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St. John's wort
Hypericum perforatum

This page contains information on St. John's wort and how it is used as a herb in alternative herbal treatments to treat ailments and problems, such as depression, to promote healing and reduce inflammation.

On this page

Botanical classification of St. John's wort
Description of St. John's wort
Parts used
Properties of St. John's wort
Internal use
External use
Use of essential oil
Safety precautions and warnings
Used in the following products
Herbal Index

Please note that we are not advocating that people stop using their normal medication, but would like to make people aware that some alternative therapies can be very effective to help treat problems and create a healthier, younger and more vital you. For more information on our range of products, please click here.

Although we believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of herbs, care must be taken in the use thereof, as they are powerful compounds.

Botanical Classification

Family	Guttiferae
Genus and specie	Hypericum perforatum

Other names

Hypericum, perforated St John's wort and common St John's wort.

Description of the herb St. John's wort

This much talked about herb is a bright cheerful plant with 5-petalled, gland-dotted yellow flowers.

Parts used

The dried flowering tops are normally used.

Properties

It is a bittersweet herb that has cooling and astringent properties, mostly used to calm the nerves, reduce inflammation and promote healing.

It contains phenolic compounds, terpenoids, hyperforim and hypericin.

Therapeutic uses

Internal use
- St. John's Wort is used internally for anxiety, mild to moderate depression, nervous tension, insomnia, menopausal disturbances, premenstrual syndrome, shingles, sciatica and fibrositis.
- It is also used to treat inflammation of the stomach and intestines and against internal worms.
- Not to be taken by people suffering from severe depression.
- It is also used in homeopathy for pain relief and to combat inflammation caused by nerve damage.
External use
- It is used locally for its anti-septic and analgesic effect on burns, bruises, sores and deep wounds with nerve damage, as well as sprains, tennis elbow and cramps.
Aromatherapy and essential oil use
- A macerated oil is normally made by steeping the dried material in a carrier oil such as wheatgerm or olive oil, and this macerated oil is then used to treat wounds and burns.

Safety precautions and warnings

St Johns wort should NOT be used in cases of severe depression, neither with a variety of other medicine such as oral contraceptives, warfarin, digoxin, anticonvulsants, theophylline, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, triptans, cyclosporin and with various anti-virals prescribed for HIV patients.

When used internally it may increase the effect of narcotics as well as some antidepressants.

Internal use of this herb at high dosage may result in skin sensitizing and phototoxicity when exposed to the sun, normally in fair skinned people, and due care should be taken.

Used in the following of our products

None.

Herbal index

To promote the interest and use of herbs and natural complementary health alternatives, we have included information on the following herbs.

Please note - although we discuss a wide variety of herbs, not all of them are used or sold by us.
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Information contained on this website is for general information purposes only and must not be used to treat or diagnose medical conditions, and all health problems must be referred to a health care professional. Statements made regarding the products, ingredients and general information have not been evaluated by the FDA, or any other health authority, and should not be seen as health claims.
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Our site was last updated on 3 March 2010.

St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum

Please note - although we discuss a wide variety of herbs, not all of them are used or sold by us.

St. John's wort
Hypericum perforatum