St. John's Wort
Energetics:
Bitter, Cold, Dry, Sweet
Common Names:
St. John's Wort, Amber, Fendigedig, Goat Weed, Hardhay,
Herbe de la St. Jean, Klamath Weed, Johnswort,
Johannaskraut, St. Joan's Wort, St. John's Grass, Tipton
Weed, Qian Ceng Lou
Latin Name:
Hypericum perforatum
Family Name:
Hypericaceae - St. John's Wort family
Functions:
Alterative, anodyne, antibacterial, antidepressant,
anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent,
cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, sedative,
vulnerary
TCM Functions:
- Activates the Qi, releases constraint and relieves
pain
* Liver-Spleen disharmony, Liver Qi constraint with dysmenorrhea
* bedwetting, menstrual cramps, painful urination, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, fatigue - Transforms phlegm, dispels wind and stops spasms
* wind-phlegm channel obstruction with spasms, muscle tension, neuralgic pains - Transforms Heart phlegm-damp, restores the mind, and
relieves depression
* Heart phlegm-damp obstruction with depression, sleep disorders, psychosis - Stops bleeding and dispels wind-damp-heat in the skin
(topical & internal use)
* cold sores, herpes, chicken pox, skin rashes. - Reduces contusion, swelling, heat and pain (topical & internal use)
Therapeutics:
Used for AIDS/HIV, anxiety, cough, depression, diarrhea,
dysmenorrhea, fatigue, flu, gout, grief, herpes,
hydocephalus, incontenence, insomnia, irritability,
jaundice, menopause, neuralgia, rheumatism, SAD (Seasonal
Affective Disorder), ulcers and viral infections.
Notes:
Today, St. John's Wort is the primary drug or herb used in
Europe to treat mild depression and nervous tension. The
herb has been shown effective in numerous double-blind
studies to have both anti-depressant and sleep-regulating
functions. St. John's Wort initially was theorized to be
effective through selective serotonin uptake reinhibition,
like many of the popular antidepressants. This pathway has
been disproved, and my personal theory is that St. John's
Wort effects serotonin balance through adjusting the body's
sensitivity to light. Clinically, depression has also been
shown to be treated through increased exposure to natural
light sources. Clinically, we have also found St. John's
Wort an effective remedy for bedwetting in children,
especially when the children are undergoing stressful life
circumstances. One case in particular, involving a
Spinabifida child, saw significant improvement with urinary
incontinence on a low, regular dosage. Much to our
surprise, we have created a following of individuals that
keep an emergency bottle of St. John's Wort tincture handy,
for bruises, acne, hives, and many other miscellaneous
mishaps.
Tradition:
St. John's Wort blooms around the time of the summer
solstice, and in medieval Europe it was considered to have
powerful magical properties in the Wise Woman tradition. It
was a common remedy in the Middle Ages for the treatment of
"bad spirits". The name Saint John's Wort is also said to
be in honor of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem who
used this herb to treat battlefield wounds. A Native Indian
custom was to dry the plant and grind it into a meal, and
were also known to eat the fresh leaves for their soothing
effect.
UpS Alternatives:
Use St. John's Wort as an analog to endangered species
Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum) and endangered species Arnica
(Arnica sp.)
Contraindications:
Avoid in pregnancy due to its emmenagogue and abortifacient
effects. St. John's Wort has anecdotal evidence of causing
photosensitivity in light-skinned individuals. St. John's
Wort has had numerous medical studies showing that it can
interfere with western pharmaceutical drugs through
increasing the liver's metabolism of the pharmaceuticals.
Caution and supervision by a medical professional should be
obtained if taking this herb concurrently with
pharmaceuticals. An interesting addendum to the discussion
of contraindications is that the majority of the major
negative research against St. John's Wort was paid for by
pharmaceutical companies who manufacture
anti-depressants.
Purchase Divine Farmer™ St. John's Wort at:
