Supplement monograph

St. John's Wort

A mood-positioned botanical where antidepressants, oral contraceptives, transplant drugs, anticoagulants, and photosensitivity make interaction screening non-negotiable.

Practical read

Do not place St. John's Wort in a stack until medication context is reviewed. It can change exposure to multiple medicines, so the first timing question is whether it belongs in the plan at all.

Decision frame

St. John's Wort: what to check before it earns a slot

Timing rule

Do not place St. John's Wort in a stack until medication context is reviewed. It can change exposure to multiple medicines, so the first timing question is whether it belongs in the plan at all.

Form lens

Standardized extract: common supplement formatMood blends: hardest to auditTea or tincture formats: variable exposure

Safety lens

Can interact with antidepressants and raise serotonin-syndrome concernsCan reduce effectiveness of some medicines including oral contraceptivesPhotosensitivity and surgery contexts deserve review

Best fit

  • High-risk interaction audits
  • Mood-stack safety review
  • Medication-context education

Form notes

  • Standardized extract: common supplement format
  • Mood blends: hardest to audit
  • Tea or tincture formats: variable exposure

Watchouts

  • Can interact with antidepressants and raise serotonin-syndrome concerns
  • Can reduce effectiveness of some medicines including oral contraceptives
  • Photosensitivity and surgery contexts deserve review

Evidence Brief

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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Generated by AI. Always verify with a healthcare professional. Educational information only. Not a substitute for professional medical advice.