A message on the topic of the medicinal properties of St. John's wort. The medicinal qualities of “St. John’s wort” are due to the presence in it. A unique complex of substances in the composition

St. John's wort also goes by other names. It is popularly called youth blood, red grass, blood grass and healthy grass. There is a fabulous legend about the origin of this plant, which tells that St. John's wort grew from the blood of a magical bird. There was a battle in the sky, and the bird was seriously injured by an evil monster. She descended to the ground, and St. John's wort grew from droplets of blood and lost feathers.

The Catholic Church attributes the appearance of St. John's wort to the blood of John the Baptist. After the executioner cut off his head, the falling drops of blood gave birth to St. John's wort.

Appearance

St. John's wort is a low perennial subshrub. Belongs to the St. John's wort family. The stem of St. John's wort has four sides. Leaves with short petioles are located opposite each other. You can see small black gland dots on them.

Yellow and rather large flowers, each having five sepals and petals, are collected in inflorescences and are located mainly in the upper part of the plant. The center of the flower is the abundance of stamens. The flowers do not have a brightly saturated yellow color, they have a brownish tint. The flowering period lasts from June to August.

The fruit of St. John's wort is a triangular capsule, which, after ripening, opens into nests. There can be from 3 to 5. Small seeds shaped like an oval fall out from there. The seeds ripen in late summer early autumn.

St. John's wort root is branched.

Kinds

There are approximately 110 species of this plant. The most common:

• The stem of this species is dihedral. The name speaks for itself. Black glands located on bright green leaves create the feeling that the leaf is full of holes.
• Unlike the previous species, it has a smooth stem. It is not for nothing that it is called large, since its height is more than a meter. Accordingly, its flowers are very large in size. They are collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces. St. John's wort is classified as an ornamental plant.
• The height of this species reaches 50 cm. The leaves are also equipped with glands. There are many flowers. They are whitish-yellow. Flowering period May-July.
• The height of mountain St. John's wort is from 20 to 60 cm. The stem is cylindrical in cross section. The leaves, which are located in the upper part of the plant, are equipped with glands.
• It can be either 10 cm in height or 70. There are quite a lot of stems and they are covered with oval leaves with a few glands. The flowers form a paniculate inflorescence. The flowering period lasts until September.
• The stem of this type of St. John's wort is purple. In the upper part the stem gives off many branches. The flowers are light yellow.
• It is very similar to the perforated one, but its stem has 4 longitudinal edges, and not two, like the perforated one.
• The height of this species reaches 40 cm. The stem has a brown or reddish color and is covered with small glandular growths.

Where does it grow?

When is it collected and how is it dried?

St. John's wort is collected during its flowering period by simply cutting off the stems with flowers. The root is not used. Moreover, when collecting raw materials, make sure that the root remains in place. Then next year the plant will again delight you with its flowers and medicinal properties.

According to popular beliefs, St. John's wort, collected on the night of Ivan Kupala, has special magical and healing powers.

During the drying process of St. John's wort, good ventilation of the room is necessary. St. John's wort should be spread in the shade on paper or on a wire mesh. The layer of plants should not exceed 7 cm. The raw materials must be mixed. You can dry St. John's wort in bunches, hanging them, for example, in the attic. If the St. John's wort stems break with a crunch, then the drying process is complete. Bags are suitable for storing finished dry raw materials. Beneficial properties last for 3 years.

Peculiarities

The entire above-ground part of the plant, its stems, leaves and flowers is used.

Characteristics

Does not have any distinct odor. The taste is bitter, a little astringent.

Calorie content and chemical composition

100 grams of dry St. John's wort contains 10 kcal. The following flavone compounds were found in the herb St. John's wort:

• glycoside;
• hyperoside;
• routine;
• quercitrin;
• isoquercitrin.

The chemical composition of St. John's wort also includes:

• essential oil;
• tannins;
• anthocyanins;
• saponins;
• carotene;
• acids (nicotinic, ascorbic);
• vitamin P;
• ceryl alcohol;
• choline;
• trace elements (Mg, Zn).

Cheer up more information You can learn about the beneficial properties of St. John's wort from the following video:

Beneficial features

• Shows antispasmodic properties.
• Relieves inflammation.
• Stops bleeding.
• Disinfects.
• St. John's wort has choleretic properties.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Improves the body's regenerative ability.
• Is a sedative.

You can easily find dried St. John's wort in any pharmacy.

Harm

Despite what St. John's wort brings great benefit our body, we should not forget about its name, which speaks for itself:

• The use of this plant has a negative effect on the body of a pregnant woman, or more precisely, on the fetus. Consumption of St. John's wort can provoke early labor or cause mental retardation in the newborn baby.
• If a nursing woman consumes St. John's wort, her milk begins to taste bitter.
• St. John's wort increases blood pressure.
• St. John's wort contains toxic substances, so abuse is fraught with consequences: allergies and poisoning.
• Negatively affects male potency. If corresponding problems arise, men should immediately stop using St. John's wort.
• St. John's wort-containing preparations of strong concentration (infusions, decoctions) can harm the body.
• Under the influence of St. John's wort, the body becomes extremely susceptible to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, its use should be limited on sunny days.
• St. John's wort weakens the effect of contraception, drugs that treat diseases of the cardiovascular system, and antibiotics.
• Completely neutralizes therapeutic effect drugs used to treat HIV.

Contraindications

• Pregnancy and lactation.
• Hypertension.
• Hypersensitivity to ultraviolet rays.
• HIV infection.
• Childhood up to 12 years old.

St. John's wort is slightly toxic and can cause an allergic reaction

Oil

• Recipe 1. To prepare St. John's wort oil, you will need fresh crushed flowers and leaves of the plant (25 g), which need to be filled with vegetable oil (250 g). Olive, sunflower or flax oil will do. The oil is infused for about 3 weeks in a warm place. It needs to be shaken periodically. After the allotted time, strain the oil and pour it into a dark glass bottle in which it should be stored.
• Recipe 2. Take 0.5 kg of fresh raw materials and fill them with a liter of olive oil and half a liter of white wine. The mixed ingredients are left for three days, and then everything is put on fire to evaporate the wine.

St. John's wort oil is used in the treatment various burns(including solar), dermatitis and eczema, wounds. It is used in compresses, for example, for lumbago. Heated, but not boiled, oil is applied to the cotton wool. Next, cotton wool should be applied to the affected area and wrapped well with a towel.

