St. John's Wort

Our weedy Saint John's Wort blossomed nicely this year, just in time for Saint John's Day, June 24th. From the Wallander crime series on TV, I learned that Saint John's Day is close to the Summer Solstice.  Northern Europeans, such as Swedes,  celebrate the longest day of the year by staying up all night and having picnics, parties, and bonfires.  And, in order to keep Detective Kurt Wallander from beginning his summer vacation, a celebration can get a little out of hand and end up with a murder.  Why bonfires?  Pagans believe that the boundary between the spirit world and our everyday world becomes permeable during the solstice. The bonfires are meant to ward off evil spirits. 

"Healthline," an internet information site, notes that Saint John's Wort has been used for centuries to treat depression. It also notes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies Saint John's Wort as a nutritional supplement and does not recognize it as a treatment for depression. For those inclined to self-medicate, the writer warns of some unpleasant side effects:  vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, panic attacks, aggression and amnesia.  Whoa!