Natural remedies against "mad spirits" (Paracelsus)
St. John's wort has been used since antiquity as a remedy for menstrual cramps and cyclical mood disorders. In the 16th century, Paracelsus described the medicinal plant as an herb against "maddening spirits," and today St. John's wort is one of the most frequently prescribed mild antidepressants. The plant, which grows to a height of 50 to 100 cm, has roots that can reach up to half a meter into the ground and bears oblong-oval leaves covered with oil glands. The leaves have translucent dots caused by oil cells present in the leaf tissue. The flowers, which emerge from the summer solstice in June until September, grow in panicle-like inflorescences and have five golden-yellow, free petals. If the flowers or buds are rubbed between the fingers, they turn red. Active ingredients: The active ingredient hyperforin is primarily responsible for its effects. Tincture: Place St. John's wort in a bottle and cover with double-distilled grain spirit. Let it rest for 14 days. Take a maximum of one teaspoon three times a day. Oil: Fill a wide-mouthed bottle with blossoms and buds and cover them with good, cold-pressed olive oil. The blossoms should be able to float. Then let the oil infuse for six to eight weeks. Store in a cool, dark place. Tea: Pour hot water over one to two heaped teaspoons of blossoms and leaves per large cup (250 ml) and let it steep, covered, for three to ten minutes. Drink no more than two to three cups throughout the day.
Natural habitat: St. John's wort is native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa at low to medium altitudes.
