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How do I choose a St. John’s wort product?

St. John’s wort is an herbal remedy that comes from the plant, Hypericum perforatum. There are at least ten active compounds in St. John’s wort.

In most research using St. John’s wort for depression, people took an extract with 0.3 percent hypericin at a dose of 300 mg three times a day.

When choosing an herb, select a product from a reliable company. Companies that standardize their products can guarantee the amount of herbs stated on their label. Popular brands include GNC Herbal Plus, drugstore.com St. John's wort Concentrate, and Nature Made.

Sources:
Gaster, B., Holroyd, J. “St. John’s wort for depression: a systematic review,” Archives of Internal Medicine 24 (2000).
The Review of Natural Products. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.
Robbers, J.E., V.E. Tyler. Tyler’s Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. The Haworth Press, 1999.
Philipp, M. "Hypericum Extract versus Imipramine or Placebo in Patients With Moderate Depression: Randomised Multicentre Study of Treatment for Eight Weeks," British Medical Journal 319 (1999).
Woelk, H. "Comparison of St John's Wort and Imipramine for Treating Depression: Randomised Controlled Trial," British Medical Journal 321 (2000).
Brenner, R. "Comparison of an Extract of Hypericum (LI 160) and Sertraline in the Treatment of Depression: A Double-blind, Randomized Pilot Study," Clinical Therapeutics 4 (2000).
Schrader, E. " Equivalence of St John's Wort Extract (Ze 117) and Fluoxetine: A Randomized, Controlled Study in Mild-moderate Depression," International Clinical Psychopharmacology 15 (2000).