St. John's wort– a unique plant with a whole range of beneficial properties. In the old days it was called “the cure for 99 diseases.” St. John's wort is found throughout Russia, and you have probably already seen these bright, sunny flowers.
St. John's wort contains a lot of useful and necessary substances for the human body, however, if consumed in excess, St. John's wort is poisonous. Animals avoid eating St. John's wort because it is poisonous to them (hence the origin name "St. John's wort").
St. John's wort is often brewed for a variety of diseases, as well as simply in tea for vigor and strengthening.
Names of St. John's wort
The Latin name for St. John's wort is Hypericum perforatum.
The popular names of St. John's wort are bloodberry, devil's wort, red grass, valiant blood, dzherambay (among the Kazakhs).
The official name of St. John's wort is St. John's wort.
Why does the plant have such a scary name? Cases have been observed since ancient times poisoning of small livestock consuming St. John's wort, in particular sheep and cows. At the same time, not all animals were poisoned, but only white animals: their lymph glands became inflamed, and poorly healing ulcers appeared. It turned out that the cause of the diseases is a special pigment of St. John's wort, which increases the sensitivity of non-pigmented areas of animal skin to sunlight. Therefore, the animals were specially painted dark.
Where does St. John's wort grow?
St. John's wort is growing in meadows, in the steppes, among bushes, on the edges, clearings, in cleared forests, near roads, in the mountains. For medicinal purposes, the plant is sometimes grown in specialized farms. St. John's wort is possible grow it in your garden.
What does St. John's wort look like?
St. John's wort- a perennial plant with erect stems 40-80 cm high (up to 1 m), branching in the upper part.
St. John's wort leaves quite small, St. John's wort flowers bright yellow, collected in inflorescences. If you look closely at the leaves and flowers of St. John's wort, you will never confuse it with anything. How else to distinguish St. John's wort? If you crush a yellow bud, you will be left with bright purple paint on your hands.
St. John's wort flowering time
St. John's wort blooms from May to August, the fruits ripen in July-September. The fruit is an oblong-ovoid brown leathery capsule with numerous small seeds.
Collection and preparation of St. John's wort
St. John's wort is collected only when it is in bloom. Carefully cut off the top 10-20 cm of grass. It is convenient to collect St. John's wort with your hands, sharply breaking it and, as it were, cutting the stem. Be careful not to damage the rest of the plant and roots. Never collect all St. John's wort, always leave a couple of inflorescences on the bush for subsequent reproduction. Tie the St. John's wort herb into bunches and hang to dry. The best thing dry St. John's wort without artificial heating, but in the attic or in a dark, ventilated room. Do not dry St. John's wort in the sun. Dried St. John's wort can be stored for quite a long time - about 3 years.
Medicinal properties and uses of St. John's wort
In the old days they said that when St. John's wort enters the body, it finds “weak” places and begins to treat where it is most needed. The plant has a beneficial effect on all body systems.
St. John's wort contains flavonoids (up to 1%), tannins (up to 13%), essential oil, coloring matter (about 0.5%), resins, carotene, which is provitamin A (up to 55 mg), ascorbic acid, that is, vitamin C (up to 140 mg), vitamin PP, etc.
Digestive tract
St. John's wort decoction successfully used in the treatment of diseases such as: gastritis, ulcerative lesions of the gastroduodenal region, colitis, diarrhea, diseases of the liver and gallbladder, kidneys and urinary tract.
Nervous system
St. John's wort actively promotes the restoration of the functions of nerve fibers, calms the nerves, relieves tension, and restores strength. It is successfully used to relieve PMS and menopause in women, in the treatment of neuroses, especially complex neuroses accompanied by headaches and insomnia. This plant is included in some antidepressants. Modern scientists have proven that the use of St. John's wort helps strengthen the immune system and helps cure depression.
Circulatory and cardiovascular systems
St. John's wort is able to relieve vascular spasms, which normalizes heart function and blood circulation in general. St. John's wort has hemostatic properties and is widely used in the treatment of wounds and injuries caused by surgery.
St. John's wort has the unique property of relieving inflammation of the mucous membranes, this allows it to be used in the treatment of respiratory organs and dental problems (pharyngitis, influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, gingivitis, etc.), as well as in inflammation of the female genital area.
Joints
St. John's wort used in the treatment of joint diseases, it relieves inflammation, reduces swelling, and normalizes joint movement. External use allows you to strengthen the walls of capillaries and speed up the healing of cuts and abrasions.
To relieve symptoms of skin diseases and allergies, a decoction of St. John's wort is added to baths.
