St John’s wort is known as a herbal treatment for mild to moderate depression. Based on clinical trials conducted by Cochrane Collaboration St John’s wort had similar efficiacy to standard antidepressants. St John’s wort is especially popular in Germany, where doctors prescribe it for mild to moderate depression.

Externally it is used for healing wounds, first-degree burns and Myalgia.

St. John’s wort has other potential uses that have not been researched yet. It is believed to alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, menopause, fatigue, seasonal affective disorder, pediatric nocturnal incontinence and relieve the symptoms of hangover.

How to take it

St. John’s wort can be obtained in many forms:  tablets, capsules, tinctures, teas, and oil-based skin lotions.

Chopped or powdered forms of the dried herb are also available. Chopped forms of St John’s wort are best for making tea. Most products are standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin.

Tea: Pour one cup of boiling water over 2 tsp of dried St. John’s wort and steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups per day for 4 – 6 weeks.

Liquid extract (1:1): 40 – 60 drops, two times per day.

Oil or cream: To treat inflammation, as in wounds, burns or hemorrhoids, an oil-based preparation of St. John’s wort can be applied topically.

It may take 3 – 4 weeks to feel any effects from St. John’s wort.

Side effects and warnings

Do not take St. John’s wort if you have bipolar disorder.

Don’t take St John’s wort if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Don’t take St John’s wort in combination with any pharmaceutical antidepressants unless under professional guidance.

Photosensitization (redness of the skin caused by exposure to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation) especially in fair-skinned individuals, may occur with excessive dosages (1,800 mg/day), but this reaction is relatively rare.

The legend says that when the head of John the Baptist was brought to Salome, the daughter of Herodias, drops of blood from the head fell to the ground. Out of this soil grew St John’s wort.

The other story says that the plant’s name originated from St John’s Day (24-th of June) because it is often in full bloom around that time. At the old days it was believed to have the strongest curative property when harvested at the night of St John’s day.

Famous Greek physician, Hippocrates, documented the therapeutical uses of St John’s wort in the 5th century B.C.

Plant Description

St. John’s wort is a shrubby plant with clusters of yellow flowers that have oval, elongate petals.

It is believed to be native to Europe and Asia, but is now found throughout the world, often growing alongside the road or near freshwater bodies.

Both the flowers and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. St. John’s wort is quite a common herb in alternative medicine, and it is gathered during the flowering season.

Chemistry

The main components of St. John’s wort are hypericin and hyperforin. It also contains many other common plant constituents (e.g., flavonoids and flavonoid derivatives, xanthone derivatives, amentoflavone, biapigenin, volatile oil) that may have antidepressant effects.
Complete chemistry St John’s wort contains 6.5–15% catechin-type tannins and condensedtype proanthocyanidins (catechin, epicatechin, leucocyanidin); 2–5% flavonoids, mostly 0.5–2% hyperoside, 0.3–1.6% rutin, 0.3% quercitrin, 0.3% isoquercitrin, quercetin, and kaempferol; bioflavonoids (about 0.26% biapigenin), phloroglucinol derivatives (up to 4% hyperforin); phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic); 0.05–1.0% volatile oils, mainly higher n-alkanes, 0.05–0.15% naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin); sterols (sitosterol); vitamins C and A, up to 10 ppm xanthones; and choline (Bruneton, 1999; ESCOP, 1996; Leung and Foster, 1996; Newall et al., 1996; Upton, 1997;).

Bruneton, J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants, 2nd ed. Paris, France: Lavoisier Publishing; 1999.
ESCOP. See: European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy.
Newall C, Anderson L, Phillipson J. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press; 1996.
Upton R (ed.). St. John’s Wort: Hypericum perforatum. HerbalGram 1997

- relaxing and dilating arteries
- increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to and from the heart
- supporting healthy circulation
- increasing endurance
- maintaining healthy blood pressure
- maintaining healthy blood vessels

Products available in the United States include hawthorn leaves, hawthorn berries and flowers, sometimes in combination.

In addition to bioflavinoids, hawthorn contains cardiotonic amines, polyphenols, and is a source of Vitamin C, the B vitamins, and many other nutrients.

And as it is not enough – hawthorn berries can also be used in cooking much like other fruits for berry pie or jelly.

Hawthorn, a small tree or shrub, grows throughout the northern hemisphere. The fruits, flowers, and leaves are processed into tinctures and other kinds of extracts available in capsules or tablets in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Scientists have discovered that hawthorn does increase coronary blood flow and improves myocardial metabolism allowing the heart to function with less oxygen. It also acts directly on the heart muscle to help a damaged heart work more efficiently.

Hawthorn has the ability to increase oxygen utilization by the heart. It increases enzyme metabolism by the heart and it acts as a very mild dilator for coronary vessels and serves as a peripheral vasodilator which lowers blood pressure and reduces the burden placed on the heart.

Studies in past years have also shown that hawthorn is excellent for both the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease when used on a regular basis. Results usually can be seen in a few months time.

Hawthorn is also very effective in relieving restlessness and insomnia.

Today, hawthorn is an official drug in the Pharmacopoeias of Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Russia, and Switzerland. As a measure of its incredible popularity, it is an ingredient of 213 commercial European herbal formulas, mostly for the cardiovascular system.

Chickweed Pesto

1 cup fresh chickweed
1 cup fresh basil
2 cloves garlic
½ cup olive oil
optional:
100g hard cheese
100g pine nuts

Put all the ingredients into your blender or food processor add more oil if necessary.

