Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been applied to the skin to help heal wounds and burns. St. John's Wort was even added to the moulding process when forming "Freikugel" - a magical bullet that always hit its target. St. John’s wort is a plant with yellow flowers that has been used in traditional European medicine as far back as the ancient Greeks. From Russia to England, Europeans used Saint John’s wort to cure a variety of illnesses and to drive out illness of mind and spirit. In the old Germanic solstice cultures, St. John's wort played an important role; the form and color of its flowers recalled the sun, and it was also regarded as a «bringer of light». St. John's wort is a common perennial herb with yellow flowers that grows wild in many regions. St. John’s Wort: Sunny Weed with a History. Posted by Candace Hunter | Learn, Magical Herbs | Known by many other names before the Christian church dedicated it to Saint John the Baptist, Saint John’s wort has served to drive out illness and evils of many forms worldwide for centuries. St. John’s wort, a plant that grows in the wild, has been used for centuries for health purposes. But given St. John’s Wort’s unique depression-fighting benefits, it also is very useful in beating back insomnia symptoms. The flowers are used to make liquid extracts, pills, and teas. Based on a series of studies, the herb appears to be effective in supporting people with mild to moderate depression. (Hypericum perforatum) St. John’s wort is nature’s herbal alternative to chemical antidepressants. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. In the … St John's wort is also an established folk remedy of lung and kidney ailments. Please consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health. It was gathered on St. John’s Day and soaked in olive oil to create an anointing oil called the “Blood of Christ”. St. John’s wort (both oral or topical) can also increase the sensitivity of your skin and eyes to sunlight. 2006 Winter;4(1):52-5. This gives a small possibility … 2004 Jun;72(6):330-43. doi: 10.1055/s-2003-812513. The Greeks added mystique to the plant through their belief that the smell of this plant would drive evil spirits away. St John’s wort has a long history of use as an anti-inflammatory, astringent and antiseptic. St. John’s Wort Dosage. The modern history of St. John’s Wort extract probably began in 1984, when Commission E of the former German Federal Health Agency, which was determining recommendations for the use of herbal drugs, published a positive monograph about St, John’s Wort, recommending it use for psychoautonomic disturbances, depressed mood, nervousness and anxiety. It has a long history of use for emotional disorders. From the time of the ancient Greeks down through the Middle Ages, the plant was considered to be imbued with magical powers and was used to ward off evil and protect against disease. Download Citation | [History of St. Johns wort] | St.-John's wort owes its name to the fact that it flowers at the time of the summer solstice on or around St. John's day on 24 June. St. John's wort, described in the works of Pliny and Dioscurides, was already used in classical antiquity as a medication for somatic and emotional suffering. St. John’s wort, a plant that grows in the wild, has been used for centuries for health purposes. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant. Based on its long history as an herbal remedy, St. John’s wort has been examined intensively for its ability to improve the symptoms of depression. The name St. John’s wort apparently refers to John the Baptist, as the plant blooms around the time of the feast of St. John the Baptist in late June. 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