What is the other common name for St. John’s Wort?
- Klamath Weed
- Goatweed
- Hypericum
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: The plant is commonly known by all of these names. St. John’s Wort is often used to refer to the plant itself. “Hypericum” is the scientific name for the genus of plants. “Klamath Weed” and “Goatweed” are other common names.
What is the latin name for St. John’s Wort?
- Hypericum perforatum
- Hypericum calycinum
- Hypericum androsaemum
- None of the above
Correct Answer: Hypericum perforatum
Correct Answer Explanation: Hypericum perforatum is the specific name for the plant that is commonly referred to as St. John’s Wort.
When does the St. John’s Wort plant bloom?
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
Correct Answer: Summer
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort is known to bloom around the time of the feast of St. John the Baptist, which is in late June.
St. John’s Wort has been used in traditional medicine as far back as the…?
- Ancient Greeks
- Roman Empire
- Middle Ages
- Renaissance
Correct Answer: Ancient Greeks
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort has been used in traditional European medicine for a very long time, as far back as the ancient Greeks.
Which of the following is not a condition St. John’s Wort has been used to treat?
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Kidney stones
Correct Answer: Kidney stones
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort has been used to treat all of these conditions except for kidney stones. Some believe that St. John’s Wort can be helpful for kidney ailments, but this hasn’t been proven.
What is the name of the traditional medicine system where St. John’s Wort originated?
- Ayurveda
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- European Traditional Medicine
- None of the above
Correct Answer: European Traditional Medicine
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort is commonly used in traditional European medicine.
Which of the following is not a modern use of St. John’s Wort that has been promoted?
- Menopausal symptoms
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Cancer
Correct Answer: Cancer
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort has been promoted for many conditions, but it has not been promoted for cancer treatment.
What is St. John’s Wort most commonly promoted for?
- Depression
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Somatic symptom disorder
- Menopausal symptoms
Correct Answer: Depression
Correct Answer Explanation: While St. John’s Wort has been promoted for all of these things, it is most commonly promoted as a treatment for depression.
Which condition has been the subject of the most research related to St. John’s Wort?
- Depression
- Menopausal symptoms
- Wound healing
- Somatic symptom disorder
Correct Answer: Depression
Correct Answer Explanation: While there has been research conducted on other uses of St. John’s Wort, it has been most extensively studied in relation to its use for depression.
In terms of effectiveness, how does St. John’s Wort compare to a placebo?
- Less effective
- More effective
- Equally effective
- Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer: More effective
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort has been shown to be more effective than a placebo for mild and moderate depression.
How does St. John’s Wort compare to standard antidepressant medications for treating mild to moderate depression?
- Less effective
- More effective
- Equally effective
- Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer: Equally effective
Correct Answer Explanation: Studies suggest that St. John’s Wort is as effective as standard antidepressant medications for mild to moderate depression.
Has St. John’s Wort been proven effective for severe depression?
- Yes
- No
- Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer: Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer Explanation: There isn’t enough reliable evidence to conclude whether St. John’s Wort is effective for severe depression.
How long has St. John’s Wort been proven effective for treating depression?
- Up to 6 weeks
- Up to 12 weeks
- Up to 24 weeks
- Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer: Up to 12 weeks
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort has been shown to be effective for depression for up to 12 weeks, but there hasn’t been enough research done to know how effective it is for longer periods of time.
What is the name of the substance in St. John’s Wort that is thought to be responsible for its effects?
- Hypericin
- Hyperforin
- S-adenosyl methionine
- None of the above
Correct Answer: Hyperforin
Correct Answer Explanation: The active ingredient in St. John’s Wort is thought to be hyperforin, and is similar to the active ingredients found in some antidepressant medications.
What is the name of the substance that St. John’s Wort can interact with in the body?
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
- All of the above
Correct Answer: Serotonin
Correct Answer Explanation: Serotonin is a chemical that plays an important role in mood, sleep, appetite, and many other body functions. St. John’s Wort can increase the levels of serotonin in the body.
