> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://elonmuscular.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # St. John's Wort - URL: https://elonmuscular.com/st-johns-wort/ - Published: 2026-08-19T13:18:48.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-12T07:42:44.000Z - Description: Use it for a flat, low mood. Clear it against every other pill you take. - Author: Elon Muscular - Tags: Calm, Botanical, Daily [The library](https://elonmuscular.com/library/) / Calm # St. John's Wort It matches the prescription antidepressants in adults with mild-to-moderate depression. Also called Hypericum perforatum, Hypericum, SJW, Klamath Weed, Goatweed, Tipton's Weed From a plant Who it's forMen sitting on a flat mood who won't book a doctor's appointment. [Item](#dd-item)[Studies](#dd-studies) The call Use it for a flat, low mood. Clear it against every other pill you take. On this page [The item](#dd-item)[Start today](#dd-start)[Why it works](#dd-why)[Where it fits](#dd-fits)[What people say](#dd-say)[The studies](#dd-studies)[Words on this page](#dd-words) ## The item Three squares: proven in human trials. Two: a strong signal. One: early human data. Striped: the trials disagree. Calm Defense Looks Buffs - Relief of mild-to-moderate depression - Reduction of somatic & somatoform symptoms - Relief of menopausal hot flashes *contested* - Improvement of seasonal affective symptoms - Premenstrual symptom relief - Topical wound healing & skin inflammation Debuffs - **Know first**Drug interactions via enzyme induction - **Manageable**Serotonin syndrome with serotonergic agents - **Manageable**Photosensitivity - **Mild**Mild gut & nervous system effects - **Mild**Induction of mania in bipolar disorder - **Mild**Discontinuation symptoms “Use it for a flat, low mood. Clear it against every other pill you take.” ## Start today 1. Read your full pill list to a pharmacist before you open the bottle. ## Why it works Hyperforin blocks the reuptake of several brain chemicals at once. That is how it works as an antidepressant. It also strongly switches on the liver enzymes that break down drugs. That second action makes it one of the most interaction-prone substances there is. It can make birth control and transplant drugs fail. ## Where it fits St. John's Wort is a move in 2 protocols. Each one opens the plan it sits in. - [Lift Your Mood](https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-low-mood/) - [Steady Your Mood and Nerves](https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-mood-and-anxiety/) New Heroes The full library. Elon answers every weekday. [Join New Heroes.](https://elonmuscular.com/join/) Cancel anytime. ## What people say Here is what doctors, influencers and men online say about St. John's Wort, word for word. ### Experts Clinicians, authorities - > “Overall, the St. John's wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebo, similarly effective as standard antidepressants, and had fewer side effects than standard antidepressants.” > > Cochrane · 29 trials, 5,489 patients - > “St John's wort interacts with hormonal contraceptives reducing the effectiveness and increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.” > > MHRA (UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), Drug Safety Update on GOV.UK · 19 Yellow Card reports since 2000; 15 unplanned pregnancies - > “There's some evidence that it may help less severe depression, but it's not recommended by doctors.” > > NHS (England) ### Gurus Podcasts, channels, influencers - > “St John's wort is superior to placebo in improving symptoms, and not significantly different from antidepressant medication” > > herbal monograph - > “St. John's Wort has repeatedly been shown to work as well as or better than antidepressants in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.” > > functional-medicine blog article - > “Studies show that St. John's wort uses seem to work as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a popular type of antidepressant that doctors often prescribe first to treat depression.” > > natural-health article ### Regular people Forums, reviews, comments - > “It was 100% a miracle drug. I have a winter of cheerfulness. If I skipped taking it even for a day though, my mood went down” > > WebMD patient reviews (154 reviews, 4.2 out of 5) - > “Honestly lose the St John's Wort and this looks okay. Probably the doses aren't correct though as is usually the case for blends like this.” > > r/Nootropics · 47 points - > “I tried it once, maybe lifted mood a little. I don't think it would be strong enough for bad depression tbh.” > > Patient.info community thread (7 posts) ## The studies Every study behind this page. - [St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): a review of its chemistry, pharmacology and clinical propertiesPubMed, PMID 11370698](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11370698/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) beyond depression: A therapeutic perspective for pain conditionsPubMed, PMID 28216196](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28216196/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [St. John's Wort for Depression: From Neurotransmitters to Membrane PlasticityPubMed, PMID 41465351](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41465351/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Clinical use of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) in depression: A meta-analysisPubMed, PMID 28064110](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28064110/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [St John's wort for major depressionPubMed, PMID 18843608](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18843608/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [A systematic review of St. John's wort for major depressive disorderPubMed, PMID 27589952](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27589952/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [The efficacy and safety of St. John's wort extract in depression therapy compared to SSRIs in adults: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trialsPubMed, PMID 36226689](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36226689/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Adverse effects of St. John's Wort: a systematic reviewPubMed, PMID 15554758](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15554758/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Registered trial NCT07012278Trial registry](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07012278?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Registered trial NCT07448051Trial registry](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07448051?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Theodorakopoulou et alPubMed, PMID 39796209](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39796209/?ref=elonmuscular.com) ## Words on this page PMID A study's ID number in PubMed, the public index of medical research. Use it for a flat, low mood. Clear it against every other pill you take. Emergency: call [911](tel:911). I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. This is self-education. Talk to a physician who has your history before you change anything.