A familiar hedgerow plant with dainty golden yellow flowers that appear with the longest days of summer, St. John's Wort has re-emerged over the last few years as a useful herbal antidepressant.
St. John's Wort can usually be found growing wild in woods, hedgerows and meadows, as well as on mountainsides and roadsides.
Appearing between mid-June and late August its' bright and cheery 'solstice' flowers are small, numerous and clustered together on branching pale green stems, which give an uneven, staggered, umbrella effect.
The herb's delicate flowers have five petals with tiny, almost imperceptible black dots along their margins. These flowers measure approximately 1' (2.5cm) across and the cluster of stamens that protrude from their centres give them an altogether 'fairy like' effect.
Definition
Botanical family: Guttiferae (although botanists have recently assigned it to Clusiaceae).
Species: Hypericum perforatum is the main species used commercially for medicinal purposes.
Hypericum angustifolia is an old favourite and is still freely harvested for home use. H. perforatum can be distinguished from H. angustifolia by its' oil glands, which show up as transparent dots against the light.
Three Varieties
The genus Hypericum contains approximately 400 different species of annuals, perennials, shrubs and small trees, ranging from very small perennials to trees of 10' (3m) and includes both varieties of St. John's Wort as well as Hypericum androsaemum, another interesting member of the Hypericum genus. A native of both sides of the Mediterranean Sea and western Asia, Hypericum Androsaemum grows profusely in Australia and New Zealand where it is considered to be a weed. It is commonly known as Tutsan, a corruption of tout-sain (meaning 'all health'), which refers to the medicinal uses of the plant.
During September and until early October, the flowers produce tiny blackish seeds. The plant dies down in early winter, after the first frosts and reappears in the spring, shooting up stalkless, short, pale green leaves (with a hint of blue) that grow in pairs opposite each other. Mature plants form branching erect stems when fully grown, reaching 1'-3' (0.3-1m) in uncultivated soils.
One of the unique features of Hypericum perforatum is its' leaves, which, when held to the light, show tiny translucent dots on their underside: these are the glands that contain the plants' essential oil. The other varieties have oil glands, but rather than being translucent they are the colour of rust and look like spots.
The buds and flowers contain the chief active healing ingredient of St. John's Wort. If you rub the buds and flowers between your fingers, a deep, wine-red pigment will be released. It is this secretion that contains the active chemical constituent called hypericin.
Found throughout the world, in a wide range of habitats, St. John's Wort appears to thrive in fertile, well-drained soil, with plentiful water in late spring and early summer.
Where to Find St. John's Wort
The plant is native to all parts of Britain and the majority of mainland Europe, western Asia and North Africa, growing prolifically in these areas. St. John's Wort has been introduced to countries over the last 200 years and now grows wild in parts of the United States, notably in the temperate western regions from the Pacific Northwest to Northern California, and in central Nevada. It is also to be found in Australia and Canada, the latter mainly in Quebec and Ontario.
Commercial Growers
The main areas where St. John's Wort is cultivated commercially are the northwestern states and especially, the prairie states of the United States. It is also farmed in Canada, Australia and Germany.
Soil Requirements
St. John's Wort is a hardy plant able to proliferate at speed in the right conditions. In the United States and Australia, where it is not native, it is now subject to statutory weed control - or at least noted widespread nuisance by those who don't use it medicinally. St. John's Wort prefers well-drained to dry soil and is often found either where the soil has recently been disturbed or in chalky, sandy or very light soils. It performs best on neutral to acid soils, but doesn't do well on alkaline types. However, it can thrive in sun or partial shade.
Because it grows well on non-alkaline soils, St. John's Wort is easy to cultivate commercially. This is mainly done in the dominant farming areas of the United States, where the wide open, easily managed lands of the prairies (loam or gravel based soils) need little or no fertilisation.
A Medieval Saying:
St. John's Wort doth charm
All witches away
If gathered at midnight on
The saint's holy day.
Any devil's and witches have
No power to harm
Those that gather the plant
For a charm
St. John's Wort has a 2,400 year history of recorded use, from ancient civilisations in Greece, through pagan Europe and the Middle Ages, to the modern day. After the 1930's it faded from popularity, but it is now recognised as one of the most effective of the healing herbs and is in the process of regaining its' traditional status.
