Clinical trial shows hypericum lotion improves wound healing and scar formation following cesarean.

St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has been popularised by the press as a herb for treating depression - for which it is very effective - but this is just one the many uses we herbalists put it to, so it is nice to see a study confirming one of its other uses: promoting wound healing.

Applied externally to a wound, as a cream or oil, hypericum will promote rapid healing and minimise scarring. I often use it in conjunction with calendula which promotes skin growth.

In the trial in question, patients that had recently had cesarean section births were given hypericum lotion, a placebo lotion or nothing at all. The group using hypericum had significantly better wound healing, and reduced scarring. They also reported less pain and pruritis (itching). The placebo lotion was no better than the control group who had no lotion at all, clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of the hypericum.

The authors conclude: "Topical application of H. perforatum is safe and can facilitate cesarean wound healing and minimize formation of scar and its pain and pruritus." The study was carried out by Samadi S et al, at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and published in the Journal of Alternative and Complement Medicine, January 2010
[link to study abstract]

In practice I use hypericum cream and oil with excellent results on many kinds of wound, not just cesarean. I look forward to researchers extending their studies in the near future and trialling hypericum on other wounds!