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 | St. Johns Wort Other Names:
Botanical Name: Hypericum perforatum
Family: N.O. Hypericaceae |
Description: |
A herbaceous perennial growing freely wild to a height of 1 to 3 feet in uncultivated ground, woods, hedges, roadsides, and meadows; short, decumbent, barren shoots and erect stems branching in upper part, glabrous; leaves pale green, sessile, oblong, with pellucid dots or oil glands which may be seen on holding leaf to light. Flowers bright cheery yellow in terminal corymb. Calyx and corolla marked with black dots and lines; sepals and petals five in number; ovary pear-shaped with three long styles. Stamens in three bundles joined by their bases only. Blooms June to August, followed by numerous small round blackish seeds which have a resinous smell and are contained in a three-celled capsule; odour peculiar, terebenthic; taste bitter, astringent and balsamic.
There are many ancient superstitions regarding this herb. Its name Hyperieum is derived from the Greek and means 'over an apparition,' a reference to the belief that the herb was so obnoxious to evil spirits that a whiff of it would cause them to fly. |
Habitat: |
| Britain and throughout Europe and Asia. |
Medicinal Usage: |
| Aromatic, astringent, resolvent, expectorant and nervine. Used in all pulmonary complaints, bladder troubles, in suppression of urine, dysentery, worms, diarrhoea, hysteria and nervous depression, haemoptysis and other haemorrhages and jaundice. For children troubled with incontinence of urine at night an infusion or tea given before retiring will be found effectual; it is also useful in pulmonary consumption, chronic catarrh of the lungs, bowels or urinary passages. Externally for fomentations to dispel hard tumours, caked breasts, ecchymosis, etc. |
Ancient Lore: |
ST.JOHN'S WORT HYPERICUM PERFORATUM
A tincture of the flowers in spirit of wine, is commanded against the melancholy and madness.
A perennial plant growing to about two feet (60 cm) high with yellow flowers which yield a reddish juice like blood when bruised. Also called Perforate Stjohn's Wort.
Where to find it: Shady woods and copses, meadows and by roadsides.
Flowering time: Midsummer.
Astrology: It is under the celestial sign of Leo and the dominion of the Sun.
Medicinal virtues: Aperient, detersive and diuretic. It is helpful against tertian and quartan agues, is alexipharmic and destroys worms. It is an excellent vulnerary plant. Outwardly it is of great service in bruises, contusions and wounds, especially in the nervous parts, if it be boiled in wine.
Made into an ointment, it dissolves swellings and closes up the lips of wounds. The decoction of the herb and flowers, but especially of the seeds, drunk in wine, with the juice of Knotgrass, helps all manner of vomiting and spitting of blood. It is also good for those who cannot make water, and are bitten or stung by venomous creatures. Two drams (3.5 g) of the seed made into powder and drank in broth, expels choler or congealed blood in the stomach. The seed taken in warm wine is recommended for sciatica, failing-sickness, and the palsy.
Modern uses: Stjohn's Wort has an affinity for nerve endings and is used in all cases where there is nerve irritation, whether it be a tickly cough, referred pain, neuritis or neuralgia. It is expectorant, diuretic and sedative. In dry irritating coughs, it is combined with Colt's Foot and Marsh Mallow. It is usually added to all prescriptions where the condition is painful. For wounds and boils, the ointment, made by digesting the herb in white wax and straining, can be combined with ointment of Marsh Mallow. For skin diseases where there is inflammation, it is combined with Chickweed ointment. The infused oil made from the flowers is recommended as an application for external ulcers and wounds. Preparations are available from herbalists.
St John's Wort is contraindicated in depression. |
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