College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Neuroprotective blood mover that improves mood. Stimulates liver. Heals wounds, sprains, bruises and blood vessels.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Got the blues? St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an age-old remedy for depression and grief. It is also a strong liver stimulant and decongestant. For this reason, it is contraindicated when taking most pharmaceuticals, as it detoxes the pharmaceutical too quickly.

Hypericum is also a classic herb for bladder hypersensitivity.

Hypericin, an active ingredient in St John's Wort, is found concentrated in cancer cells 25-30 times that of other cells. The chemical makes cells photosensitive. Research is exploring the use of hypericin and UV light to selectively kill tumor cells.

If you crush these happy yellow flowers between your fingers, you will see proof of the main medicinal compound, hypericin, by the blood red stains left on your fingers.
Ayurveda St. John Large

Ayurveda St. John Large

Ayurveda St. John Large

Metabolic Nature of St. John's Wort

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

Other

Upward

UPWARD

Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body.

SEE ALL 'UPWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Nerves

NERVES

Marrow tissue (Majja Dhatu) includes bone marrow and nervous tissue.

SEE ALL 'NERVES' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of St. John's Wort
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

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Neuroprotective

STRONG NEUROPROTECTIVE

Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health.

SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

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Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Boosts Gaba

BOOSTS-GABA

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, reduces nerve excitability. It is the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Thus, it promotes relaxation, calm, and sleep.

SEE ALL 'BOOSTS-GABA' FOODS / HERBS

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Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the brain and thereby enhances memory or other cognitive functions and improves mental stamina or stability.

SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Dopaminergic

DOPAMINERGIC

Dopamine lifts mood, but also reduces prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH).

SEE ALL 'DOPAMINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Nerve Growth Tonic

NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC

Stimulate neurite / axon growth, promotes regeneration.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

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Serotonergic

SEROTONERGIC

The feel-good hormone. Also includes serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).

SEE ALL 'SEROTONERGIC' FOODS / HERBS

Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Photosensitizing

STRONG PHOTOSENSITIZING

Causes sensitivity to ultaviolet light - useful in psoriasis and cancers.

SEE ALL 'PHOTOSENSITIZING' FOODS / HERBS

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Vulnerary

VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

SEE ALL 'VULNERARY' FOODS / HERBS

Expectorant

EXPECTORANT

Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.

SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS

Antimicrobial

STRONG ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

SEE ALL 'ANTIMICROBIAL' FOODS / HERBS

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Antiviral

STRONG ANTIVIRAL

Herbs that inhibit the development of viral infections. Antivirals also can be found in essential oils of some herbs, such as eucalyptus oil.

SEE ALL 'ANTIVIRAL' FOODS / HERBS

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Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Calms Heart

CALMS-HEART

An herb that literally calms the heart. These herbs are helpful in the treatment of anxiety, sadness, depression, or other emotional imbalances in the heart. Related to the Chinese Herbal Category 'calms spirit.'

SEE ALL 'CALMS-HEART' FOODS / HERBS

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Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

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Vessel Tonic

VESSEL-TONIC

An herb that improves the tone and integrity of blood vessel walls. This is helpful in easy bruising.

SEE ALL 'VESSEL-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Tannins,
Flavonoids

FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.

SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS

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Polyphenols

POLYPHENOLS

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types.

SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to St. John's Wort

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Serotonergic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Nerve-growth-tonic, Vulnerary, Antimicrobial, Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Boosts-gaba, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Antimicrobial, Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Antidepressant, Antiviral, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric Root (Fresh)

    Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Serotonergic, Antimicrobial, Nerve-growth-tonic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Cloves

    Cloves has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antimicrobial, Expectorant, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Garlic

    Garlic has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Blood-thinner, Vulnerary, Antiviral, Expectorant, Antimicrobial, Anxiolytic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Sage

    Sage has these Actions in Common

    Expectorant, Nervine, Analgesic, Internal-detoxicant, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Nerve-growth-tonic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Blood-thinner, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Fennel Seeds

    Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Brain-tonic, Nervine, Analgesic, Expectorant, Vulnerary, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Green Tea

    Green Tea has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Boosts-gaba, Antiviral, Nerve-growth-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Neuroprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Beets

    Beets has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Vessel-tonic

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to St. John's Wort

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Brain-tonic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Antidepressant, Neuroprotective, Antispasmodic, Tonic, Anxiolytic, Vulnerary, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • Skullcap

    Skullcap has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-growth-tonic, Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective, Anxiolytic, Tonic, Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic, Calms-heart

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginkgo

    Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

    Brain-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Antidepressant, Neuroprotective, Antimicrobial, Vessel-tonic, Blood-thinner, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • Lemon Balm

    Lemon Balm has these Actions in Common

    Brain-tonic, Dopaminergic, Analgesic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective, Antiviral, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Cohosh

    Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Serotonergic, Antidepressant, Tonic, Antimicrobial, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Dopaminergic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE

  • Motherwort

    Motherwort has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Vulnerary, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Calms-heart, Dopaminergic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Vessel-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Photosensitizing, Antispasmodic, Vessel-tonic, Blood-thinner, Boosts-gaba, Calms-heart, Expectorant, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

    Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Brain-tonic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Tonic, Antispasmodic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Expectorant, Internal-detoxicant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Tonic, Antidepressant

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antimicrobial, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Expectorant

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

St. John's Wort may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

St. John's Wort may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with St. John's Wort. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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