St. John’s Wort

St. John’s wort shows great promise as an antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent and is being researched for its potential benefit to AIDS patients. It has long been used as a remedy for uterine cramping, mild depression, bedwetting, and anxiety. St. John’s wort is used internally and externally for pain relief. One of its main active ingredients, hypericin, is a strong anti-inflammatory and can penetrate through the skin if applied locally as an oil. This warming and soothing oil is used externally for wounds, nerve pain, trauma due to tension or accidents, and burns. The oil or tincture applied locally is one of the most effective remedies available to help reduce the redness and itching of poison oak rashes and quickly reduce the pain of a scrape or burn.
Herbalists always think of St. John’s wort for healing nerve trauma due to injury or chronic disease. Modern research from Europe has shown the whole plant extract to be as effective as a popularly prescribed drug for mild depression.
To make an oil, grind enough fresh flowering tops (traditionally harvested on St. John’s day–June 24th) to nearly fill a given quantity of olive oil. Wait for 2 weeks, strain and filter the oil, bottle for use. A traditional way of making the oil and effectively increasing the intensity of its red color is to make the infusion in the direct sun.

St. John’s Wort has a taste of BITTER, SWEET and a temperature of COOL.