How interesting! I learned a ton about St. John's Wort (not to mention what the word "wort" means). The colors that the plant yields are surprising, as are all of its remedy powers. Are you going to try dying yarn? Thank you for this fun and informative post!
Thanks for the thorough look at European St. John's Wort and its many medicinal uses. I especially appreciate that in harvesting the flowers and buds, you are keeping your local populations in check! I would only add that the photosensitivity is a real issue for those of us with Lupus and other autoimmune diseases, and those who are taking pharmaceuticals that can cause photosensitivity. So caution is very important. Enjoy your wildcrafting!
Thanks for sharing that additional information about photosensitivity, Susan. I wasn't aware that photosensitivity was associated with autoimmune diseases. I will add a warning to the article.
Thanks for adding a warning, Sue. Photosensitivity is only an issue in some autoimmune diseases (there are 60 or so described, I believe), but it can become serious enough for some that people can be severely burned. As with everything else involving the human body, the level of sensitivity varies by the individual, so it's not something that can be easily generalized. But it's real.
How interesting! I learned a ton about St. John's Wort (not to mention what the word "wort" means). The colors that the plant yields are surprising, as are all of its remedy powers. Are you going to try dying yarn? Thank you for this fun and informative post!
We had a portion of our pasture full of SJW last year, but am not seeing much of it this time around, other than dried out from last year.
I will need to pay better attention to your pasture!
Thanks for the thorough look at European St. John's Wort and its many medicinal uses. I especially appreciate that in harvesting the flowers and buds, you are keeping your local populations in check! I would only add that the photosensitivity is a real issue for those of us with Lupus and other autoimmune diseases, and those who are taking pharmaceuticals that can cause photosensitivity. So caution is very important. Enjoy your wildcrafting!
Thanks for sharing that additional information about photosensitivity, Susan. I wasn't aware that photosensitivity was associated with autoimmune diseases. I will add a warning to the article.
Thanks for adding a warning, Sue. Photosensitivity is only an issue in some autoimmune diseases (there are 60 or so described, I believe), but it can become serious enough for some that people can be severely burned. As with everything else involving the human body, the level of sensitivity varies by the individual, so it's not something that can be easily generalized. But it's real.
St. John's Wort is one of my favorite herbs. The variety I wildcraft here is a bit different & not as potent as yours.
Likely a native to your region. I have a native SJW, but it does not offer the red-purple oil.