Saint Johns Wort overview

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aka Goat weed, Tipton weed, Klamath weed Hypericum perforatum Family: HYPERICACEAE St John's wort [1] is one of our favourite herbs that we use to effectively treat Depression. I have clients who have in the past been addicted to antidepressant drugs which gave them terrible side effects and now religiously contact me once a month to purchase their Natural antidepressant herbal St John's Wort tea and have achieved outstanding personal peace and calm.

St John's wort is also a major component in ourBlues Buster herbal tea and tincture.

These clients claim that since being on St John's wort tea and the Blues Buster herbal tincture they can function easily even in their busy scheduled lives without having any side-effects as long as they only drink 3 cups per day and take the tincture as directed.

Saint Johns Wort uses

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Long associated with magic, St Johns Wort is now better known for its natural, side-effect-free antidepressant properties

St Johns Wort bush in flower at Middle Path

Some people if they take too much St John's Wort may develop sun-sensitivity, increased blood pressure, nausea, headaches or a stiff neck. It is advised to only take St John's Wort as directed by a competent Natural Health Practitioner.

My experience personally with St John's Wort is that it increases my appetite which shows me it stimulates digestion and bile and is great as I usually do not have much of an appetite so it helps with me digesting my food quicker.

Medicinal Uses ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

After pain Anemia Anorexia Anxiety Bed Wetting Blood Purifier Brain Breast Milk (Increase) Breast Tumours Bruises Burns Cancer Chilblains Childbirth after pain Circulation Congestion Cough Deafness Depression Digestion Diarrhoea Eczema

Flatulence Fluid Retention Gall Bladder Gastric Problems Gout Heart strengthener Heartburn Haemorrhage Hemorrhoids Herpes Inflamed Lymph nodes Insect Bites Jaundice Kidney Disorders Lack of Appetite Liver Disorders Lungs Menstruation (increased) Mucus Problems Nervous Disorders Nerve Ending repair Nerve Pain

Neuralgia Pain Killer Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Obsessive compulsive disorder Pregnancy tonic Restlessness Rheumatism Ringworm Sciatica Skin Problems Social phobia Stress Tonic Ulcers Urinary Disorders Varicose veins compress Water Retention Worms Wounds Wards off Plague

  Contra-indications:  Avoid when pregnant or on antidepressant or prescription drugs.

Saint Johns Wort actions

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a St Johns Wort flower

We have St John's wort growing at Middle Path and it has the most delightful yellow five petalled star shaped flowers and lush green leaves which we pick for herbal tea.

Modern scientific research has found that St John's wort has powerful properties, including concentrations of immune enhancing flavonoids and antiviral action against HIV and Epstein Bar virus.

One in four individuals in modern western society are on some form of antidepressant drug. I suppose you could say that, in itself, is quite depressing. Yet in Germany St John's Wort which is a herbal antidepressant outsells Prozac five to one. Well done Germany!

For centuries St John's wort was known as having the power to ward off evil spirits and the branches were hung over doorways or strung around a person's neck to drive out devils and evil spirits. Disturbed people where often made to drink St John's Wort tea to cast out evil spirits.

Major medicinal actions of Saint Johns Wort^[11]

St Johns Wort Tincture

analgesic anesthetic anthelmintic antiaging antibacterial antibiotic anticancer antidepressant antidiabetic antihypertensive antiinflammatory antileukemic antimalarial antioxidant

antipyretic antirheumatic antiseptic antispasmodic antitumor antitussive antiviral ascorbic-acid cardiotonic carotene choleretic choline cosmetic demulcent

detoxicant diaphoretic diuretic dye emetic expectorant fungicidal hypotensive laxative saponin sedative vulnerary

That is a lot of health-maintaining activity in just one plant.

However there is more - here are other actions attributed to the constituents found in Saint Johns Wort. Of course not all of these are considered major actions of Saint Johns Wort, however the list does demonstrate just how comprehensive Saint Johns Wort’s health maintaining abilities are.

Other actions of Saint Johns Wort^[11]

acidulant allergenic antiacne antiaggregant antiallergic antialzheimeran antianaphylactic antiandrogenic antiangiogenic antiarrhythmic antiarthritic antiasthmatic antiatherogenic antiatherosclerotic anticariogenic anticataract anticold anticolitic anticonvulsant anticystitic antidementia antidermatitic antidiarrheic antidote antieczemic antiedemic antielastase antiencephalitic antiendometriotic antiestrogenic antifatigue antiflu antigallstone antigingivitic antiglaucomic antihangover antihemorrhagic antihepatitic antihepatotoxic antiherpetic antihistaminic antihiv antiinfertility antiischemic antilupus antilyme

