St. Joan's Wort

Common Names: Goat Weed, Allheal, Herba John, Tipton Weed

Botanical Name: Hypericum perforatum, H. formosum

Plant Family: Hypericaceae, Saint John’s Wort Family

Parts Used: Herb

Actions: Sedative, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antidepressant (Systems affected: Liver, Nervous System)

Habitat & Identification: Oh my, how often do I see this plant in the summer time, shining its vibrant yellow flowers along highways and country roads? Or photos of St. Joan posted as a NOXIOUS WEED at Native Plant Society booths… St. Joan’s Wort is the perfect example of a valuable weed that has a horrible reputation. It produces numerous seeds and when dispersed, this plant can grow in a diverse range of soils (or it grows from a creeping mass of rootstock). It prefers full sun and can be quite drought tolerant… hence it loves trails and roadsides. This erect plant grows about 2-3 feet tall and blooms numerous 5-petaled, yellow flowers with tiny black dots on its sepals and petals. When held up to the sun, the tiny leaves appear perforated with needles. These tiny holes are actually transparent oil glands.

Collection: The flowers bloom in early-mid-summer. Harvest the flowers (and some leaves) as the plant begins to bloom. This can be anywhere between June and August (depending on elevation and North or South facing slopes). Hypericin is found in the flowers of the plant, hence it holds a significant amount of this plants medicine. However, the whole aerial plant has other important constituents that help with other ailments.

The black/transparent "holes" of the "perforated" leaves.

The black/transparent "holes" of the "perforated" leaves.

 

St. Joan's Wort Medicine:

St. Joan’s Wort has a bad reputation as a noxious weed and it also has a lot going against it in terms of Western Medicine. I listed pharmaceutical medicines that should not be taken with this herb towards the end of this post. And I am recommending that people learn about this herb (and all herbs) before taking them or being recommended to take them by any one person. Understand what you are putting into your body before doing so. Take responsibility for your health. That way herbs (hopefully) will not continue to get a bad rep. such as our green ally St. Joan’s Wort. I have seen people walk in fear as soon as they saw a bottle of St. John’s Wort Olive Oil… Herbs are not here to kill you; they are here to help if you use them in the right way. Here’s some wonderful things that St. Joan’s Wort offers us:

 

Depression/Frustration

The idea of taking St. Joan’s Wort for severe depression has no use for people with bipolar depression or clinically diagnosed state of depression. Instead, it can help a person in a rut or temporarily unmotivated and frustrated. It has also helped those stuck in a state of darkness (literally and figuratively) … Seasonal Affected Disorder is a big phenomenon here on the west side of the Cascades, and living in a grey, wet, gloomy environment can really bring a person down. St. John’s Wort’s hypericin content can help bring sun to a person with “a dark view of life”. And I must include Michael Moore’s suggestion that “…this is also the time to check your diet, do some walking, go to church, throw the I Ching, or read some of the 1,200 pounds of books on emotional self-help to be found in the bookstore at your local mall.”

 

Muscle & Nerve Pain

St. Joan’s Wort has an affinity for the nervous system. It can work with the central nervous system’s emotions of angst, frustration and depression as well as the sharp, shooting nerve pain. In my experience, St. Joan’s Wort has soothed any burning, sharp sciatic pain. The herbal infused oil can help relieve sciatica, neuralgia, sprains and cramps. Combined with Arnica and Balm of Gilead, an oil with the three herbs can help both nerve and muscle pain… this has helped me immensely when I get sciatica from long distance running and also when I had a spinal injury…

 

Abrasions, Burns & Vericose Veins

The infused oil helps reduce inflammation, pain and broken veins. It stimulates granulation, capillary regeneration and has antibacterial effects. St. John’s Wort can be found in many European ointments made for varicose veins and burns. St. John’s Wort is also considered a vulnerary. It can help heal wounds, bruises, burns and scars.

 

Cold Sores

Have you ever gotten herpes when you were calm and balanced? What about when your schedule is a little bit hectic and you are little bit stressed? The herpes virus lives in nerve cells. Hence, when our nervous system is out of whack, we show symptoms. St. John’s Wort can be taken internally and/or applied externally to help relieve herpes outbreaks. St. John’s Wort is also used by herbalists for the nerve virus, shingles (just don’t add any cooling/heating essential oils).

 

Other Uses for St. Joan’s Wort: Liver Stagnation and Diuretic

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Studies have been done with light-skinned livestock whom ingested St. Joan’s Wort and developed welts and rashes on their skin. Following this study, the FDA and other conservative medical establishments stated that taking St. Joan’s Wort internally will result in photosensitization. There have been no reports of human photodermitis nor photosensitivity from ingestion of this plant. However, the plant does contain phototoxins which can create photosensitivity reactions (severe sunburns) in fair-skinned persons when taking this herb. Yet, oddly enough applying this externally has proven to be a mild sunscreen. 

 

St. John’s Wort is an MAO inhibitor and interacts badly with fermented foods and beverages (wines, beer, etc.), pickled food and cheese. It also should be avoided wherever pharmaceutically appropriate…

Pharmaceutical drugs that are effected by St. John’s Wort

(according to The Botanical Safety Handbook):

Immunosuppressant

Anticoagulants

Antiarrhythmic

Anti-anginals

Anxiolytics

Antidepressants

Antivirals

Anticancer drugs (chemotherapies)

Antiulcer agents

Antifungals

Anticonvulsants

Antihistamines

Beta-adrenergic blockers

Calcium channel blockers

Hypoglycemic

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

Statins

 

If you are planning on having surgery, western medicine does not allow for this plant to be consumed within a certain amount of time prior to surgery.

