St. John's Wort

For centuries, the flowering plant St. John's wort was used as a health remedy in Europe. Today, St. John's wort is widely known as an herbal treatment for depression. In some countries, it is commonly prescribed for mild depression, especially in children, adolescents, and where cost is a concern. Contact VitaMist to get your St. John's Wort Spray. St. John's Wort can also be found in our Sleep Spray.

St. John's Wort Uses

Scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of St. John's wort for depression is inconsistent. An analysis of the results of 37 clinical trials concluded that St. John's wort may have only minimal beneficial effects on major depression. However, the analysis also found that St. John's wort may benefit people with minor depression; these benefits may be similar to those from standard antidepressants. Overall, St. John's wort appeared to produce fewer side effects than some standard antidepressants.


St. John's wort has also been studied in the treatment of other mood disorders, such as severe depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and seasonal affective disorder (SAD.) It's also been used for insomnia, PMS, menopausal symptoms, and eczema. However, studies on St. John's wort for these uses have not shown solid evidence of benefit.

St. John's Wort Warnings

Side effects:  At recommended doses, St. John's wort generally does not cause side effects. Uncommon side effects of St. John's wort include anxiety, dry mouth, sensitivity to sunlight, dizziness, confusion, stomach upset, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual problems, tiredness and fatigue.

Risks:  Depression is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. Never try to treat it on your own without the help of an expert. Given the lack of evidence about its safety, St. John's wort is not recommended for children or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Interactions:  You should not take St. John's wort if you're using antidepressants, birth control pills, blood thinners, medicines for HIV, cancer drugs, cyclosporine, or digoxin. St. John's wort may interfere with how these drugs work.

Consult your physician before taking any supplements.