The first thing to stand out to me about St. John’s Wort was
its name, a bit odd, but I found out “wort” is simply Old English for
“plant”. There are many folklores
surrounding this herb. The most common
one, of the Western world, is of how the blood-red oil from its bruised petals
is in honor of John the Baptist. One of my
favorites is from Brittany where the picking of the herb is symbolic of the
dismembering of the God, the Summer Lord. When one gives the plant as medicine
to the sick, you are re-membering the God: putting his scattered pieces back
together. Many feel the scent alone
repels evil spirits, causing them to fly away.
It is also a charm to be hung above one’s door to protect from demons
and unwanted mischief makers, especially on Midsummer’s Day. It is usually ready to be picked from Summer
Solstice through August, depending on elevation. This plant, at one time, could be found very
easily, but due to its classification as a “noxious weed”, it is becoming
harder to find. In our area it is referred
to as “Klamath Weed,” with very little respect showed for its powerful healing
abilities. I find it in hidden pockets
throughout the mountains here, often close to creeks at the animal trail cross
paths or in the middle of overgrown roads.
I reserve patches found along the roadside for dyeing, while off-road
growth for medicine.
My first experience with this plant was from a fellow mother
at Tipi Village, who used it regularly to heal herself and others. She brought our family a jar of oil she made and
there began our relationship with this amazing plant. We use it for cuts, scrapes and burns from
the fire, watching its quick work. I was
introduced to many healing plants, while at Tipi Village, and have noticed a unique
connection to St. John’s Wort. I began
making the crimson St. John’s Wort Oil myself, by solar infusion with olive oil,
and eventually turning it into salve, with the addition of beeswax. In our family’s travels over the last year, I
have shared this healing salve and oil with people all over the country… giving
it away more than selling it! Giving
medicine, as a gift, feels best to me.
The dye from St. John’s Wort will give many colors depending
on whether one is or is not using alum, as a mordant, and the re-use of the
same dye bath. I have tried dyeing with
this plant a few times and only once successfully extracted a brilliant
maroon. I believe I will figure it out
next year. Natural dyeing is one
experiment after another and since I am self- taught it takes a bit longer to
produce consistent results.
 |
| Calendula Oil and St. John's Wort Oil 3 weeks in the sun. |
 |
| Just picked buds and blossoms. |
Here are a few books I regularly use as reference when
researching plants:
Dewey, Laurel. The Humorous Herbalist. 1996.
Hopman, Ellen Evert. A Druid’s Herbal. 1995.
Pond, Barbara, A Sampler of Wayside Herbs. 1974.
I also have started listening to herbalist Susan Weed’s
podcast, free through iTunes. She has a
long history of practicing plant medicine and I have learned a lot from the few
podcast I have listened to so far.
I hope to write about the other plants I have worked with,
including: elder, nettle, yarrow, and
usnea.
