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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Raspberry Leaf vs St. John's Wort: St. John's Wort has the stronger overall evidence (7.8 vs 4/10); they're alternatives for support mood — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
St. John's Wort wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
1 of 2 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Verdict
Likely helps
6 of 8 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
1-2g dried leaf as tea, 2-3 times daily
Between meals as tea, Divided throughout the day
Dried leaf tea
300mg 3x daily (900mg total) (a typical label dose, not the dose used in the cited trial, which gave 600 mg once a day or 600 mg twice a day)
With meals, Divided into 2-3 doses
Standardized extract (0.3% hypericin)
and 21 more not shown
2-3 cycles
4-6 weeks
4-8 weeks
During use
First 1-2 weeks
Raspberry Leaves and Extracts-Molecular Mechanism of Action and Its Effectiveness on Human Cervical Ripening and the Induction of Labor
Nutrients (2023) · Review
The majority of women apply raspberry leaves during pregnancy to induce and ease labor.
A Review on Berry Seeds-A Special Emphasis on Their Chemical Content and Health-Promoting Properties
Nutrients (2023) · Review
A different part of the plant: berry seeds, not the leaf. Raspberry leaf is dosed as 1-2g dried leaf as tea for uterine and menstrual use, and this paper reviews the chemical content of berry seeds. Read it as species-level context, not as leaf evidence.
Phenolic Composition, Mineral Content, and Beneficial Bioactivities of Leaf Extracts from Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa)
Nutrients (2020) · Review
Narrative review of the phenolic compounds and minerals in leaves of black currant, raspberry and aronia, not raspberry alone.
St John's wort for major depression
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2008) · Meta analysis · n=5489
In nine larger placebo-controlled trials the combined response rate ratio was 1.28 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.49), and in nine smaller trials 1.87 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.87). Placebo-controlled results showed marked heterogeneity.
Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions in Milder Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Neuropsychopharmacology reports (2025) · Meta analysis · n=1049
Eight RCTs, 1049 participants. St. John's Wort was analysed in two trials, both comparing it to fluoxetine.
Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Plant Extracts on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Stroke Patients
Phytotherapy research : PTR (2025) · Meta analysis · n=6599
48 RCTs covering 6599 stroke patients and nine plant extracts.
Both points come from one phase II RCT in 198 adults with knee osteoarthritis (PMID 35799169), which gave 200 mg or 400 mg of leaf extract daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint, WOMAC pain, did not differ from placebo at either dose. Walking pain on a VAS fell more than placebo at 400 mg only, so 200 mg is plotted as no effect. Doses above 400 mg were not tested, and a single trial cannot establish an optimal dose or a safety ceiling.
Both points come from one randomised, double-blind trial of the WS 5570 extract in 332 outpatients with mild or moderate major depression (PMID 16796730). Over 6 weeks, HAM-D scores fell 11.6 points on 600 mg once daily, 10.8 points on 600 mg twice daily and 6.0 points on placebo. Both doses beat placebo with comparable efficacy, so the curve is flat above 600 mg, although remission was more common at 1,200 mg. Adverse events were low in all groups. The Cochrane review (PMID 18843608, 29 trials) supports efficacy over placebo but did not compare doses, and no cited trial reports 300 mg, 900 mg or 1,800 mg a day, so no optimum is named.
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
St. John's Wort has a higher evidence score (7.8/10 vs 4/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For support mood, St. John's Wort has a higher relevance score (92 vs 60).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
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The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.