Tea

St. John's wort tea is especially useful if you use a glass or porcelain teapot to prepare it. It should be rinsed with boiling water and only then begin the brewing process itself. For 250 ml of boiling water you will need 1-2 teaspoons herbal mixtures. After 10 minutes of infusion, the tea is ready to drink.

St. John's wort goes well with various herbs. Here are a few recipes for such mixtures:

• Recipe 1. Take two parts of oregano and one part each of St. John's wort and dry rose hips. This tea is infused for 30 minutes. This time is necessary for rose hips.
• Recipe 2. Mix St. John's wort and black currant leaf in equal parts. Brewed in the usual way. It turns out to be a very aromatic and healthy drink.
• Recipe 3. Cranberry and St. John's wort tea. This is a necessary drink in the treatment of colds. It is noteworthy that decoctions of cranberries and St. John's wort are made separately from each other and then mixed. It is recommended to brew them in the evening to make the infusion especially beneficial. In the morning, the decoctions are mixed and sweetened to taste with sugar.

St. John's wort tea is recommended for weather-sensitive people. It helps the body cope with natural fluctuations. A mixture of lemon balm, hawthorn and St. John's wort is useful for older people. In essence, you will not feel a special taste and aroma in St. John's wort tea, which cannot be said, of course, about its medicinal manifestations.

Tincture

• Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort is a remedy that relieves inflammation.
• She is being treated for a sore throat.
• Treat wounds and cuts.

To prepare an alcoholic St. John's wort tincture, take dry crushed raw materials and vodka at a ratio of 1:5. A dark place is suitable for infusion. A week later the medicine is ready. It is consumed three times a day. Single dose – 40 drops.

Decoction

St. John's wort decoction, like many others herbal infusions, prepared in a water bath. To do this, pour 100 ml of water into the pan and pour in 10 g of dry raw materials. This mixture is placed in another container with a small amount of water. The broth needs to be heated in a water bath for half an hour. You can't let it boil. After this, everything should be removed from the heat, cooled and strained. The resulting liquid is added with boiled water to make 200 ml.

Before taking the resulting medicine, it must be shaken.

Extract

• St. John's wort extract is primarily an antidepressant with calming properties.
• Beneficial for the nervous system.
• Eliminates anxiety during sleep.
• It has a positive effect on the performance of the body.
• Recommended for pain caused by burns and injuries.

While using the drug, you should avoid driving a vehicle, as well as actions that require increased concentration. St. John's wort extract is a substance that can be either dry or oily. The oily extract is red in color and has a pleasant aroma. It has astringent properties and also relieves inflammation and pain caused by spasms; heals wounds, cuts and ulcers, providing a healing effect. St. John's wort extract is widely used in the cosmetic industry. It is added to toothpastes, shampoos and soaps, various lotions and tonics, etc.

St. John's wort oil extract relieves pain and burning in the legs

Produced based on St. John's wort extract medicines from depression

Application

In cooking

St. John's wort imparts a tart note with a hint of bitterness to culinary dishes. St. John's wort is usually used in dry form.

• An ideal combination of St. John's wort and fish dishes.
• St. John's wort is added to vegetable and meat dishes.
• It is a component of various tinctures and healing balms.

In medicine

• One of the most important uses is the treatment of depression.
• Used to improve the process of falling asleep.
• It is a means of restorative effect.
• St. John's wort treats tuberculosis and diseases of the respiratory system, stomach, and gall bladder.
• With the help of St. John's wort they get rid of helminths.
• Recommended for gout, arthritis, rheumatism of joints.
• Fights liver diseases, eliminates flatulence.
• Infusions and decoctions are used in the treatment of inflammatory processes that occur in the oral cavity.
• St. John's wort infusion treats urinary incontinence. It is prepared as follows: infuse the herb with boiling water for 2 hours (3 tablespoons of raw material per glass of water). To achieve maximum effect, wrap the container with the infusion in a towel. The infusion is taken orally (100 ml) before meals.
• Applicable in complex therapy in the treatment of alcoholism.

In cosmetology

• St. John's wort tones and rejuvenates our skin. It’s easy to prepare a lotion at home, which will become an indispensable tool for maintaining youth and beauty. Place a glass of water and 1 tbsp on the fire. a spoonful of dry crushed St. John's wort. Boil this infusion for 10 minutes. After cooling, it is filtered and added boiled water to get a glass of the finished liquid. Pour 1 teaspoon of vodka into it (cologne will also work). You can wipe your face with this lotion before going to bed.
• St. John's wort helps normalize oily skin. Just use the infusion as a cleanser. To prepare it, you need to take 20 g of dry raw material per glass of water. Boil the broth for 10 minutes. Next, he needs to brew for half an hour. Only then can the broth be filtered and used for its intended purpose.
• For oily skin, a St. John's wort mask is recommended. The crushed dry raw materials are mixed with water to a paste-like state. Then it is heated over fire to +70°. Apply the warm mixture for 15 minutes and rinse with water at room temperature. For the effect to be felt, about 20 such procedures will be required.
• Many women suffer from cracked heels. This is both painful and unpleasant. To eliminate this problem, St. John's wort baths will help. The decoction is prepared from a liter of boiling water and 2 tbsp. spoons of dry St. John's wort. The bath is made hot. After the procedure, steamed feet are wiped dry and lubricated with cream.
• St. John's wort smoothes out fine wrinkles, preventing premature aging. A very good effect is obtained if you freeze a decoction of St. John's wort and then wipe your face and neck with the frozen cubes.
• When taking a bath, add a little tincture, decoction, or simply throw a few branches of St. John's wort into the water. This will help you relax and relieve nervous tension.
• A steam bath with St. John's wort will relieve acne and excess oily skin.
• Thanks to antiseptic properties, destroys acne.
• Is wonderful remedy, strengthening hair and eliminating dandruff. We rinse our hair with a decoction made from half a liter of water and 5 tbsp. spoons of dry grass.
• Fresh juice St. John's wort is used to treat warts.

Baths with St. John's wort decoction tone and tighten the skin, help in the fight against cellulite

Oil cocktails based on St. John's wort and calendula are highly effective after hair removal

When losing weight

When losing weight, St. John's wort is used as part of a variety of herbal mixtures that usually cause main goal– reduce weight. St. John's wort promotes the metabolic process and the removal of fluid from the body. Thanks to this, a person loses weight. If you use only St. John's wort and hope that the extra pounds will go away, then it is in vain. The decisive factor is still a skillfully selected diet.

