St John’s Wort is a popular and well studied herb with great benefit, equivalent to anti-depressants without the side effects, for many people with mild to moderate depression and/or ‘melancholy’. I like the term melancholoy because many people don’t relate to the term “depression” but might relate to “melancholy” or “a bit down” or “a bit blue”, or they just don’t feel much joy and are just going through the motions in their life. Also, seasonal affective disorder can also be a mild or more severe sense of melancholy that can be benefitted with St John’s Wort. 

As a golden coloured flowering plant, that surprisingly turns red when steeped in oil, it has the ability to bring sunshine and upliftment to the spirit, and has been known for this for centuries at least. 

It has a long use for depression, but also for disturbed sleep and fatigue that is associated with people who have depression. It also has great benefit for women going through menopause, again for mood (including irritability & anxiety) but also for sleep and fatigue. 

St John’s Wort may take a few weeks to kick in. In fact many people don’t really notice that it has helped until they decide to go off it, then they realise it actually was helping their mood. 

St John’s Wort is also well known for its effect on the nervous system and may be used for nerve pain such as sciatica and neuralgia. It may even be used for Parkinsons Disease. Topically, the oil can also be used for painful cuts and bruises, and as been shown to help heal burns including sunburn, and to prevent golden staph infection. It also has traditional use for diabetes, viral infections, cancer, fibromyalgia and IBS. It is a wonderful herb with many benefits. 

St John’s Wort can’t be taken with many types of medication such as antidepressants, warfarin or the contraceptive pill. Therefore it is not suitable for many people. In which case, there are two other “sunshine” herbs that don’t have these sorts of contraindications: saffron and turmeric, that also show benefit for depression. 

I might put St John’s Wort in someone’s herbal mix if they have expressed either clearly, or more subtly, a sort of depression, sadness or inability to feel the joy in their life. I might also use other herbs such as lemon balm, ashwagandha and ginseng, but it depends on what else is going on and why they came for a consult. 

I make up herbal mixes for my clients, with herbs, flower essences and essential oils, to support their body to restore it’s health and wellbeing. Whether it’s for mood, to strengthen immunity, to support the adrenals, to help with sleep or fatigue, or for cardiovasculal health, or many other issues, herbs, flower essences and essential oils have a long history of benefit, with very few side effects. 

If this resonates with you, you can contact me either here through Messenger, or through my website www.susandeeley.com.au