Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Linde, et al., "St john's wort for Depression—an Overview and Meta-analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials," British Medical Journal, 313(7052), August 3, 1996, p. 253-258.
Results of this study showed that the administration of a hypericum extract to middle-aged women suffering from depression led to improvements in anxiety, dysphoric mood, anorexia, hypersomnia, insomnia, loss of interest and feelings of worthlessness.
—H. Muldner & M. Zoller, [Antidepressive Effect of a Hypericum Extract Standardized to an Active Hypericine Complex. |
National Women's Health Network
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 It increases side effects in those taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
St. john's wort is a reasonable antidepressant but should not be combined with other antidepressants. In addition, it should not be used by anyone taking daily medication unless the person is under close medical supervision. The usual dose is 300 mg of a preparation standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin or 3 percent hyper-forin three times a day. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 St. john's wort...This is a common weed that is now being studied by AIDS activists because it seems to help prevent infection of T cells by making it more difficult for the AIDS virus to get into the cells.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy works on emotional, mental, and physical levels. Treating the whole person is particularly important in AIDS and other diseases deemed incurable by allopathic medicine, as the shock of the diagnosis often triggers an emotional state that worsens the physical state of the patient. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 B deficiency)
St. john's wort (p. 461)
Secondary
5-HTP (p. 295) Phenylalanine/DLPA
(p. 320) SAMe (p. 330) Tyrosine (p. 335) Vitamin B, (p. 340) (for premenstrual syndrome [p. 141])
Ginkgo biloba (p. 427) (for elderly people)
Other
Fish oil (p. 294) (EPA/DHA [p. 287]) Inositol (p. 303) NADH (p. 317) Phosphatidylserine (p. 321)
Ginkgo biloba (p. 427) Damiana (p. 4 1 5) Yohimbe (p. 472)
See also: Homeopathic Remedies for Depression (p. 532)
Ginkgo (p. |
Nicola Reavley
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 Uses
St john's wort is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for mild to moderate depression, including menopausal depression. It can also be used to treat viral infections.
Cautions
High doses may cause photosensitivity and gastrointestinal upset.
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Used by the American Indians as a male tonic, saw palmetto inhibits the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to its more active form and also has anti-estrogenic effects.
Uses
Saw palmetto is mainly used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, a disorder in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged. |
Berkeley Holistic Health Center and Shepherd Bliss
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| Hypericum (St. john's wort)
—a natural antiseptic;
—lacerated wounds, septic (infected) wounds;
—injuries to nerves or to parts of the body richly supplied with nerves, especially if wound is sensitive to touch, (examples: crushed fingers or toes, or falls on the spine);
—good for any shooting pain which was the result of injury; —closes up open wounds; —snake bites or any bite with shooting pains.
Internally: Take doses depending upon severity (same as Arnica as well as all the remedies in first aid). Externally: Available in tincture only. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 John's wort cause sterility and mutation of cells. This test tube study certainly cannot support this conclusion because it does not resemble real-life conditions.
• Base claims of toxicity on single parts of the herbs, while ignoring the whole herb. Carotoxin, found in tiny amounts in garden carrots, is toxic to lab rats. However, this does not prove that garden carrots are dangerous. People don't eat the purified active constituents, although they do ingest teas, tablets, and liquid extracts made from whole plants. |
| John's wort may be a gentle, helpful alternative during the transition period.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a class of enzymes used as antidepressant drugs, including Nardil, Parnate, Eldepryl, and Marplan. These drugs can potentially cause serious problems. |
| John's wort effective. It may even be that the antidepressive effect comes from a detoxification effect on the liver. Only time will tell.
There are no set rules in the industry on how to standardize for each herb. Because each plant is unique, it will take an estimated 5 years to "standardize" standardization for the most popular herbs, and decades to do the rest. Each plant is unique. |
| John's wort, which is standardized to 0.3% of a chemical called "hypericin," long believed to be the key antidepressant chemical in the herb. If you see this marker on the label, you will know that you have a consistent batch of herb that should produce the intended (but unlisted) result, a reduction in depression. The other 99.7% of the product is comprised of various other substances.
However, a problem developed when it turned out that hypericin is an antiviral compound and has nothing to do with depression. |
| John's wort is safer with regard to cardiac function than tricyclic antidepressants (Czekalla etal, 1997).
• German researchers working with hawthorn report that "rigorous clinical trials show benefit concerning objective signs and subjective symptoms of congestive heart failure" (Weihmayr and Ernst, 1996).
