St. John's wort: useful properties, contraindications, side effects, the use of decoction, infusion for treatment. St. John's wort: medicinal properties and contraindications St. John's wort where

Hypericum perforatum (common) is a herbaceous plant of the St. John's wort family (lat. Hypericaceae).
The botanical name is Hypericum.
Generic name - St. John's wort.

Folk names - hare blood, St.

St. John's wort is a grass, up to 80 cm high, with a branched thin rhizome and numerous adventitious roots. Stems erect, thin, dihedral, glabrous.

The leaves are opposite, small, oval or oblong, entire, with translucent glands in the form of black dots, sessile. The flowers are golden yellow with black dots, in dense corymbose inflorescences.

The fruit is a trihedral box, opening with three wings, with small seeds.

St. John's wort blooms in June - August. It grows in meadows, forest edges, in sparse deciduous and pine forests on sandy slopes, clearings, fallows, along roads in the southern half of the forest and in the forest-steppe zones of the Northern Hemisphere.

Several species of St. John's wort are found in Russia, of which the most common in European Russia are St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) and St. John's wort (Hypericum quadrangulum L.).

Both of these plants are perennial herbs with persistent rhizomes. The second type is distinguished by a tetrahedral stem. Both species are considered by the people to be medicinal, and preparations from these plants are used for many diseases.

St. John's wort herb collection

St. John's wort is harvested when it is in full bloom (on Midsummer Day - June 24). It is cut off near the ground, tied into bundles and dried in the air in a shaded place. For the manufacture of medicines, the entire ground part of the plant is used.

Composition, medicinal properties and use of St. John's wort

The medicinal properties of St. John's wort were noticed in ancient times. It is believed that the more understandable Russian word "St. John's wort" originates from the Kazakh "Jeroboy" - "wound healer".

All parts of St. John's wort contain coloring matter, as well as (up to 1%) flavonoids. essential oil (more than 1%) and up to 13% tannins. There are organic acids, in particular isovaleric.

In addition, St. John's wort is rich in vitamins: ascorbic acid, nicotinic acid, vitamins P and PP, as well as carotene. There is ceryl alcohol, choline and traces of alkaloids in the herb.

St. John's wort has a pronounced bactericidal effect.

Both in folk and scientific medicine, preparations from St. John's wort are used as astringents, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents that promote the rapid regeneration of damaged tissues.

Hypericum preparations (infusions, decoctions) are taken orally for inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Used for rinsing with stomatitis, inflammation in the mouth and throat, as well as for lubricating the gums with inflammation.

St. John's wort preparations are widely used externally, especially for extensive and deep burns (I and II degrees), for the treatment of wounds and other various skin lesions: for boils, abscesses, ulcers, mastitis, and inflammation of the nasal mucosa.

Not so long ago, medical scientists discovered another property of St. John's wort. As a result of clinical trials, the antidepressant effect of St. John's wort concentrate, its positive effect on the nervous system, was established.

A huge plus of this discovery was the absence of those contraindications and side effects, which become constant companions of chemical antidepressants. The drug "Gelarium", based on St. John's wort concentrate, is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.

Recipes for the use of St. John's wort in folk medicine

The water infusion of St. John's wort has a reddish color; it used to be thought that it was “well done” or “hare blood”. In one of the ancient herbalists we read:

St. John's wort is a valiant blood-grass, its infusion is used in the form of lotions from bruises, abrasions, external abscesses and lesions.

In Russia, St. John's wort was so popular that the people called it (and not without reason) "The cure for 99 ailments." Especially favorite was St. John's wort tea - it was steamed and drunk for various ailments, and just as a pleasant drink. The people said:

Just as it is impossible to bake bread without flour, so many diseases cannot be cured without St. John's wort.

An infusion of St. John's wort was drunk for colds, pain in the heart, and as a general tonic.

Recipes for some decoctions and infusions from St. John's wort.

For rheumatism, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, diseases of the bladder, urinary incontinence in children, hemorrhoids, gout and tuberculosis, prepare a decoction: take 10 g of grass, pour 1 glass hot water, boil for 30 minutes over low heat, cool for 10 minutes, filter and squeeze.

The resulting decoction is taken 1/3 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

For diseases of the liver and gallbladder take a mixture consisting of 10 g of St. John's wort, 15 g of sandy cumin flowers, 10 g of couch grass roots and 20 g of buckthorn bark. This mixture is poured into 1/2 liter of hot water, simmered for 10 minutes, insisted, filtered and taken 100 g 5 times a day.

For the preparation of decoctions and infusions, it is recommended to use melt water, which, unlike tap water, is devoid of many harmful impurities.

Hypericum herb tincture prepared on 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1:5. Take it as an astringent and as an anti-inflammatory rinse for the gums and mouth (30-40 drops in 1/2 cup of water). Sometimes the tincture is also prescribed for internal use (40-50 drops each).

St. John's wort juice, stripped down by half, prepare an ointment in butter in a ratio of 1: 4, store in a cold place. Ointment is used for various skin lesions.

St. John's wort tea is a tonic and healthy drink. It is good to drink it in winter, this tea has no side effects and acts mainly on the nervous system. St. John's wort tea is drunk for colds, as it helps to restore weakened immunity, it is also useful for digestive disorders.

St. John's wort tea drink is an effective remedy for depressive states, fears and nervous anxiety, poor sleep.

Naturally, in order to achieve tangible results, it is necessary to use tea for several weeks in courses with obligatory breaks.

St. John's wort tea is also good after a bath, when blood circulation is improved and with it an intensive process of assimilation of useful and medicinal substances by the body takes place.

St. John's wort tea recipe is very simple: it is recommended to brew it in a porcelain teapot, it must be scalded with boiling water before use. To prepare tea, you need to take about 10 g of dried leaves and flowers of St. John's wort and pour 200 ml of boiling water over them, leave for a few minutes and the tea is ready. The drink is recommended to be consumed invariably fresh.

Also, St. John's wort in the form of tea is often combined with many herbs - for example mint, oregano, wild rose, chamomile, currant leaves, thyme. Good honey will not only add a piquant flavor to this drink, but also enhance its benefits.

