Click stars for the Universe today

Cafe Diem! Our store

St

St

The Natural Prozac Program

St John's Wort

St John's Wort

The Pagan Prosperity

The Triumph of the Moon

Celebrate the Earth A Year of Holidays in the Pagan Tradition

Wheel of the Year

Spellcraft

 
The Great Mother

365 Goddess

Be A Goddess

Sun Goddess

Legends of the Goddess

Goddess Chant

Mother God

Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets

The Goddess Path

The Great Cosmic Mother

The White Goddess

The Essential Handbook of Women's Spirituality

The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects

Celebrating the Great Mother

The Crone

Drawing Down the Moon

Mother Earth Spirituality

Shamanism

Ancient Ways

8 Weeks to Optimum Health

Sabbat Entertaining

Body Wisdom

The Pagan Book of Days

Eight Sabbats for Witches

Lucifer Ascending: The Occult in Folklore and Popular Culture

The Book of Spells

Witch-Hunt

The Devil in Massachusetts

Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials Reader

Hunting for Witches

The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe

Witch Hunts in Europe and America

Tree Wisdom

Celtic Tree Mysteries

A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth

Ogam: Celtic Oracle of the Trees

The Spirit of Trees

Myths of the Sacred Tree

In the Grove of the Druids

The Wiccan's Dictionary of Prophecy and Omens

Hypericum

Three Great Healing Herbs

St John's Wort

Gather ye herbs

Saint John's Eve is June 23, the night before the Feast Day of St John the Baptist, and in Europe, from pre-Christian times, Summer Solstice festivities and spiritual practices have been a part of this day. Also called Midsummer Eve, June 23 is a time rich in folklore. We have more lore at June 23 in the Book of Days, but here's a taste.

On this night in olde Britain, people would go into the woods and bring back branches to their homes, celebrating the eve of the birth of John the Baptist (his day is tomorrow). Fairies speak in human tongues on this night; the flower of happiness blooms.

Oxford greenery

At Oxford on St John’s Eve (June 23), a sermon used to be preached from a stone pulpit in one corner of Magdalen College. The court was decked with green boughs so that the preaching might resemble that of John the Baptist in the wilderness.

St John’s bonfires

In olde Britain, tonight was bonfire night and fires were made composed of contributions of fuel called boons. Men and boys jumped through the fires in accordance with an ancient custom. People would walk about the towns for much of the night, usually garlanded with flowers or with ribbons and jewels - some citizens would not go themselves but send a substitute.  

In some parts of Athitos (Aphitos; Aphytos), Greece, on the Mediterranean, the St John's Eve custom of jumping through bonfires is sometimes called 'Klidonas' (ivy) because the revellers do so wearing ivy crowns.

St John’s Eve, London

In the middle ages, about two thousand men would parade through London’s streets, garlanded with flowers and bedecked with jewels. The watchmen, as they were called, carried tar-burning torches called cressets, and there were bonfires in the streets. Henry VIII banned the custom, probably afraid of such a large assembly of armed men.

Tonight in Ireland

In Ireland it used to be believed that tonight the souls of the living leave their bodies and wander to the place, by land or sea, where death will finally separate them from the flesh. It might be that the St John’s Eve bonfires and night watches originally to allowed people to prevent the soul’s wandering.

Marriage prognostication

In Britain, it was the custom on St John’s Eve for an unmarried woman who was fasting to lay out a cloth at midnight with bread and cheese, and sit down as if to eat, leaving open the door to the street. Along would come the man she was eventually to marry; he would enter the room and salute her with a bow, then leave - or, so it is said.

The magickal herb

It was customary in Britain and Europe on St John’s Eve, to gather certain herbs, such as St John’s wort, vervain, trefoil and rue, all of which were believed to have magical properties. St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) does, in fact, have scientifically proven anti-depressant qualities. Drinks were brewed from it to cure madness, sciatica, epilepsy and paralysis. The salve made from the herb cured wounds from spears and swords - or, so it is said.

Flowers of St John’s wort used to be collected in Britain and Europe on St John’s Eve (tonight) and worn on the body or hung over doorways as protection against witches. It was also placed near windows as witches can look in to cast a spell. Even in recent times the people of the Landes district of France would make crosses of wort on their doors.

In Britain, one old custom was for a maiden to pick a sprig of St John’s wort and wear it in her bosom until Christmas, by which time the man who was to be her husband, and he alone, would see it and take it from her.

