hyperici herba

Reported Uses

• NOTE: see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table
• acne [Insufficient Evidence]
• ADHD [Insufficient Evidence]
• anxiety [Insufficient Evidence]
• brain tumor [Insufficient Evidence]
• burning mouth syndrome [Possibly Ineffective]
• chronic fatigue syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2 [Insufficient Evidence]
• depression [Likely Effective]
• fibromyalgia [Insufficient Evidence]
• genital herpes [Insufficient Evidence]
• hepatitis C [Possibly Ineffective]
• herpes labialis (cold sores) [Insufficient Evidence]
• HIV/AIDS [Possibly Ineffective]
• IBS [Possibly Ineffective]
• mastitis [Insufficient Evidence]
• memory [Insufficient Evidence]
• menopausal sx [Possibly Effective]
• migraine prophylaxis [Insufficient Evidence]
• obsessive-compulsive disorder [Insufficient Evidence]
• osteoarthritis [Insufficient Evidence]
• peripheral neuropathy [Possibly Ineffective]
• plaque psoriasis [Insufficient Evidence]
• polycystic ovary syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• premenstrual syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
• scleroderma [Insufficient Evidence]
• seasonal affective disorder [Insufficient Evidence]
• smoking cessation [Insufficient Evidence]
• social anxiety disorder [Possibly Ineffective]
• somatoform disorders [Possibly Effective]
• tinnitus [Insufficient Evidence]
• wound healing [Insufficient Evidence]

Reported Doses

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

Special Note

[formulation clarification]

Info: products generally stdzd 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 pts

[Likely Effective]

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

depression, peds pts

[Likely Effective]

Dose: 150-300 mg PO tid in pts 6-17 yo; Alt: 100-600 mg PO tid (stdzd to 0.3% hypericin) in pts 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 (stdzd to 0.5 mg hypericin)

menopausal sx

[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 w/ valproate

obsessive-compulsive disorder

[Insufficient Evidence]

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

osteoarthritis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply oil topically tid; Info: used w/ or w/o 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 (stdzd 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

somatoform disorders

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 300 mg PO bid

wound healing

[Insufficient Evidence]

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