Growing on the edge of our woods is an inconspicuous little plant, only 3 foot high (1 meter) at the most. You only really notice it when the small, lemon-scented yellow flowers appear in summer. Its botanical name is HYPERICUM perforatum, also known as St John’s Wort, Balm of Warriors, Tutsan (from the French toutsain or “Heal-All”), Save, Holy Herb and many other folk names. Whatever the name, this little plant has gone from being a valued traditional herbal healer to a controversial pharmaceutical “dangerous product”! Why is this? Let’s look at some facts!
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The name “HYPERICUM” comes from the Greek word “to protect”, or “power over an apparition”, because the ancient Greeks considered it to be an herb of protection. Later, Christianity continued to use the herb for the same reason, as a means of protection, driving away witches and evil spirits and counteracting spells! Those who were regarded as insane (in other words, “possessed of evil spirits”), were often forced to drink its infusion, to calm them down. It is only in modern times that laboratory analysis has shown the plant to contain a psychotropic drug, which can induce euphoria in depressives.
The second part of its name, “perforatum”, refers to the small transparent oil-bearing glands on the pale-green ovate leaves. When held up to the light, these glands give the leaves a “perforated” appearance. Laboratory analysis shows that both the leaves and the flowers of St John’s Wort contain glycosides, flavonoids (including rutin), volatile oils, tannins and resins. Its actions include astringent, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and a restorative tonic for the nervous system. In traditional Chinese medicine, the herb’s characteristics are classed as bitter-sweet, cool and drying.
This herb’s most popular name, St. John’s Wort, dates back to the Middle Ages, when the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem used it to treat wounds on Crusade battlefields. The spiritual patron of this knightly order was Saint John the Baptist, whose feast takes place on 24th June. It seemed only fitting to name such an important healing herb after their patron saint! Yet another folk name dating from this time was “SAVE”, because it was used as an all-healing plant for sword wounds, often saving the life of the patient!
The feast of St John the Baptist is only days after the much older pagan festival of Mid-Summer (Summer Solstice). There are many traditions surrounding the festival. For instance, St John’s Wort is one of several herbs, which is said to gain special “magical” powers at Midsummer! Coincidently, practical herbal handbooks recommend harvesting the flowering tops of St John’s Wort in “High Summer”, when the oil secretions are most potent! Other Midsummer traditions included gathering St John’s Wort on the eve of St John’s Day and hanging small bunches under the eaves or in the windows of the home, in byres and stables, to keep evil spirits away. It was also tossed on the fire, to protect the home from lightning and storms. In Shamanic practices, St John’s Wort was used to repel negativity and was included in purification ceremonies and exorcisms.
MEDICINAL QUALITIES
The aerial parts (stems, leaves and flowers) should be harvested and dried throughout the summer months. Use gloves because contact dermatitis can occur if pruning or gathering the plant during moist but sunny conditions. The aerial parts can be made into an infusion, tincture or wash. They make a restorative nerve tonic, ideal for anxiety and irritability, especially during menopause; provide relief from nerve pains such as sciatica and neuralgia; and help heal chronic, long-standing conditions caused by (or resulting in) nervous exhaustion.
You can use fresh or dried aerial parts for the following recipes, although only fresh leaves are used in salad mixes. British herbalist, Lesley Bremness, says that fresh St. John’s Wort leaves make an interesting salad herb!
An INFUSION is made the same way as tea. Use 30 grams of dried herb or 75 grams fresh herb to 500mls of freshly boiled (but not boiling!) water. Place the herb in a glass or pottery teapot (not metal), pour over the just boiled water and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Then strain into a teacup, storing the rest of the liquid in a jug in a cool place. Drink hot or cold. This quantity is enough for three doses and should be used the same day that it is made. Drink the infusion to relieve anxiety, nervous tension, irritability and emotional upsets.
The cooled infusion can also be used as a WASH, to bathe wounds, skin sores and bruises.
A TINCTURE is made by steeping 200 grams of dried herb, or 600 grams of fresh herb, in a vodka and water mix. Dilute a 75cl bottle of 37.5% proof Vodka with 37.5ml of water. Sterilise a large glass jar that has a screw top. Place the St John’s Wort aerial parts in the jar and pour over the diluted alcohol. Seal the jar, store in a cool place for 2 weeks and shake it occasionally. When the mixture is ready, strain off the liquid into clean, dark-glass bottles with screw caps for airtight storage. Standard dosage for tinctures is 5mls diluted in water, taken 3 times a day. Take the St John’s Wort tincture for at least 2 months, to relieve long-standing nervous tension that is causing exhaustion and depression. For childhood bed-wetting, give 5 to 10 drops in a glass of water at night.
The FLOWERING TOPS are used to make an Infusion (tea), skin cream and infused oil.