In ancient Latvia, Jani on June 23 was the year's most important festival and it, too, was a celebration of the Summer Solstice. In preparation, everything in the town, including buildings and livestock, was decorated with garlands of papardi (ferns) and janu zali (John’s grass). Children traditionally went into the woods on Jani, searching for the fern blossom (like a ‘snipe hunt’ in North America, since the fern blossom does not exist, or else this was St John’s wort) which supposedly bloomed only at night on Jani. Searching for, and theoretically finding, the fern blossom brought good luck.

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

St John's wort used alone refers to the species Hypericum perforatum, also known as Klamath weed or Goat weed, but is used with qualifiers to refer to any species of the genus Hypericum. H. perforatum is sometimes called Common St John's wort to distinguish it. The species of Hypericum have been placed by some in the family Hypericaceae, but more recently have been included in the Clusiaceae.

Hypericum perforatum is a yellow-flowering, rhizomatous, perennial herb indigenous to Europe, which has been introduced to the Americas and grows wild in many meadows. The name comes from the fact that it traditionally flowers by and is harvested on St John's day; all above-ground parts are cut and dried for later use in the form of herbal tea, which has long been enjoyed both for its pleasant (though somewhat bitter) taste and for its medicinal properties.

The name perforatum refers to the small windows in the leaves, which can be seen when they are held against the light.

In modern medicine, standardized Hypericum extract (obtained from H. perforatum) is commonly used as a treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. In homeopathy, Hypericum is used in the treatment of numerous medical problems, yet the rate of success has not been adequately documented. Historically, the flowers and stems of St John's wort have also been used to produce red and yellow dye.

Although Hypericum perforatum is grown commercially in some regions, it is listed as a noxious weed in over twenty countries. Ingestion by livestock can cause photosensitization, central nervous system depression, spontaneous abortion, and can lead to death. Effective herbicides for control of Hypericum include 2,4-D, picloram, and glyphosate. In western North America three beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina, Chrysolina hyperici and Agrilus hyperici have been introduced as biocontrol agents.

Medicinal properties

The first recorded use of Hypericum for medicinal purposes dates back to ancient Greece, and it has been used ever since. The herb was also used by Native Americans internally as an abortifacient and externally as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic.

In some countries such as Germany, Hypericum is prescribed for mild depression, far more commonly than conventional antidepressant medication. Standardized extracts can be bought today as an over-the-counter remedy, usually in pill or capsule form. It is also widely sold in teabags. Many clinical studies have found it to be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression, with fewer side effects than many conventional antidepressant medications. It has been found to be of no noticeable effect in the treatment of more serious forms of depression, however.

Although the exact mechanism by which it works is unclear, it is believed to involve slowing the disposal of serotonin, thus boosting serotonin levels. Common side effects are extraordinarily vivid dreams (especially if taken just before bedtime), somewhat increased appetite, and a heightened production of urine by the kidneys, thus requiring the patient to increase fluid intake to avoid dehydration.

The usual dosage is 900 mg of Hypericum extract per day, usually made up of three 300 mg capsules or tablets taken at different times of the day. The dosage might need to be varied according to the patient's body weight. Advocates recommend that, as with other antidepressants, Hypericum be taken for at least four weeks before judging its effectiveness.

In markets where standardized extracts are not available, the potency of samples can vary widely. Some brands of over-the-counter St John's wort can be much more potent than others. The same can even be true of two dosage units from different batches of the same brand.

Casual use of Hypericum extracts in patients on other medication is not recommended as it can cause sometimes serious drug interactions, including preventing other antidepressants from functioning. It also is known to cause photosensitivity, i.e. increased sensitivity to light, which can lead to sunburns in situations that would not normally cause them.

Click for an example of drug interactions with St John's wort

St John's wort

By Shelley Day 

St John's wort has been used since the middle ages as a valuable relaxing herb. It also has long-lasting tonic effects on the whole Nervous System.

Its main properties are:

Anti-depressant: Well-Proven Benefits 
This is what most people know St John's wort for - it has become the product of choice for mild to moderate depression. We examine this in detail below.

Menopause: Some Strong Evidence of Benefits St John's wort has proven very helpful during menopause.