St. John's wort - contraindications
When using St. John's wort, you must remember that it also contains toxic substances, which in large quantities can have a depressing effect on perception (photosensitivity increases significantly), contribute to an increase in blood pressure (therefore St. John's wort is contraindicated in hypertension).
Application of St. John's wort
In Rus', they drank an infusion of St. John's wort for bruises and to maintain vigor and health. For this reason, herbalists often recommended its use for those who get tired very quickly or engaged in grueling work.
For the same purpose, St. John's wort was also used by soldiers who had to make long treks on foot.
By throwing branches of St. John's wort into the collected water, the Slavs got rid of the risk of contracting dysentery and other diseases. Chewing St. John's wort could remove bad breath.
Herbalists, when there was nothing at hand, treated cuts and burns with St. John's wort. It was necessary to chew the flowers and leaves, and then cover the wound with the resulting pulp.
St. John's wort in popular belief is considered one of those plants that originated from the blood or feather, etc. of a bird (lightning), which brought heavenly fire to the earth and was wounded by a hostile creature. Later, St. John's wort was credited with the property drive away evil spirits.
St. John's wort is popularly considered a magical plant: it protects against witches and ghosts.
If you crush a yellow flower or bud of St. John's wort, a well-colored purple juice will flow out of it. Purple juice of St. John's wort was considered a charming remedy.
St. John's wort provides honey bees with a lot of pollen, especially in the morning.
In Ancient Rus', and later in Ukraine, from the roots of St. John's wort they got the insect “worm”, and then made it from it: they collected the blue bubbles located in the upper part of the root in a vessel, in which there is dye insect. Red paint was called red paint, and the month of June, when they collected St. John's wort with insects - worms. In addition to Ukrainians, June is called worm by Bulgarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and Poles call worm. In ancient times, this paint was sold to foreign merchants for a lot of money, until a similar insect living in cacti was found in Mexico. The Mexican method of extracting paint turned out to be cheaper and more productive, and the ancient Russian paint was forgotten.
The list of diseases for which St. John's wort can help is long. What does the plant help with? It is used for vascular and heart diseases, cystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, stress, skin ulcers. The herbaceous plant St. John's wort grows in clearings and forest edges. St. John's wort blooms from June to September, and its harvesting begins at this time. The grass is cut with pruning shears, dried, then threshed so that the stems are eliminated and the grass remains. For treatment, tinctures, infusions, decoctions, and oils made from St. John's wort are used.
Chemical composition of St. John's wort
All substances that make up St. John's wort have healing properties. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
- Cineol helps improve mood and relieve stress.
- Geraniol destroys the influenza virus, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and has a calming effect.
- Myrcene inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.
- Alkaloids eliminate depression.
- Azulene has a healing and soothing effect.
- Hypericin helps restore new cells and destroy weakened ones. The body rejuvenates.
- Coumarins prevent the formation of blood clots.
- Saponins prevent the formation of sclerotic plaques, weaken, and have a diuretic property.
- Hyperoside is broken down into rutin, quercetin and other flavonoids. They reduce vascular tone, help cope with allergies, and treat diseases associated with capillary fragility.
St. John's wort contains a lot of vitamin C. In combination with vitamin P, it helps reduce capillary fragility and prevents the development of malignant tumors. The grass contains numerous microelements and vitamins.
St. John's wort in the treatment of cough and throat diseases
The use of St. John's wort for cough is very justified. St. John's wort oil helps a lot. It is brought to a warm state and applied to the fabric while warm. A compress is made on the throat, the neck is well wrapped. The procedure must be carried out at night.
If you have a dry cough, take inhalations with St. John's wort. For this, 1 tbsp. Brew a spoonful of herbs with boiling water (1 cup), strain. Breathe over the healing steam for 15-20 minutes.
Gargling with St. John's wort tincture will help relieve a sore throat. 30 drops of St. John's wort tincture should be diluted in a glass of warm water. Try to rinse every two to three hours.
To relieve cold symptoms, you need to prepare an infusion: take 1 tbsp. spoon of St. John's wort and dry raspberry leaves, brew a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Squeeze out the raw materials, add 20 g of lemon juice and 30 g of honey to the prepared infusion. In the evening, drink a medicinal drink and go to bed. The infusion will help reduce fever and cure colds at an early stage. You can wake up healthy the next morning.
You can mix 40 ml of St. John's wort tincture, the juice of half a lemon and the juice of a small onion. Take 1 teaspoon, can be diluted with water. After taking it, do not eat or drink for an hour. The course of treatment is 5 days.