The name St. John probably refers to John the Baptist, whom tradition said was born on the summer solstice. It was claimed that the red spots visible on the underside of some of the herb's leaves symbolised the blood of St. John, who was beheaded by Herod.
However, being blood red it also symbolised healing. Traditionally the flowers were put under the pillow on St. John's Eve in the belief that the saint would appear in a dream to give his blessing - and ensure that the sleeper would not die during the following 12 months - a significant 'safeguard' during days when life was cheap and plague epidemics rife.
However, the plant can be traced back still further. Because its' first summer flowers appear near or even on the summer solstice, it was always an icon of sun worshippers, used in solstice rituals by the Druids, the Celts and the Saxons and for centuries the Romans burned it in bonfires as part of their celebration of Midsummer's Day.
The renowned Greek herbalists of the 1st century CE - Pliny, Discorides and Hippocrates - all used this herb, while the ancient Greek scholar, Galen, described it as 'the antidote to intestinal worms.'
Recent History
Other common names for St. John's Wort include Amber (no doubt from the colour of the oil) and, in the United States, Klamath weed, because it naturalised around the Klamath River in California. European settlers introduced St. John's Wort to America in the late 18th century and its' cultivation soon became widespread. Its' importance in the New World is attested to by its' appearance in King's American Dispensatory, an important work first published in 1898. Written by H. Felter and J. Lloyd, this volume became a classic of herbal medicine and is still consulted today. It lists many uses for St. John's Wort ranging from colds to insanity, with an emphasis on how the herb specialises in curing nervous and respiratory illnesses.
From the early 1900's, St. John's Wort has been used to help in the treatment of degenerative nerve conditions such as multiple sclerosis, while recent research has suggested that the herb can help to combat alcoholism.
Only the aerial parts of St. John's Wort are used - the buds, flowers and leaves, along with the stalks attached to these parts. Unlike many herbs, the root is not used because it doesn't contain any detectable healing constituents.
Buds and Flowers
The buds for a small and neat oval shape, with delicate green sepals like a candle holder. The star-shaped, golden yellow flowers cluster together like blossom on branched stems. They are about 1' (2.5cm) across and have tiny faint black margins along the petals. When you crush the flowers and buds, they leave a magnificent deep magenta stain.
Chemical Constituents of Buds and Flowers
A class of naturally occurring plant chemicals called naphthodianthrones
(sometimes known as dianthrones) contain the two important healing substances hypericin and pseudohypericin, which are found mainly in the buds and flowers of the herb.
Shelf Life
Dried buds and flowers last 6-9 months; fresh buds and flowers last 3 days for maximum potency.
Leaves and Stems
The stems are rigid (two-sided) but otherwise smooth. They hold themselves erect and are increasingly branched toward the top of the plant. Each branch grows in a different direction (alternatively) for maximum exposure to light. The pale green leaves are small, only 1' (2.5cm) in length and are oblong and smooth (they have no 'teeth').
They have tiny translucent gland sacs (perforations) on the underside of the leaves.
Chemical Constituents of leaves
The flavonoids in the leaves and stems contain many derivatives - quercetin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin, lurolin and amentoflavone - with the last of these being responsible for St. John's Wort's key antidepressant action.
There are other important chemicals that can be found throughout the arterial parts of the plant: these include phloroglucinols and their derivatives hyperforin, adhyperforin and hyperside, all of which contain major antibiotic properties.
Essential oils are also present in the leaves and stems; these include monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which are known to have sedative properties.
Shelf Life
Whole dried leaves and stems last 6-12 months; dried last 6-9 months: fresh leaves and stems last 3 days for maximum potency.
St. John's Blood
The faint black marks on the leaves of this herb were said to be a symbol of the beheading of St. John the Baptist at the cruel insistence of Herod's daughter, Salome. If the blossoms are put in oil and left to infuse in the sun, the oil gradually becomes a rich red. Traditionally, this was known as St. John's Blood.
St. John's Wort is known to treat a wide and varied range of disorders, utilising only the aerial parts of the plant for both internal and external use.
How St. John's Wort can help
Eases post-surgery swelling, bruises, sprains, muscle aches, toothache (including removal and abscesses), cuts, trapped nerves, neuralgia, sciatica and fibrositis.
Helps in the treatment of many skin disorders including psoriasis, eczema and warts.
