Named after John the Baptist, St. John’s wort is an upright flowering perennial originally native to Europe but now found throughout most of the world. In fact, the plant has proliferated in some regions to the point of invasiveness.
Although the herb is toxic to grazing livestock in large does, humans have taken advantage of the plant’s beneficial properties for centuries. The seed pods and flower buds yield a red dye for wool and other textiles, the color of which can be modified to varying shades depending on acidity of the dye bath. Infused in oil, the herb promotes skin health and helps to ease muscular pain when applied topically.