of appetite, and sleep problems. It is also used to treat heart palpitations, mood disorders, ADHD symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and menopause.
What is St. John’s Wort?
The Hypericum genus consists of approximately 400 species of herbs and shrubs that have yellow or reddish flowers with four to five petals, numerous stamens, and a single pistil. The flowers of the plants are used to make extracts, capsules, and teas that possess therapeutic properties.
Pharmaceutical companies, especially in Europe, prepare standardized formulations of this plant that are consumed by millions of people. Today, annual global sales of products made from St. John’s Wort exceed several billion dollars!
St. John’s Wort produces dozens of biologically active substances, but two compounds found in the plant, hypericin and hyperforin, have the highest medical activity. Other compounds, including the flavonoids rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol, also appear to have medical activity.
7 Proven Uses and Health Benefits of St. John’s Wort
1. Acts as an Antidepressant
Many studies show that St. John’s Wort can help combat mild to moderate depression and anxiety and has fewer side effects than most other antidepressants. However, there are drug interactions with St. John’s Wort, so the plant should be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional, especially if you are already taking medication for depression.
Researchers are not exactly sure how St. John’s Wort works for depression; some have suggested that the plant acts similarly to an SSRI, as it increases the availability of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain. These neurotransmitters help improve mood and may be responsible for alleviating symptoms of depression.
The uses of St. John’s Wort include improving mood in people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs in winter months due to lack of sunlight. This is usually treated with light therapy, and there is some evidence that using St. John’s Wort along with phototherapy works even better as a way to overcome seasonal affective disorder.
2. Alleviates Premenstrual Symptoms
Due to its positive effects on mood, St. John’s Wort has been used to naturally alleviate and remedy premenstrual symptoms such as depression, chronic fatigue, and hormonal imbalance.
Researchers have reported that daily treatment with St. John’s Wort was more effective than placebo for the most common physical and behavioral symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome.
3. Improves Mood During Menopause
The uses of St. John’s Wort include testing as a herbal remedy that alleviates the psychological and vegetative symptoms of menopause. A study published in Advances in Therapy and conducted in Berlin investigated 12 weeks of treatment with St. John’s Wort; 111 women aged between 43 and 65 took a 900-milligram tablet three times a day. All participants exhibited characteristic pre- and post-menopausal symptoms.
The treatment outcome was evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale, a self-designed questionnaire, and the Clinical Global Impression scale. To test the results, the incidence and severity of typical psychological, psychosomatic, and vasomotor symptoms were recorded after five, eight, and 12 weeks of treatment.
A substantial improvement in psychological and psychosomatic symptoms was observed, with these symptoms diminishing or completely disappearing in 76% of women.
4. Fights Inflammation and Skin Irritations
St. John’s Wort has antibacterial properties and can also help combat inflammation, which is at the root of most diseases. When applied topically, it alleviates symptoms associated with minor wounds and skin irritations, functioning as a natural treatment for eczema, a home remedy for relieving burns, and a way to treat hemorrhoids naturally.
St. John’s Wort exhibits anti-inflammatory properties due to its inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory genes such as cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. These genes play a critical role in chronic inflammatory diseases.
St. John’s Wort extracts have been used for thousands of years to treat cuts and abrasions. Its utility in reducing inflammation is well-known and seems to be linked to its ability to serve as an antibacterial agent.
5. Alleviates Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder in which people perform certain routines repeatedly and are unable to control their thoughts or activities. This can be a debilitating condition, so data suggesting the positive effects of St. John’s Wort are indeed promising.
A study conducted at the Dean Foundation for Health Research and Education analyzed 12 patients diagnosed with OCD; participants were treated for 12 weeks with a fixed dose of 450 milligrams of 0.3% St. John’s Wort twice a day. The study included weekly evaluations conducted with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, the Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale, and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement scale, along with a monthly assessment using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
Significant changes occurred within a week and continued to increase throughout the process. By the end, five of the 12 patients were rated with a significant improvement on the CGI assessed by the clinician, while three were rated with minimal improvement, and one showed no change. The most commonly reported side effects were diarrhea and restless sleep. Since improvement began within a week and increased over time, researchers believe that St. John’s Wort may be a useful tool in treating OCD and that more controlled studies should take place in the future.
6. Has Anti-Cancer Properties
Researchers have found that St. John’s Wort stops the growth of tumor cells and can treat both non-melanoma skin cancer cells and melanoma. Since St. John’s Wort has been shown to have significant anti-tumor activity, researchers suggest it is an effective treatment for combating cancer, readily available as it is a natural plant accessible to anyone.
Data from a study conducted in Spain indicates that hyperforin, a derivative found in St. John’s Wort, is a compound that interferes with key events in angiogenesis—the formation and growth of blood vessels. This confirms recent and growing evidence of a potential role for this compound in cancer treatment and inhibition of metastasis, making it a promising drug for further evaluation in the treatment of angiogenesis-related pathologies.
7. May Support Smoking Cessation
A systematic review conducted in Canada found that St. John’s Wort may promote smoking cessation by alleviating withdrawal symptoms from tobacco and reducing negative effects through various mechanisms. Researchers suggest that the plant is capable of inhibiting monoamine oxidase A and B and is involved in the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. These actions help reduce symptoms associated with quitting smoking.
Dosage and Usage
St. John’s Wort can be obtained from your local health food store in several forms, including capsules, tablets, tinctures, teas, and oil-based lotions for the skin. You can also find St. John’s Wort in powdered or ground form.
Most products are standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, but be sure to read the label before purchasing. Herbal supplements are not regulated, so you need to ensure you are taking the right product for your needs.
How long should St. John’s Wort be taken? Generally, it takes several weeks to a few months to feel the benefits of St. John’s Wort, so be patient and do not increase the dose without consulting your doctor first.
For Children
Most studies on St. John’s Wort have been conducted on adults, but one study involving over 100 children under the age of 12 indicated that St. John’s Wort can be a safe and effective way to treat mild to moderate depression symptoms in children.
If you are considering giving your child St. John’s Wort to treat depression, you should consult a doctor first. Children treated with St. John’s Wort should be closely monitored for allergic reactions and side effects such as diarrhea and upset stomach.
For Adults
For adults, the standard dose in capsule form is 300 milligrams three times a day with meals. You should consult your doctor before taking more than the standard dose of St. John’s Wort. To improve a specific condition, you may benefit from the following recommended doses (under the guidance of your doctor):
For anxiety, take 300 milligrams of St. John’s Wort three times a day.
For mild to moderate depression, take 300 milligrams three times a day with meals.
For severe depression, take approximately 900 milligrams of St. John’s Wort daily for eight to 12 weeks (with your doctor’s approval!).
For psoriasis, apply St. John’s Wort ointment twice a day to the skin for four weeks.
For wound healing, use 20% St. John’s Wort in petroleum jelly on the affected skin three times a day for 16 days.
For menopause symptoms, take 300 milligrams once a day for 12 weeks.
For premenstrual syndrome, take 300-900 milligrams of St. John’s Wort daily for two menstrual cycles.
For irritable bowel syndrome, take 450 milligrams twice a day for 12 weeks.
For obsessive-compulsive disorder, take 450-900 milligrams for 12 weeks.
If you take a dose higher than 300 milligrams three times a day, consult your doctor first. It is also best to gradually reduce the dose over time rather than stopping treatment abruptly.