St. John's wort tea with lemon is very effective as an accompanying element. The combination of these two components converts fat deposits into energy. In combination with a properly selected diet, this will allow you to lose extra pounds. To prepare such an effective drink, you will need 1 teaspoon of dry St. John's wort, which is poured with 300 ml of boiling water. After the temperature of the infusion reaches +50°, add a slice of lemon. The tea is ready to drink.

Do not forget that St. John's wort is a slightly toxic plant and using it for more than a month is dangerous to health.

In field conditions

When going on picnics or on hiking trips, none of us are immune from bruises, cuts and various troubles that lie in wait along the way.

• If there is a bruise, then a mixture of herbs St. John's wort, plantain, burdock, wormwood, and dandelion will help relieve pain. Herbs should be finely chopped, mashed and applied to the sore spot. Change when dry.
• For cuts and wounds, you can apply either St. John's wort leaves or a plant ground into pulp.
• Sometimes it happens that the wound begins to fester. It is useful to take a decoction of St. John's wort internally.
• If chest pain occurs, it is recommended to brew St. John's wort and drink the decoction.
• If someone gets burned while hiking, St. John's wort lotions will help.

For women

• St. John's wort is a plant that is beneficial for the female body. During menopause, women are recommended to have a soothing tea that any woman can prepare. The following components are taken: three parts each of St. John's wort and lemon balm leaves, two parts each of hop cones and mantle grass. Pour two teaspoons of this crushed raw material into a glass of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes. Take tea three times a day, 0.5 cups.
• St. John's wort treats diseases of the reproductive system, various inflammatory processes(uterus, appendages, ovaries). Sterile tampons soaked in St. John's wort oil should be inserted into the vagina.
• Helps bring things back to normal menstrual cycle. Three times a day, 30 minutes before meals, you need to drink St. John's wort infusion.
• St. John's wort tea is very useful for premenstrual syndromes. He will help female body cope with increased nervousness and excitability, will have a sedative effect.

St. John's wort treats many women's diseases, but it is also useful for men - tea with St. John's wort stimulates potency

Growing

Growing St. John's wort in your own garden is not particularly difficult. You can use seeds, or you can use ready-made seedlings. Seeds are sown in the ground in autumn or early spring. +6°C is enough for the seeds to germinate. You are not required to take any special actions when growing. Like any other plant, St. John's wort needs bright sun, weed-free soil, watering, etc.

Please note that the plant does not produce flowers in the first year of life and generally grows very slowly. Remove weeds, as they interfere with the normal growth and development of St. John's wort. In one season, you can harvest two harvests with a one-month difference between them. St. John's wort can survive in one place for about 5 years.

During pagan times, St. John's wort was used to protect against evil spirits and witches. The juice of this plant was attributed with magical properties. And branches of the plant, placed in a headdress or in shoes, protected from the evil eye.

In Rus', the plant was not accidentally called “St. John’s wort”. People noticed that many pets died after eating these bushes. Interestingly, herbivores with light coat color and usually on a sunny day were poisoned. Subsequently, scientists discovered the cause of the phenomenon. The herb St. John's wort contains substances that make the body overly susceptible to ultraviolet rays.

The herbaceous plant reaches a height of 1 m, prefers meadows, river valleys, and is found on forest edges and clearings. St. John's wort grass is cut with garden shears. Harvested during the flowering period, from June to September. The collected raw materials are dried in a well-ventilated place. After drying, it is useful to put it in a clean cloth bag and thresh it with a stick so that the stems are eliminated and only grass remains. Infusions, tinctures, and oils are prepared from St. John's wort, which have a number of medicinal properties.

Composition of St. John's wort herb

It is much easier to prevent a particular disease than to treat it when it has taken an advanced form. Moreover, the healing effect of medicinal plants in the advanced stage of the disease is insignificant.

• St. John's wort treats with the properties of its tannins.
• The essential oils of the plant are formed by pinenes, also used in capillary therapy.
• Geraniol has a calming effect, destroys salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, coli, influenza virus.
• Myrcene inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Cineole helps to lift your mood and relieve stress.
• The properties of St. John's wort alkaloids to treat and eliminate depressive conditions are used as part of appropriate complex therapy.
• Hypericin destroys weakened cells, causing the formation of new ones. As a result, the body rejuvenates and heals.
• Azulene has a calming, healing effect.
• Saponins have a diuretic and mild laxative effect, soothe, and prevent the formation of sclerotic plaques.
• The medicinal properties of St. John's wort coumarins prevent the formation of blood clots.
• Hyperoside (hyperin) is broken down into quercetin (reduces the tone of vascular smooth muscles, helps cope with manifestations, inflammation and swelling), rutin (treats diseases accompanied by increased permeability and fragility of capillaries) and other vitamin P flavonoids.

The medicinal properties of St. John's wort are enhanced by vitamin C ( ascorbic acid). The combination of vitamins C and P helps reduce the permeability and fragility of capillaries and prevent the appearance of malignant formations.

The composition of the medicinal herb includes carotene, plant form, vitamin B3 (other names vitamin PP, nicotinic acid), various macro- and microelements.

Dosage forms: St. John's wort infusion, tincture, oil

Of course, dried herbs or ready-made alcohol tinctures can be purchased at a pharmacy. But it is much more effective, especially during the season, to use the medicinal properties of St. John's wort in fresh. The juice of fresh herbs contains one and a half times more nutrients than the tincture.

St. John's wort infusion is prepared at the rate of 1 tbsp. herbs per glass of boiling water. It is enough to brew for 15-20 minutes, preferably in a water bath. The infusion time and the amount of plant material can be increased. Strain the finished infusion.

Dishes for preparing the infusion should only be enameled, ceramic, glass, but not metal (aluminum).

St. John's wort tincture takes a month to prepare. Half a three-liter jar is filled with grass and flowers of the plant, filled to the top with vodka, and closed with a lid. Store in a cool, dark place, shaking every day. As a rule, the medicinal properties of St. John's wort tincture are used externally, for compresses or rubbing.

