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Information about the herb St John's Wort
Hypericum
perforatum, also known as Amber is part of the Hypericaceae plant family. St. John's Wort is a bushy perennial plant with numerous yellow flowers, native to Europe and
the United States and growing wild in northern California, southern Oregon and
Colorado.
Botanical Name: Hypericum perforatum
Plant Family: Hypericaceae
Common name: Amber, Goatweed,Klamath Weed, Tipton Weed
History: Greek and Roman legends mention St. John's Wort:
- as an antiseptic
- for its healing properties
- to treat sores
- to treat wounds
Early Christian mystics named the plant after John the Baptist and it is traditionally collected on St. John's Day, June 24, and is soaked in olive oil for days to produce a blood red anointing oil known as the 'blood of Christ'.
The plant has a 2,400-year history of safe and effective usage and has been used as a herbal remedy since the Middle Ages in many folk and herbal remedies.
Tradition: St. John's Wort was
- believed to have magical powers to protect one from evil
- burnt to banish evil and negativity
- hung in the home or carried to prevent spells of others from entering
- hung in the window on St. John's night to keep away ghosts, devils and familiars for a year
- picked and hung on the bedroom wall to give dreams of a future husband/wife
- hung around the neck to prevent fevers
- used in exorcisms
- worn to aid in war and other battles
- worn to help with problems of willpower and indecision
Plant Constituents of St Johns Wort
Contains:
- flavonoids
- hypericin (increases capillary blood flow and inhibits the breakdown of neurotransmitters in the brain, thus
- increasing theta waves in the brain which may effectually improve perception and clarify thinking processes)
- procyanidins
- pseudohypericin
- tannins (the astringent effect for wound healing)
Action:
- anodyne [an agent that soothes or relieves pain)
- antibacterial [an agent that destroys bacteria; bactericide]
- antidepressant [an agent to relieve depression]
- antispasmodic [an agent that relieves or checks spasms or cramps]
- antiviral [an agent that destroys viruses]
- astringent [an agent that contracts organic tissue, reducing secretions or discharges]
- expectorant [an agent that promotes the discharge of mucus from the respiratory passages]
- nervine [an agent that has a calming or soothing effect on the nerves, any agent that acts on the nervous system]
- sedative [a soothing agent that reduces nervousness, distress or irritation]
- vermifuge [an agent to expel parasitic worms, especially of the intestines]
- vulnerary [a healing application for wounds]
Medicinal Parts Used: Herb tops and flowers
St. John's Wort is used for:
Blood Conditions
- anemia
- internal bleeding
- spitting of blood, combined with Knotgrass
Brain and Nervous Conditions
St. John's Wort has an affinity for nerve endings and is one of the best herbs for mood elevation and has been used for:
- anxiety
- depression
- exhaustion
- headache
- helplessness
- hopelessness
- hysteria
- insomnia or restless sleep
- long-term nervous debility and fatigue
- melancholy
- mild to moderate depression
- nervous complaints
- nervous debility
- neuritis
- neurosis
- repairing nerve damage
- sadness
- shingles
- sleepwalking
- speech disorders
- tension
- trigeminal neuralgia
Female Conditions
- menopausal symptoms, especially where anxiety is pronounced (combined with Vervain and Oatstraw)
- menstrual cramping
- menstrual difficulties
- promotes regular menstruation
- uterine cramping
Gastrointestinal Conditions
- colic
- constipation
- dysentery
- gastric diarrhea
- nausea
- intestinal problems
- soothes the digestive system
- stomach ache
- vomiting, combined with Knotgrass
Genitourinary Tract Conditions
- affections of the urinary passages
- bedwetting in children
- bladder troubles
- incontinence
- suppression of urine
Inflammatory Conditions
- arthritis
- catarrh
- reduces pain and inflammation
Liver Conditions
- favorable action on the secretion of bile
- jaundice
- liver remedy, combined with Aloe vera
Respiratory Conditions
- bronchitis
- congestion of the lungs
- coughs and colds
- lung diseases generally
- mucous obstructions in chest and lungs
Viral Conditions
St. John's Wort's potent antiviral and antibacterial properties are used for:
- herpes simplex
- influenza viruses
- treatment for acquired immune deficiency [AIDS]
Other
- sciatica
- ulcers
Externally: St. John's Wort [herb/oil] is used for:
- abdominal pain in babies
- abscesses
- bad insect stings
- bruises
- closes wounds
- contusions
- cuts and grazes
- dirty, septic wounds.
- glandular swellings
- healing wounds
- injured nerves
- injuries caused by a blow
- open wounds
- preventing wounds, scratches, cuts and punctures from becoming septic
- relieving inflammation
- sores
- sprains
- swellings
- swollen lymph glands
- ulcers
- varicose veins
Eases pain of:
- lumbago
- neuralgia
- rheumatism
- sciatica
- sore back
Combined with Linseed Oil it is used for:
- burns
- scalds
- sunburn
Dosage:
Recommended dosage is as follows:
- 15-40mL per week of 1:2 fluid extract
Caution: St. John's Wort
- can increase skin sensitivity to sunlight if taken in high dosages causing blistering sunburn, especially in fair- skinned people
- should not be taken with other antidepressants
It lowers the efficacy of:
- anti-coagulants
- organ rejection drugs
- the contraceptive pill.
NOTE:
Check with your physician before taking St. John's Wort if you are
- lactating
- pregnant
- taking antidepressants like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Serzone, etc. or multiple antidepressants
- taking anti-seizure medications
- taking drugs to prevent transplant rejection
- taking drugs to treat HIV
- taking heart medication
- taking photosensitizing drugs
Global Herbal Supplies has St John's Wort available in the following forms:
- St John's Wort Extract
- Dried St John's Wort
- St John's Wort Essential Oil
- St John's Wort Capsules (with Passionflower)
- St
John's Wort Tablets - Blackmores, Herbs of Gold, Nature's Sunshine
Information given by our website is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a physician or other medical professionals. You should not use the information given for diagnosing a health problem or disease. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. The above information is just a guide to general circumstances and in no way should it contradict the advice that you have been given by your naturopath, medical doctor or specialist.
