
St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum) It is a shrub-like weed that produces yellow flowers. It is most commonly used to treat Depression, and Mood Swings. St. John's Wort is also used as an anxiety remedy. People taking St. John's Wort reported an improvement in anxiety. In fact, It is a tonic for the entire nervous system. This action is most strongly linked to two phytochemicals, hyperforin and hypericin. St. Johns was a useful member of the pharmacopoeia centuries before its use as an antidepressant was discovered. Drinking a cup of St Johns tea before bedtime can help children and adults troubled by incontinence and M. Grieve recommended it be used in all pulmonary complaints, bladder troubles, in suppression of the urine, dysentery, worms, and diarrhea. St. John's is also effective in the treatment of herpes lesions. Compresses soaked in a strong tea, the infused oil or a tincture can be applied to active lesions. The anti-viral activity of St. John can also be used to treat flu viruses (but not cold viruses). The fresh flowers infused in organic oil, produce a powerful red oil that is anti-inflammatory and analgesic. This therapeutic oil has so many uses that if it hurts, soothe it with St. Johns Oil. Some of the skin care uses for this oil include healing burns, damaged skin, pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle aches, PMS and breast tenderness.