Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Mental Health

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 There are insufficient data available at this time to recommend use of St. John’s wort by

children or during pregnancy or breast-feeding.

 The list of all of the many observed side effects of St. John’s wort includes:

 sensitivity to sunlight (danger of severe sunburn), rare, under 1% risk, and generally

in light-skinned people or with use of antibiotics or birth control pills. Nonetheless,

persons using St. John’s wort should use sunscreen and other protection outdoors.

 gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, loose stools, constipation and

heartburn/gastric upset. Persons using St. John’s wort should take it with food.

 anxiety

 dry mouth

 dizziness

 fatigue/sedation

 headache

 sexual dysfunction/disinterest (including impotence)

 confusion

 insomnia

 bruxism (teeth clenching)

 vivid dreams

 restless legs

 tingling

 suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Mischoulon and Rosenbaum report 17 cases of

psychosis, but lesser disturbance is difficult to quantify. If these thoughts persist,

get help.

13. DOSAGE: The typical dose for mild to moderate depression is 900 mg per day standardized
    to contain 0.3% hypericin or hyperforin and split in three dosages. Brown et al. note that
    treating severe depression may require doses of up to 1,800 mg. per day for 6-12 weeks.
    At these higher doses, Saint John’s wort causes more side effects, similar to Zoloft and
    increases the risk of interactions with medications. This is twice the dosage used in most