St. John's Wort & Bedsores

If you have been confined to a bed for any length of time, you may have developed bedsores. Bedsores tend to develop after periods of restricted movement on those parts of your skin that bear the weight of your body, including elbows, knees, shoulder blades, ankles, hips and buttocks. In addition to adequate turning, exercise, cleanliness and a balanced diet, practitioners of alternative medicine claim that St. John's wort helps relieve bedsores. No scientific evidence exists, however, for the herb's effects on bedsores, and for a variety of reason, sufferers should use St. John's wort only under medical supervision.

About St. John's Wort

Indigenous to Great Britain and northern Europe, St. John's wort is cultivated around the world. It grows to heights of 32 inches and produces small leaves and bright yellow flowers. Its flowering tops have oil glands that contain hypericin, an active ingredient that constitutes the source of the herb's medicinal value. According to Phyllis A. Balch, certified nutritional consultant and author of the book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," practitioners of herbal medicine use St. John's wort to treat a number of ailments, including depression, diabetes, digestive ailments and skin disorders.

Bedsores

Bedsores, also known as pressure sores, commonly begin as patches of tender, red, inflamed skin that later become purple. Eventually, open ulcers develop that take a long time to heal and can cause additional medical complications, such as sepsis, bone and joint infections, cellulitis and cancer.

St. John's Wort--Bedsores Link

A Turkish study published in the March 2011 issue of "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" found that an ointment formula containing hypericin not only greatly accelerated wound healing but also worked to fight bacteria. Balch agrees, claiming that St. John's wort's essential oil has powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that help keep open wounds from becoming infected. Since the conventional medicine community often treats bedsores with painkillers and antibiotics, in theory, St. John's wort should yield benefits as a therapy for the condition. No clinical trials exist, however, specifically targeting the herb's effects on bedsores.

Cautions and Considerations

St. John's wort can produce sensitivity to sunlight, causing a tendency to sunburn severely. It can also cause mild allergic reactions, stomach upset, restlessness and fatigue. Additionally, St. John's wort oil can interfere with the efficacy of chemotherapy, antidepressant, antipsychotic and migraine medications. People who take such medications and pregnant or nursing women should avoid the herb.