St. John’s Wort is an herb that has been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments, from depression to anxiety. This powerful healing herb has been used in traditional medicine to help people cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. It has also been used to help treat a variety of other physical and mental health issues, including insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal symptoms, and even nerve pain. In addition to its antidepressant properties, St. John’s Wort has also been used to treat other physical and mental health issues. Some studies have found that it can help reduce inflammation, which can be beneficial for treating conditions like arthritis. It may also help reduce irritability and improve sleep quality, making it a great natural remedy for those suffering from insomnia or other sleep problems.
St. John’s Wort Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
The active ingredient in St. John’s Wort is hypericin, which is responsible for its antidepressant properties. Hypericin works by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which helps to regulate mood. Studies have found that taking St. John’s Wort can be just as effective as traditional antidepressants. It’s important to note, however, that St. John’s Wort can interact with some medications, so it’s important to talk to your doctor before taking it. Nutritional value per 100 g St. Johns Wort:
- Biotin: 0 µg
- Calcium: 13 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 3.2 g
- Chloride: 6 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 0 mg
- Chromium: 0 µg
- Copper: 0.06 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 1.3 g
- Energy (Calories): 28 kcal
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Iodine: 0 µg
- Iron: 0.7 mg
- Magnesium: 24 mg
- Manganese: 0.06 mg
- Molybdenum: 0 µg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.12 mg
- Phosphorus: 18 mg
- Potassium: 88 mg
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Saturated fat: 0 g
- Selenium: 0.6 µg
- Sodium: 4 mg
- Sugars: 0.3 g
- Vitamin A: 0 µg
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.03 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.12 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.04 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 11 µg
- Vitamin B12: 0 µg
- Vitamin C: 0.3 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 µg
- Vitamin E: 0.09 mg
- Vitamin K: 0.2 µg
- Water: 63.9 g
- Zinc: 0.1 mg
St. Johns Wort in India
It is a anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, cell proliferator, astringent, antibacterial, antiviral and sedative nerve tonic. St. John’s Wort is a powerful natural remedy that can help treat a variety of physical and mental health issues. It’s important to talk to your doctor before taking this herb, as it can interact with some medications. But if you’re looking for a natural way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, St. John’s Wort may be the right remedy for you. In Indian systems of medicine, it is not in use as an anti-depressant drug.
- Scientific Binomial: Hypericum perforatum
- Common English: Perforate St Johns Wort / Common Saint John’s wort / Amber
- Ayurvedic
- Unani: Heufaariqoon / Bassant / Balsaan
- Sanskrit
- Hindi / Urdu: Choli phulya
- Bengali
- Marathi
- Telugu
- Tamil: Vettai pakku
- Gujarati
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
St. John’s wort has a rich and colorful history. The sunny yellow flowers of St. John’s wort harbor a strange secret. Bruise the delicate petals and they seem to bleed. The blood-red liquid is an oil released from tiny, dark-colored glands scattered along the petal margins. This beautiful red oil made magically from the cheerful yellow flowers is a wonderful aid for trauma and is one of the best topical remedies for bruises, sprains, burns, and injuries of all kinds. Although it has been used for centuries for nerve damage and is held in high esteem by herbalists, St. John’s wort was just recently “rediscovered” for its antidepressant activities.
- Depression: St. John’s wort was a symbol of protection against evil but also a prized medicinal herb, with the power to heal the body and to ease the troubled mind. It is effective against mild depression and seems to lift the spirits when used on a regular basis. It is a wonderfully safe and effective herb for nerve damage, stress, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and recovery from brain inflammation diseases such as encephalitis.
- PMS: Herb shows successful menopausal symptom relief if taken in adequate quantity for 4 – 12 weeks.
- Jet Lag: The herb is mainly used for minor depression, muscle aches and fever blisters. Tincture made with ginkgo, hawthorn, and St. John’s wort is good for preventing jet lag.
- Insomnia: In case of insomnia take 1/2 teaspoon of St. John’s wort tincture three times daily for 5 days, stop for 2 days, and repeat the cycle until you’re able to sleep peacefully.
- Nerve Pain: The infused oil is good for making salves. St. John’s wort infused oil and cayenne infused oil make an excellent salve for nerve pain. Alcoholic SJW extracts (methanolic/ethanolic) have more pronounced antibacterial activity than aqueous extracts. St. John’s wort has gained global recognition as an effective treatment for minor depression. Like many herbs, it needs to be used over a period of time for full effect. To be effective against stress and depression, St. John’s wort needs to be taken over a 2- to 3-week period, and it is often cycled over several months to treat chronic depression and stress.
- Hypericin, one of its active constituents, has been shown to be highly active against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex 1 – the virus known to cause cold sores and fever blisters.
Side Effects
St. John’s wort should be taken with meals to avoid gastric upset and taken under a doctor’s supervision. St. John’s wort appears to be safe. The main risk is the potential for interaction with prescription medications. Safety during pregnancy has not been established. St. John’s wort causes photosensitivity (sensitivity to the sun) in some individuals. If your skin becomes itchy, or red, discontinue use. Studies shows that, if an animal or a light-skinned human eats the plant, exposure to direct sun may cause dermatitis, inflammation of mucous membranes, and more toxic reactions. In a few people this herb can cause high blood pressure, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting.
FAQs.
Q. How to make Saint John Wort oil at home?
This herbal oil is highly regarded as a topical agent. When the flowering tops are infused in oil – olive oil is best – the oil turns ruby red after sitting in the sun for several weeks. It is massaged into the skin to relieve pain or made into an ointment for wounds, burns, and insect bites. The oil is helpful for healing burns, rashes, cuts, wounds and any damaged nerve endings. It also eases inflammation of the skin and fights bacteria. You can also try making flowers infused honey. Honey is an ideal remedy for wounds, and infusing St. John’s wort flowers makes a uniquely suited wound care medicine. Here is a step by step DIY recipe to make St. John’s Wort oil at home.
- Collect the fresh flowers just as the buds are opening, in early to midsummer, as the oil content of the plants is highest in the morning.
- Collect a few leaves as well. 70 % flowers and 30 % leaves makes great effective combination.
- Allow the buds and leaves to air-dry in a warm, shaded area for a few hours.
- Place the buds and leaves in a glass jar, cover with 2 to 3 inches of olive oil, seal the jar, and allow to infuse in a warm, sunny spot for 2 to 6 weeks.
- The oil should be blood red.
- Strain, rebottle, and use as needed.
Q. What are some traditional beliefs about this herb?
The herb was considered to be imbued with magical powers and was used to ward off evil and protect against illness. It was said on the Isle of Wight that if you stepped on the plant at twilight, you might be carried off on a magic fairy horse and not return until daylight. Also some people believe that burning St. John’s wort, clears the air of evil spirits.
Q. How to make this herbal tea?
It is easy to make this herbal tea. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon herb. Steep 5 to 10 minutes. Strain.