Hypericum perforatum
(St. John's wort)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antibacterial
• Antidepressant due to a blocking of serotonin resorption by postsynaptic receptors and maybe by increasing light utilization and influencing the serotonin-melatonin metabolism
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiretroviral
• Antiviral
• Astringent
• Hepatoprotective
• Inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO) types A and B
• Raises the concentration of melatonin (hypericin)
• Sedative

Clinical Indications:

• AIDS
• Anorexia nervosa
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Hemorroids
• Herpes simplex , types 1 and 2
• Incontinence
• Insomnia
• Migraine headaches
• Otitis media
• Antibacterial against both gram positive and negative bacteria, including:
  
  Escherichia coli
  Proteus vulgaris
  Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  Staphylococcus aureus
  Streptococcus mutans
• Antiviral against Epsteine-Barr virus
• Antiviral against influenza types A and B
• Antiviral against vesicular stomatitis virus
• Circulatory disorders
• Facial neuralgia after dental extractions
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Topically:
  
  Antibacterial wounds
  Burns
  Muscular pain
• Toothache

Contraindications:

• May cause gastric discomfort if not taken with food
• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue and abortifacient effects

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Avoid all food and medications known to have a negative interaction with MAO-inhibiting drugs:
  
  Beer
  Cheeses
  L-dopa
  Pickled herring
  Wine
  Yeast
• Effect of reserpine is antagonized
• Sleeping time of alcohol is enhanced
• Monitor closely when using with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including fluoxetine

Chemical Constituents:

• Alkanes
• Carotenoids
• Essential oil containing:
  
  Alpha and beta pinene
  Caryophyllene
  Methyl-2-octane
  N-nonane
  N-octane
  N-decanal
  Traces of limonene and myrcene
• Flavonoids
• Hypericins
• Pseudohypericin
• Phytosterols
• Phenolic caroxylic acids:
  
  Caffeic acid
  Chlorogenic acid
  Ferulic acid
  Gentisic acid

Toxicity:

• At extremely high doses, may cause photosensitivity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).