herbal treasure chest: st john's wort

st john's wort - hypericum perforatum

St John's wort is a nice plant with yellow flowers that is blooming around St John's Day, that means around June 24th.

how to grow:

St John's wort was already growing in our garden. It comes back every year but at a slightly different spot. It's a perennial hardy in US zones 4-8.

medicinal properties:

St John's Wort is a great herb for depression, anxiety and SAD (seasonal affective disorder) but with less side effects than any presciption drugs.

Putting St John's Wort on wounds as an oil or ointment helps healing the wound faster and there will also be less scars.

It has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat shingles and herpes.

cautions and side effects:

You shouldn't take st john's wort together with any prescription antidepressants. It might cause something called serotonin syndrome with symptons being confusion, shivering and muscle spasms. Maybe you should try to change to st john's completely as it is much safer than those pharmaceuticals.
It is not recommended for people with a heart transplant.

st john's wort - hypericum perforatum

how to grow:

medicinal properties:

cautions and side effects:

further reading