One summer, in Priest Lake, ID, while taking a break at work, I noticed this lovely yellow flower, that was in bloom all over the side of my work building. Then, while driving home, I noticed it growing in batches by the side of the road that goes to my home. Being new to Idaho, I looked in my field guide for wildflowers, and found the name of the flower. Hypericum Perforatum. AKA St. John’s Wort.
I love the name Hypericum Perforatum. It is fun to say and has a good rhythm while it rolls off the tongue. The name is derived from the Greek words hyper (above) and eikon (picture), in reference to the tradition of hanging plants over religious icons in the home during St John’s Day, to ward off evil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypericum_perforatum The common name “St John’s wort” comes from its traditional flowering and harvesting on St. John’s Day, 24 June.
At the time I only knew St. John’s Wort as a natural remedy for depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Having grown up in a northern latitude, I have unfortunately fallen victim from time to time to SAD’s, or depression. Upon further reading of the healing properties of the plant, I came to realize that it is also highly beneficial in helping reduce nerve pain, and traumatic muscle pain. These healing attributes were very intriguing to me as a massage therapist. I am constantly looking for remedies that will help people recover quickly from injury, or move forward from chronic pain. There are a few ways one can use St. John’s Wort. One can infuse plant parts in oil and later apply topically or take internally. One can steep plant parts in alcohol and make a tincture, or one steep and drink as a tea. You can also use it dried and take internally as a pill. I am a massage gal, so I began collecting the lovely plant parts in order to infuse my own healing oils.
Once the oil was infused I used sparingly and tested on my own body. I tested it on my hip. During the winter, I fell on the ice and landed on my left knee. The force of the fall jammed my leg into the hip socket and left some residual pain that came and went for about 9 months. I applied the oil once to hip and low and behold it worked! I woke up the next day and the ache was gone, and it has been another year since and I haven’t seen that same ache again. I was sold on the oil and began to do more research.
Here is what I have found in layman terms. Be careful with taking St. John’s Wort, it is a medicine. Use sparingly to test, and to treat. If you are on an anti-depressant, or any prescription medications, please consult with your doctor about taking St. John’s Wort. It helps to boost your serotonin levels, and if you end up with too much in your body, you can suffer from mania. Yes, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
You will find St. John’s Wort along the side of roads where it is dry and rocky. It likes to grow inside of other greenery, but will also grow alone in bunches of scrubby plants. Be careful to keep the plant essences off your hands if you decide to harvest it yourself and do your research!
You can find St. John’s Wort at Kiva Therapeutics Massage & Day Spa. We sell it mixed with Calendula Oil, and Castor Oil as our Trauma Oil. A great oil for your medicine cabinet. We also have bottles of pure St. John’s Wort available in our Apothecary.