St. John's wort. St. John's wort: useful properties, contraindications, side effects, the use of a decoction, infusion for treatment What is St. John's wort and how it is useful

One of the most common medicinal plants is St. John's wort. Begins to bloom in June-August - small flowers appear yellow color. The grass itself can reach 70 cm in height. St. John's wort is harvested, as a rule, at the very beginning of flowering - since it is during this period that the content of useful substances in the grass reaches a peak.

Thanks to this healing herb, you can cure a lot of various diseases:

• SARS;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• inflammatory processes in oral cavity;
• depression and neuroses.

Also, with the use of St. John's wort, dermatological ailments are treated - starting with light burns and ending with ulcerative lesions of the epidermis. Let us consider in detail the medicinal properties of St. John's wort, how to use the herb, in what forms of release it comes in, and other interesting information about the medicinal plant.

Composition of St. John's wort

So, let's consider, due to which substances St. John's wort becomes a reliable assistant in the treatment of many diseases:

If we talk about St. John's wort in general, then this herb has the following effects on the body:

• eliminates depression;
• promotes tissue regeneration;
• has a pronounced choleretic effect;
• promotes the removal of excess fluid from the body;
• has an analgesic effect;
• is an antihelminthic;
• able to get rid of alcohol addiction;
• excellent antiseptic.

In what cases is it relevant to use St. John's wort

Indications for use are the following conditions:

• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis;
• muscle or joint pain;
• infectious, viral diseases;
• ailments gastrointestinal tract, in particular, the stomach and liver;
• diseases of the genitourinary sphere;
• hemorrhoids;
• depression, neuroses;
• skin problems - acne, acne;
• age-related changes in the form of wrinkles, loss of skin turgor;
• seborrheic dermatitis;
• cracks in the skin;
• alopecia (baldness).

Let's consider all the points in detail.

As mentioned above, the medicinal plant has proven itself very successfully in the beauty industry. This is due to the fact that St. John's wort perfectly fights age-related skin changes - such as nasolabial wrinkles, crow's feet in the eye area, and loss of facial turgor. The herb is also used in the fight against seborrhea, to eliminate acne and comedones.

St. John's wort can be used in the following cases:

• very oily or too dry skin of the face;
• dandruff caused by seborrhea;
• fading of the skin of the face;
• cracked heels;
• baldness - helps prevent hair loss;
• pustular lesions of the skin.

Before use, be sure to consult a doctor - in order to know for sure if you have an individual intolerance medicinal herb.

What are the therapeutic properties of the plant?

Many people call St. John's wort herb from 99 diseases - and this is true. Thanks to decoctions, tinctures, you can get rid of almost any disease, provided that you use the mixture regularly. You can make tinctures either on your own or purchase at a pharmacy.

Classical medicine: scope

In official medicine, both the dried herb itself and the various preparations that contain it are used.

Medicinal plant is relevant to use in the following diseases:

1. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. These include diarrhea, biliary dyskinesia, bloating, liver disease, etc.
2. Diseases of the oral cavity, such as stomatitis, inflammation and bleeding of the gums, tonsillitis.
3. Disorders of the nervous system. St. John's wort is prescribed for insomnia, anxiety, neurosis, depression accompanied by depression.
4. Skin diseases. There are special preparations that contain St. John's wort. They are used for purulent or infected wounds, burns, abscesses. It is noteworthy that even Staphylococcus aureus can be cured with the use of St. John's wort - despite the fact that the infection is resistant even to penicillin preparations.

Due to the fact that the medicinal herb contains special essential oils, it is possible to normalize intestinal motility and eliminate flatulence. Also, thanks to essential oils, a choleretic effect is achieved.

Numerous clinical studies have been conducted that have proven that regular use of St. John's wort decoction can get rid of depression. It is noteworthy that you can achieve an even more pronounced effect than when taking mild antidepressants. At the same time, the harmful effects on the liver and other organs will be much lower. Preparations, which contain St. John's wort, eliminate disturbing thoughts, contribute to the normalization of the general emotional state also improves mood.

Traditional medicine: scope

Important: positive dynamics during therapy can be achieved only if a person knows his diagnosis exactly, he knows the treatment method and is sure that he has no contraindications to the use of St. John's wort. If the case is neglected, or there are concomitant ailments, in such cases, alternative methods of therapy should be combined with traditional medicine, and the technique must be approved by the doctor.

• heartburn, accompanied by flatulence;
• gastritis with low or high acidity;
• heart rhythm disturbances - tachycardia or arrhythmia;
• burn lesions of the skin;
• various viral and infectious diseases;
• ailments of the central nervous system, in the first place - depression;
• sinusitis;
• alcoholism and other addictions.

How is the herb used?

You can meet St. John's wort in the following forms:

• alcohol tincture;
• tincture on water;
• decoction;
• tea with healing properties;
• ointment.

Very popular are the means, which include not only St. John's wort, but also other medicinal plants. As a result, we get a synergy effect - herbs multiply each other's action, which allows us to heal much faster.

You can also make a healing decoction or tincture at home - it will not be difficult, and the manufacturing method is indicated on any package. You can buy St. John's wort either in bulk or in filter bags. Experts say that it is much more convenient to take a medicinal plant in bulk, since the bags are intended for making healing tea. If you know exactly what St. John's wort looks like - you can easily collect it yourself, the plant often lives in the wild. However, it must be remembered that grass should be collected away from highways, factories - there the plants are saturated with harmful substances, therefore, the decoction of them will no longer be so healing.

Collection is carried out when the plant begins to bloom. You need to cut the grass as close to the ground as possible. Next - you need to dry the St. John's wort. To do this, it is divided into bundles, and hung upside down. Most best option dry the plant under a canopy - this is due to the fact that it is necessary to avoid exposure to sunlight.

Are there any contraindications for use?

St. John's wort should not be used constantly, as this can cause allergic reactions in the form of urticaria, and in men, in some cases, impotence. Women should also remember that treatment with St. John's wort can significantly reduce the effect of contraceptives, which is fraught with unwanted pregnancy.