antimaculitic antimenopausal antimetastatic antimigraine antimutagenic antinephritic antineuramidase antinociceptive antiobesity antiorchitic antiosteoarthritic antipancreatitic antiparkinsonian antiperiodontal antiperistaltic antipermeability antipharyngitic antiplaque antiplasmodial antipneumonic antipoliomyelitic antipsoriac antiradicular antirhinitic antiscorbutic antishingles antistaphylococcic antistress antisunburn antithrombic antithyroid antiulcer beta-adrenergic beta-glucuronidase-inhibitor bradycardiac calcium-antagonist calmodulin-antagonist camp-phosphodiesterase-inhibitor cancer-preventive candidicide carcinogenic cardioprotective catabolic chemopreventive cold-preventive collagenic

colorant comt-inhibitor cyclooxygenase-inhibitor cytoprotective cytotoxic deiodinase-inhibitor deodorant estrogenic flatugenic hemolytic hemostat hepatoprotective hepatotropic hypercholesterolemic hypertensive hypocholesterolemic hypoglycemic immunomodulator immunostimulant insectifuge irritant lipoxygenase-inhibitor lithogenic lubricant metal-chelator metalloproteinase-inhibitor mucolytic mutagenic myorelaxant nematicide neuroprotective pesticide proliferant prooxidant protein-kinase-c-inhibitor protisticide teratologic tumorigenic tyrosinase-inhibitor uricosuric vasodilator vasopressor xanthine-oxidase-inhibitor

Saint Johns Wort constituents

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Constituents in St John's Wort are: essential oil containing hypericin, methyls, limonene, myrcene, caryphyllene; flavonoids, tannin, resin, nicotinic acid, amino acids Actions: antiviral, antidepressant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, sedative, astringent, analgesic, expectorant, nervine, antibiotic, antiseptic, tonic, vulnerary, cholagogue, preservative ^[6] .

St John's wort is rich in Carotene Vitamin A and C.

St John's wort helps in cases of severe depression, anxiety, bad mood swings, stress, worry, bipolar and Seasonal Affective Disorder syndrome (SAD) and is an all round tonic for many ailments.

Active constituents found in Saint Johns Wort^[11]

St Johns Wort Tincture	ascorbic-acid ( Plant 1,300 ppm ) cadinene cadmium ( Leaf 1 - 7 ppm ) caryophyllene chlorophyll choline epicatechin hyperforin hyperin hyperoside imanin isoquercitrin limonene lutein mannitol ( Plant 11,000 - 20,000 ppm )
myrcene myristic-acid n-decanal palmitic-acid pectin phenol phloroglucinol phytosterols pinene pseudohypericin pyrogallol quercetin quercitrin rutin stearic-acid tannins ( Flower 162,000 ppm )	St Johns Wort tea

Saint Johns Wort tea

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Saint Johns Wort tea

Why choose a Herbal Tea?

Plants produce a vast range of substances - phyto-chemical s - which are very beneficial in restoring and maintaining health in we humans without side-effects. We believe that they are perfectly suited to preventative and curative health care because they are natural and harmonious to our bodies.

If you do not have fresh Saint Johns Wort nearby or are not confident you can identify Saint Johns Wort then dried material is the next best way to obtain their beneficial influence.

How long will Saint Johns Wort tea keep it's potency?

Stored properly - in an air-tight glass container away from direct sunlight - Saint Johns Wort tea will keep for up to 18 months without losing it's potency. If you are dealing with the onset of a severe condition we suggest it may be worth purchasing fresh material to have complete confidence in its healing potency.

When should I drink my Tea?

For best absorption, consume herbal teas 30 minutes or more before meals or drinking other liquids to avoid diluting it while it is in your digestive tract.

Caring for your Saint Johns Wort herbal tea

If you don't plan on using the tea immediately, it's best to keep it unopened and away from direct sunlight (in a closed cupboard or drawer). Exposed to the air it may absorb moisture and humidity, so if they are opened, reseal them tightly, or (preferably) put it in a glass jars with a tight-fitting lid (avoid metal containers).

Most will never require refrigeration or freezing - just keep them at average room temperature (70-80 degrees). Generally, the "shelf-life" for optimum freshness will be about a year if stored properly.

If you live in a warm, high humidity area, it may be impossible to keep moisture out of regularly opened and closed glass containers, and the plants may become mouldy. If this happens, discard them and purchase fresh ones. To prevent mould, try storing them in paper lunch bags so they can “breathe” (although this will reduce the shelf-life significantly).

Making an Infusion

pour a cup after it has infused

Preparing an infusion is just like making a cup of tea but allowing more time for the water to absorb the Saint Johns Wort essence.

