St. John’s Wort

Hypericum perforatum

Hypericaceae

Habitat: A native European , including British, plant.

Collection: The entire plant above ground should be collected
when in flower and dried as quickly as possible.

Part Used: Aerial parts.


Constituents:

• Essential oil, containing caryophyllene, methyl-2-octane,
  n-nonane, n-octanal,
  n-decanal, [[alpha]]- and [[beta]]-pinene, and traces of limonene
  andmyrcene

• Hypericins, prenylated phloroglucin derivatives; hypericin,
  pseudohypericin and hyperforin

• Miscellaneous; flavonoids, (+) and (-) – epicatechin.

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, astringent, vulnerary, nervine,
anti-microbial.

Indications: Taken internally, St. John’s Wort has a sedative
and pain reducing effect, which gives it a place in the treatment
of neuralgia, anxiety, tension and similar
problems. It is especially regarded as an herb to use where there
are menopausal changes triggering irritability and anxiety. It
is increasingly recommended the treatment of depression. In
addition to neuralgic pain, it will ease fibrositis,
sciatica and rheumatic pain. Externally it is a
valuable healing and anti-inflammatory remedy. As a lotion it will
speed the healing of wounds and bruises, varicose
veins and mild burns. The oil is especially useful for
the healing of sunburn.

Priest & Priest tell us that it is a “sedative
nervine for muscular twitching and choreiform movements especially
indicated for nerve injuries to the extremeties and teeth/gums.
Promotes elimination of catabolic waste products.” They give
the following specific indications: Painful injuries to
sacral spine and coccyx, traumatic shock, hemorrhoids
with pain & bleeding, facial neuralgia after dental
extractions and toothache, neurasthenia, chorea,
depression.

Ellingwood considered it specific for “muscular
bruises, deep soreness, painful parts. A sensation
of throbbing in the body without fever. Burning pain, or
deep soreness of the spine upon pressure, spinal irritation,
circumscribed areas of intense soreness over the spinal cord or
ganglia. Concussion, shock or injury to the
spine, lacerated or punctured wounds in any location,
accompanied with great pain.” In addition he recommends it
for the following pathologies: tumors, caked breasts,
enlarged glands, eccymosis, bruises, swellings.

Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling
water onto l-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse
for l0-l5 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. Tincture:
take l-4ml of the tincture three times a day.

Citations from the Medline database for the genus
Hypericum

St. John’s Wort Aizenman BIu [Antibiotic preparations from
Hypericum perforatum L]

Planta Medica 50:272-4, 1984