I met St. John's Wort while treking out to climb some boulders beneath a powerline. The landscape was speckled with little yellow flowers. The person I was climbing with mentioned the abundance of St. John's Wort.
Up until that day, St. John's Wort had been familiar to me as a capsule one would use to treat symptoms of depression with. I hadn't stopped to think that the capsule contents came from this little plant with a bright golden yellow flower.
St. John's Wort can be used for many purposes. As I write this, I've been using it topically on my skin. In the summer of 2026 I collected flowers and soaked them in oil for about a month until the oil shifted in colour from a light amber to a deep rich reddish colour. I used that oil to create a salve.
I use this salve primarily on my hands after I climb. St. John's Wort is said to have soothing and healing properties when used topically. I have not used it internally, but taking it as a tea or tincture is common for treating anxiety and depression—but I should also mention that it is not recommended to consume St John's Wort if you're taking prescription medication as the St. John's Wort effects drug metabolization.
