Description
DESCRIPTION The common name “St John’s wort” comes from its traditional flowering and harvesting on St John’s Day, 24 June. The genus name Hypericum is derived from the Greek words hyper (above) and eikon (picture), in reference to the tradition of hanging plants over religious icons in the home during St John’s Day, to ward off evil.Saint John’s wort is a herbaceous perennial plant with extensive, creeping rhizomes. Its stems are erect, branched in the upper section, and can grow to 1 m high. It has opposite, stalkless, narrow, oblong leaves that are 1–2 cm long. The leaves are yellow-green in color, with scattered translucent dots of glandular tissue. The flowers measures up to 2.5 cm across, have five petals, and are colored bright yellow with conspicuous black dots.
IN ANCIENT TIMES In ancient times, the healing properties of the herb were well-known. Galenus and Dioscorides suggested it as a diuretic, healing, menopausal and haemostatic.Also, Hippocrates, Dioscorides and Plinius used it to treat sciatica and bites from poisonous animals.It was the famous remedy of the ancient Spartans, with which they used to heal their wounds after the battles, while it was suggested by the therapists as a remedy against depression and stomach ulcer.
PROPERTIES
St John’s wort is considered:
• Anti-depressant, tranquilizer, anticonvulsant and sleep quality improvement in insomnia.
• Anti-inflammatory and healing for burns and wounds. It is also believed to accelerate the disappearance of the hard skin tumors.
• Tonic and stimulant for weakened organisms and organisms with chronic fatigue.
• Relieves bronchitis, cough, asthma, chronic heartburn
• Menstrual – menses regulator.
• Diuretic.
• Spasmolytic.
• For stomach-intestinal disorders.
• Antidiarrheal
• Haemostatic
• Antipyretic and pain killer.
Two of its ingredients are used for dyeing woolen and silk threads
OTHER USES
Two of its ingredients are used for dyeing woolen and silk threads
Ελληνικά