Updated 17 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Theales
- Family: Clusiaceae
- Genus: Hypericum
- Part used: Flowering plant
- Country of origin: Metropolitan France, Bulgaria
Precautions for use
Caution! St. John's Wort essential oil is not recommended for children under 6 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Not all forms of use are approved.
People with asthma should seek medical advice before using this essential oil.
In terms of risks of use, St. John's Wort essential oil can be irritating, so it should be diluted to 20% in vegetable oil for application to the skin.
Finally, it has an allergenic risk.
Other precautions
Warning:
- People with asthma should consult a doctor before using this essential oil.
Cutaneous use:
- St. John's Wort essential oil can be irritating to the skin when applied neat.
- It is therefore necessary to dilute it by 20% in vegetable oil before use (20% essential oil and 80% vegetable oil).
Allergenic components:
St. John's Wort essential oil contains an allergenic biochemical component:
- Limonene (≤ 0.5%)
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
Adults and adolescents
Children under 6 years
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
Pregnant women younger than 3 months
Infants under 3 years old
How to use
Risks of use
Allergic
Properties
- Insecticide
- Expectorant, anti-catarral
- Cicatrizant
- Anti-inflammatory (mucous membranes)
- Anti-infective (limited), antiseptic
- Anti-traumatic
Indications
- Haematoma
- Raynaud's Syndrome
- Muscular pain
- Tendonitis
- Internal trauma (sequelae)
- Joint pain
- Rheumatism
- Stomatitis
- Peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory and spasmodic enterocolitis
- Cystitis
- Pyelonephritis
- Prostatitis
- Vaginitis
- Endometritis
- Uterine engorgement and inflammation
- Itching
- Sunburn
- Redness
- Couperose
- Cuts
- Insect bites
Directions for use/usual dosage
- For joint or muscle pain, dilute this EO in St John's Wort macerate and massage into the painful area.
- For itching or redness, apply 1 to 2 drops topically after dilution in an EO maceration.
- To relieve depression, apply 1 to 2 drops of EO to the solar plexus and under the soles of the feet.