Treatment of gastrointestinal diseases
The healing properties of St. John's wort can be useful in the treatment of stomach ulcers, gastritis, gallbladder and liver diseases. The infusion eliminates stool disturbances and normalizes intestinal microflora.
For heartburn, you can use an infusion made from a mixture of medicinal herbs. You need to take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of yarrow, dried wort and St. John's wort. Brew the mixture with a liter of boiling water and leave. For treatment, take 100 ml of infusion, preferably warm.
For gastritis, an infusion of St. John's wort will help eliminate heaviness, relieve stomach pain, and relieve nausea. You need to take 1 tbsp. spoon of infusion.
In case of liver damage, cholecystitis, you can take 1 tbsp after meals. spoon of St. John's wort infusion.
Treatment of cystitis, urolithiasis
St. John's wort herb has a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, astringent effect. This allows St. John's wort to be used for kidney diseases. If you have urolithiasis, you can start treatment with St. John's wort infusion, but only after consulting a doctor. The infusion is prepared according to the classic recipe (1 tablespoon of raw materials per glass of boiling water). It is necessary to drink 100 ml of infusion throughout the day.
Another recipe used for inflammation of the bladder, cystitis. This herbal collection consists of the following herbs:
oregano - 4 tbsp. spoons
knotweed - 4 tbsp. spoons
chamomile - 3 tbsp. spoons
St. John's wort - 8 tbsp. spoons
Brew a mixture of medicinal herbs with a liter of boiling water and leave for 12 hours. Take 100 ml after consultation with a doctor.
Treatment of heart diseases
It is necessary to prepare a medicinal mixture using medicinal herbs:
valerian root - 2 tbsp. spoons
yarrow - 2 tbsp. spoons
lemon balm herb - 2 tbsp. spoons
St. John's wort herb - 4 tbsp. spoons
Pour 1 teaspoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water. The infusion should be strained after two hours. Take 100 ml once a day.
Treatment of oral diseases
What else does St. John's wort infusion help with? It is successfully used to treat diseases of the oral cavity. 1 tbsp. a spoonful of infusion is diluted in a glass of boiling water. Strain after a few hours. You need to rinse your mouth with the warm infusion, holding it there without swallowing. It is better to rinse your mouth several times a day.
Rinsing with a mixture of rose and St. John's wort oil will help restore gums and eliminate unpleasant odor.
Treatment of diseases of the nervous system
An infusion of St. John's wort herb helps eliminate depression. What does the herb St. John's wort treat? Effectively treats insomnia, neuralgia, relieves irritability and headaches. It is useful to drink tea, which is prepared by mixing herbs: St. John's wort, lemon balm, blueberries, rosemary leaves. It helps with depression.
Contraindications to treatment with St. John's wort
- Women taking contraceptives should be careful when taking medications with St. John's wort, as they weaken the effect of the medications.
- An overdose of an infusion of a medicinal plant leads to headaches, vomiting and nausea.
- If you have an elevated temperature or are taking antibiotics, you should not drink St. John's wort infusion.
- During pregnancy, St. John's wort tincture can cause miscarriage.
- You should avoid drinking alcohol, smoked foods, chocolate and coffee during treatment.
- It is necessary to abandon antidepressants if treatment with St. John's wort is carried out. Otherwise, dizziness and confusion may occur.
- For peptic ulcers and gastritis, you need to be careful to avoid overdose. Otherwise your stomach will hurt.
You should not start treatment with St. John's wort without consulting your doctor. This plant should absolutely not be taken for the treatment of nephritis and hypertrophic cirrhosis of the liver. St. John's wort has the unique property of increasing sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. You should not sunbathe during treatment. People suffering from heart disease should be careful.
The herbaceous plant reaches 1 m, prefers meadows, river valleys, and is found on forest edges and clearings. It is harvested during the flowering period, from June to September, and cut with garden shears. The raw materials are dried in a well-ventilated place, placed in a clean cloth bag and threshed with a stick to separate the grass.
Healing infusions, tinctures, and oil are prepared from the leaves and flowers.
St. John's wort treats with the beneficial properties of the tannins contained in it. They have a slight astringent and anti-inflammatory effect, destroy some microbes that are immune to the action of synthetic antibiotics.
Microelements: manganese, copper, chromium, selenium.
The anti-inflammatory and soothing properties of St. John's wort infusion help with gastritis:
- Take St. John's wort infusion (recipe above) 1 tbsp. after meal.
Stomach and duodenal ulcers
Oil with St. John's wort has an astringent effect, stimulates appetite; in folk medicine, the herb has long been used to treat peptic ulcers. The exact dosage is selected individually after consultation with a doctor.
- To heal the ulcer during the day, take a mixture of 0.5 liters of St. John's wort infusion and 10 ml of lavender oil.