St. John's wort oil

To prepare the oil extract, take 20-25 g of fresh crushed leaves and flowers of St. through 2-3 layers of gauze. Store the product in a dark bottle.

St. John's wort oil is also used, cooked in olive (sunflower, linseed) oil and wine. Take 500 g of fresh flowers and leaves of St. John's wort, pour 1 liter of sunflower oil and 0.5 liter of dry white wine, mix everything well and infuse for 3 days. The wine is then evaporated.

The oil was used to treat long-term non-healing wounds, ulcers and bedsores by applying dressings. This remedy has also been used successfully in the treatment of gastric ulcers. For this, the oil extract was taken in 1 tbsp. spoon on an empty stomach or 3-4 hours after eating for 1-2 months.

St. John's wort oil is also used in dentistry for the treatment of stomatitis. By the way, it does not have an irritating property.

St. John's wort - video

Hypericum perforatum contraindications

St. John's wort can be both useful and have a number of contraindications. These contraindications must be taken into account when treating this plant. St. John's wort is considered slightly toxic, therefore, with prolonged use of the herb, an unpleasant sensation in the liver area and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth may develop.

Also, long-term use of decoctions, teas and infusions in your treatment can increase arterial pressure and cause vasoconstriction. Therefore, people suffering from hypertension and vascular diseases need to reduce the dosage and duration of taking the herb.

If you are taking antibiotics, it is best to stop taking St. John's wort. St. John's wort can negatively affect the optic nerve. And also, women who use contraceptives need to be aware that some of the components that make up St. John's wort can reduce the effects of drugs.

With prolonged use of the herb, St. John's wort can lead to constipation and decreased appetite.

St. John's wort is a herbaceous plant of a perennial type, having a two or four-sided stem, small, entire leaves and single yellow flowers. About fifty plant species are known. On the territory of the Russian Federation, two of them are mainly found - ordinary (perforated) and tetrahedral. You can find grass in forest clearings, edges, along roads. Flowering occurs from June to August. Collection of medicinal plants is carried out after June 24. The healing properties of the herb "St. John's wort" has been used since ancient times in the treatment of many diseases. Components obtained from raw materials are part of official and folk medicines. The article provides detailed information about which plant St. John's wort, medicinal properties and contraindications for women and men, methods of application are described.

Interesting to know! St. John's wort got its name from the Kazakh word "Jeroboy", which translates as "healer of wounds". Some of the toxic effect on animals that the grass has has nothing to do with its name.

The composition of the grass contains many substances that can positively affect the state of human health.

The medicinal qualities of "St. John's wort" are due to the presence in it of:

• hyperecine;
• pseudohypericin;
• hyperforin;
• adhyperforin;
• essential oils;
• flavonoids;
• isovaleric acid;
• other organic acids;
• choline;
• vitamins;
• ceryl alcohol.

Most often, St. John's wort is brewed as a sedative. A sedative effect on the body develops due to hyperecin and pseudohyperecin. These substances affect dopamine structures, which ensures their psychoactive effect.

It is worth noting that the antidepressant effect of St. John's wort is similar to that of middle-level chemical sedatives. To combat severe depression, the herb is not suitable. However, she copes well with the pathology of small and moderate severity.

In addition to the sedative effect, St. John's wort is used as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, as an anesthetic and general tonic. In combination with holly cassia, it is used as a laxative.

Since ancient times, the herb has been known as "well done blood". In the Middle Ages, St. John's wort was used for the local treatment of purulent-inflammatory processes and bruised wounds, which often occurred after fisticuffs.

What does St. John's wort treat?

Angina

For the treatment of tonsillitis and other inflammatory diseases of the throat, St. John's wort is recommended to be used in combination with propolis. To prepare the dosage form, a large spoonful of a dry and powdered plant is poured into 200 ml of boiling water, incubated for 15 minutes in a water bath. After that, the broth is cooled, filtered and 20 drops of 10% alcohol extract of propolis are added to it.

The resulting composition is used topically for gargling. You should take a little decoction into your mouth, throw back your head and exhale the air so that the liquid in your mouth gurgles. The procedure is performed several times for 20-30 seconds. At the same time, the astringent and anti-inflammatory components of St. John's wort actively destroy the bacteria present in the focus of inflammation. Rinsing is repeated 2-3 times a day until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely.

Anemia

Some folk reference books contain information that St. John's wort can be used to treat anemia. Here it should be understood that the medicinal properties of the plant appear only if anemia was caused by chronic bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, treatment with St. John's wort allows you to accelerate the healing of ulcers and cracks, which will eliminate the possibility of blood loss and lead to recovery.

Hypochromic anemia associated with insufficient intake of iron ions in the body is not subject to St. John's wort therapy. The fact is that the plant contains tannins - astringent components. When taking the decoction inside, they bind trace elements (including iron), preventing it from being absorbed into the blood.

For the treatment of anemia caused by chronic blood loss, St. John's wort is used in the form of the above decoction, from which propolis is excluded. It is recommended to take the remedy ½ cup 3 times a day, half an hour before meals. The doctor should control the healing process of ulcerative defects.

Sore throat

Another effective recipe based on St. John's wort, which allows you to treat sore throats, is inhalation. To prepare the solution, 2 tablespoons of chopped herbs are poured into 0.5 liters of water and boiled for 7-10 minutes. After that, they breathe over a container with a decoction, covering their heads with a towel.

Note: the method is identical to "breathing over potatoes", which is known to almost every person who had rhinitis or bronchitis in childhood.

When using inhalations, the bactericidal components of the plant penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract. Thus, St. John's wort allows not only to destroy pathogenic bacteria in the inflammatory focus, but also to prevent the inclusion of deeper structures of the respiratory system in the pathological process.

Varicose veins

For varicose veins, St. John's wort is used in the form of a tea. It will not be possible to completely cure the disease with herbs alone. However, the plant has proven itself on the positive side as an auxiliary method. Regular consumption of a drink with the addition of "valid grass" leads to an increase in vascular tone, an improvement in blood flow and a decrease in the risk of thrombosis.