Useful for kidney and bladder complaints including incontinence.
Treats a wide range of viral, bacterial and microbial invasions and many other disorders that are usually treated by antibiotics, especially stomach and gastrointestinal complaints.
St. John's Wort is also effective against diarrhoea and viral infections like herpes simplex and influenza.
Soothes and heals inflamed tissue and reduces pain, thus making the herb effective in cases of rheumatism and arthritis and many other similar conditions. St. John's Wort can appropriately be used internally or externally in order to ease the severity of these complaints.
Aids the relief of lung problems such as congestion and chronic catarrh.
Helpful during the menopause and for postmenopausal women.
Can help to treat dysentery and parasitic worm infestations.
Helps the liver to recover from jaundice, hepatitis, inflammation of the liver and other similar conditions, as well as gall bladder complaints and related digestive disorders.
Treats a range of nerve- and brain-related disorders, from anxiety to sleep disorders such as insomnia, early morning waking and over-sleeping. Also eases some psychological disturbances, including depression, nervous excitement, some tension headaches, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms, impaired memory and dyslexia.
The generalised wound-healing abilities of St. John's Wort make it ideal for the first-aid kit for use on burns, chapped skin, frostbite, insect bites and sunburn.
It was said that the Christian Crusaders used the flowers and leaves of St. John's Wort crushed into lard as poultices to heal their sword wounds.
How St. John's Wort Affects the Body
Antidepressant (helps to change mood).
Antioxidant (prevents free radicals from causing damage to cells).
Antiviral (effective against disease-carrying viruses).
Anti-inflammatory (reduces inflammation).
Anti-microbial (disarms microbes).
Analgesic (pain relief).
Antispasmodic (relaxes muscular contractions).
Aromatic (digestive).
Astringent (tones and heals).
Expectorant (provokes the release of mucus).
Nervine (fees and calms the nervous system).
Hepatic (favourably influences the liver and gall bladder).
Phototoxicity ~ St. John's Wort's most known side-effect is 'phototoxicity'. Light-skinned people in particular may develop a sensitivity to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight, both in the eyes and on the skin, where use of the herb can cause loss of pigmentation or small welts, especially during the summer months. The reason is the interaction of the herb's chemical hypericin with sunlight and oxygen. This occurs because St. John's Wort has the ability to reach the blood and skin without being intercepted and processed by the liver and kidneys. If you find you are susceptible, it's advisable to wear dark glasses and use plenty of suntan lotion - never use sun beds, which often emit large amounts of ultraviolet light.
Other contraindications
Don't take St. John's Wort if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Don't take St. John's Wort while using amino-acid supplements.
Don't take St. John's Wort with chronic liver and kidney disease unless you are under direct medical supervision because, if the herb behaves in a toxic fashion, these organs appear to be unable to detoxify accumulations. Liver and kidney cleansing programs will help.
Don't take St. John's Wort if you have an estrogen-driven cancer of the reproductive system such as breast or ovarian cancer.
Don't mix St. John's Wort with antidepressant drugs (especially any type containing monamine oxidase, for example diet pills and nasal sprays).
Don't take St. John's Wort with the herb Yohimbe, which also contains monoamine oxidase.
Don't use the herb with drugs aimed at decreasing dopaminergic activity or which are treating any kind of mental disorder.
Other Possible Side-Effects
St. John's Wort can produce other, less common, side-effects in some people. Stop using the herb at once if any of the following symptoms occur:
Nausea
Fatigue
Anxiety
Disorientation and speech difficulty
Rigidity of neck muscles or contractions of other muscles
St. John's Wort can have a profound effect on the mood, enhancing feelings of well-being, reducing fears and including a calming of the spirit.
The bitter taste of the fresh St. John's Wort plant and its' subsequent tinctures, infusions and powders, provide a strong hint about its' effect in relation to the liver and gall bladder. The taste will immediately activate bile and digestive juices and the whole effect will be to energise the liver. A stagnant liver can cause a range of emotional states - depression, anger or sadness - but these can be coaxed to the surface and ultimately lessened as time goes by, resulting in a more positive, lively and excited feeling. It's not a coincidence that the words 'life' and 'liver' are very similar - they come from the same root.