There are many known recipes for preparing medicinal St. John's wort oil. Dried grass or flowers are filled with cold-pressed vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, flaxseed, etc.). To prevent the plant material from becoming moldy, it must be pressed under pressure so that it is completely immersed in the oil.

St. John's wort oil acquires medicinal properties within a month. But it’s better to strain and bottle it in glass bottles after two months. Store in a cool, dark place. Healing remedy used internally and externally.

The healing properties of St. John's wort in the treatment of coughs and colds

St. John's wort oil helps with diseases accompanied by cough. The oil is slightly warmed up and applied to soft cloth. The compress is placed on the throat. Compress paper is placed on top, and the neck is wrapped warmly.

Treatment procedures are carried out before bedtime, at night. Wash your neck in the morning warm water with soap.

Similarly, the healing properties of St. John's wort oil are used in warming compresses on the chest.

The medicinal properties of St. John's wort are used for inhalation, when a dry cough without sputum production is bothersome. To prepare the infusion 1 tbsp. Brew the herbs with a glass of boiling water, strain. Breathe in pairs for 15-20 minutes.

If you have a sore throat, gargling with St. John's wort tincture is helpful. A water-alcohol solution is prepared at the rate of 20-30 drops of tincture per glass warm water. Rinsing is performed 5-6 times a day.

A sore throat is treated with the following recipe. Add 1 tsp to a glass of warm water. table, 1 tsp. soda, 10 drops and 20-30 drops of St. John's wort tincture. Rinse several times a day.

To quickly cure a cold, sweat profusely, reduce fever and wake up healthy the next morning, brew 1 tbsp of dry raspberry leaves in a glass of water, 1 tbsp. herbs or flowers of St. John's wort. After 15-20 minutes, squeeze the juice of several cloves into the prepared infusion, add honey to taste. It is better to be treated with this method in the evening, so you can immediately go to bed.

The following recipe for colds is also useful. Mix 40 ml of St. John's wort tincture, the juice of a small onion, and the juice of half a lemon. Take 1 tsp. several times a day, diluting slightly with warm water if necessary. For an hour after administration, refrain from eating and drinking. Treat for 5 days.

Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

The healing properties of St. John's wort are especially effective for gastritis, and duodenum, diseases of the liver and gall bladder. The use of the infusion helps to normalize the intestinal microflora and eliminates stool disorders.

Recipe for heartburn

St. John's wort infusion is useful for abdominal pain accompanied by.

Take 1 tsp. herbs St. John's wort, cudweed, yarrow, brew the mixture with a liter of boiling water, leave. Take half a glass warm half an hour to an hour before meals.

The medicinal properties of St. John's wort infusion help with stomach pain, heartburn, and to normalize digestion.

Treatment of gastritis with St. John's wort infusion

Reasons of this disease Abuse of coarse, spicy or fatty foods and monotonous nutrition are considered. There is heaviness in the stomach, fullness, nausea. I don't feel like eating, I feel weak.

The anti-inflammatory and soothing properties of St. John's wort infusion help cure. The infusion is taken 1 tbsp. after meal.

How to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers with St. John's wort oil

St. John's wort oil has an astringent property, stimulates inflammation, and is considered an effective folk remedy to treat stomach ulcers. The exact dosage is selected individually after consultation with a doctor.

For effective healing duodenal ulcers during the day it is useful to take a mixture of 0.5 liters of St. John's wort infusion and 10 ml of lavender oil.

The healing properties of St. John's wort oil are useful for those suffering from constipation. It stimulates and improves the processes of digestion, absorption of food, and intestinal motility. As a result, going to the toilet becomes noticeably easier.

St. John's wort treats hepatitis and cholecystitis

Liver damage occurs with regular alcohol abuse and the penetration of viruses. As a result, chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation) is diagnosed.

The liver produces bile, which accumulates in the gallbladder. Bile is needed for digestion fatty foods. In case of inflammation of the gallbladder, cholecystitis is diagnosed. After eating, your stomach starts to hurt, you feel nauseous, you may vomit, your mouth tastes bitter, and your temperature rises.

The formation of congestion in the gallbladder is prevented by flavonoids from St. John's wort; their medicinal properties prevent the formation of stones. In the absence of preventive measures, cholelithiasis develops.

Cholecystitis and cholelithiasis are treated with St. John's wort infusion, taken 1 tbsp. after meal.

Another recipe. Pour 3 tbsp. herbs 300ml, add half a glass of red wine. Leave in a cool, dark place for a week, stirring every day. Then boil for 45 minutes. Let sit for another month, then strain when finished. Take 1 tsp for three months. once a day 15 minutes after eating.

The resulting medicinal oil of St. John's wort is useful because it improves liver function and prevents the formation of gallstones.

The use of St. John's wort for the treatment of urolithiasis, cystitis

The herb in one or another dosage form has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, astringent, and diuretic properties, which makes it possible to effectively use it for the treatment of diseases associated with impaired renal function.

As a result of the broken acid-base balance Crystals of various natures form in the kidneys, and urolithiasis is diagnosed. Your stomach may hurt and you often want to go to the toilet. Temperature rises, nausea occurs.

After consultation with a doctor, to prevent the formation and dissolution of stones, it is useful to be treated with an infusion of St. John's wort, brewing 1 tbsp of herb with a glass of boiling water. The infusion is taken throughout the day, one-third of a glass.

In case of cystitis, inflammation Bladder accompanied by pain when urinating, it is necessary to undergo tests to accurately determine the nature of the infection. After consulting with a doctor, treat with herbal infusion.

Mix - 3 tbsp, oregano - 4 tbsp, knotweed - 4 tbsp, St. John's wort - 8 tbsp. Brew 4 tbsp. mixture with a liter of boiling water, leave for 12 hours. Take half a glass an hour after meals.

Medicinal mixture with St. John's wort for heart diseases

The healing properties of the herb strengthen the heart and help cope with arrhythmia, a characteristic symptom of a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases.

The medicinal collection is prepared according to the following recipe. Mix lemon balm herb - 2 tbsp, yarrow - 2 tbsp, valerian root - 2 tbsp, St. John's wort herb - 4 tbsp.

Brew 1 tsp. mixture with a glass of boiling water. After 2 hours, strain the infusion. Take half a glass once a day in small sips.

Treatment with St. John's wort for diseases of the oral cavity, adenoid

To rinse the mouth in case of inflammation of the mucous membranes or gums, mix 1 tbsp. vegetable raw materials and 1 tbsp. medicinal, brew with boiling water, leave for half an hour, strain. If there is no sage, it is useful to rinse your mouth with a weak St. John's wort infusion.

The anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties of St. John's wort are used in the recipe for another medicinal infusion. Stir chamomile - 2 tbsp, - 2 tsp, St. John's wort - 2 tsp, brew with a glass of boiling water. After half an hour, strain and use for rinsing after meals.

The healing and anti-inflammatory properties of St. John's wort tincture treat bad gums, it strengthens the gums. Preparing the healing composition does not take much time. Add 20-30 drops of tincture to half a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth several times a day.

To treat adenoids, grind plant materials into powder and sift. Add butter at the rate of 1 part chopped herbs to 4 parts butter. In each tsp. Add 5 drops of juice to the resulting mixture and mix with shaking to form an emulsion. Apply into each nostril several times a day.

Getting rid of stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal disease

The medicinal properties of the herb St. John's wort are used to get rid of various diseases oral cavity. For rinsing, an infusion is prepared at the rate of 1 tbsp. pour into a glass of boiling water, strain after a few hours.

Keep the warm infusion in your mouth for several minutes without swallowing. Repeat 2-3 times. It is useful to perform the procedure several times a day after meals.

St. John's wort oil is used to treat periodontitis using its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The product is used in the form of compresses on the affected areas, or in the form of inhalations. The compress is applied 2-3 times a day for no longer than 15 minutes.

Rinse with a mixture of St. John's wort and rose oils strengthen loose teeth, restore gums, eliminate bad smell from mouth.

Calming properties of St. John's wort in the treatment of the nervous system and in case of stress

Headaches, insomnia, irritability, emotional instability, depression, as well as neuralgia and epilepsy are treated with the healing properties of St. John's wort. The plant calms and relieves tension in the nervous system.

To eliminate depression, it is useful to brew tea by mixing equal parts of herbal raw materials, lemon balm, rosemary leaves, and berries. Brew 1 tsp. mixture with a glass of boiling water, take as tea.

St. John's wort has the property of healing skin damage

Various forms of the plant are used in case of certain damage to the skin, acne, ulcers, wounds, scratches, inflammations, burns.

St. John's wort infusion is used to wash ulcers and wounds, treat acne, and apply compresses for bruises and abrasions.

In case of vitiligo, take St. John's wort infusion orally. Brew incomplete s.l. herbs with a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour. Take several times throughout the day. Lubricate white spots on the skin with St. John's wort oil.

The properties of St. John's wort oil treat trophic ulcers and skin cancer. Tampons soaked in healing oil are applied to the affected areas and fixed with a bandage for a long time.

Skin inflammations or burns are lubricated with St. John's wort oil. To enhance the healing and healing effect, beat 30 ml of oil with raw egg, obtaining a homogeneous mass.

Harm and contraindications for the use of St. John's wort

• You should not use the medicinal properties of St. John's wort constantly, so as not to cause impotence and urticaria.
• The use of the plant weakens the effect of female contraceptives.
• Abuse of St. John's wort causes headache, vomiting.
• St. John's wort infusions and tinctures should not be treated at elevated temperatures; they do not combine well with taking antibiotics.
• You should not take St. John's wort for hypertension to avoid miscarriage.
• During treatment, you must avoid drinking alcohol, coffee, chocolate, smoked or pickled foods.
• If you have to take antidepressants, it is better to avoid taking medicinal herbs. Otherwise, dizziness, confusion, anxiety and headache may occur.
• St. John's wort tea causes cramps and abdominal pain in those suffering from gastritis or gastric ulcers in case of an overdose.
• The plant changes the effect of anesthesia drugs; it may become longer or, conversely, shortened. The observing doctor must be informed about self-treatment.
• Long-term use can cause pain in the right side, constipation, bitter taste in the mouth, and decreased appetite.
• St. John's wort should not be treated for hypertrophic cirrhosis of the liver or in cases of nephritis.
• Heart patients should be careful; the plant neutralizes or significantly weakens the effect of heart medications, as well as drugs to reduce blood clotting.
• St. John's wort has the property of increasing sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, during treatment, so as not to happen sunburn, don't sunbathe.

St. John's wort is a medicinal herb that is used in almost all countries of the world. This is a fairly common plant. In English-speaking countries, St. John's wort has an interesting name - herb St. John's wort (St. John's herb). Just from the name alone you can understand that the herb gets rid of all harmful diseases (animals) and brings healing.

St. John's wort is a perennial plant, it belongs to the St. John's wort family. It is quite widespread both in Russia and in Europe. Since ancient times, our ancestors have used St. John's wort to treat many diseases.

What are the reasons for the medicinal properties of this plant? The answer to this question will be given to us by studying its chemical composition. So, St. John's wort contains the following substances:

• flavonoids;
• tannins;
• isovaleric and other organic acids;
• ascorbic and nicotinic acids;
• vitamins PP and P.

The composition of St. John's wort, in fact, determines its antiseptic, antibacterial, diuretic, choleretic and antispasmodic properties; St. John's wort also promotes tissue healing. Its healing properties are recognized not only by folk, but also scientific medicine. It is used in the manufacture of some medications, such as Gelarium, Deprim, Negrustin. In folk medicine, as a rule, a decoction or tincture of St. John's wort is used.

Useful properties and contraindications

St. John's wort is used in a wide variety of forms:

• decoctions,
• tinctures,
• alcohol extracts,
• oil,
• ointments,
• compresses...

What does the herb treat?

St. John's wort is so popular not only because of its wide distribution, but also because of its incredible great circle diseases in which this herb gives a good positive result:

• atherosclerosis;
• diseases of the stomach and intestines;
• liver and gallbladder diseases;
• joint pain;
• varicose veins;
• haemorrhoids;
• headache;
• depression;
• diarrhea;
• oral diseases;
• infectious skin lesions;
• urolithiasis disease;
• nervous disorders;
• burns;
• bedsores;
• cystitis.

But since the herb is quite strong and has a very wide spectrum of action, St. John's wort, of course, also has a number of contraindications.

Contraindications

Any types of medicinal forms containing St. John's wort cannot be taken simultaneously with:

1. antibiotics (with a complex combination of antibiotics and St. John's wort, vision can significantly deteriorate),
2. antidepressants,
3. contraceptive pills (if women use contraception, St. John's wort will reduce the degree of their effect; in men the opposite effect is observed - the movement of sperm slows down),
4. medications that suppress the immune system during organ transplantation.