It is also not worth taking medicinal herbs in large quantities, as this can cause the following negative consequences:

• Strong headache;
• nausea;
• vomit.

Due to the fact that St. John's wort is negatively combined with antibiotics, you should not take tinctures and decoctions if a person has a high temperature.

During pregnancy, treatment with St. John's wort is not prescribed, since this can provoke a miscarriage even in a healthy woman. Also, you do not need to use this medicinal plant if a person has an increased arterial pressure.

The following precautions should be observed during treatment with St. John's wort:

1. Do not drink strong coffee, as well as alcoholic beverages.
2. In order to achieve a pronounced therapeutic effect, it is advisable to eat healthy food, and forget smoked meats, sweets, pickles for a while.
3. Do not take St. John's wort if antidepressants have already been prescribed by the doctor. St. John's wort in itself is such, so the therapy can come to negative consequences. Many patients reported confusion, anxiety, restlessness, etc.
4. St. John's wort tea is actively used for diseases such as gastritis, ulcers, cholelithiasis, etc. But it is worth remembering that everything should have its own measure - with excessive use of St. John's wort, stomach cramps and bloating can occur.
5. St. John's wort should be used with anesthetic drugs only as directed by a doctor, with caution. This is due to the fact that the herb can change the effect of drugs - it will either disappear or last longer.
6. With prolonged treatment, constipation, bitterness in the mouth, and loss of appetite are possible.

Contraindications for use

Consider in which cases it is better to refuse treatment with St. John's wort:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• nephritis;
• when using drugs that affect blood clotting;
• if you plan to sunbathe - grass increases sensitivity to ultraviolet rays.

St. John's wort during pregnancy: benefit or harm

We all know perfectly well that pregnant women are forced to give up medicines - due to the fact that they can cause significant harm to the fetus. That is why many future mothers turn to medicinal herbs - as you know, most of them are not dangerous, they do not cause allergic reactions.

However, even at first glance, safe herbs can be detrimental to a pregnant woman. It is to this group of funds that St. John's wort belongs. Of course, this plant has a lot of positive qualities - it fights many diseases, acts as a prophylactic, it can be used in complex therapy. St. John's wort copes with depression, diseases of the stomach and biliary tract.

The grass contains a special substance called hyperin. It also helps to eliminate depression and improve mood. Nicotinic acid allows you to establish metabolic processes, is responsible for the digestibility of protein. Thanks to St. John's wort, you can also strengthen the walls of blood vessels. It seemed - one benefit for a pregnant woman, what's the catch?

The fact is that the medicinal plant has the ability to increase blood pressure - this is harmful for the expectant mother. But this factor is far from being the main one - the herb causes uterine contractions, which may well provoke a miscarriage, or cause irreparable damage to the health of the unborn baby. Therefore, if there is a desire to bear the child calmly and without unnecessary problems, it is better to refuse therapy with St. John's wort, or take the herb strictly according to the doctor's prescription, in no case exceeding the dosage.

Can St. John's wort be used to treat children?

As we have already seen, this herb is quite useful and effective, however, not every person should be treated with St. John's wort. Among the main contraindications are high blood pressure, as well as the period of pregnancy. From here, a quite adequate question is brewing - is it possible to treat young children with the use of decoctions and tinctures from St. John's wort?

All doctors say that it is possible to carry out therapy, but this must be done very carefully, in no case exceeding the prescribed dosage. The best option is to talk to the doctor in advance, perhaps he will prescribe a complex of herbs, due to which the concentration of St. John's wort will be reduced.

For children, it is useful to take St. John's wort during the harvest period - when there is a large amount of vegetables and fruits. It was at this time that, thanks to weak decoctions, it will be possible to avoid stomach problems - in children they often occur as a result of the abuse of fiber. Be sure to make sure that the baby is not allergic to medicinal herbs. Also, do not forget to consult a doctor.

Of course, St. John's wort is a medicinal plant, thanks to which you can get rid of many diseases. But it is worth remembering that everywhere you need to know the measure, and be careful - even if you use natural herbs for treatment. You can not take a decoction for people with hypertension, pregnant women, children St. John's wort is prescribed with caution. Even if you are sure that there are no contraindications, before starting therapy, you need to consult a doctor and make sure that you do not have an individual intolerance to the medicinal plant.

Video: useful properties and use of St. John's wort

St. John's wort, man's St. John's wort. plant Hypericum perforatum, hare's blood, blood, St. John's potion, healthy herb. | St. John's wort, plant raznitsa, Hypericum quadrangulum. | Hyssopus officinalis hyssop | Menyanthes trifoliata, trefoil, shamrock, ... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

St. John's wort- perforated. St. John's wort, a genus of herbs and shrubs (St. John's wort family). Over 300 species, mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones of both hemispheres, as well as in the mountains of the tropics. They grow in coniferous and mixed forests, in glades and ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Okhotnik Dictionary of Russian synonyms. St. John's wort n., number of synonyms: 16 vodka (162) hypericum ... Synonym dictionary

St. John's wort, a genus of herbs and shrubs (St. John's wort family). Over 300 species, mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones of both hemispheres, as well as in the mountains of the tropics. They grow in coniferous and mixed forests, in clearings and clearings. St. John's wort… … Modern Encyclopedia

A genus of herbs and shrubs of the St. John's wort family. St. 300 species, mainly in temperate and subtropical zones. St. John's wort medicinal plant (astringent and antimicrobial action). Many types are decorative. 2 species are protected ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Hypericum), a genus of plants of the family. clousian (or St. John's wort). Herbs or shrubs with leaves usually provided with pinpoint glands. Flowers solitary or in semi-umbels, collected in corymbose or paniculate inflorescences, b. h. yellow, with five members ... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

St. John's wort- St. John's wort, I, m. The one who often fights with the so-called. "persons of southern nationality". From the beast; joke. contamination with commonly used "St. John's wort" (Possible influence of the title of the novel by F. Cooper) ... Dictionary of Russian Argo

A genus of meadow and forest grasses or shrubs, usually with yellow flowers. St. John's wort contains up to 0.5% essential oil, vitamin C, carotene and other substances. It is used as components in the addition of a bouquet of various spices, herbs, ... ... Culinary Dictionary

Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

1. St. John's wort1, St. John's wort, husband. (bookish obsolete). Animal hunter. 2. St. John's wort2, St. John's wort, husband. (bot.). The name of a special genus of plants, meadow and forest perennial herbs. Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

Books

• Deerslayer, Cooper James Fenimore. The novel "Deerslayer" is the first book in a series by the remarkable American writer Fenimore Cooper, dedicated to the adventures of the hunter Nathaniel Bumpo, nicknamed Deerslayer. Among the heroes of the novel is an Indian ...
• St. John's Wort, J.F. Cooper. The novel "St. Among the heroes of the novel is an Indian ...