• Other well-researched important heart nutrients include vitamin E, B vitamins, coenzyme Q10, calcium, magnesium, and L-carnitine. |
| John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) Stillingia root (Stillingia sylvatica) Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) Su mu bark (Caesalpinia sappan) Suan zao ren seed (Ziziphus spinosa) Swarnapatri (Cassia species) Sweet flag (Iris species) Sweet flag root (Acorus calamus /A. gramineus) Sweet leaf (Monarda fistulosa) Sweet-scented oleander (Nerium indicum /
N odorum) Tambulam (Piper betel) Tan xiang (Santalum album) Tang kuai root (Angelica sinensis)
Tansy leaf (Tanacetum vulgare I
Chrysanthemum vulgare) Tao ren seed (Prunus persica) Thornapple (Datura metal/D. |
Francois Couplan, Ph.D.
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 The European St. john's wort has been used since Antiquity. It was said to ha\ z magical virtues for keeping evil spirits away.
^ few local species are eaten cooked in Northeastern Asia.
Endangered species: H. cumulicola - Fla. raw
Mammea americana (B 5) Mamey Apple
"rom the West Indian name of the fruit, "mamey."
Originally from tropical Am. naturalized in S. Fla. & Mex.
The tree is cultivated for its fruit in the tropics of both hemispheres.
The large fruit has a sweet, aromatic, apricot-colored pulp which is edible n tropical America it is made into jam or fermented into wine. |
Gary Null
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 HERBS
St. john's wort extract is an herbal remedy for depression that has made it into the mainstream media in recent years. Other plants containing chemicals with antidepressant properties include:
Pastinaca sativa (parsnip)
Myrciaria dubia (camu-camu)
Malpighia glabra (acerola)
Lactuca sativa (lettuce)
Amarantbus sp. |
Francois Couplan, Ph.D.
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| A maceration of the flowering tops in olive oil is an excellent vulnerary (wounds, burns, ulcers) and anodyne (rheumatism pains). St. john's wort Hypericum perforatum oil has a deep red color.
The plant is astringent, calmative, stomachic and expectorant.
It also contains a fluorescent substance, hypericin, with photosensitizing properties which, in susceptible individuals, can produce skin inflammation upon exposure to strong sunlight. White-skinned cattle, horses and sheep grazing on the plant in large quantities are subject to loss of hair and blistering when exposed to the sun. |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
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 If you are taking other antidepressants, anticoagulants, and/or digoxin for your heart, do not use St. john's wort while you are on these drugs. The standard dosage is 300 mg of the extract, taken three times daily.
In the homeopathic materia medica, dozens of remedies are listed for use in viral conditions, and since classical homeopathic prescribing focuses on the constitution of the patient and not the pathology of the disease, the repertory of possible remedies is immense. |
Ruth Winter, M.S.
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 SAINT john's wort • Hypericum perforatum. Amber. Blessed. Devil's Scourge. God's Wonder Herb. Grace of God. Goatweed. Hypericum. Klamath Weed. A perennial native to Britain, Europe, and Asia, it is now found throughout North America. The plant contains glycosides, volatile oil, tannin, resin, and pectin (see all). It is used in "organic" cosmetics. It was believed to have infinite healing powers derived from the saint, the red juice representing his blood. It was used as an antivenereal. It is used to treat pains and diseases of the nervous system, arthritic pains, and injuries. |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
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| Once you have established the foundational plan outlined in steps 1 through 4, have addressed inflammation (step 5), and are working
9 Antiviral Herbs
Boneset Echinacea Elderberry Witch hazel Lomatium Lemon balm Phyllanthus Sangre de drago St. john's wort with immune modulators (step 6), the next step is to directly target viral infection in your body. The medications involved may be taken short-term for active, chronic infections (a herpes outbreak) or for acute viral infections (a cold or flu). Some may be used long-term for chronic viral conditions, such as HCV. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 The study measured the change in urinary metabolites of noradrenaline and dopamine following administration of a standardized extract of St. john's wort (0.14 percent hypericin content).14 Researchers found a significant increase in the metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, a marker commonly used to evaluate the efficacy of antidepressant therapy. A follow-up study by the same researchers involved fifteen women with depression taking the same standardized extract. |
| In these studies, St. john's wort extract was found to enhance the exploratory activity of mice in a foreign environment, extend the narcotic sleeping time in a dose-dependent fashion, antagonize the effects of reserpine, and decrease aggressive behavior in socially isolated male mice.5 These activities are consistent with the expected effects of antidepressant compounds. |
| Chemical composition
The major compounds of interest in St. john's wort leaves and flowers are hypericin (Figure 30.1) and pseudohypericin. These compounds are typically found in very low concentrations ranging form 0.0095 to 0.466 percent in the leaves and as much as 0.24 percent in the flowers.1
Other active components include flavonoids (flowers, 16 percent, leaves, 12 percent; and whole herb, 9 percent), xanthones, phenolic carboxylic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic, and gentisic acids), essential oils (whole herb content, 0. |
| Hobbs C: St. john's wort, Hypericum perforatum L. HerbalGram 18/19, 24-33,1989.