The best effect can be achieved if herbs with a similar effect are added to tea: horse chestnut, sweet clover, raspberry. The components are mixed in equal proportions, poured with boiling water (2 tablespoons of raw materials per 0.5 liter of water) and infused for 15-20 minutes. After that, the product is considered ready for use. Do not drink medicinal tea more than 3-4 times a day.

Gastritis and ulcer

St. John's wort oil is taken for scarring of gastric ulcers and gastritis. For its preparation, fresh flowers are taken. 20 grams of grated St. John's wort inflorescences are mixed with 200 milliliters of vegetable oil. The resulting composition is infused in a glass vessel for 21 days. After that, the mixture is filtered through several layers of gauze.

Oil should be consumed one tablespoon after each meal. This allows you to protect the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract from the negative effects of solid foods. In addition, St. John's wort oil accelerates the healing of ulcers, reduces the intensity of inflammation. The duration of treatment is not limited. The remedy can be taken until complete recovery.

Hypotension, impotence

To increase the pressure, you can use alcohol tincture of St. John's wort. Would need:

• crushed St. John's wort;
• food ethyl alcohol (70 or 96%).

The component of the drug is mixed and infused for 2 weeks.

To prepare the solution, add 30 drops of the drug to 100 ml of water, stirring thoroughly. The multiplicity of reception - three to four times a day. It is better if the treatment is carried out before meals. Alcohol formulations are contraindicated in children. For pediatric patients, water decoctions or infusions are used.

As an aphrodisiac, St. John's wort is used if the problem is caused by fatigue, overwork, prolonged mental stress. The classic decoction of St. John's wort, taken 1-1.5 hours before sexual intimacy, significantly increases libido, improves potency. To improve the taste and pharmacological action of the decoction, it is allowed to add components such as honey, mint, a tablespoon of cognac.

Dizziness

You can get rid of dizziness if you mix immortelle, St. John's wort, chamomile, birch buds in equal proportions. The resulting mixture in the amount of one tablespoon is poured with half a liter of boiling water, insisting for 20 minutes. After cooling, the infusion is filtered, drunk 2 times a day, in the morning and in the evening. To improve the taste of the drug, you can add a spoonful of honey.

It should be remembered that this method is only suitable for people whose dizziness is caused by fatigue or psycho-emotional stress. In case of serious diseases of the brain and its vessels, St. John's wort as an independent method of treatment is useless.

Stroke, depression, sleepwalking

Treatment of the consequences of a stroke is often done using herbal teas.

The following mixture of herbs is considered the most popular:

• 20 grams of pink rhodiola (root);
• 20 grams of wild rose (fruits);
• 15 grams of chopped nettle;
• 10 grams of St. John's wort.

The components are mixed together. 10 grams of the composition is poured into 250 ml of boiling water. Infuse the remedy for an hour. Take 2-3 times a day. The serving volume is 100 ml. The duration of the course is 2-3 months.

With depression and sleepwalking, St. John's wort helps to quickly achieve an improvement in mental state. The herb can be consumed in the form of a decoction or infusion, the recipes of which are given above. For a better effect, mint and valerian are added to St. John's wort in equal proportions. It is necessary to consume 200-250 ml of the solution at bedtime.

St. John's wort is also widely used in classical medicine, the medicinal properties and contraindications for men, women and children of which have long been carefully studied. The herb extract is part of such products as Doppelherz Neurotic, Novoimanin, Negrustin, etc. These drugs can improve sleep, cope with nervous disorders, improve the psycho-emotional state.

Cough

For the treatment of cough, St. John's wort is used in the form of a water-based infusion. To prepare it, pour one or two tablespoons of dried chopped herbs with a glass of boiling water and let it brew. After a while (when the infusion has cooled), it is filtered and taken. The frequency of use of the drug is three to four doses per day. The duration of treatment is 1 week.

What is useful St. John's wort for coughing? The plant contains many bactericidal substances. After entering the stomach, they are absorbed into the blood and begin to circulate in the body, getting, including into the focus of inflammation. The plant stimulates immune processes, which also leads to an acceleration of recovery.

Oil for migraines and colds

With migraine, as well as for the treatment of rhinitis and bronchitis, essential oil can be used, which includes St. John's wort. To prepare it, you should take basil, cloves, valerian, anise, St. John's wort, ginger, cardamom, lavender, mint, lovage and tansy. All components are mixed in equal amounts. The resulting mixture is poured with vegetable oil and infused for 25-30 days. For infusion, it is better to use a dry, dark room. For 1 liter of oil there should be 4 full tablespoons of vegetable raw materials.

Ready essential oil is consumed by inhalation. As a rule, it is stored in small, tightly closed containers that are convenient to carry around. When a migraine attack occurs, the container is opened, brought to the nose and the aroma of oil is inhaled several times with full breasts.

Mastopathy

As an aid to the treatment of mastopathy, herbalists offer the following recipe:

• motherwort;
• St. John's wort;
• caraway;
• fennel;
• valerian.

The components are mixed in equal amounts and prepared according to the infusion recipe (2 tablespoons of raw materials pour a glass of boiling water, cover and let cool). It is necessary to take the medicine half a glass a day during the main course of therapy. The infusion reduces the intensity of inflammation, fights infection, and soothes.

Urolithiasis disease

St. John's wort promotes the destruction and self-excretion of stones from the kidneys and bladder. The plant is used in the form of an infusion. The concentration of the medicinal substance here is somewhat lower than in previous cases. Only one tablespoon of raw materials is added to a glass of boiling water.

Take medicines should be one third of a glass 3 times a day, regardless of food intake. Such therapy allows accelerating the excretion of stones, preventing the development of infectious complications, and stimulating the healing of the membranes of the ureters and renal tubules damaged by sharp edges of the stones.

Neuralgia

Relief of attacks of neuralgia is performed using a decoction of a mixture of herbs:

• elder;
• thyme;
• Linden;
• rue;
• astragalus;
• St. John's wort.

The components are crushed, mixed together in equal proportions. After that, pour 0.5 liters of water and boil for 10 minutes. Ready broth can be drunk immediately after cooling and filtering. Use 70-100 ml 3 times a day before meals.

