Hypericum

St. John's Wort

Hypericum perforatum

Hypericum is prescribed for people who are depressed, frightened, or shocked following an injury or accident. They may be nervous, overexcited, constantly drowsy, talk while asleep, and forgetful when speaking. These people may also experience a constant sensation of elevation or falling.

Key physical symptoms associated with this remedy are injuries or wounds that feel more painful than they appear, with extremely sharp pains, perhaps in nerve-rich areas such as the fingertips or the base of the spine. The remedy may be used to relieve pain following operations, accidents, and is also given to help prevent tetanus. Nervous pains in phantom limbs after amputation, and toothaches or discomfort after dental treatment, may also be helped by the remedy.

Renowned medicinally since classical times, St. John's wort was long thought to have magical importance too. An extract of it is given for depression.

Uses

In homeopathy St. John's wort ( Hypericum ) is often prescribed for bodily injuries, among other conditions, but it is selected for the soothing effect it is said to have on injured nerves rather than for any traditional reason.
For homeopathic use the entire plant is harvested in summer, when its yellow flowers are in full bloom. It is pounded to a pulp and soaked in an alcohol solution before being weakened to the desired potencies through a vigorous dilution process.
Hypericum is used to treat shooting nerve pain that usually travels upward and nerve injuries, for example, after an operation or accident. Hypericum is the most important remedy to use whenever there is an injury to any part of the body with a high concentration of nerve endings, for example, the fingers, toes, spine, eyes, lips, nail beds, and head. Hypericum is effective for concussion with sensations in the head, such as an ice-cold feeling, and eye injuries. Hypericum acts on the spinal nerves, and is given for severe back pain that travels up or down the spine.
This is an excellent first-aid remedy for any kind of puncture wound, for example, from nails, splinters, or bites, and crushed fingers or toes.
Other ailments for which the remedy is used include: asthma that is worse in foggy weather; toothache with pulling or tearing pain.
Hypericum is also used for nausea; indigestion, when a person has a coated tongue with a clear tip; diarrhea; bleeding, painful hemorrhoids; nerve pain in the rectum; and late menstruation accompanied by a headache. Hypericum is useful in the treatment of depression and drowsiness.