St. John's wort tinctures, oil, and salve.
The jar on the left is a tincture in "becoming" from St. John's wort gathered today. The jar in the center is the remaining tincture made three years ago. In the dropper bottle is tincture handy for immediate use. In the "Adams" jar on the right is a St. John's wort oil I made several years ago. And, in the small white jar is a salve, just made, from the St. John's oil.
The early morning sun at my back casts a long shadow on the forest trail near my condo where I gather an abundance of edibles and medicinals.
Things are growing and blooming! And, it's the perfect time to admire flowers and forage for medicinal herbs that grow along the forest trail. Come with me and I'll show you what I've gathered on today's walk, and what I'm making!
St. John's Wort!
It's native to this part of Northern Idaho and is a great bee plant, too. St. John's is used internally in tincture form to treat mild to moderate depression. Externally, as an oil or salve, apply it to wounds, itchy spots, rashes, external inflammation from scrapes, abrasions, and insect bites.
St. John's Wort grows right along the forest path. It's bright yellow flowers exude a red juice when crushed.
I gather the "aerial" parts which are the top four to five inches of the plant - flowers, stems, and leaves. I use St. John's wort to make an infused oil, a salve, and an alcohol-based tincture.
When infused in olive oil, the rich, red oil - with a slightly chocolaty scent - may be applied directly to the skin and rubbed in. It may be heated and mixed with beeswax to create a salve.
In ancient times St. John's wort was used to heal sword wounds. As an oil or salve I apply it to cuts and scrapes. The salve is used similarly and is a easier application than the oil when applying it to one's hinter parts to soothe the irritation of hemorrhoids or the sting caused by bladder infections and other irritations and chafing.
I use St. John's to reduce the pain of backaches, sore muscles, and arthritic inflammation by applying it in combination with arnica salve or cream. Arnica quickly removes the pain, however, the effect is short-lived. St. John's works more slowly penetrating deeply to the cause of the discomfort. They seem to be synergistic when used together. It's as if the St. John's wort "carries" the arnica cream more deeply into the tissues.
A great combination for treating my occasional back spasms is to rub the area with a combination of both arnica cream and St. John's salve or oil, and additionally take oral, under-the-tongue homeopathic arnica Montana or a homeopathic backache remedy such as, Hyland's Backache Relief. Relief from back pain is pronounced in 24 hours and usually completely gone in about four days as opposed to the excruciating two weeks of recovery when using over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.
While I do visit my doctor, dentist, and vision specialist for regular checkups, I also self medicate my non-serious bumps, bruises, and "owies" with my own homemade remedies. They're way less expensive, and easy and fun to make. They add to my efforts toward greater self-sufficiency, and get me outside and into Nature's abundance and bounty!
I will snip these aerial parts into one-inch pieces to make them easier to add to a jar and to provide more access points for the "menstrum: (usually alcohol, vinegar, or glycerin).
Recipe: St. John's wort Oil
Fresh or dried St. John's wort, cut into one-inch pieces, if fresh
Olive oil (avacado, almond, jojoba, etc.)
Mason jar
If using fresh material, fill your jar to just below the shoulders, lightly packing it down. If using dried herb, fill it about half way, pressing it in.
Fill the jar with oil up to the shoulders. Use a knife to release any air bubbles caught in the material and oil. Screw on a lid and allow the material to infuse (macerate) for about six weeks. Shake it every so often and check to be sure fresh herb material is submerged in the oil.
After six weeks strain off the red oil, pouring it into a clean, dry jar, and discard the herb. Store your oil in the fridge or a cool pantry or cupboard.
St. John's wort oil after infusing (macerating) for six weeks, then straining off the used herb. I'll use some of this oil made a few years ago to make a salve.
The following recipe may be increased to make make several jars of salve.
Recipe: St. John's Wort Salve
1/2 cup St. John's wort oil
3 tsp grated or pelleted beeswax
4 to 5 oz jar
Pour the oil into a small pan. Add the beeswax. Heat gently until the beeswax is completely melted. Stir occasionally to be sure oil and beeswax are well mixed.
Heat the oil and beeswax on medium-low until the beeswax is melted, stirring occasionally.
Pour the mixture into a clean, dry jar. Four-ounce Mason jars work well, too. Add a label.
Allow the salve to completely cool. As it cools it will begin to turn opaque and harden. Initially, it will look like it's not going to harden, but it will.
Solid and opaque, - shadowing and reflection makes it look loose but it isn't - your salve may be stored at room temperature, and is ready for use.
I seldom suffer from depression, but I do make and keep some St. John's wort tincture on hand when my mood needs a lift. I used it often during the Covid years.
I take a dropper full - about .50 to .75 ml - three times a day in tea, water, juice, wine, or directly under my tongue holding it for a few seconds then swallowing. It may take up to a week to notice a lifting of mood.
Recipe: St. John's Wort Tincture
Pint or quart jar
Fresh or dried St. John's Wort
Vodka or brandy (vinegar or glycerin, if preferred)
If using fresh herb, lightly pack it into the jar to just below the shoulder. If using dried herb, press it into the jar filling it halfway. Dried herb is twice as potent because all the water has been removed and it will soak up more of menstrum.
Pour your menstrum of choice to completely fill the jar to the shoulders whether using fresh or dried herb. When using fresh herb be sure the menstrum covers the herb. Poke with a knife to release any bubbles or air pockets. Add more menstrum, if needed.
Screw on a lid and place the jar in a dark spot - cupboard or pantry - for six weeks. You may need to add a bit more menstrum as the herb soaks it up. Shake the jar occasionally and check to make sure any fresh herb is covered so it doesn't mold.
In upcoming posts I'll share how I make most of my own household cleaning, medicinal, and cosmetic products!
Realizing that half a pint jar wasn't going to make enough tincture to last until next spring, I went back out and gathered enough to fill the pint jar to the shoulders. This way I'll be sure to have enough to use and share, if needed.
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Notes:
St. John's wort is known in many areas as a noxious weed, sometimes called "Klamath weed". A weed is simply a plant whose efficacy and virtues remain unknown to us.
I only gather as much as I think I'll need of any herb or edible. Dried herbs retain potency for only about a year - unless infused in oil or tinctured then they'll last for years. I simply plan to gather new material each season.
I always leave some flowers, seeds, roots, leaves to allow the plant to propagate itself and to photosynthesize sunlight.
I never gather all the plant, but only about 10- to 20% that's present in any patch.
When using fresh herb, you'll need twice as much as if you're using dried. If you dry the herb it will shrink by about half as the water evaporates away.
When making an infused oil, I generally use dried herb as the water content of a fresh herb may cause the oil to mold. There is a process by which to extract the water but it's simpler and more natural to simply dry the herb first. Molding isn't a factor when using alcohol as the menstrum.
I prefer to use olive oil to make my herb-infused oils because I "feel" and "sense" that it penetrates into the skin layers more deeply. Also, olive oil doesn't go rancid as quickly as other nut, flower, or seed oils. I do use almond oil, or in combination with olive oil, for making cosmetic products.
As the prices increase due to inflation it becomes a real money saver to make as much of your own medicines, body care items, and cleaning products as you can.
Making a salve is so simple. All that's needed is infused St. John's wort oil (made with dried herb and olive oil), some beeswax, and a jar!
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