Saint John's-Wort
Saint John's-Wort (Hypericum perforatum, Hypericaceae)
Ibicencan: pericó
French: millepertuis
Swedish: äkta johannesört
In the Balearic garrigues the endemic species Hypericum balearicum (Balearic Saint John's-wort, in Ibicencan: sacorrell, without a tradition as a medicinal plant) is found, however, the most frequent plant of this genus on Ibiza is Hypericum perforatum, above all by the edges of roads.
Teas made of this species are used against depressions and asthma, they stabilize the nervous system.
To treat wounds and especially burns the so-called Saint John's-wort oil is used (in Catalan: oli de pericó): Some plants (or only the inflorescences) are put in olive oil for some days (alternatively on Ibiza they are sometimes fried in olive oil). Recommendation: some 100 g of plants in 250 g of oil. Traditionally for this use the plant is harvested in the morning of Saint John's day (for which reason it bears its names in several languages). After the application sunbathing is not recommended because the oil has a photosensitizing effect.
