St John’s Wort

This St John’s wort I found growing near Spalding in Lincolnshire. The depressive and melancholic will know it as an ingredient in herbal anti-depressant tablets. Mind, the respected mental health charity, explains:

St John's wort is a herbal medicine used to treat mental health problems. The botanical name for St John's wort is Hypericum perforatum, and it is sometimes marketed and sold as 'Hypericum'. It contains many active substances, including hypericin and hyperforin, which are thought to affect mood. Today St John's wort is mainly used as an over-the-counter remedy to treat mild or moderate depression.

Are there side effects and is it safe? Some research shows that people who take St John's wort have fewer, or less serious, side effects than with commonly prescribed antidepressant medications. There are also some people who take St John's wort and do not have any side effects.

I cannot comment on whether it works, and neither will I be one of those stupid persons who glibly dismisses mental illness or melancholia. If it helps, take it. Nevertheless, I would add that St John’s Revelation will have an even greater effect on cheering the spirit than the Wort:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev 21:1-4, NJKV