St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum
St. John's Wort (Leaves & Flowers) SUA
3% Hypericin
 It
can so improve one's attitude, that in ancient tradition, it was thought
to ward off evil. Phytonutrients hypericin and pseudo-hypericin inhibit
enveloped viruses. Reduces anxiety, depression and feelings of worthlessness.
Inspires ambition, careful thought and positive attitude. Useful in
ulcers, menstrual cramps, correcting irregular menstruation, nightmares/restless
sleep, bed-wetting, wound and burn healing. Kidney and urinary tonic.
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Expels excess bronchial mucous.
Helps the body dissolve and remove congealed blood from bruises and
injuries.
Flavonoids & Tannins - Quercetin, Hyperoside, Rutin & Catechins,
Anthraquinones including the Glycoside Pseudohypericin, plus Xanthrones,
Monoterpenes, Sesquiterpenes & Beta Sitosterol.
Pycnogenols (Grape Seed, Grape Skin, Persimmon & Pine Bark) (See also
Cranberry and Bilberry) France, Italy, Germany & USA Also referred to as:
Proanthocyanicides, Proanthocyanidins, Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs),
Proanthocyanidolic Oligomers (PCOs), Anthocyanicides, Anthocyanidins.
Many times the antioxidant power of vitamins C & E. Important for
cellular longevity. Pycnogenols are a class of bioflavonoid phytonutrients found
in many plants and fruits. Each source offers slight variances in advantage for
particular uses. Benefits include overall youthful well-being, dramatically
improved utilization of vitamin C, increased energy and capillary strength,
decreased allergic reactions and reduced recovery time from illness, stress or
exertion. Super-synergist with vitamin C, bioflavonoids and bilberry
anthocyanidins for collagen synthesis for reduced skin wrinkles and firm
youthful over all structure. Especially valuable antioxidant for protection of
brain tissue and preservation of youthful mental activity.
St. John?s Wort
Description
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St. John?s wort (also called Klamath weed)
is a five-petaled yellow flower, which is especially plentiful in Northern
California and Southern Oregon. The ?St. John?s? name comes from the red
color of the extract (from squeezed buds and flowers), which was associated
with the blood of St. John the Baptist and the fact that the herb typically
flower around the time of the feast of St. John. St. John?s wort has been
used since ancient times for everything from a ?protector against evil
spirits? (depression) and for wound healing to its most common present-day
use as an antidepressant. The active ingredients in St. John?s wort extract
are unknown, but extracts standardized to contain napthodianthrone compounds
such as hypericin and pseudohypericin along with phloroglucinols such as
hyperforin and adhyperforin are known to be effective in alleviating mild to
moderate depressive symptoms (see below). St. John?s wort also contains
various flavonoids and proanthocyanidin polymers. |
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Claims
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- Eases symptoms of mild to moderate depression
- Stabilizes mood, including seasonal mood changes
- Increase energy levels (in some people)
- Controls appetite and Promotes weight loss (in some
people)
- Improves tolerance to stress
- Improves sleep patterns in older people (caution: can
interfere with sleep in some people)
- Aids in wound healing and in resistance to viral
infection when applied topically
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Theory
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As an antidepressant, St. John?s wort has been shown to inhibit
an enzyme (catechol-O-methyltransferase) which degrades certain
neurotransmitters such as dopamine. It has also been shown to inhibit
serotonin re-uptake in the brain, and to reduce expression of interleukin-6
and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)
uptake. Each of these actions can contribute to alleviating depression
by slowing the recycling of neurotransmitters needed for maintaining
emotional balance. As an anti-viral agent, St. John?s wort has been
reputed to inhibit replication of several viruses, including the
Herpes simplex, HIV, and the virus that causes mononucleosis. |
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Scientific Support
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Several clinical studies have been
conducted to determine the efficacy of St. John?s wort for those with mild
to moderate depression. In one review of 23 randomized trials including
nearly 2,000 patients with mild or moderate depressive disorders, 15 were
placebo-controlled, and 8 compared the herb with a drug treatment. Extracts
of St. John?s wort were nearly 3 times more effective than placebo, and were
comparable to prescription anti-depressants (with fewer side effects).
