Back to Mental
Mental

St. John's WortEvidence & Dosage

Hypericin, mild depression, and CYP3A4 interactions.

Studies last updated

Evidence at a glance

Total studies
1,000
With abstract
49
Meta / Systematic / RCT
85
Highly cited
50
Publication years
1992–2026

St. John's Wort in the context of Mental

This topic is part of our "Mental" world. There you'll find methodology, evidence and the highest-impact levers — plus the order in which they sensibly build on each other.

Go to Mental

Top studies on St. John's Wort

Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.

  1. St John's wort for depression--an overview and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

    BMJ1996Meta-Analysis200 influential citations

    <h4>Objective</h4>To investigate if extracts of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) are more effective than placebo in the treatment of depression, are as effective as standard antidepressive treatment, and have fewer side effects than…

  2. A Critical Approach to Evaluating Clinical Efficacy, Adverse Events and Drug Interactions of Herbal Remedies.

    Phytother Res2016Meta-Analysis200 influential citations

    Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses represent the uppermost ladders in the hierarchy of evidence. Systematic reviews/meta‐analyses suggest preliminary or satisfactory clinical evidence for agnus castus ( Vitex agnus castus ) for…

    Finding: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest preliminary or satisfactory clinical evidence for agnus castus for premenstrual complaints.

  3. Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: a systematic review.

    Drugs2001n=41systematic169 influential citations

    Despite the widespread use of herbal medicines, documented herb-drug interactions are sparse. We have reviewed the literature to determine the possible interactions between the seven top-selling herbal medicines (ginkgo, St John's wort,…

  4. Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review.

    Drugs2009n=128Systematic Review155 influential citations

    The concomitant use of herbal medicines and pharmacotherapy is wide spread. We have reviewed the literature to determine the possible interactions between seven popular herbal medicines (ginkgo, St John's wort, ginseng, garlic, echinacea,…

  5. Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2016 Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: Section 5. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments.

    Can J Psychiatry2016Meta-Analysis117 influential citations

    Background: The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) conducted a revision of the 2009 guidelines by updating the evidence and recommendations. The scope of the 2016 guidelines remains the management of major depressive…

    Finding: For adults with mild to moderate major depressive disorder, exercise, light therapy, St. John’s wort, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e, and yoga are recommended as first- or second-line treatments.

  6. The risk-benefit profile of commonly used herbal therapies: Ginkgo, St. John's Wort, Ginseng, Echinacea, Saw Palmetto, and Kava.

    Ann Intern Med2002Meta-Analysis102 influential citations

    Because use of herbal remedies is increasing, a risk-benefit profile of commonly used herbs is needed. This article provides a clinically oriented overview of the efficacy and safety of ginkgo, St. John's wort, ginseng, echinacea, saw…

  7. St John's wort for major depression.

    Cochrane Database Syst Rev2008n=548systematic101 influential citations

    BACKGROUND: In some countries extracts of the plant Hypericum perforatum L. (popularly called St. John's wort) are widely used for treating patients with depressive symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether extracts of hypericum are…

  8. Clinical use of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) in depression: A meta-analysis.

    J Affect Disord2017n=380Meta-Analysis84 influential citations

    <h4>Introduction</h4>St John's wort is a popular herbal remedy recommended by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners and licensed and widely prescribed for depression in many European countries. However, conflicting data…

  9. Herb-drug interactions: review and assessment of report reliability.

    Br J Clin Pharmacol2001n=108Systematic Review82 influential citations

    <h4>Aims</h4>The aim of this systematic review was to assess the published clinical evidence on interactions between herbal and conventional drugs.<h4>Methods</h4>Four electronic databases were searched for case reports, case series or…

  10. St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): drug interactions and clinical outcomes.

    Br J Clin Pharmacol2002Systematic Review77 influential citations

    <h4>Aims</h4>The aim of this work is to identify the medicines which interact with the herbal remedy St John's wort (SJW), and the mechanisms responsible.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic review of all the available evidence, including…

Frequently asked

What dosage was studied?
• Review of herbal remedies (e.g., agnus castus, flaxseed, feverfew, ginger, ginseng, phytoestrogens, St John's wort, Aloe vera, cranberry, ginkgo, echinacea, pomegranate) (not reported) • herbal medicines (ginkgo, St John's wort, ginseng, garlic, echinacea, saw palmetto and kava)
Are there safety considerations for St. John's Wort?
• Potentially serious adverse events were reported. • Herb-drug interactions were described. • Use warrants caution during pregnancy. • Use warrants caution in the paediatric population.

More topics in Mental

5-HTP

Serotonin precursor, mood, and Carbidopa safety.

Anxiety

Acute anxiety vs. an anxiety disorder, the neurobiology, interventions.

Ashwagandha (Stress)

Adaptogen — cortisol lowering, sleep, anxiety reduction.

Breathwork

Box breathing, 4-7-8, Wim Hof, pranayama — autonomic regulation.

Burnout Early Signs

Exhaustion, cynicism, dropping performance — spotting it before the crash.

Caffeine & Anxiety

Adenosine antagonism, individual sensitivity, cut-off strategies.

CBT

Cognitive behavioral therapy — the gold standard for anxiety and depression.

Co-Regulation

Nervous-system regulation within relationship — attachment, therapy, parent-child.

Cold Exposure (Mood)

Norepinephrine, depression, and mood effects of cold.

Depression

Symptoms, the monoamine hypothesis, lifestyle interventions, professional help.

Depth Psychology

Psychodynamic therapy, transference, long-term change.

Doomscrolling

Algorithm-driven negative info consumption — mood effects, limits.

EMDR / Trauma Therapy

PTSD, eye movements, and study effectiveness.

Exercise as Antidepressant

Aerobic exercise — efficacy comparable to SSRIs in mild depression.

Fight/Flight/Freeze

Stress-response patterns, somatic manifestation, regulation.

Glucose & Mood

Glucose swings, reactive hypoglycemia, mood stability.

Gut-Brain Axis

Vagus nerve, short-chain fatty acids, the microbiome's influence on mood.

Journaling (Mental)

Expressive writing, gratitude — reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

L-Tryptophan

Serotonin/Melatonin, amino‑acid competition and outcomes.

Lavender

Silexan studies, oral and olfactory — anxiolysis with a good safety profile.

Related topics from other worlds