A yellow wildflower that blooms around 24 June — and its oil, which turns wine-red in the sun.

What is St John’s wort?

St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a perennial with golden-yellow flowers. Hold a leaf up to the light and you will see tiny translucent dots — hence perforatum, “perforated”. Its flowers contain hypericin, hyperforin and flavonoids. When they are left for weeks in olive oil in the sun, the oil turns a deep red: this is the traditional St John’s wort oil. In cosmetics it is used either as an oil or as an extract.

What are the benefits of St John’s wort?

St John’s wort is the traditional Greek herb for skin care. Applied topically it:

• Soothes and gives a feeling of comfort
• Offers flavonoids with antioxidant activity
• Softens dry and rough skin
• Suits easily irritated skin
• Leaves the skin soft

The herb of Midsummer

St John’s wort blooms around the feast of St John on 24 June, and in many Greek villages that day the flowers are gathered to make the year’s oil. Hippocrates and Dioscorides already describe it, and its Greek name “hyperikon” comes from “hyper eikonos”, “above the icon”: it was hung above icons to ward off evil.

Where does it come from?

St John’s wort grows wild throughout Europe, western Asia and North Africa, in clearings, roadsides and fallow fields — and all over Greece. It is cultivated for plant extracts mainly in Germany, Poland, Chile and Australia.