St John’s Wort – Hypericum perforatum

Family: Gutterferae

Botanical description: A herbaceous perennial up to 60 cm. The leaves have small glands filled with a red substance (hypericin) around their margins, the small yellow flowers have five petals and also have the pigment glands.

Parts used: Aerial flowering tops.

Harvesting, cultivation and habitat: Grows throughout the temperate regions; it is probably not native to Ireland and the  true species can be difficult to find wild here. However, it thrives in cultivation and is easy to grow from seed sown in the spring or summer or propagated by root division. It prefers sun, well drained chalky soil.

History/Folklore/Taste/Energetics: The name Hypericum comes from the Greek hyper (above) icon ( pictures or sacred objects), it was regarded as a protecting plant guarding against withcraft and malevolent forces and therefore was placed above doors and windows.  It has a beautifully sunshine energy, making it good for those who get depressed in the winter or because they feel that they do not have enough sunshine in their lives. Unfortunately it now only available as a POM in Ireland, although herbalists are allowed to perescribe it. Sweet, oily, warm and dry, balsamic. Tissue states atrophy, constriction, depression.

Constituents Phloroglucinols (hyperforin), Polycyclic diones (hypericin), Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins

Actions Antidepressant, Anxiolytic, Antiviral, Antioxidant, Vulnerary, Anti-inflammatory, Sedative, Astringent

 Traditional and current uses

• Used to treat mild to moderate depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Effective against enveloped viruses such as herpes, HIV, hepatitis B and C. Due to its efficacy against herpes viruses it can be used to treat cold sores, chicken pox and shingles
• Nervous exhaustion, long-term anxiety, insomnia, depression and treating addictions
• Lowered energy and vitality in menopause
• The infused oil is used to help tissue repair in wounds, burns, skin thinned by steroid use
• Used internally to heal peptic ulcers
• Used to treat nerve pain, tincluding post herpetic neuralgia. Sciatica and also joint pain
• Insomnia in children afraid of the dark
• Weakness of gut level instincts, inability to trust instincts
• Chronic fatigue
• Deep wounds and puncture wounds
• Shooting, sharp and needle-like pains
• Pains in the coccyx
• Fibrositis
• Contraindications: According to the BHP it is contra-indicated in depressive states? It does interact with a number of medications, including the contraceptive pill, making them less effective.

This herbal monograph is used with the permission of The Plant Medicine School.