The flowers are used to make liquid extracts, pills, and teas. The popular herbal therapy is often used to ease symptoms of depression. People have been using St. John’s wort for centuries. St. John’s wort also has strong antiviral activity that may also promote healing and repair of wounds. St. John's wort also has antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been applied to the skin to help heal wounds and burns.

• St. John's wort can cause serious interactions with commonly used medications because of how it gets broken down by the liver. The herb can interact with medication in different ways. It can make some drugs less effective while making the effect of others stronger

• SJW helps soothe the pain associated with damaged nerves and neuralgia, and is used to soothe the discomfort of sciatica, shingles, and rheumatism. It can even restore and repair nerve sensation in nerves damaged by traumatic injury or other causes

• one large cohort study involving over 77,000 participants who were followed for over 5 years looked at whether continual use of various herbal and vitamin supplements had an effect on colorectal cancer risk; the study found that daily intake of SJW was associated with a 65% decrease in colorectal cancer risk

• may help with menstrual pain

• SJW contains constituents that are considered phototoxins, which may cause photosensitivity in fair-skinned people if taken internally

• muscle relaxant. It’s used to ease menstrual cramps. Vulnerary. This may heal wounds and swelling. Nerve tonic. It may have a positive effect on the nervous system. Anti-inflammatory. It may reduce swelling.