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Hypericum: Photosensitivity and St. Johnswort by Paul Bergner Medical Herbalism 01-31-95 6(4): 10 St Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) has long been know to potentially cause sensitivity to sunlight in grazing animals. The extent of the problem in humans has not been clearly defined. Hypericin, a constituent of St Johnswort is believed to be responsible. At the annual convention of the
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians in San Diego in
September, Jo Jenner, ND, or Portland, OR, reported a case of
hypericum-induced photosensitivity in herself through an unusual
mechanism. She had sprained an ankle, and treated it with ultrasound,
including a ultrasound gel containing hypericum. The ultrasound
treatment purportedly drives herbal material in the gel directly into
the tissues. After the treatment, Jenner worked outdoors in bright
sunlight, and developed second degree burns, with blisters, wherever
sunlight fell on the treated surfaces of her ankle. She had worked in
bright sunlight. Areas covered by her sandal strap, and at the back of
her ankle where no light fell, were spared. The burns were extremely
painful, and complete healing took more than a month. In the ensuing
discussion, Jennifer Brett, ND, of Stratford, Connecticut, reported
that she had seen frequent photosensitivity reactions to St Johnswort
in HIV patients that she treated. Recently a New York clinical trial of
hypericin in HIV-infection had to be stopped because a large number of
the participants developed photosensitivity.
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