St. J’s wort – The Nervine Wonder Weed

One of my favorite nervines is St. J’s wort. I turn to this bushy, yellow-and-red flowering herb for loosening up muscular tension in the neck and shoulder, and for soothing and repairing nerves, more than for its most celebrated contemporary use as an herb for mild to moderate depression, though it’s definitely helpful for that, too. St. J’s invites you to join her on the sunny side of the street, psychologically speaking, and to join her physically in the sunny meadows where she likes to grow. Speaking of sunshine, St. J’s is considered a specific for Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, when depression (or simply a case of the blues) is directly correlated to a lack of adequate sunlight. (Check your vitamin D levels too.)

I suggest starting with about fifteen drops of tincture in a cup of warm water or tea made with any nervine you like. You might add it into skullcap tea if you are ready to go to sleep, into chamomile tea if you are having belly cramps, or into linden blossom infusion to help with sadness and grief, and to help you relax and get ready for a good night’s sleep.

You can also use St. J’s flowers as a tea or infusion, though the lovely blossoms turn a bit bitter as they steep. When I add them into infusions, I use them sparingly.

To read this full article, please visit NY Spirit where it was published last month : NY Spirit 

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