St. John's Wort (Not an Ayurvedic herb)
St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a medicinal herb primarily recognized in modern integrative medicine for its efficacy in treating mild to moderate major depressive disorder. Originating from...
Botanical name: Hypericum perforatum.
Classical attributes
- Virya: []
- Vipaka: []
Dosha effects
- vata: not applicable
- kapha: not applicable
- pitta: not applicable
Clinical evidence
Meta-analyses of up to 15 RCTs and databases tracking 20+ RCTs show that standardized extracts of St. John's Wort are effective for mild to moderate major depressive disorder. It is superior to placebo and comparable in efficacy to conventional antidepressants, often with fewer side effects. Therapeutic effects typically appear within 2-4 weeks, and there is some evidence for relapse prevention. However, it is not recommended for severe depression due to insufficient evidence of efficacy.