St. John's wort, history and etymology
St. John's wort, history and etymology
Contemporary, the native plant St. John's wort is famous and infamous as a medicine against modern ailment depression. Concentrated extracts are prescribed as an antidepressant both in official and in alternative medicine. Tea and oil from this plant have been used as a medicinal plant for more than 2000 years. Some history and etymology of this Hypericum perforatum.
Etymology of Hypericum
The name Hypericum is centuries-old and has several etymological explanations. Euryphon (a Greek doctor and physicist, 288 BC) first mentioned 'Ypericon'; also Pliny the older mentioned 'Hyperikon chamaepitis' as well as 'Hypericon corion'.