One of the most effective plants in therapeutic practice is St. John's wort, or ordinary. This medicinal herb grows up to 30-70 cm, blooms in June-August with small yellow flowers. The most favorable habitats are light forest glades and dry meadows. For medicinal purposes, leafy tops of the plant with inflorescences are used. It is best to collect them from the very beginning of flowering, since during this period the content of useful substances is maximum.

In nature, there are several types of herbs called St. John's wort. There are shrubs with this name, and even small trees. AT traditional medicine St. John's wort (perforated) and St. John's wort tetrahedral are used. They differ both externally and in healing properties very slightly.

In the Middle Ages, there was a belief that St. John's wort is able to protect against evil spirits, ghosts and witches. He was put to the child in the crib or hung from the cradle. It was believed that in this way the baby would have good dreams, and the evil spirit would not scare him.

On the fresh grass of St. John's wort, girls wondered about love: they crushed the stems in their hands, if the juice was red, then the feeling was mutual, if it was colorless, then the chosen one was indifferent.

St. John's wort was taken with them on the road, it was believed that it would protect against the attack of wild animals and robbers.

There are many legends about the origin of St. John's wort. So, among the Christian peoples, its appearance is associated with the death of John the Baptist. When his head was cut off, St. John's wort grew in place of drops of blood that had fallen to the ground. Therefore, according to the Slavic tradition, this plant is called "Ivan's blood."

The composition and useful properties of St. John's wort

St. John's wort has many useful substances, due to which it has healing properties. The plant contains flavone compounds (rutin, quercetin, etc.), ascorbic and nicotinic acids, saponins, sugars, carotene, tocopherol, hypericin, cetyl alcohol, choline, hyperoside, phytoncides, essential oil, tannins, resinous and bitter substances. Healing components make it possible to use this medicinal plant quite widely. It is used as an antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, wound healing, antirheumatic, diuretic, choleretic, astringent, antihelminthic, and also as a regenerating drug.

Since ancient times, infusions of St. John's wort, prepared in water, have been used to treat colds, stomach, bladder, bedwetting, and inflammation of the female genital organs.

And only recently, medical scientists discovered another useful property of St. John's wort. Clinical studies have shown that the plant has a positive effect on the nervous system and has an antidepressant effect. This makes St. John's wort even more valuable, since it has almost no contraindications and does not cause side effects, unlike sedative drugs of chemical origin.

Consider the composition of St. John's wort in more detail:

Tocopherol is vitamin E, which is necessary to protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals;

Carotene is a precursor of vitamin A. It is necessary for the proper functioning of the eyes, the renewal of skin cells, and the fight against viruses and bacteria;

Tannins help cleanse wounds from infection, relieve inflammation, accelerate healing;

Nicotinic acid is necessary for the proper functioning of the heart and nervous system;

Vitamin C increases immunity, promotes the restoration and renewal of cartilage, ligaments, maintains skin turgor, and prevents the degeneration of normal cells into cancer cells;

Hypericin and hyperforin are special substances that have an antidepressant effect;

Hyperoside and rutin strengthen the walls of blood vessels;

Phytoncides are plant "antibiotics" that have a powerful antimicrobial effect.

Such a combination of biologically active substances in the composition of a medicinal plant allows it to be used in the treatment of many diseases.

St. John's wort in cosmetology

St. John's wort is successfully used for:

Increased oily skin;

Withering and wrinkles;

Baldness and dandruff;

Pustular skin diseases;

Cracked heels.

Acne

With abundant acne on the skin of the face, daily evening washings with infusion of St. John's wort are recommended. To do this, you need to take 1 tablespoon of chopped dried herbs, pour 1 cup of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. You need to wash yourself with infusion every night before going to bed, do not get wet with a towel, do not rinse, let it dry on the skin.

Increased oiliness of the skin

If a greasy sheen quickly appears on the skin, a strong decoction of St. John's wort will help you. Two tablespoons of dried grass should be poured with one glass of boiling water, put on a slow fire and cook for 10 minutes. After cooling, strain and wipe the face with a cotton pad, let dry, rinse with cool water.

You can make a mask from steamed St. John's wort. To do this, pour two tablespoons of raw materials with four tablespoons of boiling water, stir, let it brew. The resulting slurry is applied to a cleanly washed face, avoiding the area around the eyes. Keep the mask on for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. Do no more than twice a week.

Withering and wrinkles

Ice rubbing and lotion based on St. John's wort will help restore skin tone. For ice rubbing, it is necessary to prepare a decoction of St. John's wort (see the recipe above), cool, strain and freeze, pouring into special molds for ice. Every morning after washing, it is recommended to wipe the face and décolleté area with a piece of ice.

To make a lotion, you need to mix 1 cup of St. John's wort (see recipe above) and mix with 1 tablespoon of vodka. Wipe the face and décolleté after washing in the evening before going to bed.

Baldness and dandruff

With baldness, one third of a glass of St. John's wort should be taken orally 10 minutes before meals 2 times a day. To get rid of dandruff, it is necessary to rinse the hair after washing with St. John's wort, prepared according to the above recipe.

