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St. John's wort

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

St. John'swort is a perennial, upright, branched plant with a stem that grows 20 to 100 cm high. In contrast to other Hypericum species, the stems of St. John's wort have two longitudinal edges and leaves that appear perforated in translucent light. The golden-yellow, asymmetrical flowers stand out due to their numerous, long stamens and form racemose umbels. When the fresh flowers are crushed, a dark red dye is released. The St. John's wort oil obtained from the fresh flowers and the branch tips (herb) harvested and dried shortly before flowering are used medicinally. Around June 24th, St. John's Day and the longest day of the year, St. John's wort is in full bloom. The red dye released when the fresh flowers are crushed is said to symbolize the blood of Christ. The herb is not only associated with the sun because of its golden yellow flowers, in the Middle Ages it was even believed to be able to drive out the devil and all evil. St. John's wort has been used as a medicinal plant for around 2000 years, initially mainly as a wound treatment.

Where does the name come from?

The name Hypericum was taken from Dioscorides, who knew the plant under the name Hypericon. The Latin word perforatum means perforated and refers to the perforated appearance of the leaves when viewed against the light. This appearance is due to the secretion containers filled with highly refractive oils. The name St. John's wort refers to St. John's Day, the birthday of John the Baptist.

Where can St. John's wort help?

Extracts made from St. John's wort are used to treat mild to moderate depression with good results and excellent tolerability. Nervousness, sleep disorders, low mood and psychovegetative symptoms (physical and nervous complaints without an organic cause, e.g. irritability, stomach, head or back pain, heart complaints), which often occur in conjunction with depression, are also improved. But it is also used for nervous complaints, cramps, viral infections, wounds, gastritis, stomach ulcers, neuralgia and as a liver and gall bladder tonic. Although St. John's wort has been used medicinally for over 2000 years, its use as an antidepressant has only been known since the middle of the century before last. In 1896, Erna M. Zimmer wrote in her "Herbal Blessing" that this herb from sympathetic medicine "grows especially where people are lonely and left to their own devices". However, the effect only occurs gradually, so that success can only be judged after a treatment of about 4 weeks. Synergistic effects of several ingredients of the total extract are considered to be an effective principle. The St. John's wort oil obtained from the fresh flowers has a different composition and is primarily used externally to treat minor injuries.

Application of St. John's wort

  • stabilizing in cases of stress, grief and other emotional burdens
  • for psycho-vegetative complaints (e.g. back pain, headaches, sleep disorders, etc.)
  • does not make you tired
  • is not addictive

St. John's wort as an oil

essential oil and catechin tannins. The content of individual ingredients is highly dependent on the stage of development of the plant and exposure to light. For example, the hypericin content is highest in the flowers and buds, whereas the hyperforin content is highest in the ripe fruits. St. John's wort oil (red oil), which is obtained by extracting the flowers with fatty oils (olive, sunflower or wheat germ oil), is traditionally used externally to treat wounds, minor burns. skin inflammations and blunt injuries. Taken internally, it is said to help with digestive problems. However, its effectiveness has not been proven. Oil hypericins, which form during production in the presence of light and water, are thought to be responsible for the bright ruby red color.

Use of St. John's wort oil

  • Burns, injuries, dermatitis
  • Internally: digestive complaints

References

  1. Aldo Poletti; Prof. Dr. Heinz Schilcher; Dr. Alfred Müller: HEILKRÄFTIGE PFLANZEN, Walter Hädecke Verlag, (1982). ISBN 3-7750-0104-2
  2. Prof. Dr. Hans Flück: Our medicinal plants, Ott-Verlag, Thun 1941.
  3. Lexikon der Arzeipflanzen und Drogen; Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg.
  4. Prof. Dr. Heinz Schilcher: Kleines Heilkräuter-Lexikon; Walter Hädecke Verlag, 1999; ISBN 3-7750-0316-9.
  5. Jaques De Sloover, Martine Goossens: Wildpflanzen (Gewürzkräuter und Heilpflanzen); Benziger Verlag, 1982; ISBN 3 545 34025 2. 6. M. Pahlow: Das grosse Buch der Heilpflanzen; Bechtermünz Verlag 2002; ISBN 3-8289-1839-5.