St. John's wort
mk95528 at navix.net
Sun Dec 29 19:49:26 EST 1996
Few old books -
Saint John's Wort
Greek Genus (Hypericum perforatum) means "above an icon"
This plant grows as high as 2 feet tall and can be found everywhere it
can serve a purpose as a land healer. Many confuse this plant with
(Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), as this used to be called Saint John's
It was introduced into The United States very early (?) from Europe.
The plant was once used by black witches of long past to poison
The beginnings follow back to Pagan Sun Worshipers literature of
antiquity. The herb blooms at the summer solstice with a sunbright
yellow flower. Geoffrey Grigson states "Magically, in white majic,
rather than black, one of the most famous of European plants and one
of the cheif herbs of St. John the Babtist".
Under the magical value of the plant, the oil glands of this plant
produces an unusual red fluid on the day of August when he was
be-headed. This plant is supposed to have its most alluring properties
if gathered before St. John's Day
John The Babtist's birth June 24 made this plant convert to its
present Christianity conversions (starting in the 18th Century). The
Christians began placing the herb in doorways to repel Demons. This
same custom is also rooted into the Pagan beliefs from the very
beginnings. Christian Priests also used this herb to cast away evil.
As then, today herbalists use this herb in connotations for things as
suppressed menustration, Astringent, wounds, Tuberculosis and other
respitory problems, antidepressent, etc.. The properties today claim
the benifits because of the tannin, dyes and oils.
The plant has been known to cause skin problems.
Also look for others (Hypericum punctatum), (H. aureum).
Year 1858 Botany Book on CD- Order Hypericaceae
Corymbed S. - H. corymbosum
Small S. - H. mutilum
Canada S. - H. canadense
Pine-Weed S. - H. sarothra
Great S. - H. pyramidatum
Shrubby S. - H. prolificum
Naked Flowered S. - H. nudiflorum
Common S. - H. perforatum
Other references to the plant in the antique books like the 1835
Herbal listed as; Class Polyadelphia, order Polyandria. Goulds Med
Dict states under Hypericum" The flowering tops of H. perforatum,
abundant in temperate climates. A long known and useful
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