Which of the following is not a condition St. John’s Wort has been studied for?
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
- HIV infection
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort has been studied for these conditions, and the research suggests that it is not helpful for them.
How does St. John’s Wort interact with other medications?
- It can make them more effective
- It can make them less effective
- It can have no effect
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort can interact with many drugs, and it can have different effects on different medications. It can make some medications more effective, others less effective, and some it can have no effect on at all.
Which of the following drugs does St. John’s Wort interact with?
- Antidepressants
- Birth control pills
- Cyclosporine
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort can interact with many different drugs, including all of the medications listed above.
What is Cyclosporine used for?
- Preventing the body from rejecting transplanted organs
- Treating HIV infections
- Treating cancer
- Treating heart disease
Correct Answer: Preventing the body from rejecting transplanted organs
Correct Answer Explanation: Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant drug that is used to prevent the body from rejecting transplanted organs.
St. John’s Wort can interact with medications that affect which of the following body systems?
- Nervous system
- Immune system
- Cardiovascular system
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort can interact with medications that affect the nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems.
Which of the following medications can St. John’s Wort interact with?
- Antidepressants
- Birth control pills
- Warfarin
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort can interact with all of the medications listed above.
What is Warfarin used for?
- Preventing blood clots
- Lowering cholesterol
- Treating cancer
- Treating heart disease
Correct Answer: Preventing blood clots
Correct Answer Explanation: Warfarin is an anticoagulant, or blood thinner, used to prevent blood clots.
Which of the following medications can St. John’s Wort interact with?
- Antidepressants
- Birth control pills
- Certain statins
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort can interact with all of the medications listed above.
What is Simvastatin used for?
- Lowering cholesterol
- Preventing blood clots
- Treating cancer
- Treating heart disease
Correct Answer: Lowering cholesterol
Correct Answer Explanation: Simvastatin is a statin drug that is used to lower cholesterol.
What is the name of the condition that can occur when St. John’s Wort is taken with certain antidepressants?
- Serotonin syndrome
- Norepinephrine syndrome
- Dopamine syndrome
- None of the above
Correct Answer: Serotonin syndrome
Correct Answer Explanation: Serotonin syndrome is a potentially serious condition that can occur when St. John’s Wort is taken with certain antidepressants, or other drugs that affect serotonin.
What are some of the side effects of St. John’s Wort?
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Dry mouth
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort can cause a variety of side effects, including insomnia, anxiety, and dry mouth.
St. John’s Wort can cause increased sensitivity to…?
- Sunlight
- Heat
- Cold
- None of the above
Correct Answer: Sunlight
Correct Answer Explanation: St. John’s Wort can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight, especially when taken in large doses.
Is there enough reliable information available to determine if St. John’s Wort is safe when used topically?
- Yes
- No
- Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer: No
Correct Answer Explanation: There is not enough reliable information available to determine if St. John’s Wort is safe when used topically.
What is the name of the substance that can cause birth defects in laboratory animals when they are exposed to it?
- Hyperforin
- Hypericin
- S-adenosyl methionine
- None of the above
Correct Answer: Hypericin
Correct Answer Explanation: Hypericin has been shown to cause birth defects in laboratory animals when they are exposed to it.
What are some of the side effects that breastfeeding infants can experience if their mothers take St. John’s Wort?
- Colic
- Drowsiness
- Fussiness
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: Breastfeeding infants of mothers who take St. John’s Wort can experience colic, drowsiness, and fussiness.
Is it generally safe to take St. John’s Wort if you are pregnant?
- Yes
- No
- Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer: No
Correct Answer Explanation: It is not generally safe to take St. John’s Wort if you are pregnant.
Should you talk to your doctor about St. John’s Wort?
- Yes
- No
- Not enough evidence to determine
Correct Answer: Yes
Correct Answer Explanation: It is important to talk to your doctor about any complementary health approaches you use, including St. John’s Wort. This is especially important because St. John’s Wort can interact with many medications and cause dangerous side effects.