The libraryCalm
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
Who it's forMen sitting on a flat mood who won't book a doctor's appointment.
The item
Three squares: proven in human trials. Two: a strong signal. One: early human data. Striped: the trials disagree.
Start today
- 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.
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.”
“St John's wort interacts with hormonal contraceptives reducing the effectiveness and increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.”
“There's some evidence that it may help less severe depression, but it's not recommended by doctors.”
Gurus
Podcasts, channels, influencers
“St John's wort is superior to placebo in improving symptoms, and not significantly different from antidepressant medication”
“St. John's Wort has repeatedly been shown to work as well as or better than antidepressants in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.”
“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.”
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”
“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.”
“I tried it once, maybe lifted mood a little. I don't think it would be strong enough for bad depression tbh.”
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
- Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) beyond depression: A therapeutic perspective for pain conditionsPubMed, PMID 28216196
- St. John's Wort for Depression: From Neurotransmitters to Membrane PlasticityPubMed, PMID 41465351
- Clinical use of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) in depression: A meta-analysisPubMed, PMID 28064110
- St John's wort for major depressionPubMed, PMID 18843608
- A systematic review of St. John's wort for major depressive disorderPubMed, PMID 27589952
- 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
- Adverse effects of St. John's Wort: a systematic reviewPubMed, PMID 15554758
- Registered trial NCT07012278Trial registry
- Registered trial NCT07448051Trial registry
- Theodorakopoulou et alPubMed, PMID 39796209
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.
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.