Welcome to Ounce of Prevention’s Words On Wellness. As people look more into alternative therapies regarding the use of drugs, it is no surprise that an herb called St. John’s wort is gaining notoriety in the treatment of depression and related symptoms. Please continue reading to learn more about St. John’s wort and, as always, thank you for reading Ounce of Prevention’s Words On Wellness.
All statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA. All statements are based on studies and/or research, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The nutritional supplement discussed in this newsletter is not a drug and should not be used as a drug or in lieu of drugs prescribed by your physician. Always consult with your physician before taking any pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements.
St. John’s
Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
To begin with, St. John’s wort has quite a colorful history!
Legends vary but have the same theme as to how the herb was named. One legend based in
folklore has it that red spots appeared on the leaves of the plant on the anniversary of
John the Baptist’s beheading, the spots symbolic of his blood. A medieval belief was
that if one placed a piece of the plant under one’s pillow on St. John’s Eve,
St. John himself would appear in a dream and give his blessing, thereby preventing one
from dying in the year to come. Probably the most colorful and creative legend has the
name of this herb being derived from the actual execution of John the Baptist. It is said
that the plant with its red resin that oozes from the leaves when rubbed sprang from the
blood of John the Baptist following his beheading (seems John may have had an
overabundance of natural flora in his system). Even the plant’s Latin name of
Hypericum perforatum has its religious derivation from Greek meaning "over an
apparition," which refers to the belief that the herb was so offensive to evil
spirits that simply a whiff of it caused the spirits to depart.
For centuries people have successfully used St. John’s wort for the treatment of
depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, viral infections, wounds, menstrual cramping and
kidney and lung ailments, believing it to posses "magical" powers. Recent
clinical research of St. John’s wort is taking the "magic" out and allowing
a better understanding of the pharmacological effects the herb has on the human body.
St. John’s
Wort and Depression
Today, St. John’s wort is used primarily for treating mild to
moderate depression and related disorders. Germany’s Kommission E (the agency that
regulates herbs and other natural remedies, equivalent to the FDA’s regulation of
pharmaceuticals in this country) lists the indications for the use of St. John’s wort
in the treatment of psychovegitative disturbances, depressive states, fear and nervous
disturbances.
Current research is demonstrating that St. John’s wort appears to inhibit the enzymes
monoamine oxidase (MAO) type A and type B. MAO is responsible for removing amino groups
from compounds called monoamines through a process of oxidation (hence the name). Many
neurotransmitters (chemicals that are necessary for nerve function) are monoamines. By
decreasing the rate at which these neurotransmitters break down (by inhibiting MAO’s
effect on them with St. John’s wort), it is suggested that improvement in
psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, apathy
and more may be noted.
The first formal study conducted on St. John’s wort measured certain urinary
metabolites following the administration of the herb standardized to contain 0.14%
hypericin, the active component of St. John’s wort, in six clinically depressed women
between 55 and 65 years of age. The scientists found a significant increase in a
particular metabolite (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol) which is commonly used as a
marker to determine the efficacy of pharmaceutical and medical antidepressant therapy. In
another study performed by the same scientists involving 15 depressed women,
administration of standardized St. John’s wort resulted in the women reporting
improvement in their subjective symptomatology of anxiety, apathy, hypersomnia, insomnia,
anorexia, psychomotor retardation, depression and feelings of worthlessness. Of special
importance is that adverse or undesirable side effects were practically non-existent.
Since these initial studies, no fewer than 26 double-blind, controlled clinical studies
have been performed using standardized St. John’s wort. The results indicate that the
standardized herb is as effective in symptomatic relief of depression and associated
symptoms as pharmaceutical antidepressant drug therapy, is almost devoid of adverse side
effects and is better tolerated by the body in general.
St. John’s
Wort & Other Uses
In addition to St. John’s wort’s use as a natural remedy in
the treatment of depression, the herb has demonstrated antiviral and antibacterial
capabilities.
Studies indicate that hypericin, the active component of St. John’s wort, inhibits
the capability of the offspring of certain viruses to replicate. Additionally, it was
found that hypericin also appeared to directly inactivate the replication process of
certain viruses that previously had the capability. Viruses studied include human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus types I and II, Epstein-Barr virus
(EBV) and influenza types A and B.
St. John’s wort also appears to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The
organisms studied include Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), Streptococcus mutans (Strep) and
Escherichia coli (E. coli).
St. John’s
Wort & Toxicity
St. John’s wort is proving to be an extremely safe and effective
herb when used in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Toxicity is non-existent
and side effects are few and rare with the most common being photosensitivity of the skin
(with very high doses of St. John’s wort) and stomach upset (in sensitive
individuals). These are easily remedied by limiting direct, prolonged exposure to sunlight
(not a bad idea regardless of St. John’s wort usage) and by ingesting St. John’s
wort with a meal. As previously stated, these side effects are rare and probably
won’t occur. But if they do, the solutions, as mentioned, are straightforward and
simple.
St. John’s
Wort & Dosage
The best dosage for St. John’s wort supplementation appears to
be 300 mg three times a day of an extract standardized to contain at least 0.3%
hypericin.
If using St. John’s wort for a prolonged period, it is recommended that every two
months an "herb holiday" be taken for two to three weeks. (A holiday is a period
of time that one abstains from taking a particular substance. The term is commonly used
regarding pharmaceutical drug therapy.)
Ounce of Prevention has available top quality, pharmaceutical-grade St. John’s wort
standardized to contain 0.3% to 0.5% hypericin.
