St John's wort

St John's wort is used as a herbal medicine.

You can buy it over-the-counter (without a prescription) at pharmacies and health food shops. But you should check it's safe for you to take it.

I found that St John's wort lifted my mood so I wasn't waking up at 5am every morning. Life seemed more bearable. I saw colour.

What is St John's wort and what's it used for?

St John's wort is a plant with properties believed to affect mood. Its botanical name is Hypericum perforatum, and it's sometimes sold as 'hypericum'.

It's used as a herbal medicine. It's often used to treat mild to moderate depression. 

Does St John's wort have any side effects?

Some people who take St John's wort experience side effects. The most commonly reported side effects include:

• Feeling nauseous or being sick
• Diarrhoea
• Headaches
• Allergic reactions
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight, which might mean you get sunburnt more easily

Some research on St John's wort has shown some people experience mania or psychosis as a side effect.

If you experience any side effects you think should be reported, you can report them via the Yellow Card scheme.

When I could no longer take SSRIs due to side effects, I tried St John's wort as an alternative. It's definitely helped with my depression and my mood has lifted quite a lot.

Does St John's wort work?

There is research to suggest that St John's wort can benefit some people with mild depression. But it's not recommended for severe depression.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) doesn't advise healthcare professionals recommend St John's wort. This is because it's not clear what dosage works. And it can interact badly with some other medications.

Some research suggests that it can make feelings of anxiety worse for some people. 

What dosage of St John's wort should I take?

There's no standard recommended dosage of St John's wort in the UK. And it's not currently clear what dosage works best.

The dosages available vary depending on the form and brand that you buy. 

St John's wort is sold in different forms, most commonly tablets and capsules. You can also get it as a tea, or as a liquid called a 'tincture', which you can take as drops in water.

If you're considering taking St John's wort, talk to your doctor or a pharmacist first. You can talk to them about what dosage would be best for you. And check that it won't interact dangerously with any other medications you're taking.

Always read the packaging carefully. It might be easiest to keep track of what dose you're taking if you stick to 1 particular brand.

It's a good stop-gap solution to make you feel you're doing something to take control of depression. However, I've found the knock on effects of missing a dose to be worse than that of SSRIs.

Can I take St John's wort with other medications?

It's not safe to take St John's wort with many medications. These include antidepressants and blood clotting medication. It can make them less effective or cause serious health problems.

You shouldn't take St John's wort if you're using hormonal contraceptives. It can make them less effective. This includes emergency contraception.

You can search the British National Formulary (BNF) to see if any medication you're taking could interact badly with St John's wort.

Does St John's wort have withdrawal symptoms?

There is limited evidence on St John's wort and withdrawal symptoms. Some people say they do experience withdrawal symptoms, but some people don't.

If you're worried about withdrawal, speak to your GP or pharmacist. You should also speak to your GP or pharmacist if you experience any worrying symptoms after you stop taking St John's wort.

I had no side effects other than some photosensitivity and no withdrawal symptoms. Usually I am very side effect-sensitive so this was a great benefit.