Effect:
decongestant, astringent, antibacterial, calming, blood-building, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, nerve-strengthening, antispasmodic, expectorant, pain-relieving, tonic
Areas of application:
Depression, bronchitis, fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, intestinal inflammation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, stomach problems, stomach, intestinal and abdominal cramps, flatulence, liver disease, jaundice, colic, indigestion, gout, rheumatism, bedwetting, cystitis, ovarian inflammation, endometritis, uterine cramps, menstrual problems , menopausal symptoms, cycle irregularities, anxiety, epilepsy, lumbago, hypochondria, sciatica, headaches, migraines, nervousness, neuralgia, insomnia, trigeminal neuralgia, bruises, varicose veins, muscle strains, bruises, back pain, dislocations, sprains, joint inflammation, shingles, phlebitis, bumps, eczema , ulcers, itching, scar pain, fissures, puncture wounds, dry skin, burns, wounds, melancholic states, overexertion, restlessness, dizziness, stroke, trembling of the limbs, nervous heart, Opiate withdrawal and smoking cessation
Plant parts used:
Flowering herb, flowers (the upper third of the flowering herb)
Collection time:
End of June - September
To find:
on roadsides, in sparse forests, on fallow land or in the garden
Ingredients:
Hypericin, hyperforin, flavonoids, bitter substances, tannins, essential oil, resin, myristic acid, hyperin red, phytosterol, stearin, taraxasterol, violaxanthin, beta-sitosterol, phytosterols, rutin, qercitin, choline
Miscellaneous:
☕ Tea: 2 teaspoons of herb are mixed with 1/4 liter of cold water and heated. After a few minutes of steeping, strain and drink 3 cups daily.
St. John's wort is a perennial with climbing rhizomes. The stems are erect and grow up to 90 cm high. They branch in the upper part and form narrow, yellow-green leaves less than 2.5 cm long. The leaves have tiny oil glands. The bright yellow flowers, 2.5 cm in diameter, appear on the upper branches from late spring to mid-summer. The flowers have five petals with pointed sepals. These sepals have striking black spots. The large stamens are arranged in three bundles, and a red resin emerges from the flower buds when squeezed. The plant is widespread.
🛑 Be careful! Do not take during pregnancy, tanning salon users, people who soak up a lot of sun! Anyone taking medication, including birth control pills, should consult their doctor beforehand to rule out interactions!
In the kitchen, the flowers are an edible decoration for various dishes. Extracted in oil, they can be used in the kitchen or as a skin care product and rub for sunburn, rheumatism, lumbago and for treating wounds. The flowers can also be extracted in alcohol. The leaves taste good in salads, vegetable dishes and as a flavoring in liqueurs. They have a slightly bitter taste.
St. John's wort contains red pigment, which makes the skin cells more sensitive to light and causes light sickness in grazing animals. You should be careful with St. John's wort oil, you get sunburned more quickly and as a tea or tincture it increases the skin's sensitivity to light. In the event of an overdose, the hypericin it contains can lead to hypersensitivity to strong sunlight, but in our latitudes (Germany) and with normal sunbathing this remains negligible. If you're lucky, you're more likely to get a tan from it.
St. John's wort is most commonly used to treat depression, restlessness, anxiety and insomnia without causing any unwanted side effects. People with bipolar disorder should not take it because it appears to increase the risk of mania. It also should not be taken by people who are already taking an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) medication. It is very effective for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and OCD and is often combined with lemon balm.
In herbal books from the 16th century it says "Dost, Hartheu (St. John's wort) and chicory do the devil a lot of harm."
It is used as a love oracle on St. John's Eve (June 24th). Young girls in love squeeze the flower buds, thinking of their admirer, and paying attention to whether the juice is reddish or colorless. They say: "If my darling is good to me, if there is red blood, if I hate him, there will only be shame." St. John's wort is particularly magical when collected and used on his name day.
St. John's wort should not be missing from any solstice ritual (June 21st). Tied in wreaths it protects against demons and the devil and is a bringer of light. The 9 important St. John's herbs on the summer solstice are: lady's mantle, feverfew, nettle, marigold, rose, dandelion, thyme, mugwort and St. John's wort.