3. Suzuki O, et «/. inhibition of monoamine oxidase by hypericin. Planta Medica 50, 272-274,1984.
4. Holzl J, Demisch L, and Gollnik B: Investigations about antidepressive and mood changing effects of Hypericum perforatum. Planta Medica 55, 643,1989.
5. Okpanyi VSN and Weischer ML: Tierexperimentelle Untersuchungen zur psychotropen Wirksamkeit eines Hypericum-extraktes. Arzneimittel-Forsch 37,10-13,1987.
6. |
| Johnson D: Effects of St. john's wort extract Jarsin. Paper presented at the 4th International Congress on Phytotherapy. Munich, Germany. September 10-13,1992. [Abstract SL53]; Woelk H: Multicentric practice-study analyzing the functional capacity in depressive patients. Paper presented at the 4th International Congress on Phytotherapy. Munich, Germany. September 10-13,1992. [Abstract SL54J; Sommer H. Improvement of psychovegetative complaints by hypericum. Paper presented at the 4th International Congress on Phytotherapy. Munich, Germany. September 10-13,1992. [Abstract SL55]
17. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Ibatov, [The Use of an Infusion of St. john's wort in the Combined Treatment of Alcoholics with Peptic Ulcer and Chronic Gastritis], Vrach Delo, (2-3), February-March 1993, p. 146-148.
Depression
Results of this meta-analysis involving 23 randomized studies, 15 of which were placebo-controlled, found that hypericum extacts proved significantly effective in the treatment of patients suffering from moderate to mildly severe depression.
—K. Linde, et al. |
Joseph Glenmullen, M.D.
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 Its yellow flowers begin to bloom around June 24, the feast of Saint John the Baptist.
St. john's wort is also known by its Latin name, Hypericum perforatum, and has been used as a medicinal agent for centuries. Ancient Greek physicians prescribed hypericum for depression, anxiety, and insomnia.7 Hypericum oil was applied topically for wounds, burns, aches, and pains because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. In this country, as recently as the mid-nineteenth century in Shaker colonies, hypericum was used to treat depression and insomnia.8 In recent decades, St. |
Dr. John Heinerman
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 Also, administering small doses of St. john's wort tincture or fluid extract (no more than eight drops at a time) helps to control unnecessary provocation. Be sure, though, that the liquid solution you use is alcohol-free.
Manifested Aggression
In his other book, The Dog Who Loved Too Much (New York: Bantam Books, 1997), Dr. Dodman addresses some of the issues that might make a normally friendly dog become mean and ill-tempered. Fear or anger are the main factors for bringing about these changes. An animal "is frightened by loud noises" or can "suffer from separation anxiety. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| Monograph, Hyperici herba (St. john's wort), Bundesanzeiger Dec 5, 1984.
Stevia
1. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 2d ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996, 478-80.
2. Curi R, Alvarez M, Bazotte RB, et al. Effect of Stevia rebaudiana on glucose tolerance in normal adult humans. Braz J Med Biol Res 1986; 19(6): 771-74.
3. White JR Jr, Kramer J, Campbell RK, Bernstein R. Oral use of a topical preparation containing an extract of Stevia rebaudiana and the chrysanthemum flower in the management of hyperglycemia. |
Earl Mindell
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 St. john's wort polyphenol complex, 1 daily
189. Dancers
Dancers have energy requirements that rank with those of athletes, but because of weight restrictions they cannot consume the same amount of carbohydrates. Good supplements are indispensable, as most dancers will tell you. I suggest:
MVP (see section 172)
Calcium-magnesium complex (with soy isoflavonoids), 2 tabs a.m. and p.m. Coenzyme-QlO, 30-100 mg. daily Octocosanol, 1,000 meg. daily
190. |
| St. john's wort polyphenol complex, 1 daily
194. Singers
Like actors, singers are also under high levels of stress, whether performing or rehearsing. If you worry about laryngitis, or other throat infections, it's advisable to keep your vitamin-C levels high at all times. Time-release vitamin C is your best choice.
MVP (see section 172)
Additional vitamin C, 1,000 mg. a.m. and p.m. when necessary
195. Doctors and Nurses
If you work with illness, you need all the protection you can get. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| Hypericum perforatum
(St. john's wort)..........461
Inula helenium (Elecampane) . . .418 Iris versicolor (Blue flag).......400
Juniperus communis (Juniper) . . .437
Larrea tridentata (Chaparrel) . . .410
Lavandula angustifolia
(Lavender) ..............439
Lentinus edodes (Shiitake)......460
Ligustrum lucidum (Ligustrum) . .442
Lobelia inflata (Lobelia) .......442
Lomatium dissectum
(Lomatium) .............443
Lycopus virginicus (Bugleweed) . .404
Marrubium vulgare (Horehound) 434
Matricaria recutita (Chamomile) .409
Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)....... |
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