Powered by
Medthical.com
  • Health Conditions
    • Auto-immune diseases >
      • Addison's Disease
      • Anti-phospholipid Syndrome
      • Celiac Disease
      • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
      • Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP)
      • Multiple Sclerosis
      • Myasthenia gravis
      • Psoriasis
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis
      • Scleroderma
      • Sjogren's syndrome
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
      • Vitiligo
    • Cancer >
      • Anal Cancer
      • Colon Cancer
      • Colon Cancer Screening
      • Esophageal Cancer
      • Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
      • Hereditary NonPolyposis Colorectal Cancer
      • Liver Cancer
      • Oropharyngeal cancer
      • Ovarian Cancer
      • Penile Cancer
      • Prostate cancer
      • Vaginal Cancer
    • Digestive Diseases >
      • Anal Cancer
      • Colon cancer
      • Esophageal Cancer
      • Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
    • Female Diseases >
      • Bacteria Vaginosis
      • Candidiasis (Yeast)
      • Cervical Cancer
      • Female infertility
      • Oral Contraceptive Pills
      • Ovarian Cancer
      • Ovarian Cyst
      • Ovarian Torsion
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
      • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
      • Premature Ovarian Failure
      • Vaginal Cancer
    • Heart Cardiovascular Diseases >
      • Hyperlipidemia ( High Cholesterol)
    • Hematological diseases >
      • G6PD Deficiency (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)
    • Infectious Diseases >
      • Ebola
      • Giardiasis
      • Hepatitis A
      • Hepatitis B
      • Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
      • Influenza
      • Japanese encephalitis
      • Malaria
      • Meningococcal Disease
      • Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
      • Pneumococcal disease
      • Rabies
      • Rotavirus
      • Shingles (Zoster)
      • Tetanus
      • Tuberculosis
      • Typhoid
      • Varicella (Chickenpox)
      • Yellow Fever
      • Zika Virus
    • Male Diseases >
      • Epididymo-Orchitis
      • Penile Cancer
      • Prostatitis
    • Musculo-skeletal diseases >
      • Ankylosing Spondylitis
      • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Neurological disorder >
      • Restless Leg Syndrome
    • Respiratory diseases >
      • Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
      • Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
      • Tuberculosis
    • Skin diseases >
      • Acne Vulgaris
      • Alopecia
      • Bullous Pemphigoid
      • Dermatitis
      • Eczema
      • Hyperhidrosis
      • Cervical Cancer
      • Laser & Aesthetic
      • Lichen
      • Moles & Skin Lumps
      • Nail Disorders
      • Pityriasis
      • Psoriasis
      • Rosacae
      • Scabies, Bedbugs & Lice
      • Skin Cancer
      • Skin Infection
      • Skin Pigmentation
      • Tinea (Fungal) infection
      • Urticaria
      • Vitiligo
    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases >
      • Bacteria Vaginosis
      • Candidiasis (Yeast)
      • Chlamydia
      • Chancroid
      • Epididymo-Orchitis
      • Genital Warts
      • Gonorrhoea
      • Granuloma Inguinale
      • Herpes Simplex Virus
      • HIV/AIDS
      • Lymphogranuloma Venereum
      • Molluscum Contagiosum
      • MSM STD screening
      • Pediculosis Pubis
      • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
      • Prostatitis
      • Syphilis
      • Trichomoniasis
      • WSW STD Screening
    • Sleep Disorders >
      • Restless Leg Syndrome
    • Urinary Tract Diseases >
      • Kidney Stones
  • Supplements
    • Acai Berry
    • Aloe Vera
    • Alpha-Lipoic Acid
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Barley Grass
    • Beta-Carotene
    • Biotin
    • Calcium
    • Chlorophyll
    • Chondroitin
    • Chromium
    • Coenzyme Q10
    • Cordyceps
    • Cranberry
    • Creatine
    • Deer Velvet
    • DHEA
    • Echinacea
    • Elderberry
    • Evening Primrose
    • Fiber
    • Flaxseed
    • Folic Acid
    • Ginger
    • Ginkgo
    • Ginseng
    • Glucosamine
    • Grape Seed
    • Hawthorn
    • Horny Goat Weed
    • Krill Oil
    • Lactobacillus
    • Manuka Honey
    • Milk Thistle
    • MSM
    • Niacin
    • Omega-3
    • Probiotics
    • Red Yeast
    • Reishi mushroom
    • Royal Jelly
    • Selenium
    • St. John's Wort
    • Tumeric
    • Vitamin A
    • Vitamin B12
    • Vitamin C
    • Vitamin D
    • Vitamin E
    • Vitamin K
    • Zinc
  • Vaccinations
    • BCG vaccine
    • Cholera vaccine
    • DTaP Vaccine
    • Haemophilus Influenzae Vaccine
    • Hepatitis A vaccine
    • Hepatitis B vaccine
    • HPV vaccine
    • Influenza vaccine
    • Japanese encephalitis Vaccine
    • Meningococcal Vaccine
    • Pneumococcal vaccine
    • Rabies Vaccine
    • Rotavirus vaccine
    • Shingles Vaccine
    • Tetanus Vaccine
    • Typhoid vaccine
    • Varicella Vaccine
    • Yellow Fever Vaccine
  • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Eating Right
    • Exercise Right
    • Goodnight Sleep
    • Manage Stress Well
  • SG Health Institutions
    • GP Groups
    • Help-Lines
    • Specialized Medical Centers
    • Nursing Homes
    • Polyclinics
    • Community Hospitals
    • Hospices
    • Private Hospitals
    • Public Hospitals
  • Terms of Use
St. John's Wort

