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Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies with variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Special Note

[formulation clarification]

Info: products generally standardized to contain hypericin 0.1-0.3% and/or hyperforin 0.5-6%

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

acne

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 1.5 mL (0.5% extract) topically x10min

brain tumor

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.05-0.5 mg/kg/dose hypericin extract PO qd

Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 300 mg PO tid

depression, adult patients

[Likely Effective]

Dose: 600-1800 mg/day PO divided qd-tid (standardized to 0.2-0.3% hypericin and 5-6% hyperforin); Alt: 300 mg PO tid (standardized to 0.3% hypericin); 250 mg PO bid (standardized to 0.2% hypericin); 300-600 mg PO tid (standardized to 3-6% hyperforin)

depression, peds patients

[Likely Effective]

Dose: 150-300 mg PO tid in patients 6-17 yo; Alt: 100-600 mg PO tid (standardized to 0.3% hypericin) in patients 12 yo and younger

genital herpes

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.1% liquid topically x1

herpes labialis (cold sores)

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 0.1% liquid topically x1

mastitis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply oil topically x2min bid

memory

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 250 mg PO x1 (standardized to 0.5 mg hypericin)

menopausal symptoms

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 900 mg/day PO divided qd-tid; Alt: 0.2 mg/mL hypericin extract PO tid; 0.25 mg hypericin extract PO qd-bid

migraine prophylaxis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 160 mg PO tid; Info: used with valproate

obsessive-compulsive disorder

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 450 mg PO bid (standardized to 0.3% hypericin)

osteoarthritis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply oil topically tid; Info: used with or without analgesics

plaque psoriasis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 5% ointment topically bid

polycystic ovary syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2250 mg PO qd

premenstrual syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1.36 mg hypericin extract PO qd; Alt: 450 mg PO bid (standardized to 0.18% hypericin and 3.38% hyperforin)

scleroderma

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply cream topically qd

seasonal affective disorder

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 900 mg/day PO divided qd-tid; Info: used with or without light therapy

somatoform disorders

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 300 mg PO bid

wound healing

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 20% ointment topically tid; Start: 24h after cesarean section