Mild Curried Chickweed

45ml olive oil
10ml mustard seed
4 cups chickweed
15ml tamari
5ml cumin seeds
5ml turmeric
15ml lemon juice

Heat the oil in a cast iron pan. Add seeds, stir and cook for two minutes. Stir in the turmeric
and cook another minute. Turn off the heat. Add chopped chickweed, lemon juice and tamari.
Stir well and serve immediately. Great with Basmati rice and yoghurt soup on a warm spring
evening.

Chickweed Salad

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 teaspoons walnut oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
6 cups chickweed leaves and tender stems (about 6 ounces)

Pour the lemon juice into a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chickweed, toss until evenly dressed and serve at once.

Chickweed Egg Salad

4 hard-boiled eggs
2/3 cup Chickweed greens, chopped
1 tsp horseradish
1 Tbsp fresh chives
½ cup mayonnaise

Chop eggs coarsely. Add Chickweed greens, chives, and horseradish. Mix gently. Add mayonnaise and mix just enough to coat ingredients.

Chickweed is an excellent source of vitamins A, D, B complex, C and iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, sodium, copper, and silica.

Chickweed comes in capsule, liquid extract, tincture, tea, ointment, oils and dried herb forms. In alternative medicine, it’s used primarily as a topical cream or ointment. Different products are available in pharmacies and online stores.

Chop chickweed and add them, raw, to salads, or cook them like spinach. Mouse-ear chickweed is hairy, so you have to cook it. Cooked, chickweed tastes like spinach. Include any of the species in soups and stews, but cook no more than 5 minutes to prevent overcooking. Unlike most other edibles, he stems, as well as the leaves and flowers, taste good.

Chickweed herb medicinal uses: Applied externally, finely chopped chickweed soothes irritated skin, especially when mixed with marsh mallow (Althaea officinale) root. It is good for cuts, minor burns, eczema, and rashes. Bandage it on the affected area by itself or mixed with clay, which adds a drying and drawing effect. Change the dressing often.

To make chickweed tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over chickweed. Cover and let steep, off the heat, for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain out the herb and drink the tea hot. Drinking a quart of chickweed tea daily is fine, but even two cups a day can help shed unwanted stored fat.

A mild diuretic, promoting the flow of urine, this beverage is also supposed to cleanse and soothe the kidneys and urinary tract and help relieve cystitis. Unlike the more powerful pharmaceutical diuretics, it won’t deplete the body of minerals. It is also reputedly good for rheumatism.

Chickweed in tea form is also excellent for use as an acne wash, and it can even be added to a bath to help with sores, rashes, boils and burns.

Chickweed should not be used internally by pregnant or nursing women.

Personally I always prefer leaf tea to tea bags, although it takes more time and energy. Therefore a little remider for thouse who choose damiana leaf tea:

- cover 1-2 teaspoons of dried damiana leaves with boiling water

- allow the damiana tea to steep for 15-20 minutes

- add honey, sugar or/and lemon slice if desired and enjoy!

Damiana is a relatively small shrub that produces aromatic flowers. It blossoms in early to late summer and is followed by fruits that taste similar to figs. Damiana has an odor somewhat like chamomile due to the oil present in the plant. The leaves have traditionally been made into a tea which was used by native people of Central and South America for its aphrodisiac effects. It has been recorded that the Indians drank Damiana tea mixed with sugar for its ability to enhance lovemaking.

Damiana tea is widespread and quite popular nowadays as well (for its said aphrodisiac reasons )

History of Damiana

This drug was introduced (to the New World) in 1874 and first appeared in the form of fluid extract. Three distinct varieties or species of plants under the name of Damiana, are occasionally found upon the market, and are derived from as many different sources. The true Damiana is derived from Mexico.

The genus Turnera is a small family of chiefly tropical American plants allied to the Passifloreae. The flowers are small, yellow and in the species that produces damiana, subsessile near the end of the short branches. The calyx is tubular, hairy externally, colored like the petals, and 5-toothed at the apex. The petals are 5, yellow and inserted on the tube of the calyx. The fruit, specimens of which are often found with damiana leaves are dry, globular, and about the size of a large hemp seed.

Mexican damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca) as found in market, consists of broken leaves mixed with fragments of the branches and sometimes with seedpods. The leaves are less than an inch long, obovate, wedge-shape, and taper at the base to a short. A variety of damiana, closely resembling the preceding, is derived from California.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage — This drug has been almost eulogized for its positive aphrodisiac effects, acting energetically upon the genito-urinary organs of both sexes, removing impotence in the one, and frigidity in the other, whether due to abuses or age. Many physicians who have tried it, deny its possession of such virtues, but the friends of the drug attribute their failures to the use of the spurious articles. It will very likely be found to possess laxative, tonic, and diuretic properties only; and the aphrodisiac effects following its use, no more prove that these belong to it, than the same effects, that not unfrequently appear after the employment of many other agents prove that such agents possess similar excitant virtues. Upon the system at large, it exerts a tonic influence, and is useful in some cases of chronic cystic and renal catarrh. It relieves irritation of the urinary mucous membranes, improves digestion, and overcomes constipation in some instances. In respiratory disorders, it may be employed to relieve irritation and cough, and, by its tonic properties, to cheek hypersecretion from the broncho-pulmonic membranes. The dose of the fluid extract is from 1/2 fluid drachm to 1/2 fluid ounce; specific damiana, 5 to 60 drops.

Specific Indications and Uses — To relieve irritation of the genito-urinary mucous surfaces. (Sexual weakness and debility, with nervousness and depression).