Saint Johns Wort
Hypericum perforatum
History: St. John's Wort is historically used by Greeks, Romans, and early Christians to banish evil, demons, and witchcraft. However, is was also known to ancient for its ability to heal bruises and wounds quickly. Later, St. John's Wort was used as a agent calming agent combat depression and anxiety. Once it was transplanted to North America, Natives used the plant for reptile bites, cramps, or superficial wounds.
Modern Use: the Commission E approved the internal use of St. John's wort for psychovegetative (psychoautonomic) disturbances, depressive moods, anxiety, and nervous unrest. Oily Hypericum preparations are approved for dyspeptic complaints. External use of oily preparations of St. John's wort is approved for treatment and post-therapy of acute and contused injuries, myalgia, and first-degree burns.
ESCOP indicates its use for mild to moderate depressive states, restlessness, anxiety, and irritability (ESCOP, 1997). The German Standard License for St. John's wort tea lists it for nervous excitement and sleep disturbances (Wichtl and Bisset, 1994). With the exception of its antiviral use, other modern applications date back two thousand years (Hobbs, 1990).
Warning: The active ingredients in St. John’s wort can be deactivated by light. That’s why you will find many products packaged in amber containers. The amber helps, but it doesn’t offer total protection against the adverse effects of light
Uses: Depression, anxiety, tiredness, loss of appetite and trouble sleeping.
Active Ingredients: naphthodianthrones hypericin and pseudohypericin, flavonoids, phloroglucinols hyperforin and adhyperforin
Actions: Nervine tonic, sedative, analgesic, vulnerary, astringent