St. John's wort should also not be taken:

1. children under 12 years old,
2. pregnant and lactating women,
3. suffering from internal bleeding.

There are cases when the use of this medicinal plant can have negative consequences. Thus, it is classified, in particular, as a slightly toxic herb, so its long-term use is strictly prohibited. Long-term use may increase blood pressure due to vasoconstriction; hypertensive patients should use St. John's wort with caution.

Another factor to consider when treating with St. John's wort is increased sensitivity to sunlight. If a person has such increased sensitivity, treatment with St. John's wort should be carried out very carefully and be sure to avoid exposure to the sun during the treatment period.

Application

• For the treatment of vitiligo St. John's wort oil is used. The oil is used both internally and externally. The oil is taken orally, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day for a course of 3 weeks. Then a break of the same duration (3 weeks) is necessarily taken and the course is repeated. oh, take it a tablespoon three times a day for three weeks, then take a break for a week and repeat the course. At severe forms diseases, to get good results you need to take more than 2 courses. In parallel with oral administration, oil should be lubricated on the affected areas. Or apply gauze bandages soaked in St. John's wort oil for 30 minutes a day.
• For the treatment of dysbiosis. Gives very good results against dysbacteriosis alcohol tincture St. John's wort, and especially in the initial stages of the development of this disease. It is used together with tea: several (3-4) tinctures are added to the tea and this tea is taken 2-3 times a day.
• For sore throat It is good to gargle a sore throat with a warm decoction of St. John's wort. The duration of such a procedure is not short - 5-7 days, but the decoction will help consolidate the recovery and will not spread to other organs. Although the decoction is very useful for a sore throat, it is rather an auxiliary treatment.
• For pain in muscles and joints oil is used. St. John's wort oil is used in the form of warm oil applications: the oil is heated, a gauze napkin is blotted with it, and the napkin is applied to sore spot. The oil wipe should be wrapped in wax paper and wrapped in a cloth to retain heat. Keep this bandage on for about 1 hour.
• For hypertension and varicose veins use a decoction of the herb. It should be taken 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. To prevent varicose veins and hypertension, it is useful to regularly drink herbal tea with the addition of St. John's wort. It is most useful to conduct such courses for 1 month each in the fall and spring.
• For depression, nervous disorders and insomnia The most effective will be the use of alcohol tincture. The tincture is taken as well as decoctions 30 minutes before meals. Add 10-15 tinctures into a glass with a small amount of water (50-100 ml). The course lasts 20-30 days.
• For diseases of the spine St. John's wort oil is considered an excellent massage oil. It is used warm as a mono oil for massage or added to a composition for massage for problems with the spine.
• For runny nose and sinusitis An excellent remedy is to rinse the nose and sinuses with an aqueous infusion of St. John's wort. In principle, this is a fairly well-known procedure, it is only used sea ​​water. But if you take a water decoction of St. John's wort warmed to room temperature, the effect will be much stronger. How to do a nasal rinse - .
• In case of lack of appetite I drink herbal tea, which includes St. John's wort, in the morning. The minimum course is 7-10 days.
• For headaches An aqueous infusion of St. John's wort should be taken twice a day, 1/4 cup after meals.
• For stomatitis and gingivitis Rinse the mouth with water to which 30-40 drops of alcoholic tincture of St. John's wort are added. For rinsing, 0.5 cups of slightly warm and boiled water is enough.
• For cholecystitis St. John's wort decoction should be taken 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day after meals. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.
• At chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis It is recommended to take 10 drops of tincture three times a day for a month, then drink tea with the addition of St. John's wort twice a day for another three weeks.

How to prepare St. John's wort

Depending on the method of preparation, completely different treatment goals are often achieved.

Preparing the infusion

An aqueous infusion of St. John's wort is prepared by infusing the herb with hot water. For St. John's wort, the proportion is as follows: pour 1 tablespoon of herb with 1 glass of boiling water. Then cover with a lid and it is better to wrap it in a warm towel and leave for 1-2 hours. Before use, the infusion is filtered through a strainer.

Application of infusion:

1. rinse for sore throat, tonsillitis, pharyngitis;
2. washing the sinuses for sinusitis and runny nose;
3. mouth rinse for stomatitis;
4. lotions and compresses for skin diseases;
5. internal use for headaches and colds.

Decoction

The decoction has a higher concentration and is prepared accordingly differently. The decoction is prepared in a water bath. To do this, pour 1 tablespoon of the herb into a container and pour 1 cup of boiling water. Then place this container with grass on water bath and boil on it for about 30 minutes. Before use, of course, you need to judge and strain.

Use of the decoction:

1. taken orally for stomach problems and cholecystitis;
2. gargling for sore throat;
3. St. John's wort decoction for the face - compresses and lotions for problem skin (cleanses the skin perfectly), for excessive oiliness, for acne (narrows pores);
4. St. John's wort decoction for hair - rinsing with the decoction after washing your hair - helps in the fight against dandruff, as well as excessive oiliness of the scalp (the decoction is especially good in combination with sage decoction).

How to make a tincture

It's simple. The tincture is prepared in the same way as other herbal infusions. It can be prepared with alcohol (70%), or with high-quality vodka. It is better with alcohol, since it is believed that the degree of extraction useful substances higher.

Take 3 tablespoons of the herb and fill it with alcohol in a volume of 250 ml (you need to take the same amount of vodka). Infuse for 14 days in a dark room at room temperature. Ready-made tincture of St. John's wort is also sold in pharmacies.

Use of alcohol tincture:

1. St. John's wort tincture is used for depression and other nervous disorders;
2. added to water and used for hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver;
3. to treat dysbiosis, it is added to tea;
4. for stomatitis and gingivitis, diluted tincture is used as a rinse;
5. for rubbing or as an alcohol compress for muscle pain.

Preparation of oil

The oil is prepared by infusion. Although it is more likely that it turns out to be an oil infusion of St. John's wort. But it can also be prepared at home. To do this, fresh grass is poured into a glass container and filled with olive oil. The oil should completely cover the herb.