What is it? 

St. John's Wort is a herb worse flowers and leaves are used to make medications. It contains chemicals like hypericin and hyperforin which act on chemical messengers in the nervous system that regulate mood.

Benefits

There are ongoing research conducted to prove that St. John's wort helps improves depression & somatization disorder, improves menopausal symptoms, improves psoriasis irritation if used topically on skin and also aids in wound healing when used topically.

More randomized controlled research studies need to be conducted to prove other proclaimed benefits.  


Possible side effects 

At normal dosing it is safe for most people when taken up to 12 weeks. Anything more or at higher doses it causes side effects like insomnia, vivid dreams, irritability, stomach upset, fatigue, restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, skin rash, diarrhea, and tingling.

Pregnant and lactating woman should not take St. John's wort as there is no study on its safety in this group of patients.

Patients with other psychiatric disorder like bipolar disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia should avoid St. john's Wort as it may worsen their condition.

St John's wort may also affect fertility hence for those trying to conceive it is best to avoid it.

St. John's wort should be stopped at least 2 weeks before surgery as it affects the serotonin in the brain and will affect anesthesia during surgery.



Drug-Drug Interactions

Psychiatric medications like xanax, MAOIs, amitriptyline, paroxetine, barbiturates and anti-depressants: St John's Wort increases the rate of breakdown of these medications and hence reduce it effectiveness.

Birth control pills, phenytoin, cyclosporin, digoxin, HIV medications, narcotic drugs : as st John's wort increases the break down of contraceptives, it will reduce its effectiveness.

Medications that increases sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitizing drugs): As St John's wort also increases the skin sensitivity to sunlight when used together with these drugs the side effects will be worse resulting in increased risk of burns, rash and blisters.

Anti-coagulants like plavix and wafarin: St john's wort increases the breakdown of these medications resulting in reduce effectiveness and increases chance of blood clotting.

Migraine medications like sumatriptan: St John's wort will increases the serotonin and increases the side effects of confusion, shivering, stiff muscles, and other side effects.

Dosage 

The recommended dosing for medically indicated conditions as according to scientific studies are:


  • Mild to moderate depression: St. John’s wort extract was standardized to 0.3% hypericin content and used at doses of 300 mg three times daily.

  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): St. John’s wort extract standardized to 0.3% hypericin dosed at 300 mg once daily.

  • Somatization disorder: a specific extract (LI 160, Lichtwer Pharma) 600 mg/day has been used.

Do not stop St John's wort suddenly as it will increase side effects, tail down slowly instead.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.