Clinical Study
In a clinical study in Germany, 111 women aged from 43-65 years were given 12 weeks treatment with St John's wort at standard dosage. In 75-80% of women, their menopausal symptoms diminished or disappeared completely - an amazing result! In addition, the St John's wort was also reported to improve 'sexual well-being'. (Advances in Therapy 1999 Jul- Aug;16(4):177-86)

The results of this study sound - let's be honest - a bit too good to be true; but there must be something in them. It must be worth trying St John's wort if you are approaching or in the menopause. Please let us know your experiences.

One question I'd ask would be: "Were the benefits maintained when the women stopped taking St John's wort?"

I suspect they were not maintained completely - but it certainly sounds as if St John's wort could be a good bet for reducing the symptoms of menopause - and making you feel better, at least in the short to medium-term.

If this is so, it would be preferable to combine it with a herbal formula aimed more at balancing the hormone system deeper down. In other words, aimed more at the cause of the menopausal symptoms. Such a formula would include a balanced mixture of herbs such as Carbenia (blessed thistle), Agnus Castus, Dong Quai, Smilax (Sarsaparilla), Licorice, Mitchella (Squaw Vine), and other herbs.

I could go on to the benefits of Liver cleansing when in the menopause... but let's leave that to a future HealthZine issue. (If you're interested in this - or any other issue not mentioned yet - let us know at comments@alternative-healthzine.com )


Nerve tonic Very Well Respected by Herbalists
St John's wort is a persistent, gentle nerve tonic, boosting the whole Nervous System when taken regularly over an extended period say for 3-6 months. If long-term stress has led to nervous exhaustion, St John's wort will often help, slowly but surely, to building the energy level back up towards normal.

This long, slow building up of energy via the nervous system is something shared by a few other valuable Western herbs, such as Verbena (Vervain) and Scutellaria (Scullcap). The value of such herbs is that they calm the Nervous System while they build it up. This is an opposite effect to that of sedative drugs, which can certainly calm the nervous system, but have no tonic powers.

After taking sedative drugs, the Nervous System is weakened, and the Liver stressed - because it has to deal with the drugs in the blood stream, which are treated more or less as poisons by the body. This weakening of the liver by medicinal drugs just makes matters worse for the poor old nerves and the emotional balance of the body - both of which are affected tremendously by the health of the Liver.

There is certainly a place for drugs in our 'ideal healthcare' system - especially in emergency situations. But herbal and similar remedies are a better answer in many - in fact, most - situations where drugs are used today. Especially as no drugs have yet been found which have a tonic effect on the body - they are all debilitating. For tonics, you have to use alternative therapy.


Depression and St John's wort

On to the best known use for St John's wort - that of helping banish depression.

St John's wort is generally recommended for cases of mild to moderate depression. (There don't seem to have been any studies of St John's wort being used in cases of severe depression.)

In Germany, St John's wort has been prescribed for depression by doctors for decades. In 1994 alone, 66 million doses of the herb were taken.

In fact, St John's wort is a 'quasi-drug' in that country; in that it is packaged like a drug, produced by pharmaceutical companies, and prescribed widely by doctors.

News of St John's wort's benefits has slowly filtered out to the rest of Europe so that in the UK, for example, hardly a day goes by without an article in the papers about St John's wort and depression.

How much evidence is there?

Lots. Many studies have been performed where St John's wort has been tested against a placebo - ie a sugar tablet; and against a standard drug widely used for depression.

The results are generally that:

1. St John's wort is considerably better than a placebo at alleviating mild to moderate depression. In other words, it is not just 'suggestion' that makes people taking St John's wort feel less depressed.
    
2. It is equally as good, or nearly as good, as the drug it is compared with in the studies carried out, but has few or no side effects. This is a very important point, as doctors - and members of the public - are very aware of the many side effects of many common anti-depressant drugs - not least, addiction.
    

So, if you take drugs for depression, you are basically zapped into 'suspended animation' for a few months, then re-emerge, probably with less energy, to fight the battle of life again. I know some people are delighted with a short course of drugs for depression. But I would argue that St John's wort would help the majority of those with mild to moderate depression just as well - and probably better, because of its other advantages.

This may be a bit of an over-simplification; but the general argument is sound.


Studies

Where a scientific study has been carried out, it is usually fairly dense and hard to interpret for most of us mortals. So it is useful to see a summary of the study. This is often provided by the team who performed the study, and is called an scientific 'extract'. Here are links to a few scientific extracts from recent studies involving St John's wort and depression.

(NB Where a URL below is on two lines, you will probably need to paste them into your browser text window without a line break for the link to work. When you paste, make sure there is no space inserted - browsers don't like 'em!)

