st johns wort extract st. john's wort (hypericum perforatum), a common shrub-like perennial, bears bright yellow flowers that contain numerous therapeutic substances when dried. europeans have used the herb for centuries to calm jangled nerves and heal wounds, among other ills. and so it's not surprising that north americans have recently embraced its use as a treatment for depression and conditions associated with it. not only is st. john's wort effective and relatively free of side effects, it also costs under $20 for a month's supply, about 75% less than the most popular antidepressant drugs. in germany, where doctors routinely prescribe herbal remedies, st. john's wort is the most common form of antidepressant--more widely used than the drugs prozac or zoloft because it has far fewer side effects. health benefits although st. john's wort has been the focus of a number of well-regarded studies, researchers still don't know exactly how the herb works. a pigment called hypericin has long been identified as a key medicinal ingredient, although other compounds are now similarly believed to contribute to the herb's therapeutic effects. in general, st. john's wort appears to boost levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which affects the emotions. the national institutes of health (nih), in washington d.c., are currently conducting multiple studies on the efficacy of st. john’s wort for many psychological conditions. because of its widespread use among the public, the nih is also in the process of conducting research to determine st. john’s wort effects on other commonly prescribed drugs. ms.lily liu sales manager organic herb inc. phone +86 731 4060868 mobile +86 135 1747 5149 fax +86 731 4023669 email: lily@organic-herb.com website: http://www.organic-herb.com