St John's wort is used across a wide range of fields. This plant with antidepressant properties yields excellent liqueurs, ointments and teas for digestion and high blood pressure.
Other names used: St John's wort
Parts used: flowers
Active compounds: essential oil (pinene), flavonoids, tannins, hypericin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant that produces numerous stems, up to one metre tall, with abundant branching. It grows from sea level to the alpine zone in dry places, in woodland clearings and along roadsides. The flowering tops are gathered in June and July, when a good proportion of the flowers are already open and before any have wilted.
Used in the liqueur industry for its aromatic and digestive properties, when taken internally it acts as an antispasmodic, hypotensive and antidepressant. Used externally, it is an excellent healing and anti-inflammatory agent for wounds, sores and burns. In cosmetics it acts as a photoprotectant and soothing after-sun treatment.
For digestion and high blood pressure.
Infusion: 1 g in 100 ml of water. One to two cups per day.
Tincture: 20 g in 100 ml of 20-proof alcohol (macerated for 5 days). One teaspoon after meals.
Warning: do not exceed the recommended doses.
St John's wort liqueur, as an aperitif and digestif: 15 g of dried flowers and one lemon cut into thin slices in one litre of good grappa. Strain by pressing well and add an appropriate amount of sugar. Serve in small glasses before or after meals.
For sores, wounds and burns.
Decoction: 5 g in 100 ml of water. Use to wash affected areas and apply compresses soaked in the decoction.
Oil tincture: 30 g in 100 ml of olive oil. Add 10 g of white wine and leave in the sun for 15 days, shaking from time to time, then strain. Apply with gentle massage to the affected areas.
The decoction and the oil normalise sunburn and have an effective astringent, skin-nourishing and firming action on mature skin.