0/0

    St. John's Wort

    Common · Hypericum perforatum

    Healing · Alchemical · Magical · Defensive

    Terrain Coast, Forest, Grassland, Hills, Urban

    Description

    Each year, with the arrival of true warmth, the old rhizome of St. John's Wort comes to life, sprouting several bluish-green smooth stems adorned with small leaves arranged opposite each other. In the forest, St. John's Wort blooms all summer, from the time of lush greenery to the period of withering. Only in September do swollen brownish capsules with tiny seeds appear on its stiff, faded stems. At first glance, the leaves are unremarkable: they are oval or elongated, not very large. A characteristic feature is the numerous dark and white dots (glands) densely speckling the green surfaces of the leaves. If you hold a St. John's Wort leaf up to the light, these glands become translucent, making the leaf appear as if it has been pricked full of tiny holes.

    Location and Habitat

    Perforate St. John's Wort is quite a widespread plant and is found in most of Europe, the Caucasus region, Western and Eastern Siberia, Central Asia, as well as in North Africa and some areas of North America. It is commonly found on forest edges, clearings, dry meadows, slopes, along roadsides, and in wastelands.

    Rarity and Availability

    Thanks to its hardiness and ability to reproduce rapidly, St. John's Wort is not considered a rare or endangered species. It is readily available for gathering in the wild and is also cultivated for medicinal purposes.

    Harvesting & Preparation

    • Gathering enough for practical use involves carefully cutting the aboveground portion of several plants. A DC 12 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check or Wisdom (herbalism kit) check yields 1d3 usable bundles of St. John’s Wort. On a failure, you still gather 1 bundle, but with partial bruising or contamination.

    Items & Effects

    • Infusion. Renowned in folklore for warding off apparitions and supporting overall health.
      • Crafting. Requires 1 hour to steep. A DC 12 Wisdom (herbalism kit) check produces 1d2 doses of Infusion.
      • Use (Ingested). Drinking a dose as an action grants for 1 hour:
        • Calm the Mind. Advantage on saving throws against the frightened condition (PHB, p. 290).
        • Minor Fortification. If you begin a Short Rest while still under the infusion’s effect, you regain 1 additional hit point per Hit Die expended.
    • Tincture of Adventurer’s Blood. A potent extract known for its strong bactericidal and wound-healing effects. Its nickname references the red stain released by crushed flowers and seeds.
      • Crafting. Requires 4 hours to soak plant matter in high-proof alcohol. A DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana) check or Wisdom (herbalism kit) check produces 1d2 vials of Tincture.
      • Use. Applying it to open wounds (an action) grants the recipient 2d4 hit points plus advantage on their next death saving throw if made within the next 10 minutes (once per creature per day).
    • St. John’s Balm (Oil-Based). Simmering St. John’s Wort in oil for an extended period yields a deep red ointment used to treat cuts, bruises, and more.
      • Crafting. Requires 8 hours of gentle heating. A DC 15 Wisdom (herbalism kit) check produces 1 small jar (4 applications).
      • Use (Applied Externally).
        • Healing Salve. When applied during a Short Rest, the creature gains an extra 1d4 hit points if they spend at least one Hit Die.
        • Drawback. If the balm is applied to a creature more than once in 24 hours, each subsequent application’s resistive property lasts only 10 minutes instead of 1 hour.
    • Warding Off Fears & Apparitions. In ancient lore, St. John’s Wort drives away evil spirits and illusions. GMs might allow a freshly picked sprig, worn visibly (in a hat, a pocket, or as a charm), to grant advantage on saving throws specifically against illusions or fear effects for as long as the sprig remains fresh (usually 24 hours; PHB, p. 290).

    Lore

    The Latin name of St. John's wort—Hypericum—can be translated as "growing among heather." There are two stories explaining this name: it is either related to the habitats of the first discovered species or because some species of St. John's wort resemble heather.

    Like shining golden stars blazing amid the lush green grass, the flowers of this intriguing plant catch the eye. They can be found everywhere, but most often in dry meadows, at the edges of coniferous forests, and in clearings. This is St. John's Wort.

    The first records of this plant date back to the times of Hippocrates, Pliny, and Dioscorides. In their writings, St. John's Wort is mentioned for the first time, its description is provided, and its beneficial properties noted.

    From Witch’s Herbs 5E, p. 92 · Fern Flower Press