Hepatitis, cholecystitis
A common cause of hepatitis (liver inflammation) is alcohol abuse and viruses.
The body uses bile to digest fatty foods. With cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), after eating, the stomach hurts, nausea, and fever.
The formation of congestion in the gallbladder is prevented by flavonoids from St. John's wort; their medicinal properties complicate the formation of stones.
For the prevention and treatment of cholecystitis, cholelithiasis:
- take St. John's wort infusion (see recipe above) 1 tbsp. after meal.
Medicinal oil of St. John's wort is useful because it improves liver function and prevents the formation of gallstones.
- Pour 3 tbsp. St. John's wort herb 300ml, add half a glass of red wine.
- Leave in a dark, cool place for a week, stir every day, and when finished, boil for 45 minutes.
- Leave for another month, then strain when finished.
Take 1 tsp for three months. once a day 15 minutes after eating.
Urolithiasis, cystitis
To treat diseases associated with impaired renal function, the anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, astringent, and diuretic properties of St. John's wort are used.
Urolithiasis disease. Acid-base imbalance is a common cause. My stomach hurts, I often want to go to the toilet, my temperature is elevated, I feel nauseous.
After consultation with a doctor, to prevent the formation and dissolution of stones, treat with St. John's wort infusion:
Take a third of a glass during the day.
Cystitis(inflammation of the bladder) accompanied by pain when urinating. Tests are necessary to determine the nature of the infection.
After consulting with a doctor, treat the disease with herbal infusion:
- Stir 3 tbsp. , 4 tsp. oregano, 4 tsp. knotweed, 8 tsp. St. John's wort.
- Brew 4 tbsp liter of boiling water. mixture, leave for 12 hours, strain.
Take half a glass an hour after meals.
The study and evaluation of histological and biochemical results confirmed that St. John's wort protects against acute renal ischemia.
Heart, blood vessels
The healing properties of St. John's wort strengthen the heart muscle and help cope with arrhythmia, a symptom of various cardiovascular diseases.
Medicinal collection recipe:
- Stir 2 tbsp. lemon balm herb, 2 tbsp. yarrow, 2 tsp. valerian root, 4 tsp. St. John's wort.
- Brew a glass of boiling water 1 tsp. mixture, strain after 2 hours.
Take half a glass once a day in small sips.
Oral cavity
Inflammation of the mucous membranes and gums.
- Brew 1 tbsp glass of boiling water. St. John's wort and medicinal, leave for half an hour, strain.
In the absence of sage, treat the mucous membranes by rinsing with a weak St. John's wort infusion.
The anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties of St. John's wort are used in another medicinal infusion:
- Brew 2 tablespoons glass of boiling water. chamomile, St. John's wort, leave for half an hour, strain.
Rinse your mouth after eating.
Bad smell. The healing and anti-inflammatory properties of St. John's wort tincture are used in the treatment of disease and are used to strengthen gums.
Recipe for healing composition:
- Add 20-30 drops of alcohol tincture to half a glass of warm water.
Rinse your mouth several times a day.
Adenoids.
- Grind the St. John's wort into powder and sift.
- Add butter at the rate of 1 part powder to 4 parts butter.
- In 1 tsp. add 5 drops of juice to the mixture, mix by shaking to obtain an emulsion.
Apply into each nostril several times a day.
Stomatitis, gingivitis. St. John's wort is useful for treating diseases of the oral cavity.
Infusion for rinsing:
- Brew a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. herbs, infuse, strain.
Keep the warm infusion in your mouth for several minutes, do not swallow. Perform the procedure several times a day after meals.
Periodontitis. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of St. John's wort oil are used in the treatment of periodontitis:
- Apply compresses to the affected areas 2-3 times a day, the maximum duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.
Strengthening loose teeth, restoration of gums, elimination of bad breath:
- Rinse your mouth with a mixture of St. John's wort and rose oils.
Depression
Headaches, insomnia, irritability, emotional instability, depression, as well as neuralgia and epilepsy are treated by the healing properties of St. John's wort. The plant calms and relieves tension in the nervous system.
To eliminate depression, it is useful to brew tea:
- Stir in equal parts St. John's wort, lemon balm, rosemary leaves, and berries.
- Brew 1 tsp. mixture with a glass of boiling water.
Drink instead of tea.
A 2016 review concluded that St. John's wort is best used to treat mild to moderate depression.
The study does not support the effectiveness of St. John's wort for severe depression.
St. John's wort for women
Perimenopause. The use of a beneficial plant can improve the quality of life in case of perimenopause.
