St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
St John’s Wort is a name that is often applied to all members of the genus Hypericum. Here we confine ourselves to common, or perforated, St John’s Wort. We find it growing freely in south facing hedgerows near to our ancient woodland camp. It’s a tall, thin plant with bright, 5 petalled yellow flowers; interestingly the flowers make a vivid red oil when infused.
Property : Astringent, Bitter diuretic
Constituent : Vitamins A,B,C and K and thiamine, Flavonoids, Tannins
Action : Alterative, Sedative, Anti-depressant, Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Topical antiseptic and mild analgesic
Indication : Anxiety and tension, Mild depression, Neuralgic pain, Sciatica, Topically for wounds and sunburn
Uses for St John’s Wort
Often used for mild depression and seasonal affective disorder.
The flower oil is good for relieving nerve related pain, sore backs and joints.
St Johns Wort Tincture – SAD; mild depression; shingles; nervous exhaustion; menopausal moods; viral infections; jet lag.
St Johns Wort Infused Oil – back ache; sore muscles; neuropathy; neuralgia; shingles; arthritis; surgical scars; bruises and sprains.
Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional.
If you’re interested in wild plants, take a look at our Herbal Remedies course. You can see photos from previous courses on our Facebook page.
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