St. John's Wort

Please note: These sites are for reference only, be sure to consult with a medical doctor before taking St. John's Wort.  St. John's Wort may have serious side affects, including serotonin syndrome and death.  As with all things inserted into the body, it can have good and/or bad impact on your health by itself, and/or can interact with other things you are ingesting.  Please make an informed decision before taking anything.

Positive St. John's Wort Extract Advertising

Numerous studies suggest that St. John's Wort extract (hypericum extract), when standardized for hypericin and hyperforin, helps to balance serotonin levels and maintain normal neurotransmitter activity to promote emotional well-being and a positive mood.

NIMH Q & A about St. John's Wort

National Institute of Mental Health's page of questions and answers about St. John's Wort.  A good FAQ (frequently asked questions) page including information about the NIH study of St. John's Wort.

NCCAM Clearinghouse St. John's Wort page

(no longer on-line at http://altmed.od.nih.gov/nccam/what-is-cam/stjohnswort/stjohnswort.htm)

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's inforamtional page about the herb.  Very informative, includes information about the FDA's role in its distrubution, and discusses clinical study now in progress (2000) about the affectiveness of the herb in treating various aliments.

NIAID hypericin page

National Institute of allergy and infectious Diseases, Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome's, page about hypericin and its possible anti-viral qualities.  Includes a diagram of hypericin's molecular structure.

NIH CC News

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center News for March 2000.  First article examines potentionally harmful drug interactions with St. John's wort.

Mental Health: A report of the Surgeon General - Chapter 4

A report from the United States Surgeon General about specific treatments for episodes of depression and mania.  Includes a section about alternate pharmacotherapies including Hypericum (St. John's Wort).

Camilla Cracchiolo, R.N.'s Q & A about St. John's Wort

An excellent St. John's Wort literature review by a registered nurse from December, 1998, October 1999.  Very inclusive, discusses therapeutic uses, adverse reactions and side effects, drug interactions, pharmacologic properties, research and more.

The Scientist article about U.S. Clinical Trials

A February 1, 1999 article by Steve Bunk about St. John's Wort Clinical studies.  Includes some discussion of past reasearch studies, and their flaws.

St. John's Wort Endorsement (may be off-line after January 16, 2001)

An artcile from a company that sells herbs.  Includes a reference to dosage toward the end.

St. John's Wort Information

An article from another company that also sells herbs and vitamins.  Includes a link to a picture of the St. John's Wort Plant (the flower), and a link to an incomplete list of side effects.

© Copyright 2000 David Lawrence