ST JOHN’S WORT HERBAL MONOGRAPH
Botanical name: Hypericum perforatum.
Common name: St John’s Wort.
Family: Hypericaceae.
Description: A hardy, temperate perennial native to Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa. Grows 1 to 3 feet tall, with small, yellow, fine petaled flowers and deep green leaves. Prefers sunny, well-drained conditions to thrive. ‘Perforatum’ refers to the leaves tiny perforations that are actually oil glands which can be seen when viewed up close against the sun. The stems excrete a red/purple liquid known as “the blood of St John” and was historically used as a dye.
Parts used: The flowering tops including buds, flowers and leaves.
Energetics: Cooling, astringent.
Taste: Sweet, bitter.
Constituents: Tannins, glycosides, carotenoids, cumarine, pectin. volatile oils (including a-pinene, and cineole), anthraquinones, flavonoids (including hyperoside, quercetin and rutin), naphthodianthrones, carbolic acids, polycyclic diones and phloroglucins (hypericin, hyperforin).
Actions: Antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, astringent, calmative, diuretic, relaxant, digestive, neuroprotective, hepatic, alterative, nervine, sedative, trophorestorative, vulnerary.
Folklore and traditions: The name St. John’s Wort has its origin in Christian folk tradition. Named after St. John the Baptist, with flowers blooming around his birthday (in the Northern hemisphere) on June 24. Dioscorides, physician of Ancient Greece, and also Pliny and Hippocrates, recommended the herb for many conditions including sciatica and poisonous bites. St. John’s wort has a long history of use in traditional European herbal medicine, and continues to be, used as a topical treatment for wounds and burns, and as a as a remedy for liver, kidney, stomach & lung conditions. Hypericum was first noted as a remedy for melancholy and madness by Culpeper in 1652.
Traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits, with the Latin name Hypericum meaning ‘to place above the altar, picture or icon’ referring to the traditional use of placing these flowers above religious images for protection. St. John’s Wort embodies the radiant energy of the sun, rebirth, prosperity and life force energy. with flowers emerging on or around the Summer Solstice.
Medicinal uses: Depression: Since the time of the ancient Greeks, St Johgn’s Wort has been a renowned herbal remedy for mild to moderate depression, anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, obsessive- compulsive disorder, PMS and menopause symptoms. The constituent hyperforin in St. John’s wort has the ability to inhibit synaptosomal re-uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, resulting in increased concentrations of these neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft and enhancing neuronal activity. A ‘phase 3 clinical trial” was conducted with 375 people with major depression, demonstrating an increase in cortisol levels following administration, with safety & efficacy superior to a placebo. Also used to treat hyperactivity, nervous exhaustion and restlessness.
Pain & inflammation: As a topical muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory, St John’s Wort can ease pain, spasms and tension in nerves, muscles and joints. The analgesic properties help ease pain associated with sprains, strains & bruises, muscle and menstrual cramps, nerve damage, joint pain, sciatica, rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis.
Skin and wound healing: Rich in flavonoids, St John’s Wort infused oils are soothing & healing for minor wounds, burns, cuts, bruises, bites, burns including sunburn, surgical wounds, haemorrhoids, fissures & fistulas, varicose veins and vaginal tears from birth. As a powerful anti-viral, St. John’s Wort infused oil is a renowned topical remedy for herpes & shingles. Healing and hydrating properties reduce the symptoms of eczema such as itchiness and dry, flaky skin. Natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties benefit management of acne, and minimise scars due to its ability to regenerate skin cells and provide long lasting hydration. The active constituent Hyperforin in St John’s Wort has also been shown to have antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria and many different viruses.
GI tract: Due to it’s anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, St John’s Wort benefits the healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut, and for healing the digestive system after anorexia.
Anti-cancer benefits: The anti-tumour properties of St. John’s wort are attributed to hypericin, which is a powerful photosensitizer. Once taken up by tumour cells, hypericin reacts in the presence of oxygen, activating multiple apoptosis pathways that results in malignant cell death.
Liver detoxification: Because St. John’s wort is able to induce a liver detoxification enzyme (CYP3A4), it can lower drug and toxin levels in the blood. This is positive in most cases of liver cleansing, and has been utilised to treat drug (eg benzodiazepines) and alcohol detoxification and withdrawal symptoms successfully. See contraindications below.
Chakra: Solar plexus.
Astrological correspondence: Sun
Cautions & contraindications: St John’s Wort is such a strong hepatic (liver detoxifier and cleanser) it promotes the liver to rapidly flush out any drugs taken, making it contraindicated for internal use for anyone taking pharmaceutical drugs (especially life saving drugs, psychiatric medication or oral contraceptives). The main effect of concern is the interaction of St. John’s Wort with cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) enzymes and P-glycoprotein (P-gp). CYP450 is a group of liver enzymes that alter how some medications interact with the body. If you stimulate the function of these enzymes (as St. John’s Wort can), they will metabolize the drugs faster, reducing their therapeutic value. While St. John’s Wort is clearly involved in altering these two body processes (CYP450, P-gp), it is clinically unclear how much St. John’s Wort alters the effectiveness of a specific medication.
Anyone with photosensitivity or rosacea may experience exacerbated symptoms while taking St John’s Wort, as it is a skin photo-sensitizing agent. Cattle and sheep that eat the plant and exposed to direct sunlight can receive severe sunburns, though this reaction is uncommon in humans.
SHOP CALENDULA & ST. JOHN’S WORT HEALING BALM HERE.
SHOP HAPPINESS TEA WITH ST. JOHN’S WORT HERE.
References: Ayales, Adriana. The Herbal Astrology Oracle. Hay House, 2022.
Hardin, J & Rose, K. Materia Medica : Profiles & Uses of Herbs, 2016.
https://altmedrev.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/v9-3-318.pdf
https://mooncanyonhealing.com/blogs/news/st-johns-wort-monograph
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92750/
Sevensong https://7song.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Soft-Tissue-Injury-2024.pdf