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Traditional Use: St.-John's-wort has interested herbalists since the first-century Greek physicians Galen and Dioscorides recommended it as a diuretic, wound-healer, and treatment for menstrual disorders. During the Middle Ages, remarkable, even mystical properties were attributed to St.-John's-wort, thought to be best if harvested on June 24, St. John's Day. In nineteenth-century America, it was used by physicians for wound healing, especially for lacerations involving damaged nerves, and as a diuretic, astringent, and mild sedative. Current Use: St.-John's-wort has emerged as the most popular herb in the United States, thanks to a segment aired June 27, 1997, on the ABC News program 20/20. At least twenty-three controlled clinical studies involving more than 1,800 outpatients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression have been documented. In fifteen trials, St.-John's-wort preparations were compared with a placebo. Eight other trials compared St.-John's-wort to standard antidepressant drugs; six involved St.-John's-wort preparations and two used combination products. Fewer than 1 percent of patients in the trials dropped out because of side effects from St.-John's-wort, compared with 3 percent on standard drugs. Side effects have been reported in 19.8 percent of patients taking St.-John's-wort, while 52.8 percent experienced side effects with standard medications. In a recent randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 105 outpatients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression or temporary depressive moods, 67 percent of those taking St.-John's-wort improved, but only 28 percent of the placebo group. Patients who took the St.-John's-wort felt significant improvement in depressive mood indicators such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, uselessness, fear, and difficult or disturbed sleep. No significant side effects were observed. Researchers conclude that, compared with synthetic antidepressants, St.-John's-wort extract produces side effects of minor significance and can be recommended for the treatment of mild and moderate depression. Externally, St.-John's-wort oil is used for the treatment of wounds, abrasions, and first-degree burns.
References St.-John's-Wort References Awang, D. V. C. 1991. "St. John's Wort." Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal 124:33-35. Harrer, G. and H. Sommer. 1994. "Treatment of Mild/Moderate Depressions with Hypericum." Phytomedicine 1(1):3-8. Linde, K. et al. 1996. "St. John's Wort for Depression-An Overview and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials." British Medical Journal 313:253-58. Suzuki, O. et al. 1984. "Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase by Hypericin." Planta Medica 50:272-74. |
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The
information on this herb comes from the book, "101 Medicinal
Herbs" (Interweave Press), written by world renown
herb expert 
Source:
St.-John's-wort is the dried herb or flowering top of a plant native
to Europe and naturalized in Asia, Africa, North America, South America,
and Australia. In 1793 the first recorded specimen in the United States
was collected in Pennsylvania. Commercial supplies come from plants
cultivated and wild-harvested in Chile, the United States, and Europe.