John’s Wort Oil: Application and Effect of the Remedy

The application of St. John’s wort oil as a remedy can be very versatile. We will tell you what effect St. John’s wort oil has, what you can use it for and what you should pay attention to when using it on the skin.

The application of St. John’s wort oil as a remedy

John’s wort oil can be used to treat a variety of ailments.

• Burns: For minor burns, you can apply St. John’s wort oil for immediate relief to help redness go away faster and relieve pain. However, you should refrain from using it if you have severe burns with blistering.
• Wounds: Since St. John’s wort oil supports wound healing, you can use it to treat wounds. Daily rubbing into the closed wound supports the elasticity of the skin and prevents hypertrophic scars.
• Gums: In the case of wounds in the mouth, such as after an operation, or if your child’s milk teeth are falling out, St. John’s wort oil can be applied locally in the mouth to relieve the pain.
• Acne: By putting a little St. John’s Wort oil on inflamed pimples, you will help the healing process and also prevent scarring.
• Scalp: The oil can also be used against very greasy, scaly or itchy scalp. After showering, apply a few drops to the scalp and massage in briefly. After 10 to 20 minutes you can rinse off the oil treatment with lukewarm water.
• Itching: To reduce redness, dandruff and itching caused by psoriasis or neurodermatitis, you can apply St. John’s wort oil to the affected areas.
• Birth: In order to strengthen the skin in the vaginal and perineal area before birth and to improve its elasticity, you can cream it with a little St. John’s wort oil every day.

This effect has St. John’s wort oil

St. John’s wort oil has a reddish color and is therefore also called St. John’s blood or red oil. The essential oil that can be extracted from the flowers of the plant has many healing properties.

• Polyphenols: St. John’s wort oil contains a large number of polyphenols, which are among the secondary plant substances. Polyphenols have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.
• Hypericin: The dye hypericin contained in the flowers of St. John’s wort also has a healing effect. For example, it prevents bacterial infections. Due to the hypericin it contains, St. John’s wort can also be used for the concomitant treatment of mild depression.
• Hyperforin: Another important ingredient is hyperforin, an enzyme that counteracts inflammation and aids in wound healing. Just like hypercirin, hyperforin is one of the mood-enhancing active ingredients in St. John’s wort.

What you should pay attention to when using it

Despite the many positive effects that St. John’s wort oil can have, especially on skin health, you should pay attention to a few things when using it.

• Since hypericin not only has an antibacterial effect, but also has a sensitizing effect against UV rays, St. John’s wort oil can accelerate the development of sunburn.
• However, such an effect that increases skin sensitivity can only be expected from a high concentration of St. John’s wort. And this concentration is not reached with most commercially available St. John’s wort preparations.
• However, you should avoid extensive sunbathing and intense midday sun if you have applied large amounts of the oil to your skin or taken St. John’s wort preparations orally.
• If you regularly take certain medications, you should seek medical advice before using St. John’s wort as serious interactions can occur.
• For example, the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill can be reduced by St. John’s wort preparations.