St. John s wort
Overview
St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering shrub native to Europe. It gets its name from the fact that it often blooms on the birthday of the biblical John the Baptist.
The flowers and leaves of St. John s wort contain active ingredients such as hyperforin. St. John s wort is available as a supplement in teas, tablets, liquids and topical preparations.
People use St. John s wort to treat depression and menopausal symptoms.
Evidence
Research on St. John s wort use for specific conditions shows:
Depression. Several studies support the therapeutic benefit of St. John s wort in treating mild to moderate depression. In fact, some research has shown the supplement to be as effective as several prescription antidepressants. It s unclear whether it s beneficial in the treatment of severe depression. Because St. John s wort interacts with many medications, it might not be an appropriate choice, particularly if you take any prescription drugs.