Starwest Herbal Fluid Extracts are made to exacting standards, such as those of the German Pharmacopoeia, with a Certified Organic grain alcohol base.

Starwest Herbal Extracts are convenient to use, an excellent alternative to herb tea or capsules. Made by a cold process method that extracts the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals, and active constituents of the herb.

Our extracts have a herb strength of 1 to 1 and a 30% alcohol content; the fresh extracts are a 1 to 2 ratio with a 50% alcohol content.

Our extensive line of herbal extracts are mostly Certified Kosher, including some Fresh, Responsibly
Wildcrafted (WC) and many Certified Organic - all grown in compliance with the National Organic Program.

St. John's Wort was recommended by Hippocrates for 'nervous unrest.' It has a 2400-year recorded history of folk use for anxiety, sleep disturbances, and worry.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends St. John's Wort herb for 'Internal: Psychovegetative disturbances, depressive moods, anxiety and/or nervous unrest. Oily hypericum preparations for dyspeptic complaints. External: Oily hypericum preparations for treatment and post-therapy of acute and contused injuries, myalgia and first-degree burns.'

'Side Effects: Photosensitization is possible, especially in fair-skinned individuals.'

'Average daily dosage for internal use: 2 - 4 g of drug or 0.2 - 1 mg of total hypericin in other forms of drug application. Mode of Administration: Chopped herb, herb powder, liquid and solid preparations for internal use. Liquid and semi-solid preparations for external use. Preparations made with fatty oils for external and internal use.'

'Actions: A mild antidepressant action of the herb and its preparations has been observed and reported by numerous physicians.'

The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) and the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia concur with the German Commission E. St. John's wort is official in the national pharmacopeias of Czechoslovakia, France, Poland, Romania, and Russia. St. John's Wort is now the number one antidepressant, natural or synthetic, prescribed by German physicians.

Modern medical research has shown that Hypericum can be as effective as prescription antidepressants for mild to moderate depression. However, unlike prescription antidepressants, Hypericum's side effects are few and mild. In two clinical studies, Hypericum demonstrated anti-anxiety effects comparable to those of Valium (diazepam). Yet Hypericum is not addictive and does not impair cognitive functions.

Hypericin, one of St. John's Wort's major active compounds, has been shown to increase levels of the neurotransmitter seratonin. Hypericin is also active against several viruses, including cytomegalovirus, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B, and herpes.

St. John's Wort's sedative action is also pain relieving. It can be of significant help with sciatica, fibrositis and rheumatism.

As the great naturopaths below indicate, St. John's Wort Flower Oil, combined with olive oil, can be used topically for back and nerve injury.

Grieve’s classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Aromatic, astringent, resolvent, expectorant and nervine. Used in all pulmonary complaints, bladder troubles, in suppression of urine, dysentery, worms, diarrhoea, hysteria and nervous depression, haemoptysis and other haemorrhages and jaundice.'

'For children troubled with incontinence of urine at night an infusion or tea given before retiring will be found effectual; it is also useful in pulmonary consumption, chronic catarrh of the lungs, bowels or urinary passages.'

'Externally for fomentations to dispel hard tumours, caked breasts, ecchymosis, etc.'

'Preparations and Dosages: 1 oz. of the herb should be infused in a pint of water and 1 to 2 tablespoonsful taken as a dose. Fluid extract, ½ to 1 drachm.'

'The oil of St. John's Wort is made from the flowers infused in olive oil.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Astringent, sedative, and diuretic. Used in suppression of the urine, chronic urinary affections, in diarrhoea, dysentery, worms, jaundice, menorrhagia, hysteria, nervous affections with depression, hemoptysis, and other hemorrhages.'

'Hypericum has undoubted power over the nervous system, and particularly the spinal cord. Homoeopathic physicians regard it as the arnica of that structure. It is used in injuries of the spine and in lacerated and punctured wounds of the limbs to prevent tetanic complications and to relieve the excruciating pains of such injuries (Scudder). It is highly valued by Webster in spinal irritation when, upon gentle pressure upon the spinous processes of the vertebrae, burning pain is elicited. Throbbing of the whole body in nervous individuals, fever being absent, is said to be a good indication for hypericum.'

'The usual method of administration is: Rx Tincture of hypericum, gtt. x to xxx; aqua, fliv. Mix. Sig. Teaspoonful every 1 or 2 hours.'

'Externally, hypericum may be used in fomentation, or used as an ointment for dispelling hard tumors, caked breasts, bruises, ecchymosis, swellings, ulcers, etc.'

'The blossoms, infused in sweet oil or bear's oil, by means of exposure to the sun, make a fine, red balsamic ointment for wounds, ulcers, swellings, tumors, etc. A very excellent ointment for tumors, ecchymosed conditions, etc., may be made by adding to 1 pound of lard, ½ pound of the recent tops and flowers of St. John's wort, and ½ pound of fresh stramonium leaves; bruise all together, expose to a gentle heat for an hour, and strain. Dose of the powder, from ½ to 2 drachms; of the infusion, from 1 to 2 fluid ounces. The dose of the strong tincture is from ½ to 10 minims. The saturated tincture of the fresh herb (viii to alcohol, 76 per cent, Oj) is nearly as valuable as that of arnica for bruises, etc., and may be substituted for it in many instances.'

American Materia Medica, 1919 (Ellingwood): 'This agent by Homeopathic physicians is considered specifically adapted to irritation, soreness, or chronic disease accompanied with tenderness of the spinal column. It is indicated when symptoms of that disease or of general spinal tenderness are present. If accompanied with fever, which is seldom the case, other indicated remedies should be prescribed. For traumatism of the spinal column, or nerve centers, Homeopathists use it externally and internally, in traumatic conditions of the spinal cord, and where there is shock or where there are contusions or lacerations without shock. They believe that it will prevent convulsions from spinal injury, and will prevent tetanus from punctured wounds, relieving the pain resulting from injury.'

'Hypericum in doses of two drops every four hours is suggested as of much value in the treatment of piles. It may induce headache, or a burning pain in the lumbar region. It sometimes induces diarrhea, but these symptoms occurring, the remedy may be reduced in quantity or discontinued for a short time, and then resumed.'

'Used as a fomentation or ointment it is applied to tumors, caked breasts, enlarged glands, ecchymosis, bruises, swellings and painful ulcers.'