St. Johns Wort Infused Oil is one of my favorite oils to make every year. St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant that has been used for centuries, primarily it is well known for its mental health benefits. Did you know it also has many benefits used topically on the skin?

When used as a supplement or a tincture, st. johns wort may be helpful for depression, anxiety, sleep issues, and mood disorders. While I don't have any personal experience using it for these issues, I can say from personal experience it is wonderful for the skin.

Benefits of St. Johns Wort for Skin

St. Johns Wort is typically used topically for wound healing. You may see it as in ingredient in salves for scrapes, burns, or sunburn. This is because it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and pain-relieving properties when used topically. It is sometimes used to sooth nerve pain or muscle aches as well. The best way to capture the skin healing properties of St. Johns Wort is to make an infused oil. The oil can also be used as an ingredient in a salve or ointment once it is made.

St. Johns Wort Infused Oil

Infused oil is easy to make but finding fresh St. John's Wort may be a challenge. You might be wondering why I am recommending a fresh herb to infuse oil. If you have been studying herbal medicine making or following my how to herbal articles you may remember that dried herbs are always used when infusing an oil. There are a handful of exceptions to this rule and St. John's Wort is one of them.

St. Johns Wort is one of very few herbs that is used fresh to make an infused oil. It's key active compound, hypericin, is extracted into a more potent oil when it is still fresh.

Where to Get Fresh St. Johns Wort

It is relatively easy to find dried St. Johns Wort to purchase at herb suppliers. Finding fresh St. Johns Wort to purchase is a little bit harder to come by. I have not been able to find a reliable source to purchase this fresh herb so I choose to forage for this herb and grow it myself. I usually post my foraging finds on Instagram so follow me to be reminded when seasonal herbs are available for foraging in the Northeast. Be prepared when you go out walking, create a foraging bag with some basic items you will need to forage.

In the Northeast region of the United States, St. Johns Wort is usually perfect for foraging in mid July. When I am out walking or even driving, I can spot this sunny yellow flower from afar. If you do come across it, be sure not to pull up its roots so that the plant will come back each year. Simply snip the top of the plant to harvest its aerial parts.

How to Make St. Johns Wort Infused Oil

Ingredients  

• Fresh St. Johns Wort
• Carrier oil – Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Sunflower Oil, etc.

Instructions 

• Collect your fresh St. Johns Wort and let it lightly wilt for 12-24 hours to reduce moisture. Snip into small pieces. Some people only use the flowers but I use the leaves and stem as well.
• Use a glass jar that you can fill at least 2/3 of the way with the fresh flowers, leaves, and stems.
• Pour your choice of carrier oil over top of the herb, fill to the brim and cap tightly.
• Leave the jar in a warm location for 4-6 weeks. I place a seedling mat under the jar to keep it warm but not hot.
• After 4–6 weeks, strain through cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Store in a dark glass bottle in a cool, dry place (it should last up to a year)

Your finished oil should be a bright red color (like in this photo). If you use dried St. Johns Wort you will not get this bright color, it will be a darker more rusty color. The benefit to using it fresh is that you are able to extract more hypericin.

Uses for St. Johns Wort Oil

• Make a St. Johns Wort salve for scrapes and burns
• Use the oil to sooth sunburn
• Add it to a facial oil mixture
• Use it on eyebrows to encourage growth
• Add it to a body oil recipe
• Use it as a massage oil for sore muscles

Thank you for reading,

Roxanne

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