ST. JOHN'S WORT

Hypericum perforatum L

Description

It’s a herbaceous, vivacious plant of 25-100 cm high. It’s characterized by a reddish stem which is branched from the very base, rigid with opposite branches and two protruding lines (it’s a bi-angular stem). Leaves are always positioned towards the light and are opposite, sessile, small and lanceolate, oval-shaped, entire and glabrous, with many small pellucid dots or oil glands which may be seen on holding leaf to light (that’s where its name is originated) giving the impression that the leaf is perforated. Flowers are showy, yellow and gathered in dense terminal panicles. Petals are golden yellow black-dotted along the edges and with numerous branched stamens grouped in three clusters. These yellow flowers turn red when rubbed between the fingers. The fruit is a reddish globose-ovoid capsule with three cells. Seeds are dark brown.

It blooms almost all year long (from March to December).

Part used

The flowering tops.

Indications

Internal use

Mild to moderate depression.
Nervousness, anxiety and insomnia.
Irritable colon syndrome.
Nocturnal enuresis. Sleep terror.
Intermittent fevers.
Infantile infectious diseases.
Bronchitis and lung infections.
Gastritis and gastrointestinal spasms, biliary dyskinesia, atonic dyspepsia, intestinal parasites (ascaridiasis, enterobiasis, taeniasis, toxocariasis, whipworm infection).
Cystitis, oliguria.
Gout and arthritism.

External use

The oil obtained by maceration, it is used in cases of insect bites, ecchymoses, burns, hemorrhoids, herpes lesions, ulcers, muscle pains, scratches, neuralgia, mammary fissures, sunburns and hives.
The infusion is used as an astringent in mouthwashes and gargles. The compresses are used in ecchymoses, inflammation, hurts and swelling.
Gels and ointments have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and vulnerary properties; it is used in dermatosis.

Bibliography

Agencia Española del Medicamento. (2000). Real Farmacopea Española (1ª Edicion). Suplemento 2000. Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo. Madrid.

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Brondz I.; Greibrokk T; Groth P.A. y Aasen A.J. The relative stereochemistry of hyperforin – an antibiotic from Hypericum perforatum L. Tetrahedron Lett 1982; 23:1299-300.

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