St. John’s Wort

The finely perforated leaves of St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) reveal themselves when held up to the sun for examination; this is a good way for beginners to identify the plant before its yellow flowers appear. This plant enjoyed a moment of fame in the 2000s when constituents found in the plant were deemed more useful than placebo in the treatment of depression. However, traditional use emphasizes other properties of the plant. Western herbalism teaches about St. John’s Wort as a topical medicine on areas that are injured, burned or inflamed. It is also taken internally and externally in cases or nerve pain.