St. John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum, is a perennial member of the Hypericacae Family. St. John’s Wort (SJW) is an herb that has had many scientific studies done on it which give validation for its use. St. John’s Wort can be used internally or externally, especially when keeping safety information in mind.

Personal Story

I recently strained a muscle in my arm when lifting weights. I used a product containing St. John’s Wort and Arnica to help relieve my pain, stimulate circulation to help it heal, and induce injured muscle relaxation.  

All of This from a Plant?

Yes! Plants are where botanical medicines come from and St. John’s Wort is no exception. If you’re interested, SJW seeds may be started indoors or planted directly outside. It grows twenty-four to thirty inches tall in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil, spaced twelve inches apart. A person can harvest the upper third of the flowering parts with scissors when the plant is in peak bloom and bud stage for best levels of hypericin. Hypericin is found the yellow flower of SJW that has antidepressant, possible antiviral, and immunostimulting activities.

Internal Medical Uses

A person can consider the use of St. John’s Wort for the following conditions:

Depression, anxiety, and stress: St. John’s wort may help with supporting a positive balanced mood, emotional and psychological stress, and depression. For stress reduction, SWJ can provide support for the adrenal glands, especially when used in a combination of other herbs.

Immunostimulant: SJW can enhance the immune system. St. John’s Wort may also be helpful for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) since EBV has a lipid envelope and may be susceptible to hypericum perforatum.

Musculoskeletal Dysfunction: Dysfunction involving the nervous system, such as spinal injuries, neuralgia, sciatica, rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual body aches, cramps, and migraines, may have some relief by its property of being a nervine herb, which acts as an agent that relieves nervousness or acts as a mild tranquilizer.  It may also improve stress resistance in women with amenorrhea when used in a combination of other herbs.

External Medical Uses

Externally, it used for:

Bed sores: SJW herbal oil would be the first one to reach for when it seems a bed sore is beginning to form. This herbal oil works along with massage to bring increased blood flow to the area to help healing.

Bruising: post therapy of acute/bruised injuries, and their pain

First-degree burns

Herpes sores: a swipe of St. John’s wort oil can help heal sores and relieve pain.

Muscle strain: Muscle relaxant herb

Vaginal area itching: A blend of Tamanu, St. John’s wort, and Emu or Calendula can tame itching and burning.

Safety

Class 2d means it may potentiate pharmaceutical MAO-inhibiters, photosensitizing, and has tannin content. Some animal studies have not shown adverse effects during pregnancy. May rarely cause photo sensitivity at high dose or for long periods of time, especially in fair-skinned. No adverse reactions for doses up to 1 mg of total hypericin.

Action

Please consider reaching for St. John’s Wort for any of the above internal or external applications, keeping safety precautions in mind.

Resources:

Hypericin | C30H16O8 – PubChem (nih.gov)

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. How have your used St. John’s Wort?