Baneberry vs Hypericum Maculatum

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Baneberry

Actaea spicata

Nervine

Hypericum Maculatum

Hypericum maculatum

Nervine

⚠️ Pregnancy & Nursing Warnings

Baneberry

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Hypericum Maculatum

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Description

European woodland perennial; berries and roots highly toxic but plant documented in historical European herbal medicine.

Perennial herb of European meadows closely related to common St John's Wort, used in Central European folk medicine for similar nervous system conditions.

Active Compounds

protoanemonin, actein, ranunculin, glycosides

hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperforin, flavonoids, xanthones

Traditional Uses

Historical use for nervous conditions, Topical preparations for skin conditions, Used in folk medicine for rheumatism

mild depression, nervous conditions, wound healing, anxiety, neuralgia

Modern Uses

Toxic glycoside research, Ethnobotanical documentation

antidepressant, anxiolytic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory

Adult Dosage

No safe therapeutic dose — toxic plant

4–6g dried herb as tea 3x daily or 300mg extract

Contraindications

All internal use, Pregnancy, Children

SSRIs, cyclosporine, contraceptives, pregnancy, photosensitivity

Side Effects

Severe GI irritation, Cardiac effects, Potentially fatal

photosensitivity, serotonin syndrome, drug interactions

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E

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