The study confirmed a significant reduction in symptoms after taking St. John's wort extract, but clinical trials are needed.
Mammary cancer– a malignant tumor in women.
The study confirmed that hypericin, which is part of St. John's wort, can slow down the growth of tumor cells.
The creation of an antitumor drug is hampered by the property of St. John's wort to interact with medications against cancer.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The study confirms the relative safety of St. John's wort during breastfeeding, but more evidence is needed. Therefore, it is better to avoid taking medicinal herb preparations during pregnancy and lactation.
External use
St. John's wort treats damage to the skin - acne, ulcers, wounds, scratches, inflammation, bruises, abrasions.
Vitiligo(). Take St. John's wort infusion orally:
- Brew incomplete s.l. herbs with a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour.
Take several times throughout the day. Lubricate white spots with St. John's wort oil.
Trophic ulcers, skin cancer Treat the healing properties of St. John's wort oil - apply oiled swabs to the affected areas and secure with a bandage.
Inflammation, consequences of burns lubricate with St. John's wort oil.
Recipe to enhance the healing and healing effect:
- beat 30 ml of butter with raw egg, obtain a homogeneous mass.
Modified: 06/26/2019The study confirms the healing properties of St. John's wort oil extract for the healing of wounds, bruises, burns, ulcers, and when caring for bedsores.
dry mouth. It is better to take medications after reaching the age of 18.
St. John's wort infusions and tinctures should not be treated at elevated temperatures; they do not combine well with taking antibiotics.
You should not take St. John's wort preparations for (increases blood pressure), and also to avoid fetal malformations.
The study confirms that St. John's wort reduces sperm motility, reduces the likelihood of egg fertilization and pregnancy.
The plant changes the duration of action of anesthesia drugs - it can become longer or, conversely, shortened. You must inform your doctor about treatment with St. John's wort.
Confirms that increased sensitivity to sunlight of the skin and eyes after treatment with St. John's wort is rare and is associated with taking excessively high doses.
St. John's wort is one of the medicinal herbs that has long been successfully used in folk and traditional medicine to treat the nervous system, inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and for washing abrasions and wounds.
Why is the plant so named?
The plant received this name not by chance: people noticed that animals (spotted and white) who ate it in hot weather often became seriously ill, and if they ate the grass too intensively, they could even die. St. John's wort is a herb that has the property of increasing the sensitivity of ruminants to solar radiation.
Under the influence of the grass, animals of light colors begin to experience severe skin itching, during which they bite themselves until they bleed, the skin becomes covered with tumors, which soon turn into non-healing ulcers. This is very important for cattle breeders to know and to prevent excessive consumption of St. John's wort by animals.
Description of the plant
The herb St. John's wort is a perennial plant distributed throughout the globe. Belongs to the St. John's wort family, numbering almost three hundred and seventy species. The most common St. John's wort (or common) in our country.
This plant is found in Europe, Asia, America, North Africa and Australia. It grows in meadows and forest edges, on paths along the road and sunny meadows. The shrub reaches a height of thirty to eighty centimeters. There are also taller plants - up to one and a half meters in height.
Typically, St. John's wort forms thickets that can occupy quite large areas. St. John's wort has an erect stem, which is initially green, and at the end of the growing season turns red-brown. The leaves are oblong-ovate, small, no more than one and a half centimeters wide and about three centimeters long.
The flowers are a rich golden yellow color. When crushed, they release a reddish liquid. Flowering begins in June and continues until the end of August.
Useful properties of St. John's wort
Many of our readers are familiar with St. John's wort tincture, which can be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription. Do you know what causes the beneficial properties of this herb? St. John's wort contains many biologically active substances, minerals, vitamins, flavonoids, antioxidants and others. This composition is not found in every medicinal plant:
- flavonoids;
- essential oils;
- tannins;
- hypericin;
- organic acids;
- terpenes;
- alkaloids;
- vitamins: C, E, PP, carotene.
Possessing many beneficial properties, the herb St. John's wort has a beneficial effect on the entire body. When taken regularly, it exhibits tonic properties. The active compounds included in the composition relieve spasms of internal organs and relax smooth muscles.
The medicinal properties of St. John's wort include:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antimicrobial;
- hemostatic;
- astringents;
- antispasmodic;
- choleretic;
- tonic;
- sedatives;
- wound healing;
- diuretics.
Today, St. John's wort is included in many pharmaceutical preparations. Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort is an excellent remedy for the treatment of diseases of the throat and oral cavity: gingivitis, stomatitis, and is used for bleeding gums.
