Hyperici herba

Dried flowering shoot tips, flowers, leaves and stems of St. John's wort. see also under Hypericum perforatum

Quality is defined in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

HMPC monograph: Well-established use: Mild and moderate depression

ESCOP monograph: internal: dry extracts with ethanol (50-68%) mild depressive episodes; dry extracts with ethanol or methanol 80%: mild to moderate depressive episodes
Powder, dry extracts 4-7:1, ethanol 35%, various liquid extracts, tinctures and a fresh plant pressed juice: intermittent states of mental exhaustion. Powder, cut drug: mild gastrointestinal complaints.

External: mild skin inflammations, small wounds.

Dermatitis solaris: Oleum Hyperici (St. John's wort oil), also known as red oil, is used as a wound healing agent for 1st degree burns and dermatitis solaris.

It is also used as an oil or ointment for the care of chapped skin or old scars, torn muscles and bruises.

Commission E-monograph: internal: Psychovegetative disorders, depressive moods, anxiety and/or nervous restlessness;

oily St. John's wort preparations: dyspeptic complaints; post-treatment of injuries, myalgia (muscle pain), 1st degree burns.

Empirical medicine: irritable bladder, enuresis nocturna, poorly healing infected wounds, ulcus cruris as an oily preparation

Externally, hyperforin has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and differentiation-promoting effects. Atopic eczema: Studies showed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in a half-side trial (only 21 patients) a significant superiority for the externally applied St. John's wort in a 1.5 % cream compared to the vehicle (Schempp CM et al. 2003).

Systemic: Children < 12 yrs. Known photosensitivity, major depressive episodes, concomitant use of ciclosporin A, tacrolimus, et al, protease inhibitors in HIV treatment, imatinib, et al, cytostatics, antidepressants (see also use of coumarin-type anticoagulants).

Not recommended in pregnancy and lactation due to lack of data.

Simultaneous use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors should be avoided!

Internal: e.g. ^Laif® 900 film-coated tablets,

^Jarsin® Tabl. 300-750, St. John's wort-ratiopharm®, Rhoival® tea.

Externally: ^Bedan® as a cream, from the 6th month of life. According to the manufacturer, no increase in photosensitivity.

^{Arthrodynat®} ointment, ^Befelka® oil, ^Buenoson® N ointment, ^Dolo-cyl® oil - muscle and joint oil, ^Kytta ointment®, Phönox Kalophön ointment

Phototoxic! Caution in the summer months, no UV exposure! effect latency: 2-3 weeks!

1. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 134-135
2. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-hypericum-perforatum-l-herba-well-established-medicinal-use_en.pdf
3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/johanniskraut.php
4. Miller LG (1998) Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 9;158(20):2200-2211. doi: 10.1001/archinte.158.20.2200. PMID: 9818800
5. Schempp et al. (2003) Treatment of subacute atopic dermatitis with St. John's wort cream. Eine randomisierte, placebokontrollierte Doppelblindstudie im Halbseitendesign [Topical treatment of atopic dermatitis with Hypericum cream. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind half-side comparison study]. Hautarzt. 54:248-253. doi: 10.1007/s00105-002-0440-y. PMID: 12634994.
6. Schempp CM et al. (2002) St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). Eine Pflanze mit Relevanz für die Dermatologie [St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). A plant with relevance for dermatology]. Hautarzt. 53:316-321. doi: 10.1007/s00105-001-0317-5. PMID: 12063742.