St john's wort anxiety
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
St. John's Wort and Anxiety: A Comprehensive Review
Introduction to St. John's Wort and Anxiety Disorders
St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a widely used herbal remedy, primarily recognized for its antidepressant properties. However, its efficacy in treating anxiety disorders has also garnered interest. This article synthesizes current research on the use of St. John's Wort for anxiety, examining its effectiveness, safety, and potential applications.
Efficacy of St. John's Wort in Treating Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Research indicates that St. John's Wort is primarily effective in treating mild to moderate depression, with limited evidence supporting its use for anxiety disorders. A comprehensive review found that while St. John's Wort is effective for depression, kava (Piper methysticum) is more suitable for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) . This suggests that St. John's Wort may not be the best standalone treatment for GAD.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
A placebo-controlled pilot study investigated the efficacy of St. John's Wort in treating social anxiety disorder. The study concluded that there was no significant difference between St. John's Wort and placebo in reducing symptoms of social phobia . This finding indicates that St. John's Wort may not be effective for this specific type of anxiety disorder.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Similarly, a double-blind study on the use of St. John's Wort for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) found no significant difference between the herbal remedy and placebo in alleviating OCD symptoms . This further supports the notion that St. John's Wort may not be effective for all anxiety disorders.
Combination Therapies
St. John's Wort and Valerian Extract
An open, practice-oriented study explored the combination of St. John's Wort and valerian extract for treating depression comorbid with anxiety. The results suggested that the combination therapy improved anxiety symptoms more quickly than St. John's Wort alone, and was well tolerated with no significant side effects . This indicates that while St. John's Wort alone may not be highly effective for anxiety, it could be beneficial when used in combination with other herbal treatments.
Mechanisms of Action
St. John's Wort is known to exhibit serotonergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic activity, which are all implicated in anxiety disorders 34. Despite these pharmacokinetic properties, clinical trials have not consistently demonstrated its efficacy in treating anxiety, suggesting that more research is needed to fully understand its potential mechanisms and applications.
Safety and Tolerability
St. John's Wort is generally well-tolerated, with a favorable side-effect profile compared to synthetic antidepressants 56. This makes it a potentially attractive option for individuals seeking alternative treatments with fewer side effects. However, its efficacy in treating anxiety remains inconclusive based on current evidence.
Conclusion
While St. John's Wort is effective for treating mild to moderate depression, its efficacy in treating anxiety disorders such as GAD, social phobia, and OCD is not well-supported by current research. Combination therapies, such as St. John's Wort with valerian extract, show promise for improving anxiety symptoms. Further studies are needed to explore these combinations and to better understand the mechanisms through which St. John's Wort may affect anxiety. For now, individuals considering St. John's Wort for anxiety should consult healthcare professionals to discuss the most appropriate treatment options.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic