Best St. John’s Wort Supplement – Product Guide, Benefits & Safety Review

St. John’s Wort supplements contain the active ingredient hypericin, which has been shown to support a positive mood and promote emotional balance.

The leaves and flowers of the St. John’s wort plant, also known as Hypericum perforatum, have traditionally been used for depression and other medicinal purposes.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, St. John’s wort teas, extracts and tinctures have been used to manage nervous disorders for thousands of years [1] Topical preparations have also been used for wound healing on the skin.

St. John’s wort has several properties that are associated with potential health benefits, including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hypericin and other phytochemicals found in this plant have been studied for reducing the symptoms of depression, improving pain and for supporting wellbeing in menopausal women. This natural chemical demonstrates monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) activity and may affect the mood-regulating neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Consumers who are interested in using St. John’s wort as oral supplements will find several forms and brands available.

It is important for consumers to know how to find the best St. John’s wort supplement to use for mood balance, stress, emotional well-being or other purposes. Consumers should also be aware of the possible risks of taking these supplements.

St. John's Wort

Herbal Supplement

Mood

Calm

Sleep

How It Works:

• Clinically studied to reduce feelings of depression
• Natural mood enhancer & calming agent
• Supports healthy sleep patterns

Dosage:

Between 300 - 900 per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe; Interacts with Several Drugs

Top St. John's Wort Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Benefits of St. John’s Wort Supplements

According to one manufacturer, the benefits of using St. John’s Wort products include:

• Ease symptoms of anxiety
• Reduce symptoms of general depression
• Minimize symptoms of seasonal affective disorder or SAD
• Diminish symptoms of menopause
• Soothe symptoms of PMS
• Assist with smoking cessation
• Address numerous other mental health concerns

Research shows that Hypericin extract from the aerial parts of this plant affects several different neurotransmitter systems that are involved in regulating mood.

St. John’s Wort extract appears to influence the serotonergic (5-HT), noradrenergic (NE), and dopaminergic (DA) neuroreceptors and may also affect glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission.

The specific mechanism of action is not well-defined but appears to involve multiple pathways being affected at once. Evidence suggests that it inhibits the monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B enzymes, which can increase levels of catecholamines in the brain.

St. John’s wort is used for a variety of purposes, including depression, heart palpitations, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, somatization disorder and migraines. Other uses for it include sciatica, menopausal symptoms, muscle pain and insomnia. St. John’s wort supplements are also used for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

St. John’s wort is rated Likely Effective for mild to moderate depression, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. This means there is significant evidence demonstrating efficacy for this use.

A 2008 review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews showed that St. John’s wort supplements containing hypericin extracts worked more effectively than a placebo in managing symptoms of major depression with mild to moderate severity.

This review also found that these extracts had a similar efficacy as prescription antidepressants but led to fewer side effects. [2]

St. John’s wort is rated Possibly Effective for reducing menopausal symptoms and somatization disorder. As a topical ointment or when used in liquid form, it is also rated Possibly Effective for plaque psoriasis and for improving wound healing and reducing scar formation.

This herbal extract has also been used to promote cognitive function, however, it is rated Possibly Ineffective for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. According to NMCD, there is insufficient evidence to rate the efficacy of this supplement for anxiety disorder, seasonal affective disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

How to Find the Best St. John’s Wort Supplement

St. John’s wort supplements are available to buy online in a number of forms that can be used orally, such as tablets, capsules and softgels. It is also available in forms that can be added to water or other beverages, such as teas, tinctures and powder.

Consumers can find natural St. John’s wort products for sale at Amazon, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC and other reputable online retailers. They are also sold in local shops that carry dietary supplements and other health and wellness items.

There are many brands on the market that sell St. John’s wort products. Some well-known brands include NOW Foods, Nature’s Way, Nature’s Bounty, Sundown Naturals, Gaia Herbs, Swanson and Source Naturals.

The best St. John’s wort brand will vary for everyone based on overall health, the reason for taking it and other factors. Some consumers may prefer products that are certified non-GMO or that are made with vegan- and vegetarian-friendly capsules.

Some brands advertise that they sell St. John’s wort extract tablets that are free of magnesium stearate or other fillers, preservatives, artificial flavoring agents or synthetic chemicals.

Many St. John’s wort pills are standardized to contain 0.3 percent hypericin, which researchers believe to be the active constituent that helps manage depression, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. [1]

Products contain anywhere from 300 mg to 900 mg of plant extract per serving. Some products only have pure St. John’s wort, while other have other herbs that help promote mood elevation or reduce stress, such as 5-HTP, taurine and GABA.

Based on user reviews posted online, many consumers have reported that these supplements are effective at reducing depression, but a small number have stated that these supplements have not been effective at improving their mood.

Best Way to Take St. John’s Wort

The best way to take St. John’s wort depends in part on why it is being used. Those with severe depression might need to ask their doctor about taking St. John’s wort products before they begin using this supplement.

This natural health product is not intended to replace medications or prescription drugs used to treat mental health conditions. Check with a doctor to determine the appropriate treatment protocol for yourself and do not self-medicate using dietary supplements.

Those who want to take these products for mild intermittent depression, stress relief or to improve their mood should ask their doctor about taking oral capsules or drinking tea that contains lower dosages of St. John’s wort.

Because this herbal extract is not approved as a drug for the treatment of any medical conditions, there is no standardized recommended dosage guideline issued by the FDA for St. John’s wort supplements.

The University of Maryland Medical Center states that a typical dosage of St. John’s wort for depression is 300 MG taken three times per day. [1] In clinical trials, dosages of up to 1,800 mg per day have been used for up to one year.

However, consumers should check with their doctor about safe dosages, which vary from one individual to the next based on health, age and other factors.

Side Effects of St. John’s Wort Supplements

St. John’s wort is rated Likely Safe to use orally when it taken for 12 weeks or less in appropriate dosages, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. [3]

It should not be taken in larger doses, such as 2 to 4 grams per day, since this might lead to a higher risk of photosensitivity. Taking this supplement in excessive dosages for long periods of time is associated with a risk of severe phototoxic skin reactions.

There are some negative side effects that might occur with the use of St. John’s wort supplements, such as gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, skin reactions and restlessness.

St. John’s wort supplements have the potential to interact with a number of medications, including antidepressants, birth control pills, cancer medications and blood thinners. Taking this product together with antidepressants can lead to dangerously high amounts of serotonin, according to the Natural Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. [4]

Those who take antidepressants or other medications should ask their doctor about the safety of taking St. John’s wort supplements. Check with your doctor before using this product if you have been diagnosed with any medical conditions and are currently undergoing treatment.

St. John’s wort is rated Possibly Unsafe for pregnant women and women who are lactating and should not be used, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. [3]

It is rated Possibly Safe to use for pediatric purposes, but consumers should consult a doctor before giving these supplements to children.

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