How to Use St. John's Wort as an Anti-Inflammatory

While St. John's Wort is best known as a homeopathic antidepressant, the herb has many other uses as well. The active ingredient, hypericin has antimicrobial properties that make it an anti-inflammatory agent.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Tincture of St. John's Wort
• Dried St. John's Wort
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (optional)
• 1 pt. alcohol (optional)

Soothe Inflammation Using St. John's Wort

1. Visit your local health-food store to purchase St. John's Wort. The herb is available in many different forms. It can be purchased fresh and dried. You can also buy it as a prepared tincture, in teabags or in capsules.
2. Look carefully at the labels of commercially prepared St. John's Wort to make sure the preparation is a standardized product. Standardized products of St John's Wort should have been processed, so that each recommended dose contains at least 3 percent of hypericin.
3. Use an infused oil extract or a salve of St. John's Wort as an external anti-inflammatory agent. Apply it to the affected area and rub it in thoroughly to ensure that some of the herb passes through your skin.
4. Drink an 8 oz. cup of a decoction of St. John's Wort, three times a day, to benefit from the astringent properties of the herb. This property is particularly helpful for cleansing the colon.
5. Take 5 to 10 drops of St. John's Wort tincture daily as an anti-inflammatory agent. Since the tincture is an alcohol-based tonic, it contains more of the herb's phytochemicals. Alcohol tends to extract more active hypericin than water.

Make a St. John's Wort Decoction

6. Place 2 tbsp. of dried St. John's Wort in a pan with 8 oz. of water.
7. Boil the mixture, and let it simmer for 10 to 20 minutes before removing it from the heat.

Make a St. John's Wort Tincture

8. Steep 2 oz. of dried St. John's Wort in a pint of anything from 40- to 200-proof alcohol. Many herbalists use vodka to make tinctures.
9. Let it stand for 5 to 7 days, shaking occasionally to keep the herb from settling to the bottom of the bottle.
10. Strain the mixture and discard the vegetation. Place the liquid in clean, small bottles with dropper lids.

Make a St. John's Wort Salve

11. Pulverize the flowers of a St. John's Wort plant or purchase the dried herb.
12. Moisten the herb and boil it for 15 to 20 minutes.
13. Add 1/2 cup of corn, olive or safflower oil for every 2 tbsp. of St. John's Wort.
14. Simmer the mixture until the water evaporates.
15. Add enough beeswax or lard to make it a paste-like consistency.
16. Allow the mixture to cool. It will keep for up to 1 year in an airtight container.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid getting too much sun while using St. John's Wort. It causes photosensitivity, which means you will sunburn easily and severely.
• Avoid using St. John's Wort in conjunction with prescription medications. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist for potential interactions.

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