Q: I am currently taking St Johns Wort Plus caps by Genestra. My questions for today are, what is the life of this product in my system? How long does its effects last upon ceasing to continue using it? How long can I continue to use St Johns Wort Plus on a daily basis?
A: In response to your question on St. John’s Wort Plus (active component – hypericin), the absorption and elimination of hypericin extract have been researched in healthy volunteers.8 After oral ingestion, plasma levels were measurable within two to three hours. A steep cumulative rise in plasma levels was seen during the first three days; however, a more gradual rise continued for several weeks. The elimination half-life was 24 to 48 hours.
Therefore, once you stop taking it the hypericin compound, it would likely have no effect after 2 days as it is depleted in your body.
The research on St. John’s Wort is positive for mild-to-moderate depression. Meta-analyses of heterogeneous studies conducted over the past two decades, as well as several subsequent randomized trials, have reported St. John’s wort to be more effective than placebo and equally effective as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the short-term management of mild-to-moderate depression (1-3 months). Overall, the evidence supporting the efficacy of St. John’s wort in mild-to-moderate major depression remains compelling. However, the evidence for severe major depression and other depressive disorders (e.g., seasonal affective disorder) remains equivocal.
Extensive clinical trials of limited duration (<3 months) at recommended doses support the benign side effect profile and safety of St. John’s wort in individuals not taking other drugs.
Also, see our More Info Tab here: St. John’s Wort Plus
Here is a 2009 study with 440 out-patients who took St. John’s Wort for 1 year, with mostly positive effects:
Long-term effects of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) treatment: a 1-year safety study in mild to moderate depression.
Lastly, I’m sure there are many people out there who have had good results with St. John’s Wort that have taken it much longer than the published research suggests, as long as it continues to help them with their depression. The amount of time it remains helpful can likely vary from person to person, and also other medications a person is taking needs to be considered by a health professional prior to starting St. John’s Wort, as well as their mental and health status.
Fish oil can also be a helpful adjunct supplement in depression. I see in the past you’ve ordered Cod Liver Forte from us. I would encourage you to continue with your fish oil usage. If you were not pleased with the liquid version, we do carry it in softgels Cod Liver Oil DHA/EPA by Genestra, and Finest Pure Fish Oil by Pharmax.
Hope this was helpful, thank you for being a loyal Rockwell client. If you need further guidance, you do get a free 15 minute consult with each order if you wish.
