Elderberry by Linda C. Miller

Early last year, I was at my local library installing the HRC Virginia Master Naturalist's Annual Photo Exhibition at the same time as Cheryl Bishop was putting together a small exhibition for the local Herb Society. Earlier that year I had give a talk to the group, invited by Cheryl. As we talked, they mentioned that the annual Mid-Atlantic Conference will be held in Williamsburg in 2013. Last year I volunteered to create a painting for their program and here it is. The painting will be entered in several exhibitions.

Elderberry
Watercolor on Paper, 22 x 29 inches

 

Linda C. Miller   Artist * Naturalist * Instructor

www.lindacmillerbotanicalarttoday.com

botanicalarttoday@yahoo.com

Hypericum perforatum - Maree

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
- by Albert Einstein

St John's wort is the plant species Hypericum perforatum, and is also known as Tipton's Weed, Chase-devil, or Klamath weed and is widely known as an herbal treatment for depression. Indigenous to Europe, it has been introduced to many temperate areas of the world and grows wild in many meadows and in our South African gardens.

The flowering tops of St. John's wort are used to prepare teas, tablets, and capsules containing concentrated extracts. Liquid extracts and topical preparations are also used. Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.

France has banned the use of St. John’s wort products. The ban appears to be based on a report issued by the French Health Product Safety Agency warning of significant interactions between St. John’s wort and some medications. Several other countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada, are in the process of including drug-herb interaction warnings on St. John’s wort products.

Read HERE how effective St John's wort is.