St. John’s Wort: Herb of the Sun
Common name: St. John’s Wort
Latin name: Hypericum perforatum L.
Family: Hypericaceae
Parts used: Aerial parts
Actions: anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnerary, nervine, antimicrobial, Trophorestorative, anti-depressant, healing, diuretic, anti-viral, vulnerary, anxiolytic, nervine, disinfectant, relaxant, digestive, neuroprotective, hepatic, alterative, anodyne, exhilarant
Energetics: warming, drying, bitter
Active Constituents: volatile oil, napthodianthones, phloronaphthodianthones, catechins, Flavonoids, phloroglucinols (hypericin), polycyclic diones (hyperforin), tannins, “blood of Saint John,” glycosides, carotene, pectin:
Preparations: Tincture (fresh, 1:2, 80%), oil (fresh, alcohol intermediary)
St. John’s Wort is an herb closely associated with the summer– its flowers burst in a spray of bright yellow right around the Summer Solstice. Its leaves and flowers are said to capture the light of the sun, offering up a flame of confidence to all that engage with it. St. John’s Wort is sunshine-medicine, an herb of the solar plexus, associated with the Leo zodiac, trapping sunshine in its leaves and flowers. When we ingest the plant, we drink the drops of sun that live in it.
St. John’s Wort is native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. It grows in dry, sunny places and the seeds only germinate in sunlight. So intensely does it embody and absorb the sun, that organisms (humans and animals alike) can develop photosensitivity from ingesting large amounts.
The Latin name, Hypericum, loosely translates to “rising above one’s demons”, speaking to its power to lift people out of dark places. Legend tells us the devil himself poked holes in the leaves to weaken its demon-banishing power–hence the perforations we see when the leaves are held to the light. It has been used to keep demons at bay, and cure those bewitched by spells and senseless with love.
It is an herb associated with the solar plexus–the solar plexus houses our digestion and liver, which contain our anger, fire, and confidence. It can activate enzymes that enhance liver detoxification, clearing GI and liver stagnancy and improving overall liver function. Stagnancy in the liver and GI will cause hormones to build up and circulate the blood, leading to hormonal imbalance and the associated emotional distress.
The sunlight energy of this vibrant, yellow-petaled plant lifts those trapped under dark, depressive winters. It has been used effectively in seasonal depressive disorder, especially when combined with other uplifting plants that hold sunshine in their hands, like tulsi, chamomile, and lemon balm. It is a wonderful choice for people who are run down, depleted, and have lost their confidence.
I have benefited from this herb’s potent medicine during periods of life where I felt completely depleted of physical, mental and emotional resources.That feeling of dangling at the end of a fraying rope; exhausted, cold, and depleted. St. John’s Wort restored fire and delight, uplifting me into a more joyful and empowered sense of calm. In this case, I worked with it both as a simple, and in a formula which included Schisandra, Rhodiola, and yarrow.
St. John’s Wort has a strong affinity for the nerves, both internally and topically. It is a wonderful nerve tonic, giving people the confidence and energy to process emotions and recover from depletion. The red oil produced by the small oil glands is wonderfully healing to general pain and stiffness from sciatica, nerve damage, burns, and sore joints and muscles. The oil should be prepared with fresh flowers and turn bright red when extracted.
Internal use of St. John’s Wort is contraindicated with many pharmaceutical medications and birth control. This is because it enhances liver function so effectively, it can cause medications to be processed more quickly, decreasing efficacy.
