St John’s Wort: Sunshine in Plant Form
When I think of St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), I think of bottled sunshine. Its bright yellow flowers bloom at the height of summer, and working with it often feels like inviting a little extra light into our bodies and homes. This plant has been loved for centuries, both for its medicinal properties and its folklore, and today I want to explore how it might be supportive for those of us navigating life with chronic illness, low energy, or neurodivergence.
St John’s Wort can be identified as a star-shaped yellow flower with multiple stamens and small black dots on the petals
What makes St John’s Wort so special?
St John’s Wort has long been associated with the nervous system. It is considered a nervine, which means it helps calm, restore, and support our frazzled nerves. It has also been shown in studies to help with mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and even fatigue after illness. For many of us who live with fluctuating energy levels, sensory overwhelm, or emotional burnout, herbs like this can feel like an anchor.
Some key ways it has traditionally been used include:
Supporting convalescence after illness or long periods of exhaustion
Easing symptoms of mild anxiety and depression
Helping with PMS or menopause-related discomfort
Offering pain relief when applied topically, such as for bruises, sore muscles, or nerve pain
It’s also a plant with strong antiviral and antibacterial properties, so it can sometimes support the immune system during recovery phases.
The English name of this plant comes from its links to St John the Baptist’s feast day, and the Latin name, Hypericum perforatum, describes the role and look of the plant. Hypericum means ‘to place above the altar’ and perforatum describes the oil-producing glands of the plant in the leaves that are tiny transparent dots that look like holes.
St John’s wort was seen as a protective plant, one that protects against dark magic, demonic energies and psychic energies and was thus used in exorcisms. The plant was believed to protect a building from loss or damage by warding off evil spirits, and was therefore hung in doorways and windows for protection. Other forms of damage to homes that it was seen to protect against included fires, storms, and lightning. Therefore, St John’s wort was often burned in hearths to let the strong smells permeate the home and outside, providing protection and warding off evil. It was also used frequently in magic charms.
Everyday ways to invite St John’s Wort into your life
You don’t need to be a seasoned herbalist to enjoy the benefits of this plant. Here are some simple ways you might connect with it:
Infused Oil: St John’s Wort oil is a rich red colour and can be massaged into sore joints, sprains, or bruises. For those of us who deal with chronic pain or fatigue, having a jar in the cupboard can be a gentle self-care ritual.
Salve: Combine the infused oil with beeswax to make a healing balm. This can be especially soothing for dry or itchy skin, minor wounds, or areas of nerve pain.
Tea: A gentle tea infusion with St John’s Wort, perhaps blended with lemon balm and rose, can feel like a soft hug for the nervous system. It has been used traditionally for insomnia, nervous tension, and menstrual pain.
Folklore Connection: If you love weaving ritual into your daily life, consider bringing a little St John’s Wort into your home in summer. Traditionally, it was hung above doors or burned on the hearth to protect against unwanted energies. Even simply keeping a small jar of the oil on your shelf can serve as a reminder of resilience and warmth.
How to make St John’s Wort products at home
St. John's Wort Oil
• 1 cup fresh St. John's wort tops: flowers, buds, and leaves
• 1 cup olive oil
1. Put the wilted St. John’s wort tops in a pint jar, then cover them with the olive oil, making sure that all of the plant material is submerged (add a little more oil if needed).
2. Cover the jar with a lid and put it in a cool and dark place to infuse for 1-2 weeks, then strain out the flowers with a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Squeeze out as much of the oil from the plant material as possible. The oil will be a dark red colour.
3. Because fresh plant material is used, this infused oil should be used up within a month or two to prevent spoilage and rancidity.
St. John's Wort Salve
• 1 cup St. John's wort-infused oil
• 30g beeswax
1. Create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.
2. Put the St. John’s wort oil and beeswax into the small bowl or Pyrex, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally.
3. Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins and let them sit until the salve sets up completely.
4. Use this salve on sore or aching muscles, joints, or areas where there is nerve pain. It can also be used on minor wounds, scrapes, scratches, and dry and itchy skin conditions.
Grief Remedy - Make as a Tea or Honey
2 parts rose
1 part hawthorn
1 part lemon balm
1 part St John’s wort
Things to be mindful of
This is where I need to pause and add a big note of caution. St John’s Wort is powerful, but it also interacts with many modern medications, from the contraceptive pill to antidepressants, heart medicines, and chemotherapy drugs. These interactions can be very serious.
If you are taking prescription medication, this is not a herb to experiment with on your own. Instead, it may be one to appreciate through folklore, flower essences, or topical use (and even then, always check with your healthcare provider if you are unsure).
For those who are not taking medications and are mostly well but need extra nervous system support, St John’s Wort can be a lovely seasonal ally.
A plant essence of resilience
To me, St John’s Wort feels like carrying a spark of midsummer into the darker months. It symbolises vitality, resilience, and protection. For neurodivergent and chronically ill folks, who often live in cycles of energy dips and flares, herbs like this can remind us that our bodies hold the capacity for light and repair, even when things feel heavy.
Whether you work with it practically as an oil, sip it gently as a tea, or simply place a flower on your windowsill, St John’s Wort offers a connection to the sun at times when we most need it. With its links to magic and protection, and being a solar herb, it feels similar to rosemary, but its versatility and reputation to heal wounds in battle make it seem similar to yarrow. I can see how these three together would be a powerful triad.
To discuss how to incorporate more natural remedies into your life, please feel free to bring this to your next coaching session. If you do not yet access coaching and are interested in working with me, book your free discovery session below.
Please Note:
This website is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition before making changes. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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