As an infusion, St John’s Wort Flowers (either fresh or dried) is used as a pain-reducing sedative tea for anaemia, rheumatism, headaches and nervous conditions.
A word of warning about taking St John’ Wort internally. The herb contains oil that is PHOTOTROPIC. This means that you can develop dermatitis after ingesting it and then going outside and exposing your skin to the sun!
If you feel more comfortable using the herb externally, then the flowering tops can be made up into skin cream or infused oil.
The famous St John’s Wort Oil, coloured blood-red, is used topically for burns; inflammations of the skin, muscles and connective tissues; bruising, wounds, varicose veins, ulcers, and sun-burn, as well as for neuralgia.
TO MAKE THE OIL (COLD INFUSION METHOD):
Sterilise a large glass jar. Loosely fill the jar with the St John’s Wort flowers and leaves. Then fill to the top with a good quality vegetable oil, such as Sunflower, Almond, Walnut, or cold-pressed Safflower. Use wooden chopsticks to press down the plant material into the oil, making sure there are no air pockets (which would allow mould to develop). Then cover the jar with a piece of muslin and tie down. The muslin allows moisture to evaporate, while preventing debris from falling in to the mix. Leave the jar on a sunny window-ledge or in the greenhouse for 3 to 4 weeks, until the oil becomes a deep red colour. When ready, strain the liquid through the muslin into a clean jar and seal, ready for use. Some herbalists recommend adding a second batch of fresh St. John’s Wort flowering tops to the once-infused oil and repeating the whole process a second time, leaving the infusion for another 3 to 4 weeks before straining off, so that you get a stronger concentration. It all depends on how soon you need your oil!
SKIN CREAM
Making the St John’s Wort Cream is even more fiddly than making the cold infused oil AND it takes additional ingredients! You will need:
150 grams of Emulsifying Ointment (this is a mixture of oils and waxes that blends with water so that it can be absorbed by the skin. Look for it in pharmacies.)
70 ml Glycerine;
80 ml Water;
30 grams of dried St John’s Wort Flowering Tops.
Melt the fats and water in a double saucepan, so that they are melted by the hot water and not by direct heat. Add the herb and heat gently for 3 hours.
Strain the mixture through a jelly bag into a clean, heat-proof bowl. Stir constantly until cold.
Use a small palette knife to fill small, airtight storage jars. First put some cream round the inside edge of the jar and then fill in the middle. Home-made creams will last for several months but the shelf-life is prolonged by storing the mixture in a cool larder or refrigerator.
Use St John’s Wort Cream topically for localised nerve pains, such as sciatica, sprains and cramps. The cream also helps to relieve breast engorgement during lactation. In addition, it can serve as an antiseptic cream and styptic on grazes, sores and ulcers.
CLOTH DYE
Here’s one final use for the Flowering Tops, particularly the Flowers. When mixed with Alum, they produce a YELLOW DYE, which can be used to colour cloth and cords. When mixed with Alcohol, it yields a violet-red dye, suitable for silks.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the controversies, St John’s Wort still has a lot to offer. It should not be a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water! As in all things, be it home-made herbal remedies, or commercially manufactured drugs produced by the Pharma industry, it is up to the individual to use COMMON SENSE when using medicine of any kind. “Moderation in all things” is a good rule of thumb. Sound advice is to try only a small amount of St John’s Wort – or any unfamiliar herb, food stuff or drink! If you have an adverse reaction, don’t use it again.
Another factor is that everyone is different and reacts differently to the same substance. For example, my sister is allergic to mushrooms, whereas I suffer no ill effects from them. On the other hand, I have allergic reactions to coffee and to alcohol, although none of my siblings have this problem. It means that I can’t take tinctures which are made with alcohol, only the ones that are made with vinegar. However, I am aware of the allergy and use Common Sense with what I try!
If you still feel unsure of the merits of St. John’s Wort, just place a bunch of Hypericum perforatum as a decoration in your home or office this Summer Solstice / Feast of St John, to ward off such Evil Spirits as Spammers, Scammers and Tax Auditors!!! That’s one way of discovering if the ancient Greeks were right about its power to protect!
Author: Veronica Smith first published 20th June 2022
REFERENCES:
The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody MNIMH, published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London 1993, ISBN: 0 7513 0025 X
HERB CRAFT: A GUIDE TO THE SHAMANIC AND RITUAL USE OF HERBS by Susan Lavender and Anna Franklin; printed by Capall Bann Publishing, UK in 1996; ISBN: 1 898307 57 9
The Complete Book of Herbs, a practical guide to growing and using herbs, by Lesley Bremness, published in association with the National Trust, CLB Colour Library Books Ltd., Godalming, Surrey, 1991.
ISBN: 0-86283-893-2
Leave a Reply