st john's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• The name "wort" is old English from the old German "wyrt" meaning "root". It is a common suffix to denote herbs with traditional medicinal properties. St John's day is on 24th June and this is when this plant flowers. So "St. John's wort" simply means "The herb that flowers on 24th June"
• The dried flowers and leaves can be used to make a herbal tea.

Links

• A German study has added weight to the argument that a herbal remedy is an effective treatment for depression.
• http://news.bbc.co.uk