This a magnificent oil for nerve pain of all kinds, I've found over the years, so is useful for things like neuralgia, neuropathy, sciatica, toothache, injuries, post-surgery etc. I have used it myself to help regrow nerves when I broke my foot and for others to help calm diabetic neuropathy. It's also well-known for soothing wounds, burns and bruises, for tightening piles and varicose veins (or 'very close veins' as my Gran used to call them!) and for easing muscular pain like rheumatism, fibromyalgia etc.

Comes in a 100ml Italian glass bottle which looks beautiful on your bathroom shelf. Also called Hypericum perforatum.

The oil is made by macerating hypericum (St John's Wort) in organic olive oil, so it has the properties infused into the olive oil. Cheaper version can have a SJW extract added to olive oil or have used too high a temperature for the maceration, which does not have the same properties at all. It's a lovely deep red colour. It is for topical, external use, not internal.

It is anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and mildly astringent, useful for soothing skin irritations and treating dry, overheated and sun-exposed, burned skin as it can help lower the skin temperature. It can help to heal the nerves under the skin's surface, so is useful where there is mild pain associated with old injuries or muscular aches. It is nice on sensitive skin and is often included in baby products because it is so gentle.

When crushed, the buds of the hypericum plant release hypericin - and many moons ago, knights used it on sword wounds to help them heal quickly!

NB. There is some concern that using St. John's Wort oil before exposure to the sun may cause skin sensitisation, though it is really beneficial for all after-sun products. Not all authorities agree on this, but beware in case. Also, SJW is known to interact with some antidepressant and anxiety meds. There's not enough research to know whether this would be the same with external use, but be careful and monitor.

How to Use

It works well using between 10-50% combined into something else like a cream, balm, lotion etc. 25% in pure Calendula oil is a good choice. I can make you a bespoke mix if you like, just ask.

I combined Comfrey, Arnica and SJW in equal parts to help regrow my toenail after I ripped it off and after I broke the other foot, ouch! Using some in a massage oil can really help stress, too.

Tip: this oil can start to harden a bit in the bottle if it gets cold. It won't affect it but just stand the bottle in some warm water to re-melt it, or run the bottle under a warm tap.