Bad breath

It's no secret that bad breath often occurs due to the active reproduction of bacteria in the oral cavity. St. John's wort, having a bactericidal effect, is able to destroy a colony of pathogenic microorganisms and cure the disease. For elimination bad smell use a decoction or infusion of herbs. Apply it by rinsing. Do not swallow the decoction after the procedure. Repeat 3 to 10 times a day.

Cold

For colds, a decoction of St. John's wort is taken orally 1 glass 3 times a day. The course of treatment corresponds to the time of illness. The active components contained in the herb stimulate the immune system, have a tonic effect, and act on pathogens. Taking herbal decoction can reduce the time required for recovery by 2-3 days, with an average illness of 7 days.

Prevention of the liver

For the prevention of liver function, St. John's wort is taken after meals, 3 times a day, half a glass. The first dose of the day is recommended to be taken on an empty stomach. Applied in this way, St. John's wort produces a hepatoprotective effect, accelerates the regeneration of hepatocytes (liver cells), improves blood flow in the liver vessels.

Psoriasis

For the treatment of psoriasis, a decoction of St. John's wort is taken orally, and also applied to the foci of pathology. Inside, you should drink 100 ml of the drink three times a day, after meals. Locally, the medicine is applied with a gauze pad or a clean rag. The components contained in the plant reduce vascular proliferation, relieve inflammation, and prevent the development of bacterial complications.

Radiculitis

You can get rid of pain with sciatica if you use the old folk recipe. St. John's wort should be mixed with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:1. A couple of drops of turpentine are added to the resulting composition and the painful areas are rubbed. It is recommended to rub daily before going to bed.

Failure of menstruation

During menstruation, St. John's wort is used to reduce bleeding and correct the psycho-emotional state of a woman. Extraction of useful substances is carried out by infusion or boiling of the plant. You can take the medicine according to the standard scheme for most diseases (orally, 3 times a day, 150-200 ml per dose). The course of treatment is 1 week.

Stomatitis, bleeding gums

With stomatitis and bleeding gums, you should rinse your mouth with a decoction of St. John's wort. Manipulation is carried out several times a day, until the situation improves. The main action here is produced by tannins and bactericidal substances contained in the plant. The former form a protective film on the mucous membrane, the latter destroy the pathogenic microflora.

stress

For people who regularly experience stress, long-term prophylactic administration of St. John's wort is recommended. You can prevent the consequences of constant mental stress if you drink 200-250 ml of water infusion of the herb daily. It is recommended to do this before bed. St. John's wort promotes calm, improves sleep, allows you to relax and have a good rest before starting a new day.

Pulmonary tuberculosis

For tuberculosis, alcohol tincture of St. John's wort is used. To prepare it, 100 grams of chopped grass is immersed in 0.5 liters of 70% alcohol and infused for a week. All this time, the composition should be in a dry, cool room. It is necessary to take the remedy 3 times a day, 1-2 teaspoons. It is allowed to dilute the tincture in water. The plant does not affect Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its pharmacological action in this case is to stimulate the immune system.

Strengthening immunity

To strengthen the immune system, St. John's wort can be taken according to any of the above recipes (infusion, decoction, tincture). It is better if the tool is without additional inclusions. The scheme of reception remains in the same form (three times a day, a glass). The duration of the strengthening course is a month.

Cholecystitis

With cholecystitis, St. John's wort acts as an antispasmodic and choleretic agent. Its use allows you to quickly improve the patient's condition in the chronic course of the disease. To stimulate the outflow of bile, a decoction of St. John's wort is mixed with other choleretic plants in equal amounts. Reception mode - 3 times a day, on an empty stomach, 1 glass.

Cervical erosion

In the treatment of cervical erosion, St. John's wort is applied topically, in the form of douching with a decoction of herbs. In addition, St. John's wort oil, applied to a tampon and inserted deep into the vagina, can be used. The local effect of the medicinal plant accelerates the regenerative processes, prevents bacterial infection.

Contraindications

Despite the completely natural origin, St. John's wort has certain contraindications for use.

Grass should not be used for:

• breastfeeding;
• hypertension;
• taking certain medications (antibiotics, oral contraceptives, sedatives).

As it became clear from the above, St. John's wort is a remedy for the treatment of many diseases. However, the plant is not a panacea. It is permissible to use grass as an independent method of therapy only with sluggish forms of pathology. Any deterioration in the condition that occurred after taking folk remedies require medical advice.

This plant is not safe. Allergies, conflict with a number of medications, adverse reactions and other "troubles" threaten those who have not figured out the specifics of the application herbal preparations. But with a reasonable approach to therapy, St. John's wort can improve the condition with cholecystitis, hepatitis, gastritis, correct biliary tract dysfunction and many other, even quite rare, pathologies.

Composition and useful substances

What exactly is used and in what form

St. John's wort serves as the basis for the preparation of tinctures, decoctions, infusions, extracts, prescribed both for internal use and externally. St. John's wort is part of a variety of herbal preparations. Useful tea with St. John's wort. The grass of the plant is also a source of imanin and a component of many ointments. John's wort is popular in homeopathy. St. John's wort oil is successfully used in the treatment of burns and wounds in the form of oil compresses.

Medicinal properties

Hypericum perforatum (common) contains flavonoids (hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin), volatile oils, which include terpenes, sesquiterpenes (azulene), naphthodiantrones (hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperin or hypericin, close to hematoporphyrin, sensitive to sunlight light; it is a kind of catalyst for certain intracellular reactions, a regulator of vital processes, affects biochemical processes in organs affected by malignant tumors, increases skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays), isovaleric acid esters (have a calming effect), tannins, bacteriostatic resinous substances, ceryl alcohol, nicotinic acid, antibiotic, carotene and ascorbic acid.

St. John's wort is used in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system. Preparations from St. John's wort reduce intestinal spasms, dilate blood vessels, improve the functioning of the gastric glands, stimulate blood circulation, relieve inflammation in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, act as an astringent and bacteriostatic, and relieve spasms in the biliary tract.

