Hypericum perforatum
Used as far back as 500 B.C., St. John’s Wort is a medicinal herb used to treat wounds and improve mild depression. It has been found to contain hypericin, hyperforin, and flavonoids, which are antimicrobial and antioxidant phytochemcials and help with wound regeneration1. The antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects of these chemicals are probably why this plant was known as a magical healer in ancient times, as a recent trial has confirmed that St. John’s Wort has a significant healing effect on the bones of rabbits2. It is also thought to have influence on the nervous system as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which promotes serotonin and dopamine production in the brain3. A systematic review of St. John’s Wort studies totaling almost 7000 patients concluded that the herb was equally as effective with less adverse side effects compared to antidepressants4. We wild-harvest St. John’s Wort on our farm at FPF and infuse the leaves and flowers in our WipeOut.
1Negut, I., Grumezescu, V., & Grumezescu, A. M. (2018). Treatment Strategies for Infected Wounds. Molecules, 23(9), 2392. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.3390/molecules23092392
2Ipek Peşin Süntar, Esra Küpeli Akkol, Demet Yılmazer, Turhan Baykal, Hasan Kırmızıbekmez, Murat Alper, Erdem Yeşilada, Investigations on the in vivo wound healing potential of Hypericum perforatum L., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 127(2), 2010, Pages 468-477, ISSN 0378-8741, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.10.011.
3Rojas-Carvajal, M., Fornaguera, J., Badilla, S., Brenes, J. C., & Calvo, M. F. (2017). Sub-chronic administration of St. John’s wort reverses anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors induced by two different protocols of chronic stress. Revista Mexicana de Neurociencia, 18(3), 2–10. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.unh.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=125158516&site=ehost-live
4Apaydin, E. A., Maher, A. R., Shanman, R., Booth, M. S., Miles, J. N. V., Sorbero, M. E., & Hempel, S. (2016). A systematic review of St. John’s wort for major depressive disorder. Systematic Reviews, 5, 1–25. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s13643-016-0325-2
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