Balm (St John’s wort)

This plant is tinctorial. Yellow pigment that exists in its flowers is water-soluble, while red pigment that exists in stigmas and fruits is soluble in alcohol. Dioskourides mentions it as «askyron». In Kythera, people prepare a medicine for the healing of burns and wounds by mixing olive oil with St John’s wort flowers. Scientific Name:
 Hypericum perforatum Family: Hypericaceae Kythera Name:
 Valsamo, Votani tou Ai Yianni Name in other places of Greece:
 Spathochorto(Epirus region), Valsamo(Arcadia region), Valsamochorto,  Chelonochorto(Cefalonia), Lihinochorto, Valsamaki, Periki, Votani tou Ai Yianni tou Prodromou Collection: Tops with flowers and fruits and the whole plant are collected all through summer. It is found in wild fields with a lot of sunshine. It can be planted out to gardens as well. Properties: Mycolytic, emmenagogue, diuretic, anticonvulsant, sedative, tonic, digestive, antiseptic, antipyretic, painkilling. It treats stomach ulcers and heals internal and external wounds. It fights bowel parasites.