St. John's wort is effective for biliary dyskinesia, bile stasis, hepatitis, cholecystitis, is prescribed in the initial stages of cholelithiasis, hypoacid gastritis (gastritis with low acidity), flatulence, acute and chronic colitis, intestinal upset and hemorrhoids. At the initial stage of nephrolithiasis, St. John's wort is used as a diuretic and is prescribed for reduced filtration capacity of the kidneys. St. John's wort tincture is used for helminthic invasions (with enterobiasis, hymenolepiasis). Plant-based preparations strengthen capillaries, improve venous circulation. It is advisable to prescribe St. John's wort for violations of the peripheral circulation, with a tendency to congestion in the bloodstream. The photosensitizing properties of the plant and the presence of hypericin among its components are used in the treatment of a disease such as vitiligo. St. John's wort is prescribed for disorders of the nervous system, enuresis in children, migraine and neurodystonia. The external use of St. John's wort is explained by its astringent, bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory properties. St. John's wort oil is effective for burns, gingivitis, face pityriasis, leg ulcers and wound healing. In dentistry, a tincture or infusion of the herbal part of St. John's wort is used for rinsing the mouth, for treating inflamed gums, and for stomatitis. St. John's wort in gynecology is used as a herbal infusion for douching in case of inflammation of the vagina, and St. John's wort oil has a positive effect in the treatment of cervical erosion.

Traditional medicine also uses St. John's wort in the treatment of polyarthritis, sciatica, gout, pulmonary tuberculosis, mastopathy, boils.

In official medicine

• St. John's wort;
• hypericum tincture;
• imanin, antibacterial drug in powder form. A 1% solution of imanin is used to treat infected wounds, skin cracks, burns, mastitis, boils, phlegmon, acute rhinitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, purulent otitis media. Imanin does not affect fungal infections;
• novoimanin, one percent alcohol solution-antibiotic. Apply a 0.1% solution in distilled water, isotonic sodium chloride solution, 0.25% anesthesin solution or 10% glucose solution for dental diseases, for inhalation - with abscessing pneumonia, pneumothorax; with purulent otitis media, sinusitis, a 0.01-0.1% solution in distilled water is used. Prepare the solution immediately before the procedure;
• peflavit, is prescribed for capillary toxicosis, acute glomerulonephritis, atherosclerosis.

In folk medicine

• With hypoacid gastritis (with low acidity), as well as to increase the inflow of bile and diuresis, St. Drink in small sips of 100 ml 1-2 times a day after meals.
• St. John's wort tea is useful for intestinal disorders: in a glass of boiling water for 10 minutes, insist a tablespoon of flowers and leaves of St. John's wort. Drink 2 glasses after meals throughout the day. The course of treatment is long. Increasing the dose to 3-4 glasses per day is prescribed for chronic diarrhea.
• For liver diseases (with concomitant constipation), a tablespoon of a mixture of St. John's wort, cumin and buckthorn bark at a ratio of 2:3:2 is poured into 200 ml of water, boiled for about 10 minutes and drunk at least 5 glasses a day.
• For lower back pain and general weakness caused by hard physical labor, a recipe is recommended: 2 tablespoons of St. Drink the drug throughout the day.
• With mental overstrain, nervous exhaustion, sleep disturbances, a remedy is useful: from 200 ml of boiling water and one tablespoon of a mixture of St. St. John's wort in this mixture strengthens and regenerates nerves, treats insomnia and neuroses. It is an excellent remedy for mental fatigue and functional exhaustion of the nervous system.
• St. John's wort helps with worms: prepare an infusion at the rate of 15 g of St. John's wort per 100 ml of boiling water. Take 90-150 ml three times daily for 3 days (children from one to seven years old), on the last day of admission, give a laxative salt, and carry out such treatment in a cycle, in three stages, at intervals of 10 days.

Externally:

• St. John's wort oil is used to heal wounds from frostbite of the 2nd and 3rd degrees, for burns, to lubricate cracks in the nipples.
• Based on St. John's wort oil, a balm is made that heals abrasions, cuts and is useful for pain in muscles and joints. To prepare the product, you need: half a cup of St. St. John's wort, ginger oil extracts mix, add beeswax. In a water bath, heat the mixture of herbal oils and wax until it is completely dissolved. Add vitamin E, rosehip seed oil, lavender and ginger essential oils to a homogeneous, heated mass. Stir quickly and thoroughly and pour the finished balm into jars until the wax begins to harden. Store the balm tightly closed, in a dry, dark and cool place. The shelf life of such a drug is from 2 to 3 years.
• To treat purulent wounds and rinse the mouth to strengthen the gums, steam is used: a handful of St. John's wort flowers are steamed in 0.5 liters of boiling water. A clean, disinfected cloth is soaked in a cooled steam and applied to wounds.
• St. John's wort with vitiligo: the affected areas are smeared with the juice of fresh St. John's wort and after a quarter of an hour they are exposed to the sun's rays. The duration of the first insolation is no more than 30 minutes. During the period of such treatment, 30-50 drops of freshly squeezed St. John's wort juice (from leaves and flowers) are also taken orally 2-3 times a day, washed down with water. It is necessary to be in the sun, arranging short sessions with breaks. The course of such treatment of vitiligo is about 60 days, with a break of 3 days after every 3 weeks.

in oriental medicine

Avicenna recommended St. John's wort as an excellent remedy for healing wounds of various origins; practiced it as an analgesic for inflammation of the sciatic nerve, a diuretic and used in the treatment of malignant ulcerative formations.

In the recipes of traditional healers of Uzbekistan, St. John's wort is used as a specific agent in the treatment of oncological diseases of the liver and stomach.

St. John's wort has long been used in Chinese traditional medicine.

In scientific research

One of the pioneers in herbalism, the British botanist and pharmacist Nicholas Culpeper, described St. John's wort as a "sunny", "fiery" plant.

