How to Harvest and Store St. John's Wort

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

• 1

  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.

• 2

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

• 3

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

• 4

  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.

• 5

  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.

• 6

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