SAINT JOHN'S WORT

Hypericum perforatum: Hypericaceae

PLANET: Sun

ELEMENT: Fire

TASTE: bitter, sweet, astringent	VIPAKA: pungent
WARMTH: cooling	DOSHAS: V+ P- K-

MERIDIANS: liver, kidney, spleen, stomach

ACTIONS: cooling nervine and nervine tonic, antispasmodic, sedative, anodyne, alterative, antiinflammatory, aromatic, astringent, expectorant, vulnerary, diuretic.

INDICATIONS: all pulmonary complaints, all urinary complaints, dysentery, worms, diarrhea, hysteria, anxiety, nervous depression, haemoptysis and other hemorrhage, incontinence, enuresis, catarrh, used in fomentations to dissolve hard tumors, menopausal irritability or anxiety, rheumatism, coughs, colds, neuralgia, sciatica, fibrositis, jaundice, oil used to heal skin lesions.

CONSTITUENTS: essential oil containing CARYOPHILLENE and GERMICRENE, HYPERICIN (a glycoside that is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and a red pigment), flavonoids incl. HYPERASIDE, tannin, resins, pectin, CAROTENES

PREPARATION AND USE:
-1-2 tsp. in 1 cup water, 2-3 times daily
-for antidepressant effect, must be used for two or three months
-as a liniment or poultice for sciatica, neuralgia, rheumatic pains
-make an oil by soaking in olive oil and allowing to stand for three days. Especially good for sunburn
-use the oil in ointments for wounds, bruises, varicose veins and burns
-gentle remedy safe for children and elderly

USE IN MAGIC: Health, Fire magic, Protection, Strength, Love Divination, Happiness
-gather at Midsummer (also known as "Saint John's Day")
-wards off fevers, colds, mental illness, thunderbolts, fire, evil spirits
-identifies other magicians and witches
-under the pillow to dream of loved one
-bearer is invincible in battle

USE IN PERSONAL GROWTH:
-can calm fear, depression, and frustration in order to free our ability for visionary thought
-alleviates the tension we can feel when we need to express our ideas and beliefs.
-strengthens will

"I open to my Father, the Sun, knowing He smiles upon me with loving encouragement."

THE FLOWER ESSENCE

PATTERNS OF IMBALANCE: Overly expanded state leading to psychic and physical vulnerability.

"As flowers need sunlight in order to grow, so also the soul needs light -- both physical and spiritual -- to flourish. However, some souls lose themselves in light because they have not developed proper rooting. Saint John's Wort is indicated for those persons who are quite sensitive to light; they may be fair-skinned or easily sunburned, or find themselves adversely affected by intense heat or light. They are easily prone to many forms of environmental stress, including allergies. These individuals have a very active psychic life -- the astral body expands greatly during sleep and often loses much of its connection with the physical and etheric bodies, or with the ego. This weak association to the other bodies results in a propensity for invasion or attack from negative elemental forces or other entities, especially during sleep; dream disturbances, bed-wetting, or night-sweating can be common symptoms. Saint John's Wort flower essence has marvelous restorative powers; it provides protection and strength when the soul is in an overly expanded state. At its deepest level of transformation, Saint John's Wort helps the soul to circulate light through the body and into the earth. Rather than experiencing light as an external and merely physical reality, light works within the Self as a spiritual force which can illumine and anchor the consciousness."

Flower Essence information quoted from Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz, Flower Essence Repertory, The Flower Essence Society, Nevada City, CA. ISBN 0-9631306-1-7