Description

St. John’s Wort is a plant with deep roots, a two-edged stem, having five-petalled bright yellow flowers with black spots and violet longitudinal stripes on the petals. The leaves are oval and appear as if pierced with needles, which indicates oil glands in the leaves. The plant derives its name from John the baptist , reminiscent of the day he was beheaded.This plant grows wildly on roadsides, embankments .The flowers and leaves of Saint John contain an active ingredient called hypericin which yields a red oil when pressed. It grows quite tall, and the flowers grow at the upper half and bloom during the time of summer solstice, and continue throughout the summer months. St. John’s Wort originated in Europe, Western Asia and North America. Today, it grows throughout the world.

Health benefits

• St. John's wort leaves and flowers are helpful in treating burnout, anxiety, stress and depression. The oil extracted from its leaves and flowers helps to strengthen digestion and also for healing injuries, first-degree burns, as well as in the after-treatment of myalgia (muscle pain, muscle inflammation, and soreness.⁽¹⁾