St. Johns Wort
Long used through ought Europe for healing wounds and curing “The Blues”. St. Johns Wort has been scientifically proven to help cases of mild to moderate depression. It has been introduced to North America and is considered a widespread invasive species.
Medicinal uses of St. Johns Wort
Primary use
Medicinal
Edible parts
leaves, flowers, seed buds. tea
Medicinal
Depression and Anxiety
"Mood" disorders
Wound Healing - antiseptic
How to prepare it
Eat it - Dry or fresh
Tea - Fresh or Dry
Tincture
Oil
Salves
Foraging Plant information list
This is not a complete list, this is a list of the species I have directly witnessed in my travels here in Northwest Ontario. If you find something before I do, email me and let me know.
Lambs Quarters
Joe Pye Weed
Cattails
Labrador Tea
Creeping Charlie (Ground Ivy)
Chickweed
Clover (Red)
Clover (White)
Clover (Sweet White)
Fiddleheads
Fireweed
Goldenrod
Bull Thistle
New England Aster
Saskatoon (Service berry)
Blueberry
Pin Cherry
Hazelnuts
Raspberry
Red Currants
Cranberry
Thimble Berry
Cloud Berry
Squashberry (Low bush Cranberry)
Spruce Tips
Birch
Juniper
Willow
A common method is to soak the St. Johns Wort in a high alcohol Vodka for two to 4 weeks to make a tincture. Then simply take a few drops a day.
Identification
St. Johns Wort is easily recognizable by the tiny apparent perforations in the leaves. These are tiny holes where the leaf itself is transparent and when held up to light it appears to be riddled with holes.
The Flowers are bright yellow flowers with five petals with conspicuous black dots. When the flower buds or seed pods are crushed, a reddish/purple liquid is produced. The reddish/purple liquid is the good stuff.
Gallery of pictures
Where to look
Along roadsides/disturbed areas, they enjoy sun and a multitude of soil types. Driving bush roads where the roadsides are cut back regularly provide great habitat.
