This plant grows in meadows, hedges, woodlands and on roadsides. It reaches a height of 60 cm., is much branched and its golden-yellow flowers, grouped in umbels, are easily recognized by the red juice they yield, when pressed between the fingers. The flowering plant is gathered for infusions and baths, the just opened flowers for the preparation of St. John’s Wort oil. Old Christian beliefs connected the fragrant, red juice of the flowers with the blood and wounds of Jesus Christ. The fact is that St. John’s Wort oil is the best wound oil. Legends dedicate this herb to Saint John the Baptist. In earlier times, maidens twisted garlands of St. John’s Wort and wore them, dancing around the fires on Saint John’s day. In this mysterious night, branches of the herb were thrown into the water to show the maidens who would be their suitor in the next year. According to an old custom, the farmers in Upper Austria fed St. John’s Wort, placed between 2 layers of bread, to the animals to keep them free from all diseases. In these days it is done only rarely. DIRECTIONS Infusion: 1 heaped teaspoon per 1/4 litre of boiling water, infused for a short time. Oil: The flowers, picked in the sun, are placed loosely in a bottle and fine olive oil is poured over them. The flowers have to be covered. Well stoppered, the bottle is left to stand in the sun or near the stove for a few weeks. After a time the oil becomes red. It is strained through a cloth, the residue well pressed out and stored in dark bottles. Tincture: 2 handfuls of flowers, picked in the sun, are macerated in 1 litre of rye whisky or wodka for 3 weeks, in the sun or in a warm place. Sitz bath: A bucketful St. John’s Wort (stems, leaves and flowers) is steeped in cold water overnight. Everything is brought to the boil the next morning and the liquid added to the bath water. The bath should last for 20 minutes (see General Information “sitz bath”).