Gelsemium elegans vs St. Johns Wort Oil

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Gelsemium elegans

Analgesic

Hypericum perforatum oleum

Analgesic

Gelsemium elegans

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

St. Johns Wort Oil

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

✅ Generally safe while nursing

Description

Poisonous vine of Southeast Asia used in TCM in minute controlled doses for pain and cancer treatment.

Infused oil of St Johns Wort in olive oil; topical anti-inflammatory for nerve pain, bruises, and burns.

Active Compounds

gelsemine, humantenmine, gelsenicine, koumine

hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperforin, flavonoids, tannins

Traditional Uses

Traditional Chinese medicine Gou Wen for pain and skin cancer, Used in Southeast Asian folk medicine in controlled doses

Topical wound and nerve pain treatment, Burns and bruises, Medieval wound oil, Nerve pain conditions topically

Modern Uses

Pain research, Anticancer alkaloid research, Neuralgia treatment tiny doses

Topical analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Wound healing, Antiviral topical

Adult Dosage

Pharmaceutical use only; extremely toxic

Topical as needed

Contraindications

All conditions except supervised pharmaceutical use, Pregnancy

Photosensitivity with topical use in sun, Not for internal use

Side Effects

Paralysis, Death from overdose

Photosensitivity with sun exposure after topical use

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

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

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E