- Botanical Name: Hypericum perforatum
- Common Name(s): St. John’s Wort
- Habitat and Growing area:
- Found widely as a wild plant throughout Europe and North America in dry, sunny places, and also increasingly in all other parts of the world with a moderate climate. We have it growing at the herb farm and wild on our farm. Locally found in fields and roadsides, enjoying a sunny spot.
- Pertinent Information on the Plant:
- Nervine (relaxant, sedative)
- Nervine general tonic
- Neuralgia or nerve pain
- Trophorestorative (nutritive and restorative to the nerves and nerve tissue)
- Anxiety, tension
- Used with MS, Reynaud’s disease, phantom limb pain, head trauma, and minor spinal injuries.
- Vulnerary – (applied externally to help with healing wounds and cuts)
- Analgesic (Pain reliever: joints, muscular, nerve)
- Anti-inflammatory (externally use oil)
- Astringent (Constrict tissue by precipitating proteins and thus reduces discharge and secretions. Most astringents contain tannins)
- Emmenagogue (stimulate and normalize menstrual flow)
- Menopause (hot flushes, irritability, anxiety)
- Mild Sedative (calm the nervous system and reduce stress and nervousness throughout the body)
- Anti depressant
- Depression due to absence of sunlight during winter months
- Antiseptic (Prevent the growth of bacteria and resist pathogenic microorganisms)
- Used in Europe as a liver herb for jaundice and for biliousness, as a choleretic
- Soften the skin
- Salve for wounds
- Minor burns, sunburn, rashes ( John’s Wort oil)
- Bruising varicose veins ( John’s Wort oil)
- Oil can also be used in salads, and even animals’ food if they are anxious
- Can use for months on end
Caution:
- Do not use if marked depression
- Can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight…stay out of strong sun
- Your personal experience with the plant. Include your personal experience of tasting it and its effect on you.
- Flavour and scent very mild, not aromatic, bitter
- An enjoyable, soothing cup of tea.
- A go to for clients with mild to moderate depression.
- This herb is a a Trophorestorative to the nerves and nerve tissue, making it ideal in supporting Multiple sclerosis (MS). We have made a dear friend a St Johnswort oil which he rubs down the base of his skull, following his spine down to the base of his neck (shaved head). This has become part of his daily treatment plant for MS.
- The reference books used, author, page
Holistic Herbal
David Hoffmann
Pages 65, 74, 81, 82, 86, 88,104, 127, 143, 144, 145, 146, 164, 210, 235
The way of Herbs
Michael Tierra
Pages 197
The complete Encyclopedia of Herbs
Nico Vermeulen
Pages 154
Family Herbal
Rosemary Gladstar
Pages 98, 75, 79
Peterson Field Guide
Easter/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs
Steven Foster and James A. Duke
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