Pharmaceuticals
Echinaforce® Hot Drink, Concentrate
To boost the body’s own defences in cases of susceptibility to colds and in cases of colds accompanied by fever.
Baikal Skullcap
Scutellaria baikalensis
St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a medicinal plant with a long history that has been used since ancient times to treat physical and mental ailments. Today, it is primarily known for its use in treating nervous restlessness, anxiety, and mild to moderate depressive moods. Herbal St. John’s wort preparations can alleviate symptoms and are generally well tolerated. However, it is important to note that St. John’s wort can interact with other medications and should therefore not be taken without professional advice.
Profile
- Botanical name: Hypericum perforatum L.
- German name: True St. John's Wort, St. John's Wort
- Occurrence: temperate climate zones of Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa
- Location: dry limestone or primary rock soils, sunny locations, fallow land, the edges of meadows and forests, walls, and paths
- Elevation: up to about 1,500 meters
- Height: about 50 to 80 centimeters
- Flowering season: Late June through September
- Part of the plant used: Flowers and Leaves
- Special feature: When the flowers are crushed, a blood-red sap oozes out.
St. John's wort grows from a widely branched rhizome. In the spring, several hard, bare, and often reddish stems form, growing to a height of about 50 to 80 centimeters. Toward the top, the stems branch out and spread widely.
An important identifying feature of St. John’s wort is the two longitudinal ridges on its stems. The sessile leaves are opposite, oblong-oval, entire, and dotted with fine black glandular spots. The golden-yellow flowers are located at the tips of the upper branches and form a spreading, corymb-like inflorescence.
The five-lobed, asymmetrical petals are also dotted with excretory glands. When the flowers are crushed, a blood-red sap oozes out, staining the fingers blue-violet. The numerous stamens are arranged in three bundles.
Warning: True St. John's wort can easily be confused with the poisonous ragwort.
Related Health Topics
- Stress & Sleep
- Nervous restlessness
- Trouble falling asleep