Materica Medica - St. John’s Wort

 

By Amy Lupton

On my back patio, there is a large plant pot (about 4 foot in diameter) that is a world of its own.

It has its own biome and interaction, seems to have its own reaction to weather differently that most of my potted plants, and each plant in the pot has its own place. In this pot is sweetgrass, elderberry, strawberry and St. Johns wort. Each plant flowers in a different cadence, almost like they are putting on a show.

The St. John’s Wort is always a show stopper with its cheery yellow flowers and trailing beautiful leaves. The flowering yellow perennial is highly medicinal, the foliage has a pleasant citrus aroma, and has been recognized for the tiny pores that can be seen when holding the leaf up to light. Its stems excrete a red/purple liquid that is known as “the blood of St. John” and was historically used for dye.

It’s widely known for its natural treatment in depression, and it’s almost hard to be sad seeing the messy yellow flowers. Although it has been studied extensively for depression, many don’t know the other benefits of this herb, and especially the benefits for women.


ST. JOHN'S WORT — Hypericum perforatum

Actions: Trophorestorative, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, diuretic, anti-viral, vulnerary, antiolytic, nervine, relaxant, digestive, neuroprotective, hepatic, alterative, anodyne, exhilerant. (1)

Uses: Use fresh harvested flowers, can infuse in oil, make a tincture, use topically as a balm or oil. It works wonderfully in formulas with kava, echinacea, Ashwagandha, rose, lavender, or even topical pain herbs such as arnica.

Indications:

  • Joint, nerve, muscle injury and afflictions.

  • Depression, anxiety, and seasonal affective disorder.

  • Chronic inflammation, poor digestion, overly toxic system.

  • Wound treatment, rashes

  • Hepatitis, herpes, chickenpox.

  • Female hormonal changes such as menopause.

  • Grief, needing grounding, emotional cleansing, energetic balancing.

Contraindications:

  • If you are taking MAOIs, birth control pills

  • Use direction only under supervision if pregnant or breastfeeding

  • If you have a liver condition

  • Sensitive to the sun, use caution

  • This herb increases liver flushing, so if on medications, know it can change the metabolism of certain pharmaceutical medications.

St John’s Wort For:

Pain Relief & Soothing Topical Relief

St. Johns Wort is effective for helping relieve pain, especially nerve pain due to a virus such as shingles. Trauma to the nervous system from an injury or viral infection is helped with St. John’s wort, such as surgical or head or spine trauma or even sciatica. Conditions such as Bell’s Palsy can be helped as well. It is wonderful in an infused massage oil, using fresh leaves and flowers for nerve pain, bursitis, arthritis, sciatica. It can also be used in an infusion as well in flower essence form.

Emotional, Energetic & Mental Health

St. John's wort has been studied in the treatment of many mood disorders, such as severe depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and seasonal affective disorder. Many herbalists have used it as an emotional cleanser, especially since energetically (and in Traditional Chinese Medicine) the liver holds stagnant emotions. Some herbalists, such as Colleen O’Bryant, feels the herb restores “your inner light,” and many use in flower essence form for energetic and emotional support.

Women’s Menopausal Support

St. John's wort contains estrogen-like plant compounds called phytoestrogens and because of this it has been said to help with hot flashes. It also has some indications for PMS symptoms.

Resources:

Botanicals Featuring St John’s Wort:

 
 



 
 
 
Herbal MedicaAmy LuptonLifeRoot BotanicalsComment