 

Photos by Rachael WItt

Photos by Rachael WItt

 

Plant Preparations: Oil and Tincture

I wouldn’t bother drying this plant out because it loses so much of its strong medicine!

 

VERICOSE VEIN/HEMORRHOID OIL:

  • 1 oz. St John’s Wort oil

  • 8 drops each essential oils: chamomile, palma rosa and cypress.

Combine ingredients and apply externally

 

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St. Joan’s Wort Oil:

Harvest about 2 cups of FRESH flowers (for for larger jars).

Chop flowers and add to a pint jar.

To make the oil, cover the flowers with good, cold-pressed olive oil (about 2 cups).

Pour enough oil to fill jar and completely submerge flowers. Use a chopstick or clean utensil to stir herb and push everything under the oil.

Cover jar with coffee filter and a rubber band (or something similar).

Leave the covered preparation in the sun (ideally with warm, summer heat, or on a window ledge wiht complete sunlight). Stir herb everyday making sure it stays below oil.

Leave oil in sunny location for 7-10 days, then cover with jar lid and store in warm place inside home.

Infuse oil for twenty-one days or until it becomes a rich red.

Strain oil with a cheese cloth (this might happen two times- as a rich residue settles to the bottom by the second day- pour oil until residue, then discard bottom residue).

Store in cool, dark place.

All of St. Joan’s Wort infusions should turn a deep red color

 

References:

Botanical Safety Handbook by AHPA

Herbal Medicine by Rudolf Fritz Weiss

Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore

Herbalpedia by The Herb Growing & Marketing Network (Maureen Rogers)

Herbs for Health and Healing by Kathi Keville

Featured Herb: St. John’s Wort by Rosalee de la Forêt

Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and Mackinnon

 

Elecampane

Common Names: Scabwort, Elf dock, Horseheal

Botanical Name: Inula helenium

Plant Family: Asteraceae, Composite Family

Parts Used: Root

Actions: Tonic, carminative, expectorant, diuretic, antiseptic, astringent, stimulant, vermifuge (Systems affected: Lungs, Spleen, Stomach)

Habitat: This large leaf plant grows well in full-partial sun within the garden. It can grow up to 8-10 ft. tall and puts on beautiful yellow blooming flowers. Occasionally I will see this plant growing along roadsides or at the edge of pastures, however, it is most commonly grown in gardens.

Collection: The roots grow deep and horizontally, so harvest accordingly. I prefer to harvest the roots in the Fall, however, if you miss that opportunity, harvest Elecampane roots in the early Spring before the plant puts energy into growing leaves.

 

Elecampane Medicine:

Deep Lung & Coughs

Elecampane tightens and tones stagnant, damp tissues. It stimulates movement of secretions when everything feels stuck and thickening. Lets just say, Elecampane cuts through the crud. Deep lung congestion that sticks around and pools at the base of your airways can be removed with the help of Elecampane. Since the root is a stimulating expectorant it encourages the flow of mucus. For those who suffer from bronchitis or the lingering deep lung congestion & cough (a common issue west of the Cascades), elecampane helps release the stagnant, stuck mucus, replacing it with healthy mucus and also fighting further bacteria outbreaks. Elecampane is antimicrobial, hence it helps kill any further infection.

 

Respiratory Complaints

Cough, lung congestion, swollen lymph nodes, post nasal drip… you name, elecampane stimulates flow; out with the bad, in with the good. The roots can be used for swollen lymph glands of the throat and also upper respiratory issues. It helps with sinus issues such as post nasal drip and congestion. Did I mention that elecampane can also help reduce symptoms of asthma? Yes, this stimulating expectorant helps damp respiratory issues.

 

Digestive Weakness

Elecampane supports healthy gut flora through its warming, carminative properties. When harvesting a root take a deep breath. Smell the strong, bitter-sweet aromas of this root. Make a decoction with the dried root and taste the bitter yet sweet and pungent flavors in your cup. The high inulin content within elecampane (making for a sensory experience) passes through our upper GI tract to our colon where its utilized by our gut bacteria. This makes elecampane a “prebiotic” which supports and nourishes healthy gut flora. When a person is experiencing poor appetite, mucus in the digestive system excess gas and feelings of lethargy, elecampane can help our digestive system absorb nutrients and properly function. This not only helps with digestion, yet also immunity and over-all well-being.

The inulin content (not to be confused with insulin) is also helpful for people with diabetes of blood sugar issues. Inulin helps slow down sugar metabolism.

 

 

Preparations: Honey, Syrup, Tincture, Decoction, Powder

 

Elecampane Honey:

  1. Harvest fresh elecampane root.
  2. Chop up the root into full moon, half moon, or small chunky pieces.
  3. Fill a mason jar half-3/4 way with roots.
  4. Cover roots with honey, fill up to the top of the jar using a knife or chopstick to stir out any air bubbles from base of roots in the jar.
  5. Label with herb, honey, date and where it was harvested.
  6. Let sit for at least 4 weeks to infuse (ideally in a warm location).
  7. Warm honey up, strain elecampane root from honey OR keep the root in and eat it with the honey.

This honey is ideal for deep, congested lungs, coughs and sore throats. Keep stored out of sun for longer preservation (up to 1 year…)

 

References:

The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants by Mathew Wood

“Making the Most of One Herb: Elecampane” by Lesley Tierra

Featured Herb: Elecampane by Rosalee de le Forêt