Infusions and decoctions of the herb are prescribed as anthelmintics in the detection of roundworms and dwarf tapeworms. Preparations based on this herb are used for asthenic conditions, neurasthenia, neuroses, headaches and insomnia. St. John's wort is included in the effective drug "Novoimanin", which is successfully used to treat abscesses and infected wounds, burns, for the speedy healing of cracked nipples of nursing mothers and for many other diseases.
The anti-inflammatory properties of St. John's wort have found application in the treatment of radiculitis as a pain reliever.
Pharmacy tincture: description
A herbal medicine with astringent, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.
The transparent reddish-brown liquid is available in 25 ml glass bottles, which are packaged in a cardboard box. 100 ml of tincture contains:
- 20 g - St. John's wort herb;
- ethanol is an excipient.
Pharmacological properties
The anti-inflammatory effect of the drug is facilitated by the high content of flavonoids. The growth of gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus agalactiae is inhibited by hyperforin, showing effectiveness against methicillin- and penicillin-resistant strains.
The drug activates the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates blood circulation, and has a sedative, tonic, and anxiolytic effect.
St. John's wort tincture: application
In accordance with the instructions, the tincture is indicated for oral and external use. Recommended for oral administration: as an astringent for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and externally for the prevention and treatment of stomatitis, gingivitis in complex therapy.
St. John's wort tincture is contraindicated:
- during pregnancy;
- when breastfeeding;
- children under 12 years old;
- if you are sensitive to the components of the drug.
Caution must be exercised in patients with many liver diseases, alcoholism, brain pathologies, and traumatic brain injuries. St. John's wort tincture can be harmful when used with other herbs and medications.
When treated with antidepressants and antibiotics, the drug can cause dizziness, increased anxiety, and a migraine attack; when taking contraceptives, their effectiveness decreases. Long-term use of any preparations based on St. John's wort can cause discomfort in the liver, increased blood pressure, and cramps in the intestines.
Dosage
St. John's wort tincture is prescribed orally: forty drops three times a day. For external use, dilute thirty drops of tincture in 100 ml of water and use for rinsing or lubricating the gums. As a rule, the course of treatment does not exceed ten days.
special instructions
During treatment with St. John's wort tincture, ultraviolet radiation should be avoided, including the use of a UV lamp, visiting a solarium, and prolonged exposure to the sun.
A single adult dose of tincture contains 0.36 g of alcohol. In this regard, driving vehicles and engaging in activities that require increased attention and rapid psychomotor reactions are not recommended. As you can see, this is a very powerful remedy - St. John's wort tincture. The benefits and harms of drugs based on this herb largely depend on compliance with the instructions for use and dosage.
Now let’s talk about preparations based on St. John’s wort, which you can prepare yourself at home.
St. John's wort tincture
This is an analogue of a pharmaceutical drug that you can prepare yourself. The recipe for St. John's wort tincture is simple. You will need seventy percent alcohol or high-quality vodka. However, if you are planning treatment of internal organs with St. John's wort tincture, be sure to consult with your doctor.
To prepare a medicinal composition, take one part of dry herb and fill it with ten parts of vodka or alcohol. The composition is infused for three weeks in a tightly closed dark glass container. It needs to be shaken periodically. Then the tincture is filtered and stored in a cool place. More often this remedy is used to rinse the throat and mouth. It is also used to treat abrasions and wounds. Quite rarely, it is taken orally, fifteen drops, which are dissolved in water. The dosage of St. John's wort tincture in vodka is increased to 20 drops.
Tincture recipe No. 2
Pour crushed dry raw materials (50 g) into 500 ml of vodka and leave for four weeks. The drug is taken before meals, one teaspoon (teaspoon) three times a day. For dysentery, dilute two spoons (teaspoons) of tincture in a quarter glass of water. Take three times daily.
St. John's wort decoction
St. John's wort decoction is used for gastrointestinal diseases: colitis, gastritis, cholecystitis, enteritis, hepatitis. The same decoction can be used to rinse the mouth and throat, use for insomnia, and for washing wounds, burns and other skin problems.
To prepare such a decoction, pour 250 ml of hot water into two tablespoons (tablespoons) of chopped dry herbs. Place the composition in a water bath for half an hour. Cool, strain and take 50 ml of the product three times a day, after meals.
St. John's wort infusion
To prepare the infusion, pour crushed dry herbs (three tablespoons) into 250 ml of boiling water and let it brew for three hours. Strain and take a third of a glass for stomach diseases, cystitis, and insomnia.
Tea
Tea with St. John's wort is necessary for everyone who cannot sleep in the evening, or experiences a feeling of anxiety and mental fatigue. In addition, it is effective as part of complex therapy for colds and fever. You can add other herbs to tea with St. John's wort if desired. For example, mint, rosehip, linden. St. John's wort is often added to your favorite black tea.
