Hypericum perforatum - St. John's Wort

Description

Perennial, woody creeping root. The stem dual edged, branching and erect above, curled below, .3 - .6 m in height. The leaves are numerous, elliptical or ovate, obtuse, opposite, entire, pale green in color and with pellucid dots. The flowers are numerous, bright yellow, densely forked and with terminal panicles.

Parts Used

Herb top, flower.

Constituents

St. John`s Wort is known to contain a volatile oil, a resin, a tannin, an alkaloid and napthodianthrones ( hypericin 0.0095 -0.5%, pseudohypericin, isohypericin and emodin-anthrone), phloroglucinols (hyperforin 2 - 4.5%, adhyperforin 0.2 - 1.9%) flavonoids (proanthocyanidins, kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and others) plus caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic, stearic, palmitic and myric acids; carotenoids, GABA and others.(1-4)

Mode of Action

St. John`s Wort has a wide reputation as an antidepressant.(5) The alkaloid is said to have a tonic effect on the ventricles of the heart, the aorta and arterioles.(6) It is also useful for pulmonary complaints, bladder trouble, suppression of urine, dysentery, worms and nervous depression.(7,8)

The tranquilizing quality was once attributed to hypericin, but now it is believed to be another constituent or a combination of several. Even small amounts have been found effective, by increasing blood flow to stressed tissue. This blood flow has also been shown to be hypotensive, reduce capillary fragility and to enhance uterine tone. St. John`s wort may cause photosensitivity in a very small group of sensitive individuals.(9,10)

St John`s Wort has antibacterial and antiviral activity against a range of organisms including tuberculosis, Gram positive organisms, Micrococcus, Bacillus, and influenza A/PR8.(11-14) Tests at the U.S. National Cancer Institute have shown an extract of St. John`s Wort has promise against cancer.(15)

Therapeutic Action

Aromatic, astringent, resolvent, expectorant and nervine.

Energetics

Traditional Chinese

(related species H. japonicum) is bitter, sweet, slight flavor; mild and cold properties. Its action is to cleanse dampness-heat, dispel heat, and remove toxins.(16)

Other

Holmes lists St. John`s Wort as a bit bitter, sweet and astringent, with a cool, dry property. Its secondary quality is relaxing, restoring, astringing and stimulating. St. John`s Wort enters the Lungs, Kidneys, and Bladder meridians, influencing the lungs, intestines, kidneys, bladder, nerves and blood. The organism is air and warmth.(17) Tierra describes St. John`s Wort as bitter and cool. It influences the Liver, Kidneys, Spleen and Stomach meridians.(18)

Folklore

This herb was named ``hypericum`` from the Greek meaning ‘over an apparition` referring to the herb`s ability to be so obnoxious that a mere whiff would cause evil spirits to flee. St. John`s Wort is used in all pulmonary complaints, bladder trouble, dysentery, worms, diarrhea, depression, jaundice and cancer.(19,20) It can be found in the herbals of Gerard (1597), Hill (1751), Withering (1796) and the Eclectics.(21)

A number of Hypericum species were used by Amerindian tribes. Records of the use of H. perforatum are known for the Cherokee, Iroquois and the Montagnais.(22) All these tribes seemed to have used the plant as a febrifuge/cough medicine however, the Cherokee made very broad use of the plant.

Dosage(23)

Infusion - 1 - 2 tablespoons
Fluid extract (1:1) - 20 - 30 drops - three times daily

Toxicity and Contraindications

It is considered safe for human consumption but hypericin has been shown to produce photosensitization in cattle and a very small number of sensitive humans.(24)

Official Recognition and Medical References

USA - Dietary supplement
Escop - requires 0.04 % napthodianthrones
France - Approved for topical applications
Germany - Commission E
UK - Legal Category (Licensed Products) for external use, in BHP

References

1. Upton, R., et al, St. John`s Wort; American Herbal Pharm. and Therapeutic Compendium; July, 1997.
2. Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Woodbridge Press Publ. Co., Santa Barbara CA, 1980, p. 164.
3. Heinerman, J., The Science of Herbal Medicine, BiWorld Publ., Orem, UT, 1979, p. 115.
4. Duke, J.A., Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, FL, 1985, p. 243.
5. Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Ibid.
6. Heinerman, J., The Science of Herbal Medicine, Ibid.
7. Upton, Ibid.
8. Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Jonathan Cape, London, 1931, p. 707.
9. Gallam, et al., Quaderni Fitoterapia (Milan) #8, p. 1-47.
10. Shipochiliev, T., Extract from a group of medicinal plants enhancing the uterine tonus, Vet. Sci. 28(4), 1960, p. 94-98.
11. Bystro, N.S., et al., The structure of hyperforin, Tetahedron Letters,1975, p. 2719.
12. Fitzpatrick, F.K., Plant substances active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Antibiot & Chem 4(5), 1954, p. 528 - 536.
13. Osborn, E.M., Brit. J. of Exp. Path. 24, 227, 1943, p. 1 - 45.
14. Shakirovo, K.K., et al., Antimicrobial properties of some species of St. Johns wort, Mikrobiol Zhurnal 32,1970, p. 494-97.
15. Duke, J.A., Ibid.
16. Hsu, H.Y., Chen, Y.P., et al., Oriental Materia Medica: a concise guide, Oriental Healing Arts Institute, Long Beach, CA, 1986, p. 201-202.
17. Holmes, P., The Energetics of Western Herbs (2 vols.), Artemis Press, Boulder CO, 1989, p. 454.
18. Tierra, M., Planetary Herbology, Lotus Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1988, p. 199-200.
19. Grieve, M., Ibid.
20. Duke, J.A., Ibid.
21. Crellin, J.K. and Philpott, J., Herbal Medicine: Past and Present (Vol. II), Duke University Press, London, 1990, p. 376-377.
22. Moerman, D.E., Medicinal Plants of Native America, University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology, Technical Reports, Number 19, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1986, Vol.1, p. 230.
23. Grieve, M., Ibid.
24. Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Ibid.