Sunshine Medicine: The Healing Magic of St. John's Wort

Sunshine Medicine: The Healing Magic of St. John's Wort

Author: Amber Magnolia Hill July 12, 2021 Duration: 1:00:49
Medicine Stories
SocietySociety & CultureAlternativeCultureFitnessHealthHealth & Fitness

St. John's Wort has evolved over millennia to capture the ultimate expression of sunlight on our planet and turn it into the molecule hypericin, which has numerous profound effects on our human bodies.

Find our St. John's Wort Oil & check out my teacher Kami McBride's course Handcrafted Healing Herbal Oils.

From deep nerve healing, relaxation, and pain relief when applied externally to its antidepressant, antiviral, and liver supportive properties when taken internally, SJW has always occupied an exalted place in the medicine cabinet of the ancestral humans who were lucky enough to live where it grew, and is one of the most used and loved herbal medicines in the world today.

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • St. John's Wort acts as an extension of sunlight

  • The endless external uses include the healing of wounds, bruises, burns, blisters, cuts, eczema, growing pains, inflamed skin, muscle pain, nerve pain, neck tension, spasms, back pain, neuralgia, sciatica, insomnia, anxiety, and stress

  • The oil is indispensable for menstrual pain, pregnancy, postpartum, babies, children, elders, empaths, and highly sensitive people

  • Photosensitivity, precancerous skin cells, and using SJW as sunscreen

  • Internal uses: notes on the antidepressant, antiviral, and liver supportive effects (including my shingles story)

  • Hypericum feeds our inner radiance and summons forth our purpose and power

  • This ancient herb has always been associated with fairies and other magical beings

  • How empire co-opted pagan rituals and herbal practices

  • The widespread ritual use of St. John's Wort as a protective herb

  • A word on wildcrafting and non-natives v invasives

  • Making your own high potency, shelf stable herbal oils

  • Herbal medicine is so simple, yet also endlessly complex

  • Kami McBride speaks about St. John's Wort

RESOURCES:

Learn to Make Your Own Herbal Oils:

Previous Episodes & Books Mentioned:

More Good Stuff:


Amber Magnolia Hill hosts Medicine Stories from a place of hard-won experience, having navigated her own journey back from exhaustion. As a mother and practicing herbalist, she frames each conversation around the idea that true wellness is a tapestry woven from many threads. You’ll hear discussions that go beyond simple remedies, delving into the practicalities of herbal support, the nuances of metabolic balance, and the often unspoken realities of navigating life as a woman today. This podcast serves as an audio companion for those feeling the pull to slow down and reconnect. Episodes feel like honest talks with a knowledgeable friend, exploring how personal vitality is deeply linked to our relationship with our own bodies, our community, and the natural world. It’s for anyone curious about moving from burnout toward a more grounded and resilient way of living, with Amber’s guidance offering both wisdom and tangible practices. Tune in for a thoughtful blend of personal narrative, herbal wisdom, and collective reflection on what it means to heal.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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