Pustular skin diseases

In case of pustular diseases, the skin is wiped with a decoction of St. John's wort. To prevent the spread of infection to healthy areas, washing is carried out with a cotton pad. The disk should be moistened in a decoction, slightly squeezed, with wetting movements, treat the skin in an area with a radius of not more than 3 cm, discard the used disk, take a clean one. Repeat the entire procedure on the next skin area.

Cracked heels

To alleviate the condition, foot baths are shown. To do this, prepare 2 liters of decoction at the rate of 4 tablespoons of chopped herbs per 0.5 liters of boiling water, cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Pour into a small basin, cool to a temperature of 45 ° C (hot, but tolerable), lower your legs and hold until the broth cools.

The use of St. John's wort in medicine

The active substances in which St. John's wort is rich made it "a herb for 99 ailments."

classical medicine

In official medical practice, they use both dried raw materials - St. John's wort, and medicines made on its basis.

The plant is used in the following conditions:

Depression, insomnia, increased anxiety.

The effectiveness of this medicinal herb in inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity is due to the content a large number tannins, phytoncides and beta-carotene.

Based on the extract of St. John's wort, the preparation Novoimanin was made. It is indicated for purulent skin diseases - infected wounds, inflammation of the pharynx, sinusitis. Its effectiveness is so high that it is able to suppress the growth of even golden, which is resistant to penicillin preparations.

The choleretic effect and the ability to normalize intestinal motility in case of diarrhea is associated with the content of essential oil in the plant.

The ability of St. John's wort to eliminate manifestations is well known. Numerous studies have shown that in patients with mild depressive states, the effectiveness of drugs based on St. John's wort is even higher than that of classical antidepressants. In addition, the herbal preparation does not cause drowsiness, lethargy, does not affect the ability to drive a car, does not reduce the reaction rate. St. John's wort-based antidepressants improve mood, relieve anxiety, and cause a surge of vitality. The official St. John's wort medicines for depression, anxiety, irritability, and restlessness are the German drug Gelarium Hypericum and the Russian herbal remedy Negrustin, both sold without a prescription.

ethnoscience

Warning! The treatment of any disease will be effective only if the diagnosis is known exactly, the existing complications and contraindications are taken into account. In complex advanced cases, traditional medicine should be combined with classical methods of treating a particular disease.

Cardiopalmus;

Gallstone disease, inflammation of the gallbladder, hepatitis, including viral;

skin infections, burns;

mental illness, including depression;

Before starting therapy with any medicinal herbs, you should consult your doctor. This will help to avoid fatal mistakes, the price of which is life and health.

Most often, St. John's wort is used in the form:

• Water infusion;

  Alcohol tincture;

  Healing tea.

All of them can be made at home.

Herbal preparations are very popular, which, in addition to St. John's wort, include other medicinal plants. Fees act more efficiently and faster due to the summation of useful properties.

Dried herb purchased at a pharmacy can be used as a raw material for the preparation of dosage forms of St. John's wort. It is sold in bulk cardboard boxes or in the form of filter bags. It is best to use grass in bulk.

If desired, you can prepare St. John's wort yourself, if it is possible to collect the plant away from major roads, factories, factories, railways.

St. John's wort should be collected during its flowering. Plants are cut with a knife close to the ground. Dried upside down, tied in bunches. When drying, direct exposure to sunlight should be avoided, it is better if it is a shaded place (canopy, attic).

St. John's wort treatment: the best recipes

It is very important to remember that this medicinal plant can seriously harm, and to understand this, it is enough to carefully read the name. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is best to consult a doctor. As a rule, fresh grass is used as an external agent. To do this, crush the leaves and inflorescences, which promote the healing of wounds, ulcers and, and are used as lotions to sore spots - for example, with rashes, and also after insects. You can add a little honey and use the plant as a bandage to treat joints or lower back.

Quite rarely, freshly squeezed juice from St. John's wort is used. Since it is difficult to get the right amount of juice, infusions, tinctures, decoctions, ointments and oils are more often prepared.

Hypericum infusion: to prepare the infusion, you need to take 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs or 1 tablespoon of dry, and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it. Infuse for 3-4 hours in a dark place, after which the remedy can be consumed 15 ml 3 times a day before meals to get rid of gastritis, normalize the acidity of gastric juice, with cholelithiasis, headache, to improve venous circulation, increase, etc. e. For colds or infections of the oral cavity, a rinse from the infusion of St. John's wort is used. For the treatment of inflammation on the skin, lotions or compresses are prepared with the same remedy. The infusion is used to treat skin diseases in children, adding it to the bath when bathing.

Decoction of St. John's wort: it is used in much the same way as the infusion. To prepare a decoction, you need an enamel pan or heat-resistant glassware. Take 1.5 tablespoons of grass and pour it into a glass hot water. After that, the container with the brewed grass is heated in a water bath for 20-30 minutes, but do not boil. A decoction of St. John's wort is used externally for washing, rubbing the skin, rinsing the hair, inside - for intestinal infections,.

Hypericum tincture: St. John's wort is insisted on vodka or alcohol in a ratio of 1:7 or 1:10, left in a dark place for three days or more. Use the drug should be mixed with water: one teaspoon per 50 ml of water. This medicine is also used for rinsing the mouth and for inhalation. Alcohol tincture is very effective as a warming compress for muscle or joint pain.

For outdoor use prepare an ointment or oil. Such a remedy promotes the healing of wounds, ulcers, bruises, sprains, etc. An ointment is prepared by mixing animal fat, petroleum jelly or a fat baby cream with evaporated extract of St. John's wort or dry grass powder.

St. John's wort oil: It can be prepared as follows: take one part of the flowers and infuse in two parts of olive, almond or peach oil for three weeks. Such a drug is used as oil compresses to treat ulcers, burns or wounds.

To prepare the medicine, you can also take ordinary vegetable oil, add dried herb and infuse for 5 days (in a ratio of 1: 1.5). If the healing oil is prepared on the basis of fresh herbs, then the proportions are 1: 1. In the villages of Siberia, such oil is widely used to treat gums and oral mucosa (in case of stomatitis or).

