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Nature Made St. John’s Wort Review
By Razvan Radu, Senior Writer, Susanne Blake, MS, RDN (expert review)
Susanne Blake is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with expertise in eating disorders, food reactions, & whole foods nutrition. She has worked with children and families, with elders and retirement communities, and has provided nutrition services to detention facilities, schools and recovery programs. Her media expertise is extensive and has included live television, as well as print publications.
Nature Made St. John’s Wort is based on an extract of the St. John’s Wort plant and is advertised to help maintain a healthy emotional balance and enhance mood and mental well being. The formula is manufactured by Pharmavite, an American Company located in California. The supplement is part of the Nature’s Made line. Pharmavite claims to be the number one best-selling brand of vitamins, dietary supplements, multivitamins and herbal products in the united States, although it does not bring any evidence to back up this claim.
St. John’s Wort is usually recommended to adults against symptoms of depression and anxiety (including social anxiety, separation anxiety or social phobia). Pregnant and lactating women are advised not to use Nature Made St. John’s Wort and caution is advised in case of patients taking anti-psychotics.
Nature Made St. John’s Wort Ingredients
Nature Made St. John’s Wort includes the following ingredient: St. John’s Wort aerial part extracts (Hipericum Perforatum), Cellulose Gel, Croscarmellose Sodium, Maltodextrin, Stearic Acid, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Silicon Dioxide, Polyethylene Glycol, Magnesium Stearate, Talc, Titanium Dioxide (artificial color), Yellow 5 Lake, Triethyl Citrate, Polysorbate 80, Yellow 6 Lake, and Blue 2 Lake.
Product Features
Nature Made St. John’s Wort features a standardized St. John’s Wort extract to contain 0.3% hypericin, when tested by UV. The use of St. John’s Wort is not however regulated by the FDA. St. John’s Wort is known since ancient Greece, when it was used to treat viral infections and for its great nerve calming properties. St. John’s Wort works by facilitating synthesis of Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine, key neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood and promoting feelings of well-being and relaxation.
Today, St John’s Wort is mostly used to reduce symptoms of mild and moderate depression, in a way similar to tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Research is however in its early stage. Although evidence is contradictory, St. John’s Wort may help in the treatment of anxiety disorders such as social anxiety or separation anxiety and some personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder.
St. John’s Wort is generally well tolerated for use up to three months. Side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual dysfunctions fatigue and headache. There is concern regarding potential drug interactions which refer to anticoagulants, antidepressants, seizure control drugs, oral contraceptives, and various heart medications. Also, there is evidence that St. John’s Wort may potentially worsen symptoms of ADHD, Schizophrenia, Major Depression and people trying to conceive.
The recommended daily dosage of Nature Made St. John’s Wort is two tablets with food. The manufacturer mentions a number of precautions regarding drug interactions with anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and oral contraceptives. Consumer reviews are generally positive and report great result in improving mood.
Advantages
- Overall positive consumer reviews;
- Affordable price (roughly $7 for a 20 days’ supply);
- St. John’s Wort has been extensively researched;
- The formula contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, yeast, starch or gluten.
Disadvantages
- St. John’s Wort may interfere with a large number of underlying ailments and medications;
- St. John’s Wort is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women;
- The long term use side effects are not sufficiently studied.
Conclusion
Herbal alternatives to traditional medicine have increased in popularity over the past decades, due to an abundance of scientific research involving plant extracts. The main reason is that herbal based medication tends to have fewer side effects. St. John’s Wort has been used traditionally as a remedy against anxiety related conditions and insomnia. Modern scientific research on St. John’s Wort is however in its early stage for a number of its benefits, while others are supported by actual evidence.
Nature Made St. John’s Wort received numerous positive reviews from consumers, who report being satisfied with the formula. However, there are numerous potential drug interactions and interference with certain underlying health conditions; therefore it is our advice that you seek a healthcare provider’s opinion before using this supplement or any other product featuring St. John’s Wort.
| Product | 10yrs or More Proven Product |
Less Than $6 Shipping |
Testimonials |
| HCF Quality (4.8) | |||
| Nature Made St. John's Wort (3.4) |
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I take these during my most stressful periods, they work great and the price is more than fair (I bought from a drugstore).
There’s no doubt in my mind that these work wonderful for my mood support. I’ve been taking them for over a year now, and i have no complaints. It’s also gluten free, which is even better!