St. John’s wort, Yarrow, and Propolis: natural remedies for wounds

The skin acts as our shield against external aggressions, providing our body with mechanical and chemical protection against temperature variations. However, while serving as the first line of defense, it is also the organ most susceptible to damage, many of which are invisible or may have more severe and profound repercussions.

Let’s now explore the herbal remedies primarily used for the healing of skin wounds.

St. John’s Wort or Hypericum perforatum L. is a medicinal plant that grows wild in fields, traditionally known in herbal folklore for treating skin lacerations, whether they are wounds, burns, ulcers, or scalds.

Typically, St. John’s Wort macerated in oil (preferably extra virgin olive oil) is used.

The preparation should be exposed to sunlight to acquire the typical reddish color attributed to the presence of hypericin, one of the most active molecules in the phyto-complex.

St. John’s Wort oil can be incorporated into creams or ointments or used directly on the wound.

In the case of burns or sunburns, preparations based on St. John’s Wort are effective remedies not only for skin repair and regeneration but also for pain relief.

St. John’s Wort is therefore used as an excellent after-sun treatment; however, great care must be taken in its use. It is advised not to expose the skin to the sun following topical application of St. John’s Wort due to its photosensitizing effect: the plant can cause skin reactions following exposure to UV rays.

It should be noted that possible adverse reactions that may occur with the use of St. John’s Wort, as with all other medicinal herbs, depend primarily on the dose but also on personal sensitivity. Therefore, individuals with fair skin should exercise additional caution.

In the case of wounds that are difficult to heal, Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) comes into play. This small herbaceous plant, whose name derives from Achilles, who, according to legend, healed the wounds of Telephus, king of the Mysians, precisely with this plant.

Yarrow yields excellent results on wounds that heal poorly as it promotes tissue re-epithelialization.

In particular, Yarrow is used in preparations to attenuate the formation of stretch marks and also to limit the formation of warts on healing scars.

In the case of small cuts or scrapes, Yarrow is very effective because it reduces inflammation and, above all, has a hemostatic action, thus stopping excessive blood loss. For topical application, Yarrow oil is generally used, which, like St. John’s Wort, is obtained by macerating the flowering tops of the plant in a vegetable oil.

Another product that should always be present in our homes and is extremely useful for wounds of any kind is Propolis.

A remedy with a very ancient popular tradition, produced by bees from buds and other parts of plants, propolis is the most potent disinfectant found in nature.

In addition to its significant antibacterial action, this bee product is able to significantly speed up wound healing.

Applied directly to the injured skin (gritting one’s teeth due to the burning sensation!), it thus promotes the complete healing of the wound.