1. www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/sajohn06.html

2. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=Pub Med&list_uids=10647752&dopt=Abstract

3. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=Pub Med&list_uids=10625118&dopt=Abstract

4.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=Pub Med&list_uids=10591711&dopt=Abstract

In general, these scientific extracts support the points above.


Preparations of St John's wort
Standardised Extracts
If you like laughing at human nature (including your own!) this story has its funny side.

I first have to declare my view - basically, I do not like standardised extracts. I prefer whole herbs.

What is a standardised extract?
Someone decides what the 'main active ingredient' is - out of the dozens of components of a herb. Well, this is ridiculous for a start. A herb is a synergistic blend of all of its components; and the 'whole' is greater than the sum of its parts. In other words - don't mess about with it - use the whole, natural plant.

In fact, 'standardisation' is a method used by scientific bods so they can say - with precision - such things as:

'327 people were given an extract of xxxxxx herb, standardised to 0.05% of xxx ingredient, three times a day for 18 days, and 27% noticed such and such happened.'

The whole Alternative Health movement is pro-holistic healthcare, and anti-'science for science's sake'. In other words - science has its place - but don't lets be silly about it.

A good question for those who are in favour of 'standardised extracts' is, "You have made an extract of a herb which contains a specified amount of one of the ingredients. Fine. But - what have you left out of your extract, which a holistic herbalist might prefer was left in?

The funny (if tragic) bit
St John's wort has been 'standardised' - by these scientific types - for many years to 0.03% hypericin. Go to the shops and you will see this on many bottles of St John's wort extract.

So - hypericin is the active ingredient, yes?

Erm... well, actually, the scientist types thought it was the main ingredient... but recent research has shows that all these years they were wrong - and hypericin is very probably not among the active ingredients at all!

It appears at present, that 'hyperforin' - a 'phloroglucine' chemical found in the plant - is a likely candidate for 'most active ingredient - if you believe that sort of theory. (We prefer the 'holistic' theory though, as I said - use the whole plant!)

But one thing is sure - very many members of the public who believe they are well informed are still looking for St John's wort standardised for the - apparently - unimportant hypericin.

Keep your eye on the shops - and mark my words; it won't be long before the first St John's wort standardised for hyperforin appears. They'll be saying - "We got it right this time!"

I say - use the raw herb!


Cautions
What do you have to be careful of when using St John's wort?

There have been no reported large scale reactions to St John's wort - but there have been a small number of reactions reported among people taking the herb.

1. Drug Interactions
   There are queries hanging over St John's wort with regard to a number of drugs; particularly anti-depressants, hypertensive (high blood pressure) drugs, warfarin, AIDS medication, and the contraceptive pill.
   
   The concern with anti-depressants, hypertensive drugs, and warfarin is that St John's wort may possibly raise blood pressure, leading to an increased chance of a stroke. With the contraceptive pill and AIDS drugs, there is some indication that St John's wort may reduce effectiveness of the drugs.
   
   It is true that there is a very long history of use of St John's wort in Europe - and only a tiny number of cases of strokes among St John's wort users have been reported. However, they are there, and until or unless St John's wort is cleared of all implication, it would be wise to avoid taking this herb with any drugs at all, including the contraceptive pill.
   
   If you wish to switch to St John's wort from an antidepressant drug, consult a doctor for advice on how to achieve this safely. As a minimum, close monitoring of blood pressure would be desirable.
   
   Recommendation Do not take St John's wort together with drugs.
   If changing to St John's wort from antidepressant drugs, do so only under the supervision of a doctor or other qualified person who is closely monitoring your blood pressure.
2. Epilepsy
   It is accepted in scientific literature that anti-depressant drugs can cause fits in susceptible people. There have been a small number of anecdotal reports of epileptic fits occurring in patients taking St John's wort.
   
   As the herb has anti-depressant properties, it is recommended that it be avoided where there are epileptic tendencies.
   
   Recommendation Do not take St John Wort if you have epilepsy, or a tendency towards fits or seizures.
3. Photosensitivity
   In other words - sensitivity to light.
   
   St John's wort can - rarely - cause a rash when the skin is exposed to the sun. The hypericin from St John Wort travels to the skin where, in a few individuals, the sun changes it to an itchy compound which causes the rash.
   
   There are only a very small number of reported cases of this reaction; but it does happen. Where it has happened, when the St John's wort has been discontinued, the rash disappears.
   
