St. John’s Wort

Latin Name: Hypericum perforatum
Family: Clusiaceae

Description: St. John’s Wort is perennial plant that is considered a hardy weed by some. Around the summer solstice, it blooms profusely with bright yellow, star-shaped flowers. Fresh St John’s Wort harvested when the flowers are blooming have the highest medicinal value. One of the primary medicinal constituents, hypericin, is at its highest just as the buds begin to open. If you press one of the bright yellow buds between your fingers, and there is a spurt of deep red, it is harvest time. Check the plant daily during harvest season; the window for optimum harvest is short.

Parts Used: Primarily the bud and flower, but also the leaf. Use snips to harvest the upper 3-4 inches of flowering leafy tops. Do not harvest non-flowering plants.

Plant Properties: Analgesic, antibiotic, antidepressant, antiviral, nerve restorative

Uses: St. John’s Wort oil has been used for centuries as a first aid remedy for burns, bruises, and other trauma to the skin. It is also useful for healing nerve damage and other diseases of the nervous system. St. John’s Wort oil is a highly effective massage oil for muscle spasm, cramps, stiffness, ache, overuse, sprains, bruises, back ache, gout, sciatica, neuralgia and poor circulation to the extremities.

Plant Preparations 

St. John’s oil Infusion: St. John’s Wort oil is best made from the buds, with some flowers and leaves. If your fingers turn red while harvesting St. John’s Wort, you are picking them at the correct time. You can also pinch the buds or flowers and see if they stain your finger red. Do not wait too long though since the peak time may only last a day or two.

Put the freshly harvested plant material in a glass jar and cover the plant material with olive oil. Place in direct sunlight (i.e., a sunny window works well) and let infuse for 2-3 weeks. As the herb steeps, the oil will become a deep red. The deeper and richer the color, the better the product. When it is ready, strain, bottle, and label for External Use Only.

St. John’s tincture: Using the same harvesting guidelines given for an oil infusion, take your freshly harvested plant material and chop it to desired consistency. Place chopped herbs in a glass jar and cover herbs by 2-3 inches with alcohol. Seal the jar with a tight-fitting lid. Watch the tincture carefully for the first two to three days to make sure the plant material remains covered with the alcohol. If not, add more alcohol as needed. Place the jar in a warm, sunny spot and let the herbs soak for 4-6 weeks. Shake the jar occasionally to make sure the plant material and alcohol are mixed thoroughly. After 6 weeks, strain the herbs into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, label the bottle, and store in a cool, dark place.

St. John’s liniment: Making the liniment is a two-part process. Make the St. John’s Wort tincture with pure grain alcohol (Everclear). Make an equal amount of St. John’s Wort Oil. When both the oil and tincture are a deep rich red, combine equal parts of tincture and liniment and add several drops of wintergreen essential oil. Label for External Use Only and store in a cool place, where the liniment will keep for at least several months.

Use this liniment any time you have aching muscles, joints, or bones. This liniment will reach deep into the muscles to relieve aches and spasms and treat painful joints, including those caused by arthritis and bursitis.

Contraindication: St. John’s Wort cleanses the liver. So, it is best to use it with caution in conjunction with any pharmaceutical drug, especially antidepressants. St. John’s Wort may cause photosensitivity, especially in fair-skinned individuals.