St. John's Wort
St John's wort is a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. It is a perennial plant that grows up to one meter tall, with many yellow flowers that have clearly visible black glands around their edges, long stamens, and three pistils. Probably a hybrid between the closely related H. attenuatum and H. maculatum that originated in Siberia, the species is now found worldwide.

Buy St. John's Wort
Buy St. John's Wort Essential Oil

Scientific Name:  Hypericum perforatum
Parts Used:  Dried flowers and leaves, essential oil

Cautions:
  • Can interact with other drugs, reducing their effectiveness, so always check with your doctor before taking.  Most common interactions have been reported with oral contraceptives, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, HIV drugs, and anticoagulants.
  • Can increase sun-sensitivity.
  • Prolonged use can be linked to cataracts and nerve hypersensitivity.

Healing Properties
  • Nervine, anti inflammatory, detoxifying, anti depressant, restorative, vulnerary, calmative, anti viral
  • Commonly used as an antidepressant and to soothe the digestive system.
  • Good for anxiety and addiction withdrawal and recovery
  • Can be used for shingles, herpes, sciatica, anxiety and emotional problems related to menstruation and menopause. 
  • Also used for urinary issues, bed-wetting, coughs, anemia, uterine cramping, diarrhea and nausea.
  • Used internally and externally on bruises, sprains, burns, hemorrhoids.
  • Good for wounds (especially those resulting from crushed, severed or inflamed nerve cells).

How to Use: 
Herbs are wonderfully versatile and may be used in multiple ways (see list below).  However, some methods are better suited to certain herbs than others. Check the HEALING section to see which preparations are recommended for specific uses and conditions.
Grow/Harvest Yourself:
  • Buy St. John's Wort Seed
  • Harvest flowering tops in midsummer
  • Zone: 5
  • Soil pH: acid or alkaline
  • Average to poor soil
  • Full sun to partial shade
*I am not a doctor.  The information on this platform is not a claim to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any illness.  These remedies are intended to aid the healing process within your body (in correlation with existing traditional treatments).  Please talk to your family doctor before trying any natural remedies (especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on prescription medication).  
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