St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort is a yellow-flowering, rhizomatous, perennial herb indigenous to Europe, which has been introduced to the Americas and grows wild in many meadows. The common name comes from the fact that it traditionally flowers by and is harvested on St John's day, 24 June. The first recorded use of St. John’s Wort for medicinal purposes dates back to ancient Greece, and has been used ever since. The herb was also used by Native Americans externally as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic. The aerial parts of the plant can be 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.

In modern medicine, standardized St. John’s Wort extract is commonly used as a treatment for depression and anxiety disorders. In homeopathy, St. John’s Wort is used in the treatment of numerous medical problems. In some countries, such as Germany, St. John’s Wort is prescribed for mild depression in many cases more commonly than synthetic antidepressant medication.