Quantcast
What exactly is Saint-John's-wort... | Almanac.com

What exactly is Saint-John's-wort...

Print Friendly and PDF
What exactly is Saint-John’s-wort, which we are hearing so much about as a treatment for depression?
Answer
Saint-John’s-wort, or hypericum, is a yellow-flowered herb named for St. John the Baptist. The suffix wort is commonly used for medicinal plants. Saint-John’s-wort was used in the past to ward off evil, protect homes from lightning, cure bed-wetting, and promote healthy crops. It was used extensively as a wound treatment in the Civil War. It is a spreading, woody perennial that blooms in June and is often seen in well-drained rock gardens, banks, and edgings. Some people claim that if you cut it after sunset, a fairy horse will carry you off until daybreak.