fbpx

Saint John’s Wort: a harvest not to be missed

by | Jul 28, 2014 | Herbal

Saint John's Wort PlantFor a few weeks now the little yellow stars of Saint John’s Wort have been present by the roadside and dotted all throughout our pasture. Up until now I had resisted harvesting any however, today, out walking the dogs I could resist no longer and simply had to have a mason jar of these tiny golden stars!

Saint Johns WortSaint John’s Wort Uses

It’s hard to summarise all the uses of this esteemed and pretty famous herb. I bet you just need to google it and out it will pour.

  1. Anyway, Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is best known these days not so much as an annoying weed for farmers, but more so for its use in the treatment of depression and anxiety. It can be useful for SAD (the winter blues). A ton of research has been done on this herb so if you are seriously considering turning to Saint John’s Wort to treat your depression, stress or anxiety, then get yourself informed. And I would suggest only doing so alongside other supportive therapies like counseling, lifestyle changes and nurturing food for example.
  2. Saint John’s Wort it also brilliant for the treatment of damaged nerve endings like burns, neuralgia and wounds damaging the skin. It has anti-viral, vulnerary, nerve tonic and antibacterial actions. It’s best applied as a lotion, salve or compress for this. (can also take tincture internally).
  3. Research is also ongoing in the role Saint John’s Wort can play in the fight against the HIV virus and also the herpes virus.
  4. Also Saint John’s Wort is used for the treatment of PMS, menopause, shingles and nerve pain.
  5. Much much more…

Best things to do with your Saint John’s Wort harvest?

Well for starters, gathering the buds and flowers is quite satisfying, you know you have done a good job when you look down and your fingers are well and truly stained black/red with the juicy blood like oil contained in the buds. So here’s a few ideas of what to do next:

  1. Make an infused oil – this is the most satisfying infused oil you will ever undertake – SERIOUSLY.  You can use any oil, I mostly use olive oil for this herb. Left to infuse for 4-6 weeks the oil will turn an incredible blood red colour. After you strain it you can use it topically on sprains, bruises and swollen skin. It makes a great oil to add into a salve recipe too. And is OK for dogs.Saint John's Wort oil
  2. Take your lovely Jar of buds and flowers (some leaves are OK too just not too many), and make a tincture by pouring over alcohol and leaving for 4-6 weeks. This you would take to treat nerve pain, stress, anxiety, depression and SAD.
  3. Simply dry the flowers and use them as an ingredient in herbal infusions. For example blend with hops and valerian for insomnia, with lavendar and lemon balm for depression, with passionflower for anxiety/insomnia. Or even chamomile for an uplifting calming drink.
  4. Also, the beautiful flowers are calling out to worship the sun by means of a Saint John’s Wort Flower Essence! Pick a sunny day, harvest your flowers in the morning and leave them in spring water all day. Come back when you feel the time is right to bottle your goodness.

Saint John's Wort flowersThis has been all too brief and yet this wonderfully rampant weed is just so impressive and has so much medicine to share with us. I encourage you to go and hunt it down, sit with the plant and see how you can connect with Saint John’s Wort. Have fun medicine making but do your homework before you go wielding your cure-it-all medicine.