The oil is infused in the light under the influence of direct sunlight in a warm place. Infusion time is 1 month. It is also convenient to make this oil in a French press (a teapot with a press). Then every day you can pump the grass, as it were, with a press. The special thing about this oil is that it magically changes color from yellow-green to red.

on the left is fresh grass, on the right is ready-made St. John's wort oil

Application of oil (very wide range):

1. compresses soaked in oil are used for pain in muscles and joints, and for bedsores;
2. as a massage oil for diseases of the spine;
3. for the treatment of vitiligo;
4. St. John's wort oil for hair - nourishes the scalp and cleanses it of excess fat;
5. St. John's wort oil for skin - for problem skin acne-prone.

All contraindications for the use of St. John's wort also apply to the oil, especially the body's increased reaction to the sun (be careful when using the oil). It is not recommended to use St. John's wort oil during a holiday at sea or during prolonged exposure to active sun.

At the 3rd minute, it is very well shown how to correctly collect regular St. John's wort (which we wrote about) from non-medicinal St. John's wort.

This is a perennial herb from the St. John's wort family. Folk tradition knows the plant as: St. John's wort, bloodworm, Svetojanskoe potion, hare's blood. The Latin generic name for St. John's wort is Hypericum- has several interpretations. One version of the origin of the word is that St. John's wort was credited with the magical property of resisting 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 " jerembai", 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. John's wort, when eaten by livestock during grazing, increased the sensitivity of animals to sunlight and provoked them to self-harm when trying to comb the affected areas.

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

1. 1 St. John's wort or St. John's wort– grows throughout Eurasia, in northern Africa, on the islands (Azores, Canary Islands), 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. Used in the food and liquor industries 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 calyx– grows in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. Successfully adapted to cultivation on the Australian mainland and New Zealand. In European countries it is cultivated as an ornamental plant in the park and garden culture system;
4. 4 St. John's wort Kamchatka– distributed in Kamchatka, Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. Also found on the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. Has decorative value. The species has found application in the cooking of local peoples: the herb of the plant is used to make tea, the 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 Eastern medicine;
6. 6 St. John's wort drawn– the species’ habitat covers China, Mongolia, Korea, and the Asian region of Russia. The species has medicinal properties; the herb contains anthrachion, hypericin and tannins. Traditional healers use the plant in the treatment of headaches, dizziness, bleeding, neuralgic lesions, eclampsia, mastitis, and attacks of rheumatism;
7. 7 St. John's wort spotted– the species represents the flora of Europe and belongs to medicinal plants;
8. 8 St. John's wort– found in Europe and the Caucasus. It is protected in Lithuania and is listed in the Red Book in Belarus. The flowers of the plant are used to prepare medicinal raw materials;
9. 9 St. John's wort– grows in Greece, Turkey, Syria, and the Balkans. Grown as an ornamental crop;
10. 10 St. John's wort elongated– a plant with powerful medicinal potential, widely used in folk medicinal practice. Source of coloring matter in industry. Grows in northern Africa, Central Asia, Crimea, the Greek islands and 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– grows in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Altai. Medicinal plant and natural dye.

St. John's wort (common) is a perennial plant, a herb with a height of 0.3 to 1 m. The rhizome is poorly developed and slightly branched. The stems, which grow annually, are dihedral, spreading upward into numerous branches. 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. Flowering period is summer. The fruit is a capsule with small brown seeds that begins to ripen in early autumn.

St. John's wort grows along field roads, in thickets and thickets, in clearings, in forest belts, on slopes, and 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, potassium 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 material 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 at least 60 days. After the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to weed and loosen the rows. These procedures are repeated 3 or 4 more times during the summer, in the first year of plant cultivation. In subsequent years, the area is cleared of dead stems and the soil is plowed using a rake.

St. John's wort herb is harvested at the flowering stage, before the unripe 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 cannot be collected. 30-45 days after the first mowing, the growing season is completely repeated and flowering begins again. The plant is mowed again. The yield of crops in the third year is significantly higher than that of plantations in the second year. The herb is dried in well-ventilated areas (or outdoors, provided there is no precipitation and in a shaded place), scattered in a thin layer and mixed systematically. St. John's wort can also be dried in bunches suspended in the shade. The readiness of the raw material is determined by the degree of fragility of the stems. Properly dried material has a weak but distinct balsamic aroma. Allowed storage period is up to 3 years.

During collection, insufficiently experienced herbalists confuse St. John's wort with gorse, a member of the legume family. This is a low shrub plant, leaves are linear or lanceolate, 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. Hover flies and beetles feed on St. John's wort pollen. The bright flowers of the plant also attract wasps and butterflies, whose goal is nectar, but St. John's wort flowers practically do not produce nectar. Caterpillars of butterfly species Strymon melinus feed on St. John's wort seeds, and caterpillars of butterflies of the species Nedra ramosula– foliage.

Useful properties of St. John's wort

Chemical composition and presence of nutrients

What exactly is used and in what form

The herb 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 included in a variety of herbal preparations. Tea with St. John's wort is useful. The herb of the plant is also a source of imanin and a component of many ointments. St. 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 of St. John's wort

Grass St. John's wort(ordinary) contains flavonoids (hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin), volatile oils, which contain terpenes, sesquiterpenes (azulene), naphthodianthrones (hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperin or hypericin, close to hematoporphyrin, sensitive to sunlight; this a kind of catalyst for certain intracellular reactions, a regulator of vital processes, affects biochemical processes in organs affected by malignant tumors, increases the sensitivity of the skin 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 cramps, dilate blood vessels, improve the functioning of the gastric glands, stimulate blood circulation, relieve inflammation in the mucous membranes digestive tract, act as an astringent and bacteriostatic, relieve spasms in the bile ducts.

St. John's wort is effective for dyskinesia biliary tract, stagnation of bile, hepatitis, cholecystitis, prescribed in the initial stages of cholelithiasis, hypoacid gastritis (gastritis with low acidity), flatulence, acute and chronic colitis, intestinal disorders and hemorrhoids. At the initial stage kidney stone disease 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 infestations (enterobiasis, hymenolepiasis). Plant-based preparations strengthen capillaries and improve venous circulation. It is advisable to prescribe St. John's wort for disorders of peripheral circulation, with a tendency to stagnation in the bloodstream. The photosensitizing properties of the plant and the presence of hypericin among its components are used in the treatment of diseases such as vitiligo. St. John's wort is prescribed for disorders of the nervous system, enuresis in children, migraines 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, facial pityriasis, leg ulcers and wound healing. In dentistry, tincture or infusion of the herbal part of St. John's wort is used for rinsing the mouth, for the treatment of inflamed gums, and for stomatitis. St. John's wort in gynecology is used in the form of a herbal infusion for douching for 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, and boils.