Across the studies, fewer than 1% of those taking St. John?s wort dropped
out of the study, compared with a drop-out rate of 3% taking a prescription
anti-depressant. Perhaps the most encouraging results were that in contrast
to the high percentage of side effects (52.8%) in those taking prescription
anti-depressants, only 19.8% of those taking St. John?s wort experienced any
adverse effects. Other well-controlled studies comparing the St. John?s wort
extract LI 160 (from Lichtwer Pharma) to prescription anti-depressants such
as Prozac (fluoxetine), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), imipramine,
amitriptyline and maprotiline have all found St. John?s wort to be
comparable in effectiveness, but superior to prescription drugs with regard
to tolerability. Overall, more than a dozen double-blind placebo-controlled
studies have been conducted (mostly small studies) with the majority
supporting the case for the effectiveness of St. John's wort in alleviating
mild to moderate depression
In the one recent study in the literature that explored the use of St.
John?s wort as a retroviral agent for use in HIV-infected patients, over
half of the patients discontinued treatment early because of severe
cutaneous phototoxicity (skin sensitivity to sunlight exposure). Of those
who remained in the study, there were no significant changes in virologic
markers. It should be noted that HIV-positive patients should NOT use St.
John?s wort without specific advise and consultation of their personal
physician, as the herb has been shown to almost completely inactivate the
effects of certain antiviral medications (indinavir and other protease
inhibitors).
Although it has been alleged that, when applied topically, the herbal
extracts of St. John?s wort accelerate healing of even severe burns, and
when orally administered, St. John?s wort has been effective in the healing
of several types of wounds, no scientific evidence could be found to support
this claim.
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Safety
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St. John?s wort is quite safe in terms of
observed side effects, the most common of which are typically mild
gastrointestinal upset, mild allergic reactions (skin rash), tiredness and
insomnia/restlessness. There have been no published reports of serious
adverse side effects from taking the herb alone and animal studies with
large doses of St. John?s wort have not shown any serious problems. The most
commonly studied adverse effect of St. John?s wort is its ability to cause
photosensitivity, especially in fair-skinned individuals. This condition is
reversible upon discontinuation of the herb. Thus, special care should be
taken to avoid ultraviolet light, or to frequently apply sunscreen and wear
sunglasses (due to an increased risk of cataracts) when it is necessary to
be outside. Other side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness,
confusion and tiredness, and tend to be equivalent in incidence to placebo
Scientific studies conducted in vitro (test tube studies) have shown St.
John?s wort to be mutagenic and toxic to sperm, suggesting that it should
not be taken when trying to become pregnant. On the flip side, St. John?s
wort has also been shown to interfere with the action of certain oral
contraceptives (birth control pills) ? an effect that may leave many women
looking for an effective antidepressant herb!
St. John?s wort is not recommended for children, or for women who are
pregnant or lactating.
Although it is no longer believed that St. John?s wort potentiates MAO
inhibitors, consult your physician if you are taking MAO inhibitors or
prescription anti-depressants before you take St. John?s wort.
Although direct side effects from consuming St. John?s wort appear to be
quite rare, several recent reports have raised the possibility that the herb
may interact with and decrease the effectiveness of various medications,
including HIV drugs (protease inhibitors), immunosuppressants (such as
cyclosporin for organ transplants), digoxin (for congestive heart failure),
blood thinners (Coumadin/warfarin), chemotherapy drugs, (olanzapine/clozapine)
and asthma medications (theophylline). If you are currently taking any of
these, or other, prescription medications, DO NOT begin taking OR
discontinue taking St. John?s wort without first consulting your personal
physician (abrupt withdrawal of the herb could increase blood levels of
various medications, which could be dangerous in certain cases).
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Value
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St. John's wort appears to be helpful in
about 50-60% of cases ? but as with prescription antidepressants, the full
effect takes about 4-6 weeks to develop. It is important to note that St.
John's wort should NEVER be used for the treatment of severe depression
(feelings of suicide, extreme inability to cope with daily life, severe
anxiety, or extreme fatigue) ? and physician-directed drug therapy may mean
the difference between life and death
That said, St. John?s wort is sold in a variety of forms, including tea,
drops, tablets, capsules and even in a snack-chip form (no, we are NOT
kidding). In tablet of capsule form, standardized St. John?s wort,
(300-900mg/day) typically costs between $20 and $30 per month ? not a bad
price for a relatively safe and effective dietary supplement for those with
mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or seasonal affective disorder.
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Dosage
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The recommended dosage for St. John?s wort
is 900mg per day (300mg taken 3 times per day) of a 5:1 extract of the
flowering tops and leaves standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin in a
complex of other natural compounds, or 3-5% hyperforin (the main constituent
which is thought to inhibit neurotransmitter re-uptake). Minimal treatment
time is 4-6 weeks. St. John?s wort is sold in the U.S. only as an herbal
supplement, although it is marketed as a drug in Germany for the treatment
of mild depression and anxiety. |
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