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St. John's Positive Thoughts

Source Naturals

4.4
(584 ratings)
Vitamin B6 50 mg
GABA 500 mg
Deanol 60 mg
Magnesium 200 mg
Niacin 50 mg
Thiamin 25 mg
Biotin 300 mcg
Product Image
Score 65.0

A complex supplement targeting mood, stress, and cognitive performance through a blend of St. John's Wort, B-vitamins, amino acids, and calming herbs. Its main strengths lie in its comprehensive approach, but the significant risk of drug interactions with St. John's Wort and limited servings per bottle are key considerations.

Quantity: 45 Tablet(s)Servings size: 3 Tablet(s) (15 servings)
Selected goals:
Other goals:
Energy
Brain Health
Mood Support
General Health
Heart Health

Score 65.0

A complex supplement targeting mood, stress, and cognitive performance through a blend of St. John's Wort, B-vitamins, amino acids, and calming herbs. Its main strengths lie in its comprehensive approach, but the significant risk of drug interactions with St. John's Wort and limited servings per bottle are key considerations.

Analysis

St. John's Positive Thoughts by Source Naturals is formulated as a multi-ingredient supplement designed to support mood, alleviate stress, and enhance cognitive function. It features a substantial 900mg of St. John's Wort, an herb widely studied for its potential antidepressant effects. Complementing this, the product includes a full spectrum of B-vitamins (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, B6, Biotin, Folate, B12), essential for energy metabolism and neurological health. Further support comes from amino acids such as L-Tyrosine, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, L-Phenylalanine, and GABA, which are precursors to or modulators of neurotransmitters vital for brain function and mood regulation. Herbal extracts like Valerian, Lemon Balm, Holy Basil, and Relora are added for their adaptogenic and calming properties, contributing to stress relief and relaxation. While the synergistic combination of these ingredients aims to provide holistic benefits, the primary concern revolves around St. John's Wort, which can significantly interfere with a wide range of medications, including antidepressants, oral contraceptives, and blood thinners, as widely reported by medical and nutritional experts. Additionally, the presence of L-Phenylalanine means it is unsuitable for individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU). The packaging, offering only 15 servings (45 tablets, 3 per serving), is quite small for a daily supplement, potentially requiring frequent re-purchases, which reviewers sometimes find inconvenient.

Pros
  • Offers a comprehensive, multi-ingredient approach to mood, stress, and cognitive support.
  • Includes a full range of B-vitamins crucial for energy production and neurological health.
  • Contains a blend of adaptogenic and calming herbs known for stress relief properties.
  • Incorporates amino acids that serve as precursors to important neurotransmitters for brain function and mood regulation.
Cons
  • The high dose of St. John's Wort presents a substantial risk of dangerous interactions with numerous prescription medications.
  • The product offers only 15 servings per container, which is a short supply for consistent daily use.
  • Some individual ingredient dosages, while part of a blend, might be lower than what is typically recommended or studied for standalone efficacy, though synergy is implied.
  • Contains L-Phenylalanine, making it unsafe for individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU).
Warnings
  • St. John's Wort can cause serious interactions with many medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), oral contraceptives, anticoagulants, and certain anti-seizure drugs, potentially leading to adverse effects.
  • Individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU) must avoid this product due to the inclusion of L-Phenylalanine.
  • May increase sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity) due to St. John's Wort.
  • Always consult a healthcare professional before taking this supplement if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any prescription medications, or have any pre-existing medical conditions.
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$8.16($0.54 per serving)
iHerb
$ 8.16
Amazon
$ 11.01
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Effectiveness for goals

Dosage, timing & forms

Safety & interactions

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
Calories
10 Calorie(s)
Total Carbohydrates
1 Gram(s)
Vitamin C
51 mg
Thiamine
25 mg
Riboflavin
25 mg
Niacin
50 mg
Vitamin B6
50 mg
Folate
1360 mcg DFE
Vitamin B12
50 mcg
Biotin
300 mcg
Pantothenic Acid
25 mg
Calcium
124 mg
Magnesium
200 mg
Zinc
10 mg
Manganese
3 mg
Sodium
15 mg
St. John's Wort aerial parts extract
900 mg
GABA
500 mg
L-Tyrosine
200 mg
Taurine
185 mg
Holy Basil leaf extract
100 mg
Lemon Balm
100 mg
Valerian root extract
100 mg
L-Phenylalanine
100 mg
DMAE
60 mg
L-Theanine
50 mg
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
50 mg
Relora
50 mg
Adults 18–50
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Categories

The 900mg of St. John's Wort aerial parts extract represents a strong dose designed for impactful mood support, consistent with its traditional use, but standardization to hypericin content, which is key for efficacy, is not specified.
Delivering 50mg of Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, this is a strong dose that effectively supports neurotransmitter synthesis and protein metabolism, critical for brain and nervous system health.
With 50mg of Niacinamide, the product offers an effective dose for metabolism and nerve health, specifically chosen to avoid the 'niacin flush' often associated with other forms of niacin.

