When I left the Netherlands over thirty years ago to make my home in Scotland, I brought with me ten litres of Vogel’s Hyperisan – a remedy that contained Hypericum (St John’s Wort). As it was impossible to bring a wide variety of remedies, I felt that this would be one of the best for me to have for my first patients in Scotland

Hypericum is a very diverse remedy – it is beneficial for circulatory problems as well as for the nervous system. Over the years, my faith in it has been confirmed time and time again. It is a remedy that lives up to its signature and characteristics. It gives great encouragement.

When looking at the design of veins on a leaf of St John’s Wort under the microscope, it is reminiscent of the intricate nervous system. The leaf is full of little holes, hence the Latin name Hypericum perforatum. It has been a blessing to countless patients.

Recently, at a lecture, I was handed a newspaper article written by a psychiatrist in which I read that Hypericum perforatum was as effective as Prozac in the treatment of depression. I smiled, because I remembered how some time ago I wrote about this herb in a series of articles that featured in several national newspapers.

Suddenly there was a flurry of research and many companies brought out products containing Hypericum. For more than forty years I have prescribed this herb and in my mind, it is an outstanding remedy.

Not only is the plant attractive to look at, I feel that it almost shouts out that it loves us (hence its less formal name of St John’s Wort). Like many natural remedies, Hypericum has been overlooked for many years, being viewed as unfashionable. Fortunately the clock has now been turned back and it is again widely used.

Some time ago, I was delighted to receive a postcard from a female patient who was touring India.

When she first came to see me she told me about her life. She had lost loved ones and possessions and was severely depressed. In this state she had lost interest in life and, as a result, had developed an alcohol dependency. Eventually she had also become addicted to drugs. When I first saw her I decided on acupuncture treatment. At the same time I prescribed Emergency Essence and Hypericum. She gradually began to climb out of her depression. It did not happen overnight but eventually she managed to overcome her addiction to drugs and alcohol.

I was so delighted to receive that postcard, because to me it was once again confirmation that with positive steps, depression can be overcome.