The Mood Herb · 2026

St. John's Wort — benefits & uses

The bright yellow flower with a centuries-long folk history for low mood — what it does, and its serious safety notes.

Yellow St. John's Wort flowers with a jar of red infused oil on a wooden table
Traditional use

Low mood

A long folk history for lifting a low, flat mood, usually taken as a tea or tincture.

Also for

Nerve oil

The red infused oil is a traditional rub for nerve-type aches and minor muscle soreness.

Grows like

A sunny sprawler

Hardy, sun-loving and vigorous — easy to grow, just give it room.

⚠ Safety

Major interactions

Interacts with antidepressants, birth control, blood thinners and many drugs. Do not combine without a professional.

Read this first: St. John's Wort is one of the most interaction-heavy herbs there is. It can make prescriptions (including the pill) fail. Not medical advice — talk to a professional before using it, and never mix it with medication on your own.

Grown & used, on video

Grow your own St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort is one of the ten non-GMO seed varieties in Nicole Apelian's Medicinal Garden Kit, with her remedy guide covering its uses and cautions.

Herbs for stress & mood →

Free Printable · No Purchase Needed

The Backyard Remedy Handbook

Ten medicinal herbs and the simplest way to turn each into a tea, salve or tincture — one printable guide. We'll email it to you.

We'll also send 2-3 short remedy tips. Unsubscribe anytime.