St. John's wort, hypericon or St. John's wort is one of the best known and used medicinal plants since ancient times.
Identifying it is easy. You just have to put its leaves in the light. If they have a few small holes, it is hyperic.
To encourage you to make it, these are some of the uses that you can give to your balm:
- For cutaneous use. It is wonderful to treat all kinds of burns, chilblains or eczema. It also helps calm the acne, the bumps and bruises, the herpes and sores and any irritation. Including those of babies.
- If you apply it giving a massage, it will relieve you the contractures and relax the muscles.
Eye! You only have to be careful with one thing. As it is photosensitive, it is better if you avoid being in the sun a lot after using it.
On the other hand, if you ingest it in infusion or pills, St. John's wort relieves depression, it will help you calm anxiety and other types of nervous disorders related to hormonal changes.
Let's get to the point. Here you have the St. John's Wort balm recipe:
After collecting and drying the plant, you have to prepare a mashed.
How do you do this? It is very simple. You only have to fill ¾ parts of a jar with the flowers and leaves of the St. John's wort that you will have left to dry 3 days after collecting it.
Gradually add olive oil until the pot is full. Let the St. John's wort macerate for 40 days and strain it through a mesh or gauze. And you already have your macerate. You can use this oleate or you can continue with the process.
For the preparation from the balm you will need:
250 ml of hypericum oil macerate
30gr of candelilla or carnauba wax
2 drops of vitamin E
Elaboration
- Heat the wax with the St. John's Wort oil over a very low heat for 2 hours.
- You can add other plants such as chamomile, donkey mint or rosemary.
- Stir to mix well.
- Add vitamin E for better conservation.
- Pack quickly in a jar so that the wax does not solidify.
Let stand for 24 hours. Ready! Now you can take advantage of all the properties of hypericum with this ointment whenever you need it.
By the way, all the photos you see are from the summer solstice workshop that we held in the Flores del Norte workshop. Because there is nothing we like more in Nasei than enjoying nature, sharing our knowledge and enjoying good company.
And a delicious vermouth and cheeses from La Manducateca, too. Why are we going to deny it?
We are already thinking about the next meeting. So if you want to participate, pay attention to our newsletter and social networks. We will keep reporting. By the way, suggestions are welcome ;)
Text Verónica Martín / Photography Lorena Avignon