St. John's Wort Oil: Benefits, Uses and How to Apply It for Skin and Burns
St. John’s Wort Oil: Benefits, Uses and How to Apply It for Skin and Burns IMPORTANT: St. John’s wort oil applied to the skin is generally well tolerated, but St. John’s wort contains hypericin, a photosensitizing compound. After applying it to your skin, avoid exposing the area to strong sunlight or tanning beds for at least 12 hours, to prevent redness, exaggerated sunburn or pigment spots. Taken internally (as tea, tincture or capsules), St. John’s wort interacts strongly with many medications: oral contraceptives (it can reduce their effectiveness), antidepressants, anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, certain heart medications and antiretrovirals. If you take any long-term medication, do NOT use St. John’s wort internally without your doctor’s approval. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid the oil internally and be cautious about applying it to large skin areas. Do NOT apply oil to deep wounds, serious burns (second- or third-degree), extensive or infected burns — these require urgent medical care. ...