Hypericum perforatum / St. John's Wort / Hypericaceae (St. John's Wort family)

Information

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Other Names

Amber Touch-and-Heal, Hardhay, Hypericum, Klamath Weed, Millepertuis, Rosin Rose, SJW, Tipton Weed and Goat Weed.

Description

Hypericum perforatum is an aromatic, perennial plant with bright yellow flowers that is native to many parts of Europe. Its common name derives from the fact that it blossoms and is traditionally harvested around the 24th of June which is St. John’s day. (3) Traditionally it was believed to have magic powers and to ward off evil spirits and was used as a ceremonial plant for protection at the midsummer festivals. (2) In fact its Latin name is derived from the Greek words hyper (above) and eikon (picture) referring to its traditional use of being hung over a picture in the house on St. John’s day for this very purpose. (3) In medieval times people believed that if you slept with a sprig of St. John's wort under your pillow on St. John's Eve (the night before St. John's Tide), "The Saint would appear in a dream, give his blessing, and prevent one from dying during the following year". (7)

Contents

St. John’s wort contains a large number of active compounds, the best studied of which are Hypericin, pseudohypericin and Hyperforin. It also contains essential oils, tannins and flavonoids (3)

Historical

St. John’s wort has a long history of use in many cultures dating back to pre-Christian times. Romans burned the herb at bonfires as part of the Mid-summers day celebrations while in England, people used St. John’s wort to protect against witchcraft, evil spirits, enchantments and even storms and thunder by draping the plant over doorways, windows and even on their bodies. Priests were said to exorcise demons using the herb and it was also thought to drive away the evil eye. On the Isle of Man, one superstition claimed that anyone who stood on the plant after sunset would be taken away by a fairy horse to ride through the night until sunrise. (7)

St. John’s wort also has a history of use in folk medicine in several different cultures dating back to ancient Greece. Native Americans also used the herb internally to help relieve stomach ailments and to fight tuberculosis. (3)(7)

The popularity and scientific interest in St. John’s wort has increased greatly in recent years and it is currently being prescribed in Germany in some cases to treat mild depression especially in children, adolescents and where costs are a concern. (6) Several studies have shown St. John’s wort to be more effective than placebo in treating mild to moderate depression while having fewer side effects than conventional antidepressants. (5) Some research has also suggested that St. John’s wort helps to support digestion, improve the appearance of the skin, support the excretory functions of the kidneys and improve overall health. (4)

Health Warnings

St. John’s wort has been noted to increase sensitivity to light. Other side effects can include anxiety, dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, headache, or sexual dysfunction. (1)
St. John’s wort has also been noted to have interactions with several drugs including (1):
Antidepressants
Birth control pills
Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs
Digoxin
Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV infection
Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer
Warfarin and related anticoagulants

Plant Description

H. Perforatum is a long living perennial with flowers that grows 300-1200 mm tall. Its leaves are opposite, ovate to linear and 15-30 mm long. The leaves have translucent dots which become obvious when held against the light and there are five petals to each flower which are bright yellow in color with black dots. It is a fast growing and invasive plant and listed as a noxious weed in more than twenty countries. It is native to temperate zones of Europe and western Asia but has spread to many other areas. (2)(3)

Legal Remarks

This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

• Norway

References

(1) St. John's Wort, US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(2) Herbal Harvest, Greg Whitten
(3) St John’s wort, Wikipedia
(4) Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Jelling, Jeff M.
(5) St John's wort for depression--an overview and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials., Linde K, Ramirez G, Mulrow CD, Pauls A, Weidenhammer W, Melchart D.
(6) Antidepressant use in children and adolescents in Germany., Fegert JM, Kölch M, Zito JM, Glaeske G, Janhsen K.
(7) Aromatherapy, Roberta Wilson