Putting wood into the Boiler today a piece of wood slipped under my leather gloves and left a nice puncture in my hand. It bled and throbbed and brought tears to my eyes. After washing it with soap and water I happily reached for the St. John’s Wort oil I made this fall. Rubbing it on my palm around the puncture I felt a relieving tingle and then the throbbing and pain stopped. Directly over the wound I put a very thin layer of Echinacea & Goldenseal Salve made by Avena Botanicals. By tonight the wound will be well on its way to healing and will be resolved in three.
This year I have used this remedy over and over. The most dramatic were for fingertips that had been partially cut off. The St. John’s Wort oil went to work on the wounded nerves, the echinacea and goldenseal on the bacteria, the comfrey on the tissue and the calendulae on the inflammation. Within a week the fingers were healed.
St. John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum is a beautiful herb with a yellow flower filled with red oil that grows wild on the land. The first year I found it and could identify I made several mistakes. First I didn’t stop to appreciate her and where she lived. I was in a hurry to gather what I found and make my first oil. Next, I gathered all of her blooms without asking for permission or leaving some for the bees. Finally I was in a hurry to infuse the oil, good medicine cannot be made in a hurry especially without prayer.
The next June I was excited to go out and harvest once again. To my confusion St. John’s Wort did not grow where she had grown the year before, in fact I couldn’t find it on the land at all. I thought perhaps that was the cycle of the plant, until I learned she was growing other places and returned yearly.
The next year, I found her again on the land but in a very different place. This time I just said hello as I walked by and would visit on occasion to observe and listen. I did not harvest.
Another year gone, on a walk on the land I noticed St. John’s Wort growing seemingly everywhere. I first recognized the new shoot of spring without the flower and felt proud that I could identify her. As she began to bloom I was excited to harvest once again. This time with wisdom. I sat next to her, said hello, prayed and asked. I harvested just a few blossoms from each plant. By the end of the harvest my fingertips were stained red.
This time preparing the oils, I took my time and prayed. I was patient. I used the energy of the sun and time. Precious blooms and buds sat in fresh olive oil for a few months. The oil was a beautiful red, and the medicine was powerful.
Now St. John’s Wort grows in abundance on the land. I always say hello, and only harvest when I need to. I am careful to leave flowers for the bees and the plant herself. The medicine continues to be powerful.
I have not tried St. John’s Wort internally but will begin that experiment today. Rudolf Fritz Weiss, Herbal Medicine and Juliette de Bairacli Levy Common Herbs for Natural Health suggest 1-2 teaspoons per 8 oz of boiled water, cover and steep for 15 min. A dose of 2 or three cups per day. Change will come in two to three weeks.
St. John’s Wort can be taken internally as a tea and will work to calm the nervous system and elevate the mood, drink morning and night. It will take at least two weeks of regular use to feel lifting in the mood. It is anti inflammatory, astringent and antidepressant. Externally it is used to ease nerve pain and speed healing of wounds and burns .