   Recommendation If you are taking St John's wort use extreme caution when in the sun, and do not use a sun bed, in case you are one of the minority who could develop photosensitivity. If you begin to develop a rash and have been in the sun, stay in the shade and discontinue the use of St John's wort until the rash clears up.
4. Cataract
   There was a report in New Scientist recently which stated that the photosensitive properties of the hypericin in St John's wort could promote cataracts in rats. There are no reports of the same occurring in humans.
   
   Recommendation As a precaution, the researchers recommend that if you are in the sunshine, you should wearing 'UV-resistant' wrap-around sunglasses, if you are taking St John's wort. Sunlight shining on the eyes is a cause of cataract in any case, so this is good advice to follow whether or not you are taking St John's wort.

Dosage
The usual dosage of raw herb (ie not 'standardised extract'), is:

Capsules
1 capsule 3 times a day.

Herbal Fluid Extract (1:1)
10-15 drops 3 times a day in water or juice, (This form of the herb is not a standardised extract - which is a powder. It is a liquid preparation - usually alcoholic - where 1 litre of the liquid has been made with 1 kilo of the herb. Hence the '1:1'.)

Herbal Tincture
1/2 teaspoon, 3 times a day in water or juice. A herbal tincture is made with 250-350g of herb steeped in a litre of alcohol. So it is 3-4 times weaker than the equivalent fluid extract.

Extract standardised to 0.3% hypericin
Follow the instructions on the pack - usually 2 or 3 capsules a day. The advantage of a standardised extract is that the quality control is more assured than for most preparations of the raw herb. But bear in mind that hypericin is now thought - fairly certainly - NOT to be one of the main active ingredients in this herb! So the fact that a preparation is standardised for a percentage of hypericin is irrelevant!


Summary

St John's wort is a valuable herb with a long history of safe use in Europe.
It is valuable for:

• Mild to moderate depression,
• Symptoms associated with the menopause,
• Building up the Nervous System.

However, it appears that it can be a very active herb in some circumstances, so we advise the following:

Do not take St John's wort without thorough investigation if;

1. You are any taking certain drugs - namely anti-depressants, warfarin or other blood-thinning medication, AIDS medication, or the contraceptive pill. For a UK government-approved list of medications to avoid, and advice on what to do if you are already taking St John's wort and you are already taking one of these medications, Specialist Herbal Supplies have a useful pamphlet they will be pleased to send you. Send your name and address to feedback@specialist-herbal.com Put 'St Johns Info' in the subject.
2. You have a tendency to suffer from any type of fit.
3. You are going to use a sun bed, or to sunbathe. Use with caution if you live in a hot country, or if travelling to a hot country, and discontinue the herb at the first sign of a skin rash developing.
    

Feedback
Have you any experiences with St John's wort? Please let me know. Feedback@alternative-healthzine.com

© 2000-2002  Shelley Day, Alternative Healthzine

<<+>> ALTERNATIVE HEALTHZINE <<+>>
!! FREE !! - a monthly ezine to KEEP YOU HEALTHY!
Stimulating articles on Herbs, Relaxation, Food, Exercise,
New medical discoveries, 21st century healthcare.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY - and get FIVE FREE HEALTH REPORTS
To subscribe go to: http://www.alternative-healthzine.com 

"Infusion:
Put two teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes, and drink thrice daily. 

"Tincture:
Into a pint jar with a lid, put either 3 ounces of the dried flowers or enough of the fresh herb to fill the jar. Pour 100-proof vodka into the jar to fill, and shake the contents hard. Let steep for two weeks, shaking the jar once a day, then strain and pour into 1 oz dropper bottles (the liquid should be a bright red, the color of St. John's blood). Drink two droppers full three times a day (half the amount for children). This method is more "cost-effective" than the infusion method in that it makes better use of the quantity of the herb. 
The infusion or tincture is also applied to the skin as an anti-bacterial agent and as an astringent. Pregnant women, those with high blood pressure, and those taking anti-coagulants or antidepressants should talk to their doctors before using. Possible side effects include photosensitivity (so avoid the sun when using), increase in blood pressure, gastrointestinal upset, and dermatitis in those who are sensitive to the herb."   Source

Frazer, Sir James George (1854 - 1941), The Golden Bough, 1922, Ch. 62. The Fire-Festivals of Europe. Section 5. The Midsummer Fires

Index of articles on folklore and other topics

Folklore, customs, pre-Christian origins of: 

A word of caution

St John's Eve & St John's Day customs