St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is also known as Goat Weed, Klamath Weed, and simply as Hypericum. Its bright yellow flowers make it easy to see along roadsides and in empty lots, and the small bumps on the leaves create the illusion of holes. In fact, these bumps are oil glands of strong medicinal value. The flowers produce a bright yellow dye when mixed with Alum, but a deep violet-red dye when mixed with alcohol.
History
St. John’s Wort may have been named for the coincidence of its peak harvest time with the birthday of St. John – Summer Solstice – or perhaps for the red specks that allegedly appear on the leaves on the anniversary of his death, August 29th. In any case, it was favored as a remedy for nervous tension to the point of being employed to “exorcise evil spirits” during the Middle Ages.
St. John’s Wort has a rich history of superstition as well. Its scent was said to be so unpleasant to the devil that it was given the name Fuga daemonium, or “the devil’s flight” or “the devil’s scourge”. Sprigs of the dried flowers were placed over images of religious icons and ancestral portraits to ward away evil. It was even said that to tread on a St. John’s Wort plant after sunset would summon a pookha, a fey horse, that would carry you away for the whole night.
Current Uses and Research
St. John’s Wort is probably most well-known in our day and age as a kind of “natural Prozac”. It is considered a mild sedative with a variety of additional attributes. It appears to work primarily in the nervous system, unlike other herbs suggested for depression which tend to work through the liver and kidneys. Many clinic studies have supported St. John’s Wort’s effectiveness in treating mild to moderate depression, finding that it is at least as effective as other prescription antidepressants with much fewer side effects.
St. John’s Wort is known for much more, however. It has been used also to stimulate bile and gastric secretions for stomach upsets, to improve poor blood circulation, to regulate menopausal fluctuations and irregular menstruation, and to treat shingles and other viral outbreaks. Externally, it has been used to treat deep wounds, sores, burns, bruises, inflammations, sprains, hemorrhoids, neuralgia, sciatica and other nerve pains.
Contraindications, Warnings, and Disclaimers
Usage of St. John’s Wort can create photosensitivity, so those taking this herb should avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Do not take St. John’s Wort if your depression has been declared moderate to severe. St. John’s Wort interacts with a variety of medications including: oral contraceptives, warfarin, digoxin, anticonvulsants, theophylline, SSRIs (such as Paxil or Prozac), triptans, cyclosporine, anti-virals prescribed for HIV and some anti-cancer medications.
References
- Herb Society of America’s New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses, 2001; p. 240
- The Rodale Herb Book, 1974; p. 564-565
- The Herb Identifier, 1999; Clevely, Andi; p. 93
- Brother Cadfael’s Herb Garden, 1999; p. 173
- Herbs for Healthy Living, 2007; p. 149
- NCCAM
- Mayo Clinic
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