St. John's wort tea. It is prepared in the same way as a hot infusion. 1 teaspoon of St. John's wort is poured into the teapot and 1 cup of boiling water is poured. Linden blossom, a spoonful of honey or a handful of strawberries can be added to tea. Tea is used not as a remedy, but as a prophylactic for strengthening.

There are many traditional medicine recipes based on St. John's wort. Here are the best ones.

Treatment of the stomach with St. John's wort

If gastritis is accompanied severe pain, then it is possible to use herbal collection. To prepare the infusion, you will need one part of meadowsweet herb, nettle and St. John's wort. Herbs need to be folded into a dry jar, mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Then take 1 tablespoon of the resulting mixture, pour into a teapot and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Insist 1 hour. Drink half a glass 5 times a day before meals.

If heartburn worries along with gastritis, then collecting plants will help: 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort,. Add all ingredients to 1 liter of water. Let it brew for 2 hours, take half a glass half an hour before meals or when an attack of heartburn begins.

Treatment of vitiligo with St. John's wort

Vitiligo is a disease in which, for unknown reasons, in certain areas the skin loses its pigment - melanin, in this place white spots of a rounded shape appear. In severe cases, they slowly grow, merging with each other and capturing more and more areas of the body. Vitiligo most often affects open areas of the skin: face, neck, décolleté, hands. The spots do not hurt or itch.

For a long time, St. John's wort has been used to treat vitiligo. In the fight against this disease, an infusion of herbs and ointment were used:

Infusion for the treatment of vitiligo. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 1 teaspoon of dried St. Take 1 tablespoon in the morning, afternoon, evening before bedtime for 3 weeks. After an 8-day break, repeat the course of treatment. Do this until the total number of courses is 8;

Ointment for the treatment of vitiligo. Collect fresh St. John's wort flowers, tamp well into a glass jar "up to the shoulders". Pour in cold-pressed vegetable oil, olive oil is best, as much as it takes. Expose in the sun for 2 weeks. Collect fresh St. John's wort flowers again, pack tightly into a jar, pour over the squeezed oil from the first portion. Insist 2 weeks. Collect the flowers again in a jar and pour over the squeezed oil from the second portion. Do this 5 times. By the end, the vegetable oil will turn into a thick, viscous liquid resembling a cream. Lubricate them with vitiligo spots once a day, leave until completely absorbed. Wash off the residue after 30 minutes with warm water.

Treatment of sinusitis with St. John's wort

For the treatment of sinusitis with St. John's wort, you will need a decoction of this herb (see the recipe above). Before washing, drip vasoconstrictor drops into the nose to relieve swelling and give access to healing water to the sinuses.

Rinse the nasal cavity with warm decoction of St. John's wort 3 times a day. After the procedure, it is good to blow your nose with both nostrils at once. The course of treatment is 7 days. Irrigation can be done with a syringe without a needle. Tilt your head over the sink, draw a decoction into the syringe and inject it into the nostril. Spit out the secreting liquid.

Treatment of the liver with St. John's wort

With congestion in the gallbladder, it is necessary to stimulate the secretion of bile. An infusion of St. John's wort will cope well with this task (see the recipe above). In the morning after waking up, drink 0.5 cups of infusion on an empty stomach. Have breakfast in half an hour. During the day, take 2 tbsp. l. after each meal, but not more than 5 times a day. The duration of treatment is 7 days.

Treatment of gastritis with St. John's wort

The infusion of the plant helps with exacerbation of gastritis. To prepare the infusion, you will need 1 tablespoon or 1 filter bag of St. John's wort herb, brew them in a glass dish with 1 cup of boiling water. Leave to infuse for about 1 hour. Drink 15 ml (1 tablespoon) before each meal.

Treatment of alcoholism with St. John's wort

To evoke a feeling of disgust for alcohol, a strong decoction is prepared with the help of St. John's wort. Pour four tablespoons of chopped dry grass with 2 cups of boiling water, heat in a water bath for half an hour. Cool down. Drink 2 tablespoons in the morning and evening before meals. Reception must be conscious, that is, there will be no effect if you add a decoction to food without the knowledge of the patient. The course of treatment is 14 days.

St. John's wort treatment for depression

Since those components of the medicinal plant that have an antidepressant effect are poorly soluble in water, St. John's wort tincture is the best drug in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. You can cook it at home. The recipe is posted above. To get rid of depression, take 10-12 drops of tincture 3 times a day before meals. The duration of treatment is 1 month.

St. John's wort refers to slightly toxic plants. If this herb is used for a long time, unpleasant sensations may appear in the liver area, sometimes a feeling of bitterness in the mouth.

The main side effects and contraindications are:

Photosensitivity is an increased sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, those who receive treatment with St. John's wort should not be in direct sunlight for a long time;

The plant causes an increase in blood pressure, so patients with hypertension should consult a doctor before starting treatment with this herb;

Women taking birth control pills should remember that St. John's wort reduces their contraceptive effect, so an unwanted pregnancy is possible;

Prolonged use of this medicinal plant can cause a weakening of potency in men, which disappears after the drug is discontinued;

Drinking decoctions and infusions of St. John's wort for more than 1 month in a row can cause an increase in the liver;

In patients with mental illness, this herb can cause an exacerbation of manic syndrome. The same effect can occur while taking St. John's wort with other antidepressants. Patients may begin hallucinations, confusion, in severe cases, coma may occur;

St. John's wort should not be taken simultaneously with antibiotics, as it contributes to a more rapid removal of the drug from the body, as a result of which the effect of antimicrobial therapy is reduced;

Another important note: St. John's wort is able to halve the blood content of a very important drug called Indinavir. Given this circumstance, people with AIDS should not use St. John's wort. In addition, the plant significantly reduces the effect of anticoagulants and heart drugs, so it is better not to use it together with these drugs;

Older people using modern antidepressants, St. John's wort should be taken especially carefully. The combination of this medicinal herb with antidepressants can lead to dizziness, confusion, anxiety and seizures;

St. John's wort should be used with caution in people who require anesthesia, as this plant can prolong or enhance the effects of some pain medications. Therefore, before the introduction of anesthesia, it is very important to inform the doctor about the use of St. John's wort. Recent studies of the plant have shown that some components of the plant also have a negative effect on the optic nerve.