In his famous herbal (The Complete Herbal, 1653), Culpeper wrote: St. John's wort is "an effective herb used in the treatment of wounds. Drinking a decoction of wine heals internal bruises and pains. St. John's wort ointment heals blisters on the skin, promotes the resorption of tumors, tightens the edges of wounds and heals them. A decoction of herbs, flowers and seeds of St. John's wort on wine helps with vomiting, hemoptysis, treats those who have been bitten or stung by any poisonous creature, has a diuretic property. St. John's wort seed powder, dissolved in a small amount of broth, disperses bile ... A decoction of leaves and seeds in a warm form, taken on the eve of an attack of malaria, facilitates the course of the disease. St. John's wort seeds are recommended ... for patients with epilepsy, paralysis and those who suffer from pain in the sacrum.

Modern studies of the medicinal properties of St. John's wort are thorough and continuously replenish the system of knowledge about medicinal herbs.

The significance of St. John's wort in medicine and its medicinal potential were studied by K. M. Klemov, E. Bartlow, J. Crawford and others.

The interaction of St. John's wort with individual medications and the possible negative consequences of their simultaneous administration is the topic of scientific research by S. Soleimani, R. Bahramsoltani, R. Raimi.

A. Oliveira, C. Piño, B. Sarmento and A. Diaz presented the results of the analysis of the neuroprotective effects of St. John's wort, and its individual components.

scale scientific work P. Bongiorno and P. Lo Guidice aims to study the effect of drugs based on St. John's wort in the treatment of depressive conditions.

The study of the neurotropic activity of modern dosage forms made from herbal raw materials of St. John's wort is the topic of the scientific work of V. Kurkin, A. Dubischev, O. Pravdivtseva and L. Zimina.

The specificity of the removal of the perforated active substance hypericin from the herb of St. John's wort is highlighted in the study by Rudometova N., Nikiforova T., Kim I.

In cooking

Herb and flowers of St. John's wort in dried and fresh form are used as a seasoning for dishes (especially from fish), for the preparation of various drinks, as a spice that gives food a slightly bitter, tart and balsamic note.

Salad of beets and St. John's wort

To prepare the salad you will need: 4 small well-washed raw beets, 2 apples, juice of one lemon, freshly ground black pepper and coriander seeds, half a cup of finely chopped parsley, half a cup of St. John's wort flowers. Grate peeled beets and apples. Put in a bowl, season with lemon juice. Grind and add black pepper and coriander. Sprinkle salad with parsley and St. John's wort flowers.

St. John's wort baked potatoes

Ingredients required: 8 medium-sized potatoes, 4 tablespoons softened butter, sea salt and pepper to taste, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2-4 teaspoons grated nutmeg, 200 ml cream, 200 ml milk, a cup of St. John's wort flowers disassembled into petals and separated from the sepals.

Peel potatoes, cut into thin slices. Lubricate the baking dish with oil, sprinkle with crushed garlic, lay out the potatoes, salt, pepper, sprinkle with grated nutmeg and St. John's wort petals, flavor the potato circles with the remaining oil. Whisk milk and cream and pour over potatoes. Bake at 180 degrees until potatoes are tender and golden brown, about an hour and a half.

Avocado stuffed with St. John's wort

You will need products: 2 large ripe avocados, lemon juice, canned sardines (one jar), one small onion, finely chopped, a cup of minced St. John's wort flowers, sepals removed, salt and black pepper.

Cut the avocado in half, separate from the stone, carefully remove the pulp from each half and mash with a fork or puree in a blender. Sprinkle generously the pureed mass with lemon juice, mix with the sardines, finely chopped onion, sea salt, pepper, and St. John's wort, mashed to a homogeneous state. Fill the empty halves of the avocado with the resulting "minced meat", sprinkle with lemon juice again and decorate the stuffed avocados with St. John's wort flowers. Serve on lettuce leaves.

In cosmetology

The healing properties of St. John's wort are actively used both for the creation of professional cosmetics for the care of the skin of the face, body, hair, and in recipes for home cosmetics. St. John's wort is part of creams, lotions, masks, shampoos and hair rinses. St. John's wort helps with problematic and oily skin, is used to strengthen hair, in a comprehensive fight against dandruff. Most skincare products from St. John's wort are based on oil, which can also be prepared at home.

How to prepare St. John's wort oil? 20 g of fresh inflorescences of St. John's wort insist on sunflower oil (200 ml) for two weeks, then strain. St. John's wort oil works great in nourishing hair masks, helps with dry scalp and hair loss.

Other uses

A drug " Novoimanin”, created on the basis of St. John's wort, is used in agriculture in the fight against bacteriosis that affects vegetable crops. Also, "Novoimanin" is used when tobacco plantations are affected by the so-called tobacco mosaic virus.

In industry, from the leaves and flowers of St. John's wort (sometimes from the whole plant), dyes of yellow, brown, golden and red shades are obtained.

In the Catholic tradition, St. John's wort is called the "grass of John the Baptist", and according to one of the legends, the plant grew from drops of the blood of the executed saint that fell to the ground.

There is a belief: if on the night before the day of John the Baptist (June 24) a person hides a sprig of St. John's wort under his pillow, the saint who appeared to him in a dream will thank him with health and prosperity throughout the year.

Dangerous properties of St. John's wort and contraindications

It is important to remember that the combination of St. John's wort with certain medications can cause significant harm to health, since the simultaneous use of St. John's wort and a specific medication leads to failures in the absorption of certain medications.

St. John's wort reduces the body's susceptibility to the action of anticoagulants and thereby reduces the effectiveness of their administration. St. John's wort also reduces the effectiveness of oral contraceptives (cases of unplanned pregnancies have been recorded). Simultaneous administration of St. John's wort with synthetic antidepressants and a number of other medicines is unacceptable.

With individual intolerance to the components of the plant, a person may develop an acute allergic reaction and conditions may occur, accompanied by redness, allergic rashes, shortness of breath and swelling.

Long-term use of St. John's wort in excessive doses can cause bitterness in the mouth, constipation, not improvement, but a decrease in appetite and a feeling of heaviness in the liver. Patients suffering from hypertension, according to doctors, should take St. John's wort exclusively as part of herbal preparations, that is, in combination with other herbs that balance its effect on the body, since St. John's wort increases blood pressure.

