St John’s Wort

Hypericum perforatum

This special and poorly named plant is a perennial herb with small yellow flowers and perforated leaves–invasive to the Pacific Northwest but super medicinal. You’ll see the little holes when you hold it up to the light, and that’s how you know you have St. John’s wort (and not one of its cousins)! Or you can crush the flower and it’ll turn red before your eyes.

It’s most well known as an anti-depressant when taken internally, though there are lots of contraindications with other medications. Topically, it’s known to heal burns and nerves. Our hands and especially fingers are sensitive and nerve-rich areas of the body. St John’s wort is one of the few topical herbs traditionally recognized to calm nerve pain that can come about from intense climbing sessions or injury.

This special plant can only be harvested fresh in the summer (the medicine evaporates when the flower is dried). Even though the flower is yellow, the infusion will turn a deep and gorgeous red, and that’s how I know I’ve captured the medicine–Hypericin, and its related compounds.