24 June: St John's Wort

Plant of the day for 24 June is St John's wort. 10 things you might not know about this herb.

1. The botanical name is Hypericum perforatum. The genus name is derived from the Greek words hyper (above) and eikon (picture) because of the practice of hanging the plants above religious pictures and icons to ward off evil spirits.
2. Perforatum refers to the appearance of the leaves, which have translucents dots on them which look like tiny perforations when held up to the light.
3. The plant is known by numerous other names, of which I will list a few: Amber, Tipton's weed, rosin rose, goatweed, chase-devil, Hardhay, or Klamath weed. The Celts called it “sol terrestis” meaning “terrestrial sun”.
4. The plant has been named after St John the Baptist because it is traditionally harvested on June 24th which is also St John's Day. Alternatively, it might have been so named because it was used as a treatment for wounds incurred during battles in the Crusades by the Knights Hospitaller, the Order of St John.
5. Crushing the buds and stems produces a reddish liquid which has been compared to the Blood of St John the Baptist when his head was cut off.
6. The flowers don't smell particularly nice - their fragrance is rather like turpentine, but they are lovely to look at. They are bright Yellow and measure up to 2.5 cm (0.98 in) across. They attract bees, but not adult Butterflies as they do not produce nectar. Caterpillars may eat the leaves, however.
7. There are numerous superstitions attached to this plant. It was believed to ward off evil spirits and witches thought to be active on Midsummer's Day, which is why it was hung over religious pictures and also over doors. It was also said to protect from illness, the evil eye, fire and lightning. Some people would pin sprigs of it to their clothing, as well, so they'd be protected outside the house as well. St. John's Wort was also used for divination - if members of a household hung a sprig over their beds overnight on Midsummer Eve, the spring which had wilted the most in the morning indicated that person would be the next to die. Placed under the pillow, it was said to grant a vision of St John who would promise that you would live for another year. If you didn't get a vision, you were doomed. Step on the plant, according to one legend, and you will be stolen away by a faerie horse.
8. Although the herb was hung in stables to protect the livestock, it would be necessary to hang it where the animals couldn't reach it, because, ironically, it is poisonous to cattle, sheep, Goats and Horses. It can cause hyperactivity, including running in circles until exhausted, skin irritation and miscarriages in pregnant animals.
9. It has long been used as a medicinal herb, dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. As well as wounds, it was used to treat sores, burns, scars, bruises, skin irritations, symptoms of menopause and nerve pains. Drinking an infusion of St John's wort was said to ward off insanity. Rubbing the oil into joints was said to ease rheumatism.
10. Some people still swear by it today as a remedy for mild mental health problems, anxiety and insomnia. St John's wort hasn't been proven to be effective in treating any medical condition, however, so it might be down to the placebo effect. Anyone thinking of trying it should be aware that it can have potentially dangerous side effects. One side effect is increased sensitivity to the sun. It can also interfere with some prescription medicines including birth control pills (although, contrarily, it's also said to reduce fertility), cancer medication, warfarin and several others. Hence it would be very unwise to use it without seeking advice from a doctor first.

The Raiders Trilogy

Book One

Book Three

Book Two

   

Power Blaster is a superhero who lives in a dimension not unlike our own, in the mega-nation of Innovia. No-one knows who he is or where his powers come from. 
After saving the life of the President several times, Power Blaster learns that a test of a nuclear warhead to defend the planet against asteroid strikes will have devastating consequences for his world and sets out to prevent it.

Power Blaster's actions lead to an unexpected result - a wormhole opens between his dimension and our own. Anyone in the vicinity is pulled through. People from diverse backgrounds and cultures must co-operate to survive and learn to live with the powers travel through the wormhole has bestowed on some of them.

A stable wormhole is established between the two dimensions. Power Blaster is determined to bring Desi Troyes, the person responsible for the bomb, to justice. Help comes from some rather unexpected sources. Meanwhile, Shanna Douglas sets out on a mission of her own, to find out if there is a cure for the life altering condition the wormhole gave her friend, Benedict Cole. Little does she know that she will stumble upon the secret of Power Blaster's mysterious origins.