In Greek times, St. John's Wort was called Hypericum. Broken down it translated to above picture. Hyper, translates to above and eikon means picture. When Greeks celebrated Saint Johns Day every June 24th they would place flowers in front of religious images believing it would drive the devil away during Saint John’s Day.
People thought that the reddish purple stain in the leaves or petals of this herb, when crushed, was the blood of St. John. Around 500 B.C. it was used as a miracle healing herb for wounds and to decrease pain. It was also used to counteract the feeling of being depressed or worried.
Hypericin, the pigment in this herb produces the red color, contains Serotonin, which was found to affect the nervous system. St. John's Wort is considered a blues herb because of its antidepressant properties. Today it is a popular product on the market for the treatment of depression.
Parts used are the leaves, stem, and flower. It is used in teas, extracts, in powdered form, capsules and tablets and in oils for the treatment of wounds. St. Johns Wort is sensitive to light so it must be stored in a dark tight container.
|