We have collected the most important points about the benefits and possible harms of St. John's wort in this illustration and we will be very grateful if you share the picture on social networks with a link to our page:

Botanical description

It is a perennial herb from the St. John's wort family.

origin of name

Folk tradition knows the plant as: hunter, bloodworm, svetoyanskoe potion, hare's blood. Latin generic name of St. John's wort - Hypericum- has several interpretations. One version of the origin of the word is that St. John's wort was attributed a magical property to resist unclean forces, evil spirits, and explains the name as a fusion of two meanings: hyper("above") and eikon("image", "ghost"). " St. John's wort", in turn, is or distorted" dzherembay", What means " wound healer”(as the nomadic peoples called the medicinal herb) or is associated with the fact that certain substances in the composition of St.

Kinds

Botanists know 458 species representing the genus St. John's wort, the most studied and common of which are the following:

1. 1 St. John's wort or perforated- grows throughout Eurasia, in northern Africa, on the islands (Azores, Canaries), the plant has taken root in New Zealand, on the Japanese islands, in North America, Australia. One of the oldest and most popular medicinal plants, a productive honey plant. It is used in the food, alcoholic beverage industry and as a natural dye;
2. 2 St. John's wort- found in Asia, Africa, European countries. Used to create hedges, in combination with other plants. Common in landscaping;
3. 3 St. John's wort- grows in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. Successfully adapted to growing on the Australian mainland and the lands of New Zealand. In European countries, it is cultivated as an ornamental plant in the system of park and garden culture;
4. 4 St. John's wort- distributed in Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. Also found on the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. It has a decorative value. The species has found application in the cooking of local peoples: the grass of the plant is used to make tea, young shoots are eaten;
5. 5 St. John's wort- found in the southern European region, in Tunisia, Cyprus and Malta, in Turkey, in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, in Israel and Jordan. The plant is popular in oriental medicine;
6. 6 St. John's wort drawn- the habitat of the species covers China, Mongolia, Korea, the Asian region of Russia. The species has medicinal properties, as part of the herb plant anthrachion hypericin and tannins. Folk healers use the plant in the practice of treating headaches, dizziness, bleeding, neuralgic lesions, eclampsia, mastitis, with attacks of rheumatism;
7. 7 St. John's wort- the species represents the flora of Europe, refers to medicinal plants;
8. 8 Hypericum mountain- found in Europe, in the Caucasus. It is under protection in Lithuania, in Belarus it is listed in the Red Book. The flowers of the plant are used for the preparation of medicinal raw materials;
9. 9 St. John's wort- grows in Greece, Turkey, Syria, the Balkans. Grown as an ornamental culture;
10. 10 St. John's wort- a plant with powerful medicinal potential, widely used in folk medical practice. Source of dye in industry. It grows in northern Africa, in Central Asia, in the Crimea, on the Greek islands and in Spain;
11. 11 St. John's wort- endemic to the Arabian region and the Mediterranean. In Israel, the species is listed in the Red Book. It has long been used by folk healers of the Middle East;
12. 12 St. John's wort rough- grows in Central Asia, the Middle East, Altai. Medicinal plant and natural dye.

St. John's wort (common) is a perennial plant, grass from 0.3 to 1 m high. The rhizome is poorly developed and slightly branched. Stems growing annually, dihedral, diverging into numerous branches upwards. The leaf arrangement is opposite, the leaves are sessile, smooth, oval or elongated, covered with many translucent spots - "holes". The flowers are bright, rich yellow, collected in corymbose panicles. The flowering period is summer. The fruit is a box, with small brown seeds, begins to ripen with the beginning of autumn.

St. John's wort grows near field roads, in thickets and thickets, in glades, in a forest belt, on slopes, meadows.

Growing conditions

Well-lit areas are suitable for planting. Before sowing, the soil is cleared of weeds and plowed, enriched with mineral and organic fertilizers (which makes it possible to increase the yield by an additional 20-30%). Peat compost and nitrogen, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are recommended as top dressing.

Sowing the day before winter period carried out without preliminary stratification, maintaining a distance between rows of 0.45 m and at the rate of 30-40 g of seed per 100 m2 of area. If St. John's wort is sown in the spring, the seeds are stratified by mixing with sand and keeping at low temperatures for at least 60 days. After the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to weed and loosen the aisles. These procedures are repeated 3 or 4 more times during the summer, in the first year of plant cultivation. In subsequent years, the site is cleared of dead stems and the soil is plowed with a rake.

St. John's wort is harvested at the flowering stage, before immature fruits appear. The grass is mowed or cut with sickles, separating the apical parts of the plant at a height of 0.3 m. Bare leafless parts are not subject to collection. 30-45 days after the first cut, the vegetation period is completely repeated and flowering begins again. The plant is mowed again. The crop yield of the third year is much higher than that of the plantations of the second year. The grass is dried in well-ventilated rooms (or outdoors, provided there is no precipitation and in a shady place), scattered in a thin layer and systematically mixed. St. John's wort can also be dried in bunches suspended in the shade. The readiness of raw materials is determined by the degree of fragility of the stems. Properly dried material has a faint but distinct balsamic aroma. Permissible storage period - up to 3 years.

Insufficiently experienced herbalists confuse St. John's wort with gorse dye, a member of the legume family. This is a low shrub plant, the leaves are linear or lanceolate, the stems are bare or sparsely pubescent, yellow irregular flowers of the moth type are collected in long racemose inflorescences. The fruits are elongated beans with a slightly curved shape.

Power circuit

Bumblebees and bees collect pollen from St. John's wort flowers. St. John's wort flies and beetles feed on pollen. The bright flowers of the plant also attract wasps and butterflies, the purpose of which is nectar, but it is the flowers of St. John's wort that practically do not produce. Butterfly caterpillars Strymon melinus feed on the seeds of St. John's wort, and caterpillars of butterflies of the species Nedra ramosula- foliage.