Can St. John's wort be used during pregnancy?

Since this plant is famous for its healing properties, the question often arises, can expectant mothers use it? It is strictly contraindicated to use St. John's wort inside while carrying a child and breastfeeding, since St. John's wort can negatively affect the course of pregnancy, and also gives a bitter taste to breast milk.

External use in the form of ointments, rinsing, washing is allowed for women at any gestational age.

Education: A diploma in the specialty "Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the University named after N. I. Pirogov (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Moscow University of Peoples' Friendship (2008).

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 use of 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), naphthodianthrones (hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperin or hypericin, close to hematoporphyrin, sensitive to solar 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. John's wort in gynecology is used in the form herbal infusion for douching with 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 influx 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 strain, 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. John's wort oil extract, half a cup of ginger oil extract, 30 g of beeswax, a tablespoon of rosehip seed oil and oil solution vitamin E, 20 drops of essential oils of lavender and ginger. 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. Suleimani, 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.

The large-scale scientific work of P. Bongiorno and P. Lo Guidice is aimed at studying 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 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

Required Ingredients: 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, sorted on the petals and separated from the sepals.

Peel potatoes, cut into thin slices. Lubricate the baking dish with oil, sprinkle with crushed garlic, put 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 crushed 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 to create professional cosmetics for the care of facial skin, 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 bacterioses that affect 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 extracted.

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 intake of St. John's wort and a specific medication entails 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.

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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. Has long been used folk healers 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 capsule with small seeds Brown color, 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 on the eve of the winter period is 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 areas (or on outdoors provided there is no precipitation and in a shaded place), spreading in a thin layer and systematically mixing. 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.

Many modern biologists and doctors are interested in studying and putting into practice plants that have healing properties. One of them is St. John's wort, or ordinary. By old beliefs it is considered a remedy for ninety-nine diseases. And today we must bow low to those folk healers who discovered the healing power of St. John's wort and preserved invaluable information about its use for future generations.

What is the healing power of St. John's wort

John's wort - perennial herbaceous plant 0.3–1.0 m high with stems that grow annually. If knead yellow petals his flowers in the hands, they will turn the skin purple. Since the plant contains a large amount of tannins, its taste is tart, and the smell is special, delicate. St. John's wort blooms from mid-June to early September and grows almost everywhere: in glades, meadows, along roads, in green areas. It is at this time that it is collected. The tops of plants with branches, leaves and inflorescences have healing properties.

St. John's wort - unpretentious plant which can be found everywhere

It is known that St. John's wort was used as a medicinal plant even in medicine. Ancient Greece. In Russia and Ukraine, they first started talking about it only at the beginning of the 19th century.

Compound

Green grass shoots and flowers contain:

• essential oils;
• flavonoids;
• glycosides;
• saponins;
• resinous ingredients;
• vitamins C, P and PP;
• tannin compounds;
• carotene;
• antibacterial compound imanin;
• volatile phytoncides;
• yellow pigment hypericin;
• nicotinic acid.

Most of the useful elements are found in flowers.

Unique features of the plant and its effect on the body

This diversity of the chemical structure of St. John's wort explains its versatile therapeutic effects. The intake of alcohol and oil tinctures prepared from it enhances photosynthetic phenomena in the human body. This underlies the effectiveness of the plant in the fight against malignant tumors.

Means prepared on its basis have an effect on the body:

• astringent;
• antibacterial;
• diuretic;
• antispasmodic;
• regenerating.

St. John's wort flavonoids have a number of positive effects on the organs of the digestive and urinary systems:

• relieve spasms from the muscles of the intestine;
• increase the secretion of gastric juice;
• restore physiological intestinal motility, thereby improving the absorption capacity of the digestive tract;
• dilate blood vessels, bile ducts and ureters;
• prevent stagnation of secretion in the gallbladder;
• prevent stone formation in the kidneys;
• facilitate the release of bile into the duodenum.

St. John's wort has immune-boosting and hemostatic properties. Due to the fact that the plant contains vitamin P, it reduces the permeability of capillaries, strengthens blood vessels. Preparations based on this herb improve blood circulation and nutrition of the abdominal organs, and also accelerate the excretion of urine.

The hypericin pigment contained in St. John's wort increases the sensitivity of a living organism to the sun's rays and regulates important biological processes in the human body. At present, the antidepressant and sedative effect of the plant is no longer in doubt.

It should be borne in mind that of all the varieties of the plant, only St. John's wort (Hypericum perforation) has the above healing properties. It can be distinguished from stone, tetrahedral and other varieties of the plant by the characteristic holes in the leaves, thanks to which the grass got its name, and by the red juice that stands out when the flowers are rubbed in the hands.

Who will benefit from the plant

Among the people, St. John's wort and today does not lose popularity. Its miraculous healing abilities are used for various diseases:

• catarrh (inflammation) of the intestines and stomach;
• diarrhea;
• stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer;
• diseases of the liver and gallbladder;
• tuberculosis;
• cough of any origin;
• dropsy;
• children's enuresis;
• heart failure;
• hypertension;
• uterine bleeding;
• cystitis;
• sciatica;
• hemorrhoids.

Its bactericidal property is used in patients with gingivitis and stomatitis, and in surgery - for the healing of wounds and burns. In addition, St. John's wort is widely used as an appetite stimulant and fever reliever.

The healing properties of the plant have found their application in cosmetology. St. John's wort extract is part of many shampoos, creams, lotions and other face and hair care products. With the help of this plant, the problem of increased greasiness of the skin and is successfully solved. Hair rinses with St. John's wort help get rid of dandruff, improve them appearance and health. Cosmetics This herb can be easily prepared at home.

