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What Is St. John's Wort? A Plain Definition
St. John's wort is a yellow-flowered plant whose leaves and flowers are dried and sold as capsules, teas and extracts. People take it for mood. It is also one of the herbs most likely to weaken other medicines (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth). Check every label for it, and ask a pharmacist before you start.
Written by the MemoPryl label deskUpdated · 4 min read
What is St. John's wort, in one plain paragraph?
St. John's wort is a flowering plant. Its dried tops are sold as a herbal supplement, mostly for low mood.
It is a supplement, not a medicine. FDA does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness before they are sold (FDA, Using Dietary Supplements). That puts more weight on you, the reader, to check the label.
The research on mood is mixed. NCCIH reports one study of 340 people with moderate major depression that found it no better than placebo, and a later review that found it may beat placebo for milder cases (NCCIH, St. John's Wort in depth). Nothing in that record says it helps memory.
Next step: if you take it for mood, tell the clinician who treats your mood. Do not swap it in for a prescribed medicine.
What names does a label use for it?
Labels write it as St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, or sometimes just hypericum.
| What you read | What it means |
|---|---|
| St. John's wort | The common name |
| Hypericum perforatum | The Latin name for the same plant |
| Extract, standardized | A concentrated form; the marker and amount should be printed |
| Proprietary blend | A group of herbs with one total weight; single amounts hidden |
Why does a plain herb need a pharmacist check?
Because St. John's wort can change how your body handles other medicines. That is its main risk.
NCCIH says it can weaken the effects of many medicines, including crucially important ones. The list includes antidepressants, birth control pills, warfarin, cyclosporine, some seizure drugs, some heart medicines and some HIV and cancer drugs (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety).
It can also push serotonin too high when mixed with certain antidepressants. That reaction is called serotonin syndrome, and untreated it can be deadly (MedlinePlus, Serotonin syndrome).
The rule stays the same on every page of this site: keep taking prescribed medicine, and ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start any supplement that lists this herb.
MemoPryl: capsules in 2, 3 or 6 bottlesRead the bottle · check your medicines · 60-day window (confirm)
See packsDoes MemoPryl contain St. John's wort?
Not confirmed. St. John's wort is one of six names tied to MemoPryl through a sibling pack, and no image of your bottle proves it.
The other five names are phosphatidylserine, ginkgo biloba leaf, N-acetyl L-carnitine HCl, brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and L-glutamine. No milligram amount is printed on any image we hold. Two bottle photos also disagree on capsule count and wording.
Read this as a checklist. When the bottle arrives, find the Supplement Facts panel and look for the herb by name. If you cannot find it, ask the desk before you take a capsule: Order email: [email protected] (tracking, changes and refunds on placed orders). You can also read the full ingredient list page.
Thinking about MemoPryl?Check your medicines with a pharmacist first. Prices and the 60-day window are confirmed at checkout.
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What should I check before buying anything that lists it?
Check four things: your medicines, your procedures, the panel and the amount.
- Medicines: list every pill, patch and supplement you use, and show the list to a pharmacist.
- Procedures: clinicians often ask people to pause supplements before surgery. Tell the team early (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
- Panel: a real Supplement Facts panel names each herb and its amount.
- Pregnancy and nursing: NCCIH notes it may be unsafe in pregnancy (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety). Ask a clinician.
If a capsule makes you feel unwell, stop it and call a clinician. Serious reactions can be reported to FDA (FDA, Report a Supplement Problem). For more on medicine questions, see the pharmacist guide.
FAQ01
MemoPryl questions people ask
Is St. John's wort a drug or a supplement?
In the United States it is sold as a dietary supplement, not an approved drug. FDA does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness before sale (FDA, Using Dietary Supplements). It still acts strongly in the body, so treat it with the care you give a medicine.
What is hypericum on a supplement label?
Hypericum is short for Hypericum perforatum, the Latin name of St. John's wort. If a label lists hypericum, it names the same herb. Check the amount and the plant part, then show the label to a pharmacist.
Is St. John's wort the same as Saint John's wort?
Yes. St. John's wort, St Johns Wort and Saint John's wort are spelling variants of one plant. The spelling does not change the herb or its medicine risks.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle images, the seller's product notes and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Official stocking desk for MemoPryl, not by the manufacturer or the distributor of the bottle. We make money when you buy through our order links.
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