Pour boiling water over the tea (use a glass, stainless steel or ceramic vessel), cover it and allow to soak/steep for 20 minutes or so. Stirring it a few times while steeping is helpful - and is an ideal opportunity to focus your mind on the benefits it will bring to you.

Generally use 1 teaspoon of dried Saint Johns Wort in a 250ml cup of water is sufficient. The standard dosage is one teacup (250ml), two or three times daily.

For convenience, your entire day's dosage can be prepared at night (2-3 cups at one time) and left overnight and then refrigerated for use throughout the day. You can drink it cold or heat it if you want it warm.

Making a Decoction

Because some tea (with bark, stems or roots in them) contains tough, woody material, a decoction is the recommended method for making your medicine.

Instead of just soaking it in hot water, the plant material is boiled for a longer period of time to soften the thicker woody pieces and release its active constituents.

Use a ceramic, glass or enamel pot with a snug fitting lid, if you don't have one then a stainless steel pot is good but definitely not aluminium or teflon.

Add the amount of herb needed (1 teaspoon per 250ml of water) to the proper amount of cold water in the pot depending on how many doses you wish to prepare.

Turn the heat to medium high and bring to a vigorous boil then put the lid on the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle but cheerful simmer for 20 minutes.

If you can see steam escaping or smell the aroma of the herb, your lid is not tight enough and valuable essential oils may be escaping.

After 20 minutes, remove from heat and cool slightly, for maximum potency we encourage you to let it stand overnight.

Strain the mixture through a tea strainer into a wide-necked bottle, jug or cup, making sure to press on the material in the strainer with a spoon or similar to get as much of the liquid/decoction out of the material as possible.

Standard dosages for decoction are generally one-half to one cup, two or three times daily.

A day's dosage can be prepared the prior evening (2-3 cups at one time), allowed to continue to soak while it cools overnight to ensure maximum potency and refrigerated until ready to use throughout the next day.

Saint Johns Wort tincture

tincture Quantity: 50ml for AUD$50.00 postage extra

Is it Safe for me to take Saint Johns Wort Tincture?

If you have any concerns or apprehensions please use our free Herbal Tincture enquiry service so that we can make sure that what you want is completely safe for your situation or condition.

We especially encourage you to get in touch if you have any of the following health problems or conditions:

An enlarged prostate gland Are preganant or breast-feeding Blood clotting problems Cancer Diabetes

Epilepsy Glaucoma Heart disease High blood pressure Immune system problems

Liver problems Psychiatric problems Parkinson's disease Stroke Thyroid problems

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You have two options when you purchase Saint Johns Wort tincture:

1. For external use which you can apply externally to the soles of your feet or topically on an external condition - you can purchase these without a consultation.
2. For internal use. If you wish to take it internally because of the potency of these tinctures you need to be sure they will not cause complications with an existing health condition or prescribed drugs you may be taking.

Saint Johns Wort tincture

If you are in any doubt about the possibility Saint Johns Wort tincture causing complications with prescription drugs or a medical condition you may have please get in touch so that we can advise you on the suitability of a particular tincture.

Especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

You can have an online consultation or visit our clinic for a thorough consultation if you wish to purchase our potent tinctures for internal use.

There are fewer concerns when using Saint Johns Wort tincture externally and our many years of experience has shown that the tincture is just as effective being applied into the soles of the feet or applied topically on external conditions where they will be absorbed into your system.

Our clients who have come for a consultation use the same tincture internally and we recommend they take half an eyedropper (about 1.5ml) of herbal tincture in a small glass of water three times per day for adults and a quarter of an eyedropper in a small glass of water for children.

Saint Johns Wort tincture is a potent liquid extract made from organic Saint Johns Wort. It is a concentrated way of getting herbal medicine into your body easily especially applying them to the soles of your feet. Once a tincture is prepared, it has an extremely long shelf life. Tinctures should be kept in a cool, dark cupboard to maintain their potency.

If you are on any prescribed medication we strongly advise you to use our free Herbal Tincture enquiry service to make sure that the medication and potent Saint Johns Wort tincture are compatible.

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making medicine for internal use

How to Use Saint Johns Wort Tincture internally

How do I prepare my Saint Johns Wort Tincture?

Just add the recommended dosage - which is usually 1.5ml or one eyedropperfull - to a glass of drinking water or any other cold drink.

Then drink it.

When should I drink my Saint Johns Wort Tincture?

For best absorption, consume herbal tinctures 30 minutes or more before meals or drinking other liquids to avoid diluting it while it is in your digestive tract.

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How to Use our Tinctures externally

how to apply a tincture to the soles of your feet

If you are treating an external condition - such as a skin infection - then simply apply the tincture directly to the site using the eyedropper or a suitable swab.

