> Supplement Index > St. John‘s Wort / Hypericum perforatum > St. John‘s Wort General Information St. John‘s Wort Uses & Scientific Evidence For St. John‘s Wort Dosage Information St. John‘s Wort Safety & Interaction Information Buy St. John‘s Wort Supplements - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - St. John‘s Wort General Information St. John’s Wort is a yellow perennial herb that grows wild in much of the world. During the Middle Ages, this herb was used to “cast out demons,” most likely an antiquated description of curing mental illness. In the 1800s, St. John’s Wort was used to treat “nervous disorders.” By the 1900s, it was prescribed for depression. St. John’s Wort is one of the most highly documented herbal treatments with a scientific record that rivals many prescription drugs. In Germany, this herb is a prescription antidepressant. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - St. John‘s Wort Uses & Scientific Evidence For St. John’s Wort is mainly used for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. It can also be used for chronic insomnia and anxiety related to depression. St. John’s Wort may also be effective in relieving seasonal affective disorder (SAD). - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - St. John‘s Wort Dosage Information St. John’s Wort extract is usually standardized to the substance hypercin. The recommended dose of St. John’s Wort is 300 mg 3 times a day of an extract standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin; however, a few new products on the market are standardized to hyperforin content of 2 to 3%, instead of hypercin, and should be taken at the same dosage. If the herb bothers you, take it with food. It can take four weeks of usage to receive the full benefits of St. John’s Wort. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - - St. John‘s Wort Safety & Interaction Information If you are taking antidepressant drugs, MAO inhibitors, SSRIs, and tricylics, or the drugs Tramadol or Imitrex, do not use St. John’s Wort at the same time. Let your system completely flush those drugs out of your system before starting with the herb. If you are using Digoxin, cyclosporine, protease, inhibitors, oral contraceptives, amitriptyline, Coumadin (warfarin), theophylline, chemotherapy drugs, olanzapine or closapine, or any critical medicaton, St. John’s Wort may cause the drugs to be less effective. St. John’s Wort may have an additive effect if you are taking medications that cause sun sensitivity such as sulfa drugs, and the anti-inflammatory medicaton Feldene (piroxicam), as well as Prilosec or Prevacid. - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Top - - - - - - - - - - - Buy St. John‘s Wort Supplements Below