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Hypericum

Hypericum

What the trials found

Hypericum does not have enough research to establish whether it eases depressive symptoms, and unspecified products cannot be matched reliably to studied preparations or doses.

Median effective dose, most-studied outcomes

Full protocol, 1 outcomes

Risk, worst reported severity

  • abdominal distension moderate
  • diarrhoea moderate
  • cyclosporine major
  • pentobarbital major
All 16 events and interactions

What hypericum actually does

Outcome Effect Evidence Dose Time Rank
Early research 1
Ease depression symptoms Not enough research Depression can bring persistent low mood and loss of interest in daily life.
— 		1 RCT 1 papers · n=— 350 mg 8 wk —

Effect tiers come from native-unit MCID where available, Cohen's d otherwise.

Protocol

Dose, timing & forms

How much

The reviewed depression evidence uses 350 mg daily for 8 weeks, but one trial cannot establish a reliable dose or show that this amount eases depressive symptoms.1 Do not treat that protocol as a proven target, especially when the product does not identify its species or extract standardization.

When and how long

The depression trial used Hypericum daily across an eight-week period, not as an occasional mood product.1 The available evidence does not establish a best time of day, whether to take it with food, or whether splitting the dose changes results. Keep any use under clinician guidance because Hypericum can interact with medicines.2

Forms & standardisation

Look for a full botanical name, the plant part, extraction details, and quantified active compounds. An unspecified Hypericum product does not provide enough information to match it to a clinical protocol or to better-characterized St. John's wort extracts.2 Do not assume that two products labeled Hypericum deliver the same chemical mix.

Studied range, by outcome

Outcome Studied range Median effective Duration Evidence
Reduce overall depressive symptom severity 350 mg — 8 wk 1 paper

Adverse events and drug interactions

Safety events

abdominal distension moderate
diarrhoea moderate
changes in sleeping habits mild
headache
fatigue
no cytotoxicity observed (in vitro)

Drug interactions

cyclosporine major decreases concentration
pentobarbital major increases effect
diazepam major increases effect
indinavir major decreases concentration
ethinyl estradiol major decreases concentration
norethindrone major decreases concentration
digoxin major decreases concentration
irinotecan major unknown
alfentanil major decreases concentration
midazolam major decreases concentration
In context

What this is and how it works

  • One depression study reviewed here reported no usable participant count or effect estimate for symptom relief.1
  • Two papers reviewed here span two outcomes, with only one paper addressing depressive symptoms.
  • Unspecified Hypericum products vary in preparation and dose, while St. John’s wort has important medicine interactions.2

Hypericum is a group of flowering plants, including the plant commonly called St. John's wort. “Unspecified” means the label or research record does not identify the exact species, extract, or active-compound level, which makes comparisons with better-defined products unreliable.2

Researchers have not established a clear body mechanism for unspecified Hypericum preparations. Think of it like a box labeled only “tea”: without the ingredients and their amounts, you cannot predict what it contains or how strongly it acts.2

Bottom line

Unspecified Hypericum is not a strong choice if you want an evidence-based option for depressive symptoms. The available trial evidence does not establish a benefit, and the missing product details make dose matching impossible.1 Avoid self-treating with it if you take prescription medicine, particularly medicines with serious interaction risks.2

Frequently asked

Common questions

Does unspecified Hypericum ease depression symptoms?

The available evidence does not establish that it eases depression symptoms. One eight-week study examined depressive symptom severity, but the result did not show a statistically significant benefit, so the effect remains unknown.1

Is Hypericum the same as St. John's wort?

Hypericum names a plant genus. “Unspecified” does not tell you the species, plant part, extraction method, or active-compound content, so you cannot assume it matches a studied St. John's wort product.2

Can you take Hypericum with prescription medicines?

Do not start Hypericum without checking with a pharmacist or prescriber if you use prescription medicine. Hypericum products can substantially change how the body handles several medicines, including hormonal contraceptives, antiviral medicines, immune-suppressing medicines, and sedatives.2

Sources

Sources

  1. 1. PubMed search: Hypericum and depression clinical trials
  2. 2. St. John's Wort and Depression: In Depth

Generated August 27, 2026

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