Saint John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum, named after St. John the Baptist because it blooms around his celebration day (June 24), was once thought to rid the body of evil spirits. It has a history of use as a medicine dating back to ancient Greece, and it has been used for centuries topically to treat bruises, muscle pain, nerve damage, sciatica, and back pain.
St. John’s wort has many traditional uses and is one of the few herbs that’s been subjected to a lot of scientific research. It is an amazing home remedy to help ease the pain and aid in the healing of minor burns.
Since this roadside plant reduces inflammation and promotes wound healing, it has been used topically to help heal wounds and burns, calm nerve pain such as sciatica, and help improve skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Cherokee Indians used the mucilage from the leaves as an ointment to treat bruises and burns and they also introduced the plant to early Colonists. "Wort" is Middle English for "herb." St. John’s wort is anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and helps with mild to moderate nerve pain.
