5 Skin Benefits Of Saint John's Wort Oil
When used topically, Saint John’s wort can add all-natural benefits to your skin care regimen. But, what makes this plant so effective?
Hypericum perforatum, or Saint John’s wort, is familiar to those in the traditional medicine space. It is characterized by bright, yellow flowers and black dots on/around the petals -- Which makes it easy to spot this plant in some areas across Africa, South America, and North America.
While it is better known for its effect on mood swings and serotonin, recent studies have highlighted the positive effects that Saint John’s wort has on the skin. For this blog post, I’ll be focusing on 5 topical benefits.
One of the ways to apply Saint John’s wort is by creating an oil -- Similar to this one from my shop.
This oil is made by infusing the leaves of the Saint John’s wort with other natural and plant-based extracts. This helps in creating a serum to naturally address all the issues of the skin.
So, what exactly can this oil do for you?
In this post, I’ll highlight a few of the skin benefits of Saint John's wort oil, namely:
Acts as a pain reliever;
Treats and manages acne;
Hydrates and moisturizes the skin;
Heals wounds, blisters, and cuts; and
Aids in preventing certain skin cancers.
While natural remedies like this one are commonly used, it’s always best to seek advice beforehand! Consider seeking advice from your doctor, or booking a virtual consultation here with yours truly.
Now, with that out of the way, have you ever tried using this flower for aches and pains?
Photo of Saint John’s Wort - Courtesy of Medindia
Saint John's Wort Oil As A Pain Reliever
One of the benefits of St John’s wort oil is to relieve pain associated with soreness and inflammation in the muscles, joints, and nerves.
According to some sources, this plant’s benefits may range from tingling in the feet to painful degenerative joint conditions. Sprains and cramps may also be reduced when the oil is applied directly to the affected area(s). Minor symptoms like skin irritations can also be addressed using this oil.
Along with those, Saint John’s wort oil can also reportedly lessen the discomfort caused by:
Sciatica
Arthritis
Myalgia
Gout
Rheumatism
Like most treatments, I recommend applying it regularly for the best results.
For those who like to create their infusions, you can make an ointment from a combination of Saint John’s wort oil and natural ingredients -- For example, rosemary oil or beeswax.
So long as Saint John’s wort is present, topical treatments can successfully relieve certain aches.
Saint John's Wort Oil And Acne Treatment
One of the common causes of acne, especially in adults, is inflammation.
Inflammation is best described as any pain, redness, heat, and/or swelling in the body that comes after you experience harm or injury.
In a recent study conducted by Lipids in Health and Disease, it was proven that acne is heavily influenced by inflammation at the cellular level.
Under the surface of the skin, certain glands secrete an oil known as sebum to keep us naturally moisturized. Where these glands usually produce healthy amounts, inflammation causes the skin’s regular sebum output to “oxidize”. This means that its oxygen level drops rapidly.
Diagram of inflammatory acne - Courtesy of Chill Cryotherapy
When this happens, the acne-causing bacteria known as Cutibacterium acnes has an environment that allows it to spread even more, which causes new blemishes and breakouts.
Fortunately, inflammation can be treated using Saint John’s wort.
For easy application, I would recommend applying this topically as an oil or serum. With its anti-inflammatory properties, Saint John's wort oil may prevent future breakouts. This is due to the Hyperforin constituent present in the plant. Hyperforin is highly anti-inflammatory.
While more studies need to be done in this area, treatment with St John’s wort oil for acne is growing increasingly popular.
Saint John's Wort Oil As A Moisturizer
While our skin retains moisture through sebum, most skin care routines also include a trusted face lotion -- St John’s wort oil is one of the best natural alternatives!
One of the many constituents found in Saint John’s wort is Niacinamide or Nicotinamide -- A vitamin that is known to enhance skin hydration and moisture retention.
Another lesser vitamin, Carotenoids, may also increase moisturization.
Along with helping acne-prone skin, users may also see reduced fine lines and wrinkles with regular topical use. This is a result of Collagen -- One of the most popular anti-aging properties. Studies have shown that St John’s wort stimulated more collagen production as well as improved healing for wounds.
Whether you’re looking for a new moisturizer or an all-in-one serum to improve your skin, St John’s wort provides natural relief to dehydrated skin.
For those of us who struggle with dryness, the oil extract from this plant soothes and rehydrates the skin.
Picture of herbal salves - Courtesy of Khela Herbs
Saint John's Wort Oil As A Healing Salve
Along with soothing and hydrating the skin, Saint John’s wort can also boost healing on the surface. Conditions like bruises, cuts, sunburns, contusions, and even varicose veins have all significantly improved after using St John’s wort.
This can be accomplished by creating an all-natural salve using the plant -- As outlined in this step-by-step blog post.
A salve is a cream or balm that protects the skin to improve the healing process. While they aren’t as popular as medicinal ointments, salves are still effective alternatives if you’re seeking all-natural treatments.
In one Iranian study, a group of women experienced signs of improvement in their cesarean wounds within a timeframe of 10 days.
To put this into perspective, over-the-counter treatments like medical silicone and dermabrasion can take as long as 2-3 months to show similar signs of improved healing.
Scientists have found its antibacterial properties make Saint John’s wort potent enough to prevent further infection to open wounds. The Hyperforin constituent also helps with treating wounds and reducing infections.
Picture of St John’s wort - Courtesy of Saga
Saint John's Wort Oil And Cancer Prevention
Another key benefit of Saint John’s wort is its use in cancer treatments.
As the most fatal skin cancer in the world, an estimated 97,610 persons are diagnosed with Melanoma worldwide in the US. Of that number, unfortunately, a fatality rate of about 9% is expected yearly.
This specific type of cancer has a few common symptoms (which may appear before formal diagnosis):
A small, scaly patch of skin
A mole with an uneven color or different appearance
A rash or sore that does not heal
So, how does Saint John’s wort oil prevent skin cancer?
When applied topically, this oil penetrates the topmost layer and targets the cancer cells from within. The Hypericin extract was found to significantly reduce the production of melanoma cells (ie: cancer cells) and kill existing ones.
Final Thoughts
Saint John’s wort oil has a wide array of skin benefits, specifically:
Soothes and relieves pain;
Treats skin conditions like acne and eczema;
Moisturizes and hydrates the skin;
Heals wounds and cuts; and
Prevents cancers like Melanoma.
Along with these benefits, Saint John’s wort oil can also be used as a supplement to relieve other conditions.
Infused with flowering buds from the Saint John's wort plant, our plant-based oil is a natural alternative for your skin care regimen. Where the flowers lack, this infusion makes up for it with essential oils: Olive oil, Castor oil, and Lavender.
Shop our Saint John’s wort All-In-One oil here.
Picture of Saint John’s wort oil - Courtesy of Khela Herbs