St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Flowers: June to September. Height: Up to 90cm (36in).
The common name is a reference to St. John, the youngest of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Its earliest use dates back to the 6th century when, according to Gaelic tradition, the missionary St. Columba always carried a piece of St. John’s Wort because of his great regard for St. John.
Medicinal: It eased depression and anxiety and was also good for bruises and burns. Culpeper’s Complete Herbal (1653) said “it is a singular wound herb, healing inward hurts or bruises,” and that as an ointment “it opens obstructions, dissolves swelling and closes up the lips of wounds.” Jacob Meydenbach’s Hortus Sanitatis (1491) recommends it be used to counteract the “thrusts of poisoned weapons”.
Magic & Myth: It was hung in windows during the Middle Ages to ward off witches on St John’s Eve (23 June) and was believed to promote good fortune and protect a house from fire. The tops of the plant were also considered effective for keeping away undesirable influences and bringing luck.
