Fighting the Blues

St. John the Baptist, the New Testament healer, lends his name to St. John's wort, which blooms during summer near the time of the feast of St. John. This short, yellow-flowering herb, botanically known as Hypericum, has been used since ancient times to treat all nerve-related problems, including depression, a disorder of the central nervous system. The species Hypericum perforatum is said to have the greatest amount of active ingredient for medicinal purposes, but many of the perennial species have at least some.The aboveground portions of the plant contain the essential oils from which the medicinal qualities of St. John's wort are derived. Ground-up flowers of St. John's wort suspended in vegetable oil are used to relieve pain from neurological disorders like tennis elbow and sciatica. When made into a tea, St. John's wort has been known to relieve symptoms of ulcers, gout, and arthritis. But St. John's wort is best-known for its effectiveness in the battle against depression, and because there are no recorded side effects from using St. John's wort, it is fast becoming an alternative to prescription antidepressants.St. John's wort is easy to grow and is well suited for a healing or wildflower garden. Its mid-green to blue-green foliage provides an attractive backdrop for the bright yellow flowers with their prominent yellow stamens. Choose a sunny spot in the garden with moist but well-drained soil, and expect your plants to reach two to three feet in height with a spread of at least two feet. With this sunny-yellow healer gracing the garden, you'll find it hard to keep singing the Blues!