St. John's wort  has  many uses, but first things first; I am not a Doctor nor do I or will I recommend any medicinal herbs for any ailments. Please use medicinal herbs at your own discretion. I am only interested in the herbs that we use here for our family on the farm. Please seek medical attention prior to using herbs.

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Okay so now that we got that out of the way below is information on uses, parts used, harvest and preparation.

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St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant in the Hypericaceae family named for its bright yellow flowers that were said to bloom for the first time around St. John the Baptist's birthday. The word "wort" means "plant" in Old English.

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St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a history of use as a medicine dating back to ancient Greece, where it was used for a range of illnesses, including various nervous disorders. St. John's wort also has antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been applied to the skin to help heal wounds and burns. St. John's wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States.

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In recent years, St. John's wort has been studied extensively as a treatment for depression. Most studies show that St. John's wort may help treat mild-to-moderate depression, and has fewer side effects than most other prescription antidepressants. But it interacts with a number of medications, so it should be taken only under the guidance of a health care provider.

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DO NOT use herbs to treat severe depression -- where you have trouble functioning day to day, or have thoughts of harming yourself or others. Always see a doctor if your depression is making it hard for you to function.

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Parts Used: Herb top, flowers

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Herbal Actions:

• Astringent (toner like properties)

• Expectorant

• Vulnerary (promotes wound healing)

• Antibacterial

• Antiviral

• Anti-inflammatory 

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Medicinal Uses: With properties like antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and and vulnerary (wound healing) st. Johns wort is commonly used for wound healing. With the same properties in mind it's also used for hemorrhoids, psoriasis, bruses and muscle pain among other things. With all this in mind we steep the flower tops in oil and add to bug bites, stings, and minor wounds and burns think first degree.

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St. John’s Wort Oil

You need:

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St. Johns Wort flowering tops (the flowers and a couple inches of the stem). Best picked in the middle of the day, in the sunshine when the natural oils are the most intense.
A jar with a lid
Enough olive oil to cover them

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Method:

Make sure there are no little bugs on the plant material. Keep the material in

 

the sun for an hour or so and shake well before placing in the jar.
Cover with the oil, make sure all the flowers are covered with oil or it might mold.
Keep it in direct sunlight for a month or so. After a couple of weeks you will see the oil has turned into a wonderful ruby red color.

Strain the oil into separate bottles and keep it in a dark cupboard.

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How to use:

Just rub a small amount into affected area several times per day.

Some people may have reactions to certain herb plant groups, so when applying a herbal based oil for the very first time try just a small amount and give it 24 hours to make sure there is no allergic reaction to it.

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NOTES:

Also St. John’s Wort can interfere with prescription medications (like contraceptive pills) when taken internally so do not eat this oil!