Video

Treatment with St. John's wort, as well as interesting facts and methods of application.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

People call it goat weed or amber.Use the aerial part of the plant.St. John's wort protects from evil forces.To do this, you need to hold it over the fire on Midsummer Day, and then hang it in the house. St. John's wort is afraid of all evil spirits, just as she is afraid of sunlight. This plant was customary to carryto strengthen your will to be invulnerable in war.St. John's wort is able to act immediately on the entire human body, cleansing it. It is good for depression, fatigue, the first signs of colds. St. John's wort heals by connecting the soul, mind and body into a single whole.
St. John's wort gains the greatest strength by mid-July. Previously, it (like all magical herbs) was collected on Ivan Kupala (July 7, according to a new style). It was considered that ifcollect St. John's wort on the night of Ivan Kupala, and in the morning weave a wreath out of it and jump over the fire in it, then this wreath will acquire magical power. It must be protected as a means of protection from damage and the evil eye. And here the smell of St. John's wort protects the child during sleep, so the grass was added to mattresses. If you hang a sprig of St. John's wort in the doorway or hide it under the threshold, then a person with bad intentions will not be able to enter the house. This herb promotes divination. Based on St. John's wort, strong love potions are obtained.Collect the top of the shoots 10-15cm. When collecting, be sure to leave a few plants and he will delight you with his appearance next year. Z Veroboi is used in infusions or in aromatic oils, that is, for a direct effect on the body. Earlier in Rus', St. John's wort often replaced tea.Both fresh and dried, it is always effective, which is why it is called the "herb for 99 diseases."

St. John's wort is used primarily for the treatment of wounds and the treatment of pain, in the treatment of diseases of the lungs, stomach, intestines and gallbladder, with diarrhea and nervous disorders. Use equally and tea, and oil, and alcohol extract (tincture). St. John's wort excite the activity of the digestive (as well as biliary) organs and tone up blood circulation, has a slightly calming effect. Interestingly, this medicinal plant is also used to treat bedwetting. This is quite understandable, since urinary incontinence often has a depressed state of mind at its root.
St. John's wort tea: 2 teaspoons topped with herbs pour 1/4 liter of water and heat to a boil. Strain after a few minutes. Dosage: 2-3 cups of tea per day. Treatment with this tea should be carried out systematically for several weeks. Since St. John's wort increases photosensitivity, direct sunlight should be avoided whenever possible during treatment.
John's wort tincture: 10 g of dried grass is poured into 50 g of 70 96% alcohol and infused for 10 days. After pressing, the tincture is ready for use.
It must be remembered that St. John's wort increases sensitivity to light - and therefore, when treating with tea or oil, direct sunlight should be avoided.

Be sure to consult your doctor when taking herbal medicines.

Hypericum perforatum L.

What does St. John's wort look like and where does it grow?

John's wort is a perennial herbaceous plant from the St. John's wort family. Plant height up to 1m, stems ribbed, erect, branched at the top. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, linear-oblong or oblong-ovate, up to 1.5 cm wide and 3 cm long, with rare black and numerous light dotted glands, like the stems, glabrous. St. John's wort blooms in June-August. The flowers are numerous, golden yellow, five-membered, rather large in size, collected in a broadly paniculate, almost corymbose inflorescence. The fruits ripen in July-September. The fruit is brown oblong-ovoid capsules with a large number of small dark brown seeds.

St. John's wort grows in river valleys, in meadows, in clarified forests, in the steppe, on forest edges and glades, on hills, along roads, along borders, in bushes.

For medical purposes, St. John's wort (above-ground part of the plant) is used. The herb contains tannins (up to 13%), flavonoids (up to 1%), essential oil (more than 0.1%), dyes (about 0.5%), carotene (up to 55 mg%), vitamin PP, ascorbic acid.

How to collect and harvest St. John's wort grass

St. John's wort is harvested during flowering. Using a knife or sickle, cut off the top of the plant. St. John's wort is usually dried in bunches or spread out on a bedding. Dry in sheds, attics or in other ventilated places closed from the sun. If the weather is good, then you can dry the herb St. John's wort in the shade in the air. For home use, you can store St. John's wort unthreshed in bunches. But you can also thresh. To do this, the grass is placed in bags and threshed with sticks. Then it is sieved on sieves (to remove stems). Dry raw material is St. John's wort, the use of which involves the use of a mixture of flowers, leaves and thin stems.

St. John's wort has a bitter-astringent taste and balsamic smell.

St. John's wort - useful properties

In medicine, treatment with St. John's wort is used as an antimicrobial, astringent and anti-inflammatory agent. It also has choleretic and wound healing properties. Good results in the treatment of colitis gives hypericum tincture.

Here is a simple recipe for St. John's wort tincture for the treatment of chronic and acute colitis: 1 tablespoon of chopped dry grass is taken for 1 cup of boiling water. Boil 10 minutes. Take this tincture chilled half an hour before meals 3 times a day for 1/3 cup.

With a tendency to diarrhea (as an antidiarrheal), inflammation of the gallbladder (as a cholagogue), prepare a tincture of St. John's wort like tea, brewing a tablespoon of herbs with a glass of boiling water. Take this infusion in a chilled state 3-4 times a day half an hour before meals, ¼ cup.

Infusions are also used for rinsing the mouth for the prevention and treatment of stomatitis, gingivitis. St. John's wort tincture can be used in the form of compresses and in the treatment of infected and bleeding wounds.

For external and internal use can be prepared St. John's wort instead of St. John's wort. A decoction is prepared at the rate of 6-8 g of grass per glass of water. Inside, the decoction is taken 3 times a day for 1/3 cup 30 minutes before or one hour after meals.

For rinsing, you can also use a tincture based on St. John's wort, which is sold in a pharmacy. It is stirred in water at the rate of 30-40 drops per half a glass of water.

St. John's wort is also used in homeopathy both externally and internally, for example, in traumatic and inflammatory lesions of peripheral nerves.

For a long time in folk medicine, the application of crushed leaves of St. John's wort to wounds has been used for their rapid healing.

In case of rheumatic damage to the joints, an alcohol tincture made from St. John's wort with water is taken orally (3 times a day after meals, 30 drops each).

From finely crushed leaves of St. John's wort, ointments are prepared for vegetable oil by adding turpentine. This ointment is used for external rubbing of the affected joints.

And in this video a little more useful information about St. John's wort:

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