St. John’s Wort Tea Review, Recipe & How to Prepare

St. John’s wort, also known as Hypercium perforatum, is a plant that has been used medicinally since ancient Greek times. The leaves and flowers of this plant have many medicinal uses, including depression, anxiety and migraines.

St. John’s wort tea contains a number of chemicals that give it antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used as an antioxidant to lower the risk of damage to cells caused by free radicals.

St. John’s wort supplements are available in different forms for consumers to use, including tablets, liquid tinctures and powder.

It is also available as pre-packaged tea bags and as a raw herb that can be prepared into a hot or cold tea. St. John’s wort tea is associated with the same benefits that other supplement forms of this herb provide.

Consumers who want to use St. John’s wort tea for depression or other conditions should be aware of the effects it provides, as well as the potential risks of using it. Consumers should also understand how to prepare St. John’s wort in this form.

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

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Benefits of St. John’s Wort Tea

St. John’s wort tea has several uses in traditional medicine such as managing depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

Other uses include migraines, heart palpitations, sciatica and muscle pain.

St. John’s wort tea contains phytochemicals that researchers have studied for their potential antidepressant effects.

Some of these active constituents, including xanthones, flavonoids, hypericin and hyperforin, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. [1]

The mechanism of action for St. John’s wort is not fully known. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, some researchers theorize that this herb promotes increased levels of brain chemicals that improve mood, including dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. [2]

The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that St. John’s wort is likely effective for depression and possibly effective for menopausal symptoms.

According to NMCD, there is not enough evidence to determine its efficacy for anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. [1]

A 2008 review of St. John’s wort that appeared in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews showed that extracts of hypericin from St. John’s wort worked more effectively than placebo for major depression that was mild-to-moderate in terms of severity.

This review also showed that St. John’s wort produced results that were similar to antidepressants but with fewer side effects. [3]

Despite this, the FDA has not approved St. John’s Wort as a medicine for the treatment of any medical conditions.

How to Prepare St. John’s Wort Tea

St. John’s wort tea bags are available from online retailers, such as Amazon and Vitamin Shoppe, and at local stores that sell health and wellness products.

Some brands that make St. John’s wort tea include Yogi, Happy Tea, Alvita, Buddha’s Herbs and Good Nature.

Some of these products contain other ingredients that help promote mood balance, such as fennel seed, fenugreek and lavender flower. Consumers should also note that some products are caffeine free and others are caffeinated.

St. John’s wort tea bags come in different dosages per bag, such as 1.33 G and 870 MG. Since there is no standard dosage of St. John’s wort available, consumers should ask their doctor how much is safe for them to use.

Those who use tea bags should follow the directions on the package for preparing these products.

The St. John’s wort herb is also available in dried form for those who want to use the flowers to make loose leaf tea. Those who purchase these products, which can be found online and at natural food stores, should follow the instructions on the package for preparation.

In general, dried St. John’s wort flowers are combined with boiling water and left to steep in order to prepare tea. Other ingredients can be added as part of a St. John’s wort tea recipe that complements the effects of this herb, such as peppermint, mint leaves, ginger, passion flowers and hibiscus.

Side Effects of St. John’s Wort Tea

St. John’s wort tea should not be used without consulting a doctor for those who take antidepressants.

Since this herb might raise the amount of serotonin in the brain, this can result in harmful and potentially life-threatening amounts of serotonin accumulating, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. [4]

This is not a common side effect when using the tea on its own. Serotonin syndrome is only likely to develop when drinking this tea in combination with other substances that affect the serotonergic system, such as SSRI medications.

St. John’s wort tea also has the potential to interact with other types of medication, including blood thinners, some cancer drugs, birth control pills, cyclosporine and digoxin heart medication. Consumers who take any of these and want to use St. John’s wort tea should ask their doctor first.

The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that St. John’s wort is likely safe for short-term use in many individuals. Side effects that have been associated with this herb include restlessness, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues and skin reactions.

It is possibly unsafe in doses of 2 to 4 grams per day or higher due to the risk of photosensitivity.

Pregnant women and women who are nursing should not drink St. John’s wort tea or use any St. John’s wort supplements, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. [1]

This herb might lead to a higher risk of colic and drowsiness in infants who nurse. Studies on the safety of this herb in pregnant women have produced contradictory results.

Children should not be given St. John’s wort tea without consulting a doctor.

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