The Herb of St. John

It has been known as goatweed, klamath weed and tipton weed. It has a rich folkloric tradition and a history of use that began with the ancient Greeks and has continued to the present. It grows and is used throughout Europe, North America and elsewhere. It has been celebrated for its magical qualities and blasted as a "noxious weed." The herb is St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

St. John's wort ("wort" is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning herb) is named after John the Baptist. The red oil glands that dot the herb's leaves were once believed to be drops of blood, a reminder of the day the saint was beheaded. Some traditionalists believe that the best day to harvest St. John's herb is on June 24 - the Feast of St. John. Interestingly, that harvest date often does yield optimal potency in the herb.

A Hardy Immigrant

This shrubby perennial is found in dry soils, fields and sunny places. Though it was originally introduced to America from Europe, St. John's wort now thrives throughout much of eastern and pacific coastal North America. It's related to Rose of Sharon (Hypericum calycinum), a cultivated ornamental plant. St. John's wort has a pale brown stem and oblong leaves that grow in pairs. The leaves contain many translucent oil glands that look like holes (hence the species name perforatum, which describes the apparent perforations). The bright red color in these glands is produced by the pigment hypericin. The plant produces clusters of yellow flowers from June to September. Each of these flowers has five petals with black dots at the edges. These petals produce the same dark red pigment, hypericin, if you crush them between your fingers. The herb has a strong acrid flavor and an aroma reminiscent of turpentine.

Because it's relatively common and has been known to cause photosensitivity in grazing animals (this photosensitivity may in turn produce skin problems in animals who are exposed to extensive direct sunlight), St. John's wort is regarded among some ranchers and others as a nuisance and a noxious weed. Others cherish the colorful perennial, whose green leaves and bright yellow flowers make for a stunning splash of summer color. Those who cultivate the herb typically germinate and plant the seeds in early May or late April.

It is the bright red pigment, hypericin, that is regarded as the key constituent in St. John's wort, though there are dozens of other active constituents. Hypericin may be found throughout the plant, but is typically found in greatest concentration in the yellow flowers. Hypericin concentration is typically highest when the flower buds are full but not quite open. At Frontier Cooperative Herbs, we bring the plant in whole, then cut and sift it, using the potent flowering tops with a significant proportion of buds. We test the herb for the levels of hypericin, using HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). You can evaluate the quality of your St. John's wort without HPLC equipment by immersing the herb in olive oil (yielding a simple flower oil appropriate as a supportive skin dressing). As a rule of thumb, the redder the oil becomes, the more potent the herb.

A Magical Wort

St. John's wort has long been associated with magic, and it was regarded as having power over evil spirits. The genus name Hypericum is derived from two Greek words - hyper and eikon, meaning "over" and "apparition." Early Christians and pre-Christians saw power in the bright, sun yellow flowers and stamens - the power, as they saw it, to ward off encroaching darkness and evil apparitions. Herbalist, author and educator Rosemary Gladstar notes that in pre-Christian religious practices in England, St. John's wort was used in many of the ceremonies and rituals. Bringing the flowers into the house on mid-summers eve would protect against the evil eye; and sleeping with a sprig of the plant under one's pillow on St. John's Eve would ensure a vision of the saint and his blessing.

A Tradition of Healing

St. John's wort has been used as a health enhancer since the time of the ancient Greeks. It was favored by both Galen and Paracelsus, two of the great Greek healers and scientists, for purposes still employed today. Externally, the oil of St. John's wort may be used as a reinforcing balm for the skin. Internally, St. John's wort is a specific for the nervous system, and it is used to support nerve tissues throughout the body. The herb induces hypotension in blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow. It is often used by those who are experiencing high degrees of stress or mental burnout. It is also used as a general support to the nervous system. It is not generally appropriate for those who suffer from severe depression.

Caution: St. John's wort has been known to induce photosensitivity in grazing animals, particularly cattle, sheep, horses and goats. While its potential to induce similar photosensitivity in humans is not well documented, it is generally advisable, when using the herb internally, to keep the doses small. Furthermore, people who are consuming St. John's wort should avoid extended exposure to direct sunlight, since they may be more susceptible to sunburn, rashes and other skin conditions.

Conclusion

As a magical charm, a nurturing skin balm and a nervous system support, St. John's wort is the herb par excellence. The next step for us at Frontier in our relationship with this herb is to develop a good organic source that we can bring in direct from the grower and that meets our stringent quality targets. We've recently confirmed contracts with growers in South America and the western United States and are optimistic about purchasing an excellent crop this fall. We'll have more information for you soon about these new chapters of a story which has lasted for thousands of years.

You can also find extenxive information on the following herbs:

[ Up ] [ Cat's Claw ] [ Echinacea ] [ Ginkgo Biloba ] [ Ginseng ] [ Goldenseal ] [ Saw Palmetto ] [ St. John's Wort ]

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