Goals

The product scores highly for mood support due to the significant dose of St. John's Wort, a well-researched herb for mood enhancement, combined with supportive amino acids like L-Tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine, and calming botanicals such as Holy Basil and Lemon Balm.
With a synergistic blend of Valerian root, Lemon Balm, Holy Basil, Relora, GABA, and L-Theanine, the product effectively targets stress by promoting relaxation pathways and helping to balance the nervous system.
DMAE, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, and a robust array of B-vitamins collectively contribute to brain health by supporting neurotransmitter production, improving neural communication, and providing essential nutrients for cognitive function.
80 Value

B-50

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This product provides a comprehensive and well-dosed B-complex, including all relevant B vitamins at potent levels, offering excellent support for energy, brain health, and metabolism. It delivers key benefits of the original product's B vitamin complex at a very competitive price per serving, representing great value.
78 Value

Mood Support

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This alternative offers a more focused blend specifically for mood, stress, and sleep support, including St. John's Wort (at a slightly lower, yet still effective, dose of 450mg), GABA, Valerian, L-Theanine, and Holy Basil, along with essential minerals and B vitamins. It provides a more streamlined approach to the primary goals of the original product at a reasonable cost.
75 Value

Theanine Serene

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This product from the same brand offers a more targeted approach to stress relief and relaxation by focusing on L-Theanine, GABA, Taurine, and Magnesium, along with a smaller dose of St. John's Wort and Holy Basil. While it has a slightly higher price per serving, its streamlined ingredient list often leads to more predictable and focused results for calming and mood support, offering good value for these specific benefits.
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Emotional Balance Support

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Life Extension Mix Capsules

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Adrenal Optimizer

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This alternative offers a more targeted and effective solution for stress relief by focusing specifically on adrenal support with well-regarded adaptogens like Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Licorice, and Holy Basil, alongside Pantothenic Acid and Vitamin C. This focused approach may yield more pronounced benefits for stress management compared to the original product's very broad blend.
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St. John's Wort 375 mg

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L-Phenylalanine 500 mg

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(4315 ratings)
This product provides a key amino acid, L-Phenylalanine, known for its role in mood and cognitive function, at a much more economical price per serving. It's a budget-friendly way to target a specific aspect of the original product's complex formulation.
55 Budget

Magnesium 250 mg

21st Century
4.7
(63969 ratings)
Offering essential magnesium at a very low cost per serving, this alternative supports stress relief and relaxation, which are important aspects of mood and sleep goals. It's a foundational nutrient that contributes to overall well-being.
80 Value

B-50

NOW
4.7
(33178 ratings)
This product provides a comprehensive and well-dosed B-complex, including all relevant B vitamins at potent levels, offering excellent support for energy, brain health, and metabolism. It delivers key benefits of the original product's B vitamin complex at a very competitive price per serving, representing great value.
78 Value

Mood Support

NOW
4.5
(8436 ratings)
This alternative offers a more focused blend specifically for mood, stress, and sleep support, including St. John's Wort (at a slightly lower, yet still effective, dose of 450mg), GABA, Valerian, L-Theanine, and Holy Basil, along with essential minerals and B vitamins. It provides a more streamlined approach to the primary goals of the original product at a reasonable cost.
75 Value

Theanine Serene

Source Naturals Serene Science
4.5
(2537 ratings)
This product from the same brand offers a more targeted approach to stress relief and relaxation by focusing on L-Theanine, GABA, Taurine, and Magnesium, along with a smaller dose of St. John's Wort and Holy Basil. While it has a slightly higher price per serving, its streamlined ingredient list often leads to more predictable and focused results for calming and mood support, offering good value for these specific benefits.
90 Performance

Emotional Balance Support

Thorne
4.8
(325 ratings)
This product features high-quality, active forms of B vitamins (Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate for B6, Methylcobalamin for B12, Folate), along with adaptogens like Rhodiola and Eleuthero, and mood-supporting amino acids like L-Tyrosine and 5-HTP. It offers a more refined, potent, and bioavailable blend for comprehensive emotional and stress support compared to the original product's broad formulation.
95 Performance

Life Extension Mix Capsules

Life Extension
4.7
(492 ratings)
This is a significantly more comprehensive multivitamin that includes a vast array of high-quality vitamins (many in active B forms), minerals, amino acids (Taurine, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine), and beneficial herbal extracts (Ashwagandha, Green Tea). It supports brain health, energy, and overall well-being far beyond the original product's scope, offering superior nutritional depth.
85 Performance

Adrenal Optimizer

Jarrow Formulas
4.6
(2117 ratings)
This alternative offers a more targeted and effective solution for stress relief by focusing specifically on adrenal support with well-regarded adaptogens like Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Licorice, and Holy Basil, alongside Pantothenic Acid and Vitamin C. This focused approach may yield more pronounced benefits for stress management compared to the original product's very broad blend.
Report alternatives