To prepare herbal tea with St. John's wort, take two tablespoons of the raw material and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Let the tea steep for fifteen minutes. You can add honey.
St. John's wort ointment
This ointment is effective for cuts, abrasions, fractures and bruises. Mix three tablespoons (tablespoons) of powdered herbs with pork fat until the consistency of thick sour cream. Mix thoroughly and store in the refrigerator.
There is another way to prepare the ointment. To do this, you need to mix St. John's wort, ground into powder, and baby cream or Vaseline in a 1:1 ratio. Stir this mixture and heat over low heat for three minutes. Cool and store in the refrigerator.
St. John's wort oil
It has anti-inflammatory properties, promotes rapid healing, and disinfects abrasions and wounds. It is used externally to treat purulent wounds, burns, bedsores and ulcers, in the form of warm compresses for sore throats. The oil is taken internally for gastrointestinal diseases, one teaspoon (teaspoon) in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Place freshly cut flowers tightly in a jar, preferably glass, and fill them with olive or regular sunflower oil, but always refined oil. Cover the container with a lid and place it on a sunny windowsill for three weeks. The composition must be shaken regularly. The finished oil takes on a reddish tint. It is filtered and applied externally.
St. John's wort (lat. Hypéricum perforatum) is considered one of the most popular medicinal plants in herbal medicine. In the literature, there is another name for a perennial herbaceous crop - St. John's wort, and popularly it is called hare's blood, red herb, sicklewort, Svetoyansky potion, St. John's wort.
The plant is widespread throughout the Eurasian continent, found in the USA, Australia, North Africa, the Canaries and the Azores. Grown on plantations or growing as a weed along forest edges, in meadows, fields, along roads, in gardens and vegetable gardens, above-ground shoots of St. John's wort are harvested in the flowering phase.
For medicinal purposes, cultivated or wild St. John's wort herb is used, dried at temperatures up to 40°C in dryers or in well-ventilated areas. Store medicinal raw materials in paper or cardboard packaging for 24 months. Further saving and use of St. John's wort is impractical, since over time some of the bioactive compounds in it are destroyed.
The herb St. John's wort, due to its beneficial properties and aromatic qualities, is used not only for medicinal purposes, but also in the food industry for the production of bitter-spicy seasonings for seafood dishes (mussels, shrimp, rapana, oysters, crabs, lobsters, bivalves, lobsters, octopuses ), as well as in the production of alcohol, tinctures, wines, tonic drinks, teas.
Useful properties of St. John's wort, composition
This is what St. John's wort flowers look like, photo
The beneficial properties and contraindications of St. John's wort are provided by compounds present in the aerial part. Fresh and dried plant materials contain tannins, phytoncides, essential oil, saponins, bioflavonoids, mineral salts, vitamins (ascorbic acid, tocopherols).
In medical practice, the unique properties of the herb St. John's wort are used - water extracts, alcohol tinctures and extracts of the plant are used in traditional and folk medicine as an antiseptic, astringent, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-hangover, hemostatic, wound-healing, regenerating, diuretic and analgesic.
The herb is part of medicinal preparations (gastric, female, liver, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, cleansing, endocrine, articular, gynecological), and extracts are present in many pharmaceutical preparations, for example, in natural antidepressants or ointments for the treatment of infected wounds, abscesses, and phlegmons.
Medicinal use in official and folk medicine
In gastroenterology, extracts from St. John's wort are used for the following gastrointestinal diseases: gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, colitis, enterocolitis, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, biliary dyskinesia, chronic and acute hepatitis, gallstones, cholecystitis.
In dental practice, experts recommend rinsing the oral cavity for the purpose of healing and sanitation of the mucous membrane in cases of gingivitis, stomatitis, halitosis, and periodontal disease. Therapists recommend gargling with infusion and decoction of St. John's wort for sore throat and tonsillitis, both in the acute and chronic phases.
Neurologists and psychiatrists use the plant in the complex treatment of neuroses, depression, neurasthenia, migraines, neuralgia, sleep and wakefulness disorders. St. John's wort is used for urological diseases, including urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis.
The healing properties of St. John's wort herb for men have been reliably studied and confirmed by numerous studies. Extracts of the plant are actively used by herbalists for inflammatory phenomena in the prostate gland, as well as for the treatment of prostatitis and prostate adenoma. Short-term use of plant-based medications stimulates potency.