If you are treating an internal condition then the best way to get the tincture into your body is through the soles of your feet. The skin is a highly absorptive organ and the feet have the reflexology facility which helps get the healing properties of the herbs right to the place inside you where they will do the most good.

If you don't have someone to do it for you, the easiest way we've found is to apply it sitting down. Rest one foot on your other leg's thigh (use a towel to make sure the tincture doesn't drip on your furniture or clothes), squirt a small amount of tincture onto the palm of one hand (about 1.5ml or half an eyedropper), rub it gently into the sole of your foot. In most cases you will find it has been absorbed within 30 seconds or so - you'll know when your foot feels dry. Then do the same to your other foot and the treatment is complete.

Saint Johns Wort history

a St Johns Wort botanical illustration

St John's wort is native to Europe but is now found in many countries including temperate and subtropical regions of North America, Europe, Turkey, Russia, India, China, Brazil and Australia.

Legend dating back to the Middle Ages tells that the plant sprang up from the blood of John the Baptist when he was beheaded.

The Greeks gave it the name Hipericon which indicated that the smell was strong enough to drive off evil spirits and to purify the air.

from the Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism:

Hypericum perforatumL HYPERICACEAE Common St John's Wort St John's Wort has been closely associated with supposed magical properties since the Greeks gave it the name hypericon. This indicated that the smell was strong enough to drive away evil spirits, and it was believed to purify the air. The oil glands when crushed certainly release a balsamic odour similar to incense. In addition the yellow flowers turn red when crushed due to the release of the red fluorescent pigment hypericine - and this was undoubtedly an important factor in the development of the folklore which surrounds the herb - red signifying, of course, blood. As St John was beheaded, and the herb is in full flower on St John's Day (24 June), it became known as herba Sancti loannis and, later, as St John's Wort - the herb of St John. Besides the magical attributes which predate Christianity, Hypericum has real and effective medicinal properties and it is still widely used in European folk medicine. Description Perennial; rapidly spreading from many long runners produced at the base. Stem erect with 2 raised edges along its length, branched at the top, reaching 30-60 cm ; bearing oblong or linear leaves 1.5-3 cm long, opposite, entire, glabrous, and marked with numerous translucent oil spots. Flowers 2-3 cm wide, yellow, consisting of 5 petals dotted with small black oil glands, and carried on many flowered terminal cymes, appearing late summer to mid-autumn. Distribution Native to temperate zones of Europe' and western Asia; naturalized in the Americas and Australasia. In open situations, on semi-dry soils of various sorts, but particularly calcareous soils. Cultivation Wild plant. May be propagated by division in autumn, and efforts are being made to cultivate it commercially. Constituents Volatile oil, called red oil; resin ; a red pigmented glycoside, hypericine; a poly-phenolic flavonoid, hyperoside ; tannin (8-9% in the whole herb and 16% in the flower) ; carotene; vitamin C. Uses (fresh or dried flowering plant, fresh flower, fresh leaves) Vulnerary; weakly diuretic; sedative; antiinflammatory; antidiarrhoeic ; cholagogue; antidepressant; antiviral; antibiotic ; astringent. Contra- indications Avoid when pregnant or on antidepressant or prescription drugs Many virtues have been ascribed to this plant ranging from the antipyretic and anthelmintic properties reported by the most ancient writers, to modern suggestions of antiviral activity. Certainly when taken internally the herb stimulates both gastric and bile secretions, and is effective in irregular menstruation. It has been shown to improve the blood circulation and to be of use in some conditions characterized by neurosis and disturbed sleep patterns. It is one of the most effective agents for assisting in the healing of wounds or burns when applied externally, especially where nervous tissue has been damaged; it is also applied to haemorrhoids and bruises. The plant contains an antibiotic which has been patented as a possible food preservative. Leaves once used as a salad herb. An alcoholic extract of the flowers dyes silk and wool a violet-red, but does not colour cotton. Contra-indications If eaten by light-skinned animals, the herb may cause photosensitization, leading to swelling of the face, generalized skin irritation of unpigmented areas, and possible death.

Saint Johns Wort cultivation

St Johns Wort bush in full flower

There are approximately 370 species of the genus Hypericum which exist worldwide ^[13] .

You can propagate St John's wort by seed, cuttings or division of roots and it can be grown in full sun or part shade.

St. John's Wort prefers well-drained soils and thrives in temperate climates.

As usual there is a widespread attitude that the plant is worthless in official agricultural circles (eg St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) was brought to Australia in 1875 as a garden plant and is now a serious weed on the tablelands and slopes of New South Wales^[14].

Our experience is that, while the plant is hardy and an obvious survivor it has shown no signs of wanting to spread agressively. It is obviously a potential cash crop where it grows freely but as has been said often enough, when it comes to appreciating nature's bounty, attitude is all.

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