St. John's wort is widely used in the manufacture of hair care products.

St. John's wort is a tonic and sedative for insomnia, headaches and increased nervousness. Moreover, the antidepressant and sedative property of the plant's bioflavonoids is used when prescribing its preparations for:

• itching caused by skin diseases;
• manic-depressive syndrome;
• hypochondria (feelings of anxiety, restlessness, apathy, depression);
• nervous exhaustion;
• arousal from intense pain.

Taking funds from St. John's wort improves the mental and physical well-being of people, increases their ability to work, normalizes night sleep and improves mood.

Video: grass from 99 diseases

Contraindications and side effects

Absolute contraindications to taking St. John's wort are:

• hypersensitivity to plant components;
• severe current depression;
• photodermatitis, including previously transferred;
• the need to take other antidepressant medications during this period;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• the patient is under 12 years of age.

Since St. John's wort constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure, people suffering from hypertension should take it with great care and only as part of herbal preparations. That is, so that other components balance its hypertensive effect.

From the use of St. John's wort, the following adverse reactions are possible, but not necessary:

• dry mouth;
• nausea;
• pain in the stomach;
• intestinal disorders;
• bloating.

In people prone to allergies, the use of St. John's wort can cause the corresponding reactions of the skin and mucous membranes:

• rash;
• eczema;
• areas of pigmentation;
• sensitivity to dog and cat hair;
• intolerance to sunlight (mainly in HIV-infected patients).

St. John's wort is low toxic, but in the medical literature one can find suggestions that, with long-term use in large doses, it has a detrimental effect on human germ cells. There are references to the possibility of reducing potency in men.

drug interaction

Preparations based on St. John's wort can reduce the effect of anticoagulants containing warfarin as the main active substance (for example, Marevan). It is not recommended to use them simultaneously with any means based on the plant in question, since when using this combination, the activation of the action of warfarin can continue for 14 days after stopping the use of preparations containing St. John's wort. In the case of the appointment of this combination, the patient should conduct regular laboratory monitoring of blood coagulation.

When taken together with sulfonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones, Piroxicam and diuretics, agents with St. John's wort can enhance their photosensitizing effect. In other words, increase the sensitivity of human skin to sunlight.

St. John's wort lengthens narcotic sleep, in which the patient is administered medication for general anesthesia, but shortens that caused by certain sleeping pills (barbiturates). When taken simultaneously with drugs that lower blood pressure (for example, with Reserpine), the plant can negate their hypotensive effect. It also reduces the effectiveness of cardiac glycosides (digoxin).

Women taking oral contraceptives (OCs) should be aware that the simultaneous use of St. John's wort increases the likelihood of intermenstrual bleeding.

Despite the fact that this medicinal plant increases the effectiveness of other antidepressants (for example, Nefazodone, Paroxetine, Sertraline), when taken in parallel with them, the risk of developing hypertensive crises increases. Therefore, the interval between cycles of treatment with other sedatives and St. John's wort should be at least 2 weeks.

This herb should not be taken with medicines prescribed for AIDS, and cytostatics. Whenever a patient takes anyothermedications, before using St. John's wort, he should consult a doctor.

Overdose

With an excessively long intake of funds from St. John's wort, a supersaturation of the body can occur, which manifests itself in allergic reactions. If skin irritation occurs, avoid sun exposure for 10-15 days. And it is better not to allow exposure to the skin of ultraviolet rays during the entire period of treatment.

Using products with St. John's wort, you should limit the time spent in the sun

When using too much St. John's wort, iron deficiency anemia (anemia) sometimes develops. The central nervous system may respond to an overdose with headache, increased fatigue, and anxiety. Therefore, every 2-3 months you need to make 2-3-week pauses in taking the preparations of this plant.

Collection and storage rules

St. John's wort is harvested during the flowering period, before the first immature fruits appear. When harvesting, the upper part of the plant with flowers about 20 cm long is cut off. The medicinal raw material is dried in cool, shaded, well-ventilated rooms - under sheds or in attics. Or the grass is tied in bunches and hung in the yards of private houses (not in the sun!).

St. John's wort has another name - "grass of John the Baptist." It appeared in Western Europe due to the fact that the most magnificent flowering of the plant was observed on June 24th. It is then that the Catholic Church celebrates the birth of the mentioned saint. There is a belief that if on this night a sprig of St. John's wort is put under the pillow, then John the Baptist will appear in a dream, bless and save from trouble in the current year.

Video: how to collect and store St. John's wort

St. John's wort treatment

There is no need to be afraid that after a few days from the start of treatment with St. John's wort, the underlying disease may worsen for a short time - this is normal. During this period, there is a kind of "restructuring" in the body in connection with the action of the healing forces of the plant. But if the remedy clearly does not help, it is necessary to stop taking it and think about other methods of therapy.

John's wort in traditional medicine

Compared to the treatment of psychological and nervous disorders with traditional medications, St.

In the pharmacy network, you can choose any of the sedative medicines containing this herb:

• Arfazetin;
• Doppelhertz;
• Life;
• Herbion Hypericum;

In some cases, St. John's wort preparations are prescribed by doctors for violations of the peripheral circulation, accompanied by congestion.

In official medicine, herbs or tinctures of St. John's wort, plant oil, as well as antibacterial drugs Imanin and Novoimanin. The latter are prescribed for external treatment and anesthesia of purulent wounds, burns, phlegmon, boils and carbuncles, nipple cracks, tonsillitis and sinusitis.

They are also used in the treatment of:

• diseases of the mouth and throat;
• stagnation of bile in the gallbladder;
• cholecystitis;
• bile and urolithiasis;
• inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines;
• hepatitis;
• functional disorders of the kidneys.

In dentistry, St. John's wort is used as an anti-inflammatory and astringent.

Photo gallery: pharmaceutical preparations containing St. John's wort

Novo-Passit - a sedative with components of plant origin, one of which is St. John's wort Brusniver is a herbal remedy that has a diuretic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. Negrustin is a herbal preparation with antidepressant activity. Prostanorm is a phytopreparation used in diseases of the prostate gland. Sibektan - phytopreparation with hepatoprotective and choleretic action

St. John's wort and traditional medicine

From this magical herb, folk healers invented a great many potions.