St. John's wort is widely used in gynecology for patients with leucorrhoea and heavy menstrual flow, as well as for amenorrhea, inflammation of the appendages, external damage to the genital organs and cervix. Taking the plant during menopause is an effective prevention of neoplasms.
Allergists prescribe plant preparations for allergic diathesis in childhood. Both tincture and decoctions are useful for patients with tuberculosis, gout, myocarditis, and endocarditis.
Dermatologists note an improvement in the condition of the skin with the local use of water, alcohol and oil extracts, as well as dry and fresh herb St. John's wort for acne, long-term non-healing wounds, cracks, burns, dermatitis, bedsores, ulcers, abscesses, seborrhea, dandruff, alopecia, increased greasiness of skin and hair and irritation.
In folk medicine, there are methods for treating pathologies of the musculoskeletal system with extracts from St. John's wort: arthritis, radiculitis, sciatica, articular rheumatism, pain in muscle tissue. Crushed plant materials are applied topically to heal wounds. The alcohol extract is taken orally for rheumatic diseases.
Separately, you should dwell on the oil extract from the grass. It is made by hot or cold extraction of fresh shoots of a medicinal plant, filled with vegetable oil (unrefined olive or sunflower). The product is sold in pharmacies or prepared at home.
St. John's wort oil has unique medicinal properties (regenerating, antiallergic, absorbable, decongestant, angiotonic, antisclerotic, vascular strengthening, antiviral, antiseborrheic) and can be used as an independent product for topical application or act as a base for essential oils and enrichment of care products.
St. John's wort is also indispensable in cosmetology. The plant extract can often be found in cosmetic products for face, body and hair care. Oil, tincture, infusions and decoctions are used at home to improve the condition of the skin by adding the listed elixirs to lotions, rinses, masks, creams, massage mixtures. When used correctly, St. John's wort oil can stimulate the formation of a tan.
St. John's wort infusion: preparation and administration
A tablespoon of dried St. John's wort is steamed in a thermos with a glass of boiling water, left for 4 hours, and filtered. Take the elixir 15 ml three times a day before meals for 14-20 days. The same regimen is used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the genital area in men and women.
To treat depressive conditions, it is recommended to drink 1/3 cup of infusion twice a day for 15 days. For other pathologies, the dosage should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the age, condition of the patient and the individual characteristics of the body.
Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort: features of administration
For 1 part of plant material (dried), take 5 parts of medical alcohol diluted in half with distilled water or ordinary, but high-quality vodka. The product is infused in a dark glass bottle with a ground-in lid in a shaded place for 10 days, remembering to shake the suspension several times a day.
The filtered liquid is stored at room temperature and taken 30 drops added to 15 ml of drinking water during lunch for 10 days. The medicine helps against depression, the consequences of stroke, neurosis, and insomnia. For nervous disorders and dizziness, drink the tincture in the same dosage, but before lunch, for 2 weeks.
St. John's wort tincture can be used to improve the condition of hair by rubbing it into the scalp every evening before bed, and also to disinfect skin covered with acne, especially if there is bleeding and pyogenic masses in acne.
Be careful, there are contraindications!
In order not to cause harm to health and to obtain a lasting therapeutic effect from treatment with St. John's wort herb, it is advisable to brew and take teas, infusions and decoctions after consultation with an experienced doctor. This advice is especially relevant if you have serious chronic diseases and are taking certain medications, for example, antidepressants, antibiotics, heart medications, maintenance therapy for HIV, or oral contraceptives.
Due to the presence of slightly toxic compounds in the plant, treatment with all types of drugs based on it should be limited in time. Uncontrolled use can cause an overdose and provoke side effects, including skin hyperemia, urticaria, pain in the right hypochondrium, temporary loss of male strength (impotence). Abuse of strong infusions and teas leads to abdominal cramps and painful sensations in the stomach.
It should be borne in mind that the internal and external use of products based on St. John's wort increases the sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes to ultraviolet exposure (photosensitization effect), therefore, when treating with herbal raw materials, you should minimize exposure to sunlight or use skin protection products with high UV factor and under no circumstances visit the solarium.
The following conditions are considered absolute contraindications to the use of St. John's wort:
- individual intolerance and tendency to allergies;
- increased skin sensitivity;
- persistent arterial hypertension;
- photodermatitis or the need for prolonged exposure to open sun;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- age up to 12 years;
- severe liver pathologies;
- endogenous depression.
When treating prostatitis, it should be taken into account that long-term use (more than 3 weeks) of St. John's wort products leads to a decrease in potency.
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude: despite the numerous beneficial properties of St. John's wort, treatment with its drugs should be approached thoughtfully, without neglecting the consultations of experienced specialists.
Good health to you!
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