The use of St. John's wort in official medicine

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

Use of St. John's wort in folk medicine

• For hypoacid gastritis (low acidity), as well as to increase the flow of bile and diuresis, St. John's wort is used as a steam: a tablespoon of chopped herb is poured into 200 ml of boiling water and allowed to brew for 10 minutes. Drink 100 ml in small sips 1-2 times a day after meals.
• St. John's wort tea is useful for intestinal disorders: infuse a tablespoon of St. John's wort flowers and leaves in a glass of boiling water for 10 minutes. 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 accompanying constipation), a tablespoon of a mixture of St. John's wort, cumin and buckthorn bark in a ratio of 2:3:2 is poured into 200 ml of water, boiled for about 10 minutes and drunk at least 5 glasses per day.
• For lower back pain and general weakness caused by heavy physical labor, a recipe is recommended: 2 tablespoons of St. John's wort flowers are ground with 4 tablespoons of softened fresh cow butter, salt to taste and one tablespoon of this mixture is stirred in 2 glasses of beer. Drink the medicine throughout the day.
• For mental stress, nervous exhaustion, and sleep disorders, a remedy is useful: prepare a steam from 200 ml of boiling water and one tablespoon of a mixture of St. John's wort, common yarrow and angelica officinalis root, which is drunk 30 minutes before bedtime. St. John's wort in this mixture strengthens and regenerates nerves, treats insomnia and neuroses. This is an excellent medicine 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 administration they give a laxative salt, and this treatment is carried out in a cycle, in three stages, with 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, and to lubricate cracked nipples.
• St. John's wort oil is used to make a balm 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 each of lavender and ginger essential oils. Oil extracts Mix St. John's wort, ginger, add beeswax. Heat the mixture of herbal oils and wax in a water bath 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 cooled steam and applied to the wounds.
• St. John's wort for vitiligo: the affected areas are smeared with the juice of fresh St. John's wort and after a quarter of an hour, 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 stay in the sun for short sessions with breaks. Well similar treatment vitiligo for about 60 days, with a break of 3 days after every 3 weeks.

Use of St. John's wort in Eastern 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 it in the treatment of malignant ulcers.

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

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

St. John's wort in scientific research

One of the pioneers in herbal science, the British Nicholas Culpeper, a botanist and pharmacist, characterized St. John's wort as a “sunny”, “fiery” plant.

In his famous herbal book (“The Complete Herbal,” 1653), Culpeper wrote: St. John’s wort is “ effective plant used in the treatment of wounds. Drinking a decoction of wine heals internal bruises and pain. St. John's wort ointment treats 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 in wine helps with vomiting, hemoptysis, treats those who have been bitten or stung by any poisonous creature, and has a diuretic property. Powder from St. John's wort seeds, dissolved in a small amount of broth, disperses bile... A warm decoction of leaves and seeds, taken on the eve of an attack of malaria, alleviates 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 research The medicinal properties of St. John's wort are thorough and continuously replenish the system of knowledge about medicinal herbs.

The importance 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 certain medications and the possible negative consequences of their simultaneous use - topic scientific research S. Soleimani, R. Bahramsoltani, R. Raimi.

A. Oliveira, C. Pinho, B. Sarmento and A. Diaz provided the results of an 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 St. John's wort is the topic of scientific work by V. Kurkin, A. Dubishchev, O. Pravdivtseva and L. Zimina.

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

St. John's wort in cooking

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

Beetroot and St. John's wort salad

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 the peeled beets and apples. Place in a bowl, top up lemon juice. Grind and add black pepper and coriander. Sprinkle the salad with parsley and St. John's wort flowers.

Potatoes baked with St. John's wort

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

Peel the potatoes and cut into thin slices. Grease a baking dish with oil, sprinkle with crushed garlic, add potatoes, salt, pepper, sprinkle with grated nutmeg and St. John's wort petals, season the potato slices with the remaining oil. Whisk the milk and cream and pour the mixture over the potatoes. Bake at 180 degrees until the potatoes are cooked and golden brown, about one and a half hours.

Avocado stuffed with St. John's wort

Products you will need: 2 large ripe avocados, lemon juice, canned sardines (one jar), one small onion, thoroughly chopped, a cup of crushed St. John's wort flowers, peeled from sepals, salt and black pepper.

Cut the avocado in half, separate from the pit, carefully remove the pulp from each half and mash with a fork or puree in a blender. Generously sprinkle the pureed mixture with lemon juice, mix with sardines, finely chopped until smooth, finely chopped onion, sea salt, pepper, and St. John's wort flowers. Fill the empty avocado halves 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.

Use 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 home cosmetics. St. John's wort is included in creams, lotions, masks, shampoos and hair rinses. St. John's wort helps with problematic and oily skin, is used to strengthen hair, and in the comprehensive fight against dandruff. Most skin care cosmetics made from St. John's wort are based on oil, which can be prepared at home.

How to prepare St. John's wort oil? Infuse 20 g of fresh St. John's wort in sunflower oil (200 ml) for two weeks, then strain. St. John's wort oil works great in nourishing hair masks and 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 to combat bacterial diseases affecting vegetable crops. “Novoimanin” is also used when tobacco plantations are affected by the so-called tobacco mosaic virus.

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

In the Catholic tradition, St. John's wort is called the “herb of John the Baptist,” and according to one legend, the plant grew from drops of the executed saint’s blood 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 medicine entails disruptions in the absorption of certain medications.

St. John's wort reduces the body's sensitivity to the action of anticoagulants and thereby reduces the effectiveness of taking them. St. John's wort also reduces the effectiveness of oral contraceptives(cases of unplanned pregnancies have been recorded). The simultaneous use of St. John's wort with synthetic antidepressants and a number of other medications is unacceptable.

If there is an individual intolerance to the components of the plant, a person may develop an acute allergic reaction and conditions 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 an improvement, but a decrease in appetite and a feeling of heaviness in the liver area. 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.

The administration is not responsible for attempting to use any recipe, advice or diet, and also does not guarantee that the information provided will help and will not harm you personally. Be smart and always consult your appropriate physician!