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.
Ayurveda St. John Large

Ayurveda St. John Large

Ayurveda St. John Large

SUGGESTED USE

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
How should I take my tincture?
Follow these guidelines

Metabolic Nature of St. John's Wort

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

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

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

TASTES
Taste Help

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.

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Moves Energy:
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


Tissue (dhatu):
Nerves

NERVES

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

SEE ALL 'NERVES' FOODS / HERBS


Affinity: Mind Stress Sleep
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of St. John's Wort
Help
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.

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.

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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, hear 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

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Chamomile

Chamomile has these Actions in Common

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

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Rosemary

Rosemary has these Actions in Common

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

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Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

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

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Cloves

Cloves has these Actions in Common

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

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Garlic

Garlic has these Actions in Common

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

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Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

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

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Sage

Sage has these Actions in Common

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

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Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

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

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Green Tea

Green Tea has these Actions in Common

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

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Beets

Beets has these Actions in Common

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

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

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

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

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Skullcap

Skullcap has these Actions in Common

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

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Ginkgo

Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

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

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Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm has these Actions in Common

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

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Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

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

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Motherwort

Motherwort has these Actions in Common

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

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Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

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

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Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

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

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Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

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

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Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

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

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

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. 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. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Analgesic: If the mechanism of pain relief is narcotic, do not combine with antihistamines.
  • Antidepressant: Do not combine with antihistamines.
  • Blood-thinner: Patients on warfarin (coumadin) and other anticoagulants, or who have clotting difficulties, should take special caution to only use blood thinners under the supervision of a medical doctor.
  • Decongests-Liver: Liver decongestants can clear medicines from the blood, reducing the effect of the drug.

WHAT'S NEXT?

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Herbs-and-Formulas, Tinctures, Mind-Stress-Sleep

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