St. John's Wort also has an astringent taste, which gives clues to effects the herb has on different organs. For example, the kidneys, bladder and lungs all benefit from it. These organs gain from the healing, tanning and drying effect of this astringent quality and will work better as a result. The emotional effects will be as apparent as the physical ones: as the lungs relax and work better, apprehensions will be lessened; and when the bladder and kidneys work more efficiently, minor fears will fade.
With St. John's Wort, digestion will be increasingly enlivened and will function more harmoniously, assimilating and processing more effectively. This will in turn settle the mind and the combined effect will be to give you a greater interest in life.
Energy and the Mind
St. John's Wort invites a deeper state of relaxation, serenity and contentment. Because it affects the physical and mental state so radically, it is able to flush out 'evils' and poisons from the mind, body and spirit, whenever they appear. The herb gives a sense of confidence and ability, enabling you to enjoy life from a position of calm, with a greater sense of enthusiasm and vitality.
St. John's Wort banishes negativity and fears, helps you leap over everyday difficulties and invites lightness and positivity. The herb introduces laughter and relaxation into the life of anyone who uses it.
Although in some ways St. John's Wort is almost a 'wonder herb,' it isn't applicable to every condition - and care must always be taken with certain groups of people, particularly when the herb is used internally.
Pregnancy
The internal use of St. John's Wort isn't advised during pregnancy, nor the use of the essential oils externally. Research has shown that the herb can cause uterine contractions - indeed Native Americans traditionally used it, along with other herbs as an abortive. Current research is looking at whether it can also cause cell mutation and, as a result, foetal abnormalities.
The use of any antidepressant is questionable during pregnancy, especially in the last three months, due to their effect on the foetus's brain and nervous system. However, minute quantities of St. John's Wort consumed inadvertently should cause no harm.
For the same reasons the use of St. John's Wort is not advised during breastfeeding.
Children
External use of St. John's Wort cold-pressed oil (or the cream or fresh poultice) is quite safe for children and they usually love its' soothing effect. Internal use for children must be at the discretion of a herbal practitioner, who will employ the correct dosage for their age. Some experts nevertheless suggest that children under the age of 12 shouldn't take St. John's Wort - and never without close medical supervision.
Elderly People
St. John's Wort is a very useful herb when administered internally for elderly people, who can easily become depressed by their lack of mobility, by physical disorders (including circulatory conditions) and by psychological problems such as loneliness. They are often given drugs to alleviate these are other problems, but the side effects can be unwelcome.
Elderly people should consult a qualified herbalist before using St. John's Wort internally, but it is unnecessary for external use. Used externally, St. John's Wort can be invaluable for treating bed sores, leg ulcers and slow-healing wounds or burns, all of which are prevalent among older people who become immobile.
St. John's Wort has many naturally occurring components, most notably naphthodianthrones and their derivatives hypericin and pseudohypericin. It also contains flavonoids, tannins and phytosterols, plus various amino acids and essential oils.
While climate, soil species and other factors will determine the amounts in which St. John's Wort many compounds are found, researchers and herbalists largely agree that the effects of the herb are due to an interaction between all of its' chemical constituents - and not just one or two key components.
Main Effects
By inhibiting the immune system response of producing lymphocytes and T-cells, St. John's Wort chemistry produces an anti-inflammatory effect. This can be helpful where the immune systems' response has become excessive or out of control, as in the case of some chronic diseases.
All the compounds contained in St. John's Wort seem to increase deep sleep but slightly increase REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Deep sleep provides our night time rest, while in REM sleep we dream.
The compounds in St. John;'s Wort also work against viruses by attacking the cellular membrane and inhibiting the receptor activity that are involved in abnormal growth (helpful for antiviral and antibacterial activities).
The flavonoids are believed to aid the sedative effects of the herb, while others help produce some of its' antidepressant effects.
The tannins may well help St. John's Wort to be effective for burns and rapid healing by providing extra oxygen. They may also support its' anti-inflammatory quality.
Phytosterols are plant steroids that can be translated into human steroids by bacteria in the gut. They can be used for pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory where 'human' steroids are missing, such as in the adrenal glands.
The herb's amino acids are the building blocks for neurotransmitters.
They help to produce better connections and subsequently calm and balance the activity of the brain.
St. John's Wort essential oils contribute vital healing and sedative qualities.
