How to Harvest and Store St. John's Wort

Introduction

St. John's wort (an Anglo-Saxon word that means "herb"), is an herb that has been used by man since the ancient Greeks and has a rich history that includes folklore and magic. The plant is named for John the Baptist, and some believe that the 24th of June, St John's birthday, is the best time of year to harvest the plant. Interestingly, the plant does seem to reach its peak for harvesting on that very day.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Steps

1

Step One

Look for bright yellow flowers. The best time to harvest them is by the 24th of June, when the flowers are not yet completely open. These flowers contain hypericin in greater quantities than the rest of the plant. Hypericin is one of the properties of the plant that can be used as a balm for skin, or when ingested, can help the nerve tissues and increase blood flow.

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Step Two

Take the entire St. John's wort plant inside and cut it there; keep the flowers and the bulk of the buds.

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Step Three

Sift any unwanted items from the flowers and buds such as dirt and leaves.

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Step Four

Test the plant to find its level of hypericin. Put a flower into a dish with olive oil. If the oil turns very red, the level of hypericin is very high.

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Step Five

Make a tincture of St. John's wort by putting two to three ounces of flowers, bud and leaves in a pint jar. Cover the St. John's wort with 8 ounces of 100 proof vodka. Tighten the lid on the jar, and shake the bottle periodically. Do this for two weeks, then strain the liquid from the bottle and keep it in an airtight bottle. Do not leave the mixture in the sun as it can lessen its potency.

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Step Six

Mix oils and salves with the St. John's wort, being careful to keep them from the sunlight also.