St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is best known for its use to treat mild depression. However it is also a beautiful herb to grow in your garden.
Please be sure to read the Precautions & Side-Effect sections below.
How Does Your Garden Grow
St. John's Wort has bright, cheery, star-shaped yellow flowers in Summer and bright berries in Autumn. It prefers full sun but can handle partial shade. Given the space, it can grow to be over 2 feet tall. St. John's Wort is a perennial in growing zones 6-9.
I Talk About St. John's Wort Here
Herbal Properties and Uses
Like most herbs, St. John's Wort doesn't have just one use. It has many!
Nervous System Trophorestorative & Relaxing Nervine - making it a popular treatment for mild depression, anxiety, and tension, as well as PMS and Menopausal symptoms.
Vulnerary & Astringent - making it perfect for wound care. Therefore, it is often used in first-aid salves and to treat many skin conditions.
Alterative & Hepatic - meaning it supports the liver and the body's detoxification processes, increasing vitality and health.
Harvesting and Purchasing
The most used part of the plant are the flowers and buds. Given the choice of using dried flowers or fresh flowers, fresh is best. However, for many of us, we only have fresh flowers during the summer months, so drying is the only way to preserve the harvest for use later in the year.
During the height of summer, you might notice that a flower bud crushed between your fingers oozes a red substance called hypericin. This is the main constituent of the flower, meaning the flowers are ready for harvesting. You can still harvest flowers that aren't oozing hypericin, they just won't be quite as powerful.
If you want to dry some of your harvest, I find the easiest way is to simply place flowers on a towel on the counter. Flip the flowers every day. After a few days, the flowers will be dry and you can transfer them to an air-tight jar for storage.
There are so many ways to use St. John's Wort - teas, tinctures, salves, capsules, infused oils, etc. You can make these yourself or purchase products for use.
If you choose to purchase St. John's Wort products, just be sure you are buying from a reputable company such as Mountain Rose Herbs. They are not a sponsor, simply the company I use most often when I purchase herbs.
Precautions!!! (BIG ONES)
Take note! While many people reach for St. John's Wort as a natural remedy for mild mental health concerns such as anxiety, ADHD, OCD, and depression, 'natural' does not always mean safe. St. John's Worts can have very negative effects on people with Alzheimer's, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, and other disorders. St. John's Wort also interacts with MANY drugs, including Xanax, Prilosec, Blood Pressure Meds, and Birth Control Pills, to name a few.
Therefore, if you are considering using St. John's Wort internally for any reason, discuss it with your doctor first. I can not stress this enough. I find that people often feel good about treating themselves with herbal remedies rather than going to a doctor. For some herbs, that might be fine, but St. John's Wort is not one of those herbs. Do not self-medicate with this herb until you have discussed it with your doctor.
Side Effects and Dosage
If you and your doctor have decided it is safe for you to ingest St. John's Wort, I encourage you to start with a small dose and slowly increase. For example, start with 1 cup of tea a day, 1 capsule/day, or 1 dropper of tincture a day. See how that feels before increasing.
Too much St. John's Wort can cause diarrhea, dizziness, restlessness, and photosensitivity (sensitivity to the sun). All of these are things you want to be sure to avoid.
This photosensitivity issue can be a problem if the plant grows near cattle or other livestock as often the animals graze on the plant and can then end up becoming quite sick.
As always, everything has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. If you use St. John's Wort, be on the lookout for signs of an allergic reaction.
Disclaimer
The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbal medicine, particularly if you have a known medical condition or if you are pregnant or nursing. The information provided should not be considered health advice. You are responsible for consulting a medical professional before implementing a new herb or herbal remedy.
Allergic reactions can occur and can be serious. If you are struggling to breathe, seek medical attention immediately.
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