St. John’s Wort Extract

. . . helps enhance positive moods and support serotonin levels in the brain*

Features & Benefits

• Acts as a positive mood enhancer without serious side effects*3

• Supports serotonin levels by mildly inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO)*2

Facts About St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort has been used in herbal healing for more than 2,000 years. Today, its flowers and leaves are the subjects of numerous clinical studies, and have been found to be effective without side effects.*1 Studies show that St. John’s Wort contains at least 10 constituents or groups of components that may contribute to its benefits.*4 Scientists have focused on the phytonutrients hypericin and pseudohypericin found in the standardized extract of the herb’s leaves and flowers,  the active compounds responsible for St. John’s Wort’s primary benefits.*5 Other active components include flavonoids, essential oils and carotenoids.6

Proper brain function depends on chemicals called neurotransmitters which transmit signals to the brain and are made from certain nutrients. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect and is an important initiator of sleep. A deficiency of serotonin results in sleep disorders such as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. The enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) breaks down serotonin. St. John’s Wort extract mildly inhibits this enzyme thereby helping to safeguard serotonin levels in the brain.*2

While antidepressant drugs are successful in alleviating depression, they are also associated with many side effects such as increased nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, allergic reactions and nausea.7 One study that compared St. John’s Wort extract to an antidepressant drug found that the St. John’s Wort group had fewer and milder side effects than the drug group.*8 In another study of mood-affected people, one group was treated with St. John’s Wort extract and the other with a placebo. Significant improvement was found in the St. John’s Wort group, and no serious side effects were observed.*3 A third study involved 39 people with negative moods who were given 300 mg of St. John’s Wort extract three times a day. The moods of 70 percent of the patients treated with St. John’s Wort improved after four weeks, and in no case were any undesirable side effects observed. Typical symptoms of negative moods such as lack of activity, tiredness, fatigue and disturbed sleep, were especially responsive.* 

Ingredient Highlights

Nature’s Life uses only the leaves and flowers of the St. John’s Wort plant — the parts that have been used in a wide variety of experimental and clinical studies. The herb is ecologically harvested and prepared to a standardized potency of 0.3% hypericins. Each 300 mg capsule delivers consistent results.*

Safety Precautions

St. John’s Wort extract has been found to be virtually free of side effects at the standard dosage.*7, 3, 9 Larger doses of St. John’s Wort have been known to cause photosensitivity (skin irritation after sun exposure) in some fair-skinned people. In these cases, it is advisable to avoid excessive sun and other sources of ultraviolet light such as tanning booths. Tyramine-containing foods including cheese, pickled fish, yeast, beer and wine should also be avoided. St. John’s Wort should not be used at the same time as prescription antidepressants such as MAO inhibitors, and St. John’s Wort is not recommended during pregnancy or lactation.

References

1. “St. John’s Wort for Depression.” British Medical Journal, (1996 Aug) No. 7052, Vol. 313

2. Reichert RG. “St. John’s Wort for Depression.” Quart Rev Nat Med, (1994 Spring) 17-18

3. Hansgen KD et al. “Multicenter double-blind study examining the antidepressant effectiveness of the hypericum extract LI 160.” J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, (1994 Oct) 7 Suppl 1:S15-8

4. Wagner H and S Bladt. “Pharmaceutical quality of hypericum extracts.” J Geriatr Psychiatry           Neurol, (1994 Oct) 7 Suppl 1:S65-8

5. Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Ab Arcanum, Gothenberg, Sweden, 1988, 295-7

6. Okpanyi SN et al. “Genotoxicity of a standardized hypericum extract.” Arzneimittelforschung,  (1990 Aug) 40(8):851-5

7. “St. John’s Wort vs. Tricyclic Antidepressants.” American Journal of Natural Medicine, (1995 April) Vol. 2, No. 3

8.  Vorbach EU et al. “Effectiveness and tolerance of the hypericum extract LI 160 in comparison with imipramine.” J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, (1994 Oct) 7 Suppl 1:S19-23

9. Hubner WD et al. “Hypericum treatment of mild depression with somatic symptoms.” J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, (1994 Oct) 7 Suppl 1:S12-4