Author: Lorena Tran

Though currently found worldwide, St. John’s wort is native to Europe, which is where it was first used medicinally. In ancient Greece, St. John’s wort was used for burns and open wounds, as well as insomnia. Beyond physical impairments, St. John’s wort can be used to treat depression, the first documented instance of this being in 17th-century Germany[1]. Since then, it has become one of the most popular medicinal remedies for depression, with traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine using St. John’s wort to calm the mind and lift the spirits[2].

St. John’s wort’s function as an antidepressant has been extensively studied. Though the plant cannot treat severe depression, studies have found that it is effective in treating mild to moderately severe depression. Notably, researchers found that St. John’s wort extract treats depression just as effectively as conventional antidepressant medications, with fewer side effects of anxiety, headaches and loss of appetite[3]. Studies have also shown that St. John’s wort can treat Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as seasonal depression[3, 4].

[1] Gupta RK, Möller HJ. St. John’s Wort. An option for the primary care treatment of depressive patients? European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 2003 Jun;253(3):140-8.

[2] Ng QX, Venkatanarayanan N, Ho CY. Clinical use of Hypericum perforatum (St John’s wort) in depression: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2017 Mar 1;210:211-221.

[3] Barnes J, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): a review of its chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2001 May;53(5):583-600.

[4] Sarris J. Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: 10-year updated review. Phytotherapy Research. 2018 Jul;32(7):1147-1162.