TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Feature Story
Don't Let the Winter Blues Get You Down

Breaking News
Seniors: Stress Less for Better Blood Pressure

Checklist
Useful Herbs & Supplements

Cooking Corner
Chili Rellenos

Vitamins & Minerals
Ease Your Heart with E

Herbal Remedies
Herbal Treatments for Depression: St. John's Wort

Everyday Answers
Natural Ways to Prevent Dry Skin in the Winter

More Health Info & Answers

CNCA Home Page Newsletter Archive Forward To A Friend

"I have just discovered your newsletter. It is great!"
- Doreen Stevens

Your Feedback Is this useful? Yes   No  We value your comments:

More Health Info & Answers

Parts used and where grown
St. John's wort is found in Europe and the United States. It is especially abundant in northern California and southern Oregon. The above-ground (aerial) parts of the plant are gathered during the flowering season.

Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies)
In ancient Greece, St. John’s wort was used to treat many ailments, including sciatica and poisonous reptile bites. In Europe, St. John's wort was used by herbalists for the topical treatment of wounds and burns. It is also a folk remedy for kidney and lung ailments as well as for depression.

Active constituents
The major constituents in St. John's wort include hypericin and other dianthrones, flavonoids, xanthones, and hyperforin. While it was previously thought the antidepressant actions of St. John’s wort were due to hypericin and the inhibition of the enzyme monoamine oxidase, current research has challenged this belief, focusing on other constituents, such as hyperforin, and flavonoids. Test tube studies suggest that St. John's wort extracts may exert their antidepressant actions by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This action is possibly due to the constituent hyperforin. St. John’s wort is able to act as an antidepressant, by making more of these neurotransmitters available to the brain.

How much is usually taken?
The standard recommendation for mild to moderate depression is 500–1,050 mg of St. John's wort extract per day. Results may be noted as early as two weeks. Length of use should be discussed with a healthcare professional. For more severe depression, higher intakes may be used, under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
St. John's wort has a low incidence of side effects compared to prescription antidepressants. An adverse events profile of St. John's wort found that, of 14 controlled clinical trials, seven reported no adverse reactions, two had no information, and five reported a total of seven mild reactions. Adverse effects reported included stomach upset, fatigue, itching, sleep disturbance, and skin rash. The rate of adverse reactions was always similar to that of the placebo. Additionally, in seven trials comparing St. John's wort with other antidepressants, the adverse reaction rate for St. John's wort was consistently lower than that of the antidepressant drugs with which it was compared.

St. John's wort can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, fair-skinned people should be alert for any rashes or burns following exposure to the sun. Three cases of severe blistering and burns were reported in people taking St. John's wort internally or applying it topically and then being exposed to sunlight. There is a case report of a woman experiencing neuropathy (nerve injury and pain) in sun-exposed skin areas after taking 500 mg of whole St. John's wort for four weeks. Although St. John's wort has photosensitizing properties, the severity of this reaction is not typical for people taking the herb.

People with a history of manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder) or a less severe condition known as hypomania, should avoid use of St. John's wort as it may trigger a manic episode.

There is a single case report in which ingestion of St. John's wort appeared to cause high blood pressure in a 56-year-old man. The blood pressure returned to normal when the herb was discontinued.

Are there any drug interactions?
Certain medicines may interact with St. John's wort.

Caution: It is likely that there are many drug interactions with St. John's wort that have not yet been identified. St. John's wort stimulates a drug-metabolizing enzyme (cytochrome P450 3A4) that metabolizes at least 50% of the drugs on the market. Consequently, St. John's wort could potentially interfere with a large number of medications. Individuals taking any medication should, therefore, consult with a physician before taking St. John's wort.

Table of Contents

Supplements from CNCA

Forward This Newsletter

Save 10-20% on our Monthly Special

CNCA Home Page

Newsletter Archive and Sign-up

Copyright © 2008 Aisle7. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Aisle7 content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Aisle7. Healthnotes Newsletter is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Aisle7 shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. AISLE7 is a registered trademark of Aisle7.

The statements above have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition, including cancer.