Alcohol tincture

St. John's wort is used as an external anesthetic in rheumatic disorders. It rubs the joints and lower back. Prepare it like this:

1. Pour 20 g of vegetable raw materials with 100 ml of 70% alcohol.
2. Insist 14 days.
3. Then filter and squeeze out the product, pour it into a dark glass container and store in a cool, dry place.

Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort can be lubricated:

• infected wounds;
• abscesses;
• panats;
• boils;
• trophic ulcers;
• burns.

It enhances the regenerative properties of tissues.

Video: how to prepare a medicinal St. John's wort tincture

With stomach ulcers, diseases of the gallbladder and kidney stones, St. John's wort is taken orally. It can serve as an analgesic and worming agent.

You need to take it in 1-2 tsp. half an hour before meals or 3 hours after it 2-3 times a day for 1-2 months.

Ready St. John's wort oil can be bought at the pharmacy

St. John's wort oil is also used for extensive burns - it will help, even if more than 60% of the body surface has been affected. Lotions soaked in it are applied to the affected areas of the skin. Oil compresses are made on ulcers, abscesses, festering wounds, loosening of the oral mucosa. The product lubricates skin damage caused by animals, acne on the face, cracks in the nipples in nursing women.

To prepare St. John's wort oil, you can use any of the following recipes:

• 4 tbsp. l. fresh flowers pour 200 ml olive oil and insist for 40 days.
• Pour 3 handfuls of St. John's wort flowers into a bottle and pour 1 liter of good vegetable oil. Close the vessel with a lid and expose to the sun. After 2 weeks, add 2 more handfuls of St. John's wort flowers and insist until the liquid turns dark red.
• Boil 100 g of St. John's wort herb together with inflorescences in 700 ml of fresh sunflower oil. The liquid should boil quietly for about half an hour. Filter after cooling.
• A third of a glass of crushed fresh St. John's wort leaves and inflorescences insist on a glass of any vegetable oil for 20 days. Best suited sunflower, linseed, almond or olive. Squeeze and strain.
• Let a liter jar of crushed herb of the plant, along with flowers, brew in a mixture of 0.4 liters of white wine with 0.8 liters of vegetable oil for 5 days. Then boil the product for 12 minutes so that the alcohol evaporates.

St. John's wort oil must be poured into a dark glass dish and kept in the refrigerator.

Video: St. John's wort oil - an excellent antidepressant

Hypericum tea

St. John's wort tea, drunk daily in large quantities (at least 3-4 cups), treats chronic inflammation in the intestines and diarrhea. To prepare it, take 1 cup of boiling water 1 tbsp. l. flowers or leaves of a plant. You can use St. John's wort in half with yarrow. Drink this tea 2 cups after each meal for 2-3 months.

Healing tea with St. John's wort also works well for nervous exhaustion, emotional overwork, mental stress, and sleep disorders. He will help students during the exam sessions.

Here is another recipe for a soothing tea from a mixture of herbs with St. John's wort:

1. Take St. John's wort, angelica root and yarrow flowers in equal amounts.
2. 1 st. l. crushed raw materials pour a glass of boiling water.
3. Let stand a little.
4. Drink at night.

St. John's wort in this combination treats insomnia, regenerates and strengthens the nervous system.

A cup of St. John's wort tea, drunk at night, will improve sleep and calm the nervous system.

In the same way, to calm down, you can drink tea made from St. John's wort, lemon balm and linden flowers.

Decoctions

A decoction of St. John's wort is used for vaginal douching in inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs. To do this, prepare a mixture of the following plants, taken equally:

• tea rose petals;
• flax seeds;
• marigold flowers;
• marshmallow root;
• herbs mountaineer pepper;
• nettle root;
• oak bark;
• shepherd's purse herbs;
• larkspur root;
• willow bark;
• sand cumin flowers;
• mistletoe herbs.

Boil 5-6 tbsp. l. of this mixture in 3 liters of water for half an hour.

You can prepare the remedy in another way:

1. 4 tbsp. l. St. John's wort pour 0.5 liters of boiling water.
2. Cover the dish with a lid and simmer in a water bath for 30 minutes.
3. Then let stand for 15 minutes and strain.
4. Wash the vagina with warm decoction twice a day: in the morning after waking up and in the evening before going to bed.

You can prepare a decoction for douching only from St. John's wort. To this end, 3 Art. l. herbs with flowers should be boiled for 20 minutes in 2 liters of water.

The decoction of St. John's wort is used to wash the wounds, and they are also dressed with bandages moistened with it. For speedy healing, the remedy is also taken orally. In addition, a decoction of St. John's wort is drunk as a choleretic and anti-inflammatory drug for cholangitis and cholecystitis.

Ointment

To eliminate adenoids and polyps of the nasopharynx, prepare an ointment from St. John's wort:

1. Grind the dry grass of the plant to a powder state.
2. Mix 1 tsp. St. John's wort powder with 3 tsp. unsalted butter.
3. Add celandine juice to the resulting composition (for 1 tsp of ointment - 5 drops of juice).
4. Pour the product into a dark glass bottle.
5. Shake the vessel until an emulsion forms inside it.

Place 2 drops of this medicine in each nasal passage 3 to 4 times a day.

In the same way, you can make an ointment for the treatment of cracked nipples. To do this, mix 1 tbsp. l. decoction of St. John's wort with 2 tbsp. l. softened butter.

infusions

Strong infusions of St. John's wort are very effective for curing gastrointestinal and colds. They can be easily prepared on their own for oral administration, for gargling and for washing nasal passages. To do this, 10 g of the plant is poured with 100 ml of boiling water. Drink 1 tbsp. l. four times a day. Pass the infusion through the nose with a runny nose in the morning and at night.

For colds, it is useful to inhale the dry powder of St. John's wort.