79. Sunshine Medicine: The Healing Magic of St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort has evolved over millennia to capture the ultimate expression of sunlight on our planet and turn it into the molecule hypericin, which has numerous profound effects on our human bodies.

Find our St. John’s Wort Oil & check out my teacher Kami McBride’s course Handcrafted Healing Herbal Oils.

From deep nerve healing, relaxation, and pain relief when applied externally to its antidepressant, antiviral, and liver supportive properties when taken internally, SJW has always occupied an exalted place in the medicine cabinet of the ancestral humans who were lucky enough to live where it grew, and is one of the most used and loved herbal medicines in the world today.

IN THIS EPISODE:

St. John’s Wort acts as an extension of sunlight
The endless external uses include the healing of wounds, bruises, burns, blisters, cuts, eczema, growing pains, inflamed skin, muscle pain, nerve pain, neck tension, spasms, back pain, neuralgia, sciatica, insomnia, anxiety, and stress
The oil is indispensable for menstrual pain, pregnancy, postpartum, babies, children, elders, empaths, and highly sensitive people
Photosensitivity, precancerous skin cells, and using SJW as sunscreen
Internal uses: notes on the antidepressant, antiviral, and liver supportive effects (including my shingles story)
Hypericum feeds our inner radiance and summons forth our purpose and power
This ancient herb has always been associated with fairies and other magical beings
How empire co-opted pagan rituals and herbal practices
The widespread ritual use of St. John’s Wort as a protective herb
A word on wildcrafting and non-natives v invasives
Making your own high potency, shelf stable herbal oils
Herbal medicine is so simple, yet also endlessly complex
Kami McBride speaks about St. John’s Wort