Hypericum perforatum. St. John's wort treatment St. John's wort useful qualities

St. John's wort (lat. Hypéricum perforatum) is considered one of the most popular medicinal plants in herbal medicine. In the literature, there is another name for a perennial herbaceous culture - St.

The plant is widespread throughout the Eurasian continent, found in the USA, Australia, North Africa, the Canaries and the Azores. Grown on plantations or growing as a weed along forest edges, in meadows, fields, along roads, in gardens and vegetable gardens, above-ground shoots of St. John's wort are harvested in the flowering phase.

For medicinal purposes, the herb of cultivated or wild-growing St. John's wort is used, dried at temperatures up to 40 ° C in dryers or in well-ventilated rooms. Store medicinal raw materials in paper or cardboard packaging for 24 months. Further conservation and use of St. John's wort is not advisable, since over time, some of the bioactive compounds in it are destroyed.

St. John's wort, due to its beneficial properties and aromatic qualities, is used not only for medical purposes, but also in the food industry for the manufacture of bitter-spicy seasonings for seafood dishes (mussels, shrimps, rapana, oysters, crabs, lobsters, bivalves, lobsters, octopuses ), as well as in the production of alcohol, tinctures, wines, tonic drinks, teas.

Useful properties of St. John's wort, composition

This is what St. John's wort flowers look like, photo

Useful properties and contraindications of St. John's wort are provided with compounds present in the aerial part. Fresh and dried plant materials contain tannins, phytoncides, essential oils, saponins, bioflavonoids, mineral salts, vitamins (ascorbic acid, tocopherols).

In medical practice, the unique properties of the St.

The herb is part of the medicinal collections (gastric, female, hepatic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, cleansing, endocrine, articular, gynecological), and extracts are present in many pharmaceutical preparations, for example, in natural antidepressants or ointments for the treatment of infected wounds, abscesses, cellulitis.

Therapeutic use in official and traditional medicine

In gastroenterology, extracts from St. John's wort are used for the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, colitis, enterocolitis, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, biliary dyskinesia, chronic and acute hepatitis, gallstones, cholecystitis.

In dental practice, experts recommend rinsing the oral cavity in order to heal and sanitize the mucosa with gingivitis, stomatitis, halitosis, and periodontal disease. Therapists recommend gargling with infusion and decoction of St. John's wort for sore throat and tonsillitis, both in the acute and chronic phases.

Neurologists and psychiatrists use the plant in the complex therapy of neurosis, depression, neurasthenia, migraine, neuralgia, sleep and wakefulness disorders. St. John's wort is used for urological diseases, including urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis.

The healing properties of St. John's wort for men have been reliably studied and confirmed by numerous studies. Plant extracts are actively used by phytotherapists for inflammation in the prostate gland, as well as for the treatment of prostatitis and prostate adenoma. A short intake of medicines based on a plant stimulates potency.

St. John's wort is widely used in gynecology in patients with leucorrhea and heavy menstrual flow, as well as in amenorrhea, inflammation of the appendages, external injuries of the genital organs and cervix. Taking a plant during menopause is an effective prevention of neoplasms.

Allergists prescribe plant preparations for allergic diathesis in childhood. Both tincture and decoctions are useful for patients with tuberculosis, gout, myocarditis, endocarditis.

Dermatologists note an improvement in the condition of the skin with the local use of water, alcohol and oil extracts, as well as dry and fresh St. greasiness of the skin and hair and irritation.

In folk medicine, there are methods for treating pathologies of the musculoskeletal system with extracts from St. John's wort: arthritis, radiculitis, sciatica, articular rheumatism, pain in muscle tissues. Crushed vegetable raw materials are applied topically for wound healing. Alcohol extract is taken orally for rheumatic diseases.

Separately, you should dwell on the oil extract from the grass. It is made by hot or cold extraction of fresh shoots of a medicinal plant, filled with vegetable oil (unrefined olive or sunflower). The product is sold in a pharmacy or prepared at home.

St. John's wort oil has unique medicinal properties (regenerating, anti-allergic, absorbable, decongestant, angiotonic, anti-sclerotic, vascular-strengthening, antiviral, anti-seborrheic) and can be used as an independent product for topical application or act as a base for essential oils and enrichment of care products.

St. John's wort is also indispensable in cosmetology. Plant extract can often be found in cosmetics for face, body and hair care. Oil, tincture, infusions and decoctions are used at home to improve the condition of the skin, adding the listed elixirs to lotions, rinses, masks, creams, massage mixtures. With proper use, St. John's wort oil can stimulate the formation of a tan.

Hypericum infusion: preparation and reception

A tablespoon of dried St. John's wort is steamed in a thermos with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 4 hours, filtered. Take the elixir 15 ml three times a day before meals for 14-20 days. The same scheme of administration in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the genital area in men and women.

For the treatment of depression, it is recommended to use 1/3 cup of infusion twice a day for 15 days. For other pathologies, the doctor should prescribe the dosage, taking into account the age, condition of the patient and the individual characteristics of the organism.

Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort: features of the reception

For 1 part of vegetable raw materials (dried), 5 parts of medical alcohol diluted in half with distilled water or ordinary, but high-quality vodka are taken. The agent is infused in a dark glass bottle with a ground-in lid in a shaded place for 10 days, not forgetting to shake the suspension several times a day.

The filtered liquid is stored at room temperature and taken 30 drops added to 15 ml of drinking water during lunch for 10 days. The medicine helps with depression, the consequences of a stroke, neurosis, insomnia. For nervous disorders and dizziness, the tincture is drunk in the same dosage, but before lunch, for 2 weeks.

St. John's wort tincture can be used to improve the condition of the hair, rubbing it into the scalp every night before going to bed, and also to disinfect the skin covered with acne, especially in the presence of bleeding and pyogenic masses in acne.

Beware, there are contraindications!

In order not to harm health and get a lasting therapeutic effect from the treatment of St. This advice is especially relevant in the presence of serious chronic diseases and taking certain medications, for example, antidepressants, antibiotics, heart medications, HIV maintenance therapy, oral contraceptives.

Due to the presence of weakly toxic compounds in the plant, treatment with all types of preparations based on it should be limited in time. Uncontrolled intake can cause an overdose and provoke side effects, including skin flushing, urticaria, pain in the right hypochondrium, temporary loss of male power (impotence). Abuse of strong infusions and teas leads to abdominal cramps and painful sensations in the stomach.

It should be borne in mind that the internal and external use of products based on St. factor and in no case do not visit the solarium.

The following conditions are considered unconditional contraindications to the use of St. John's wort:

• individual intolerance and tendency to allergies;
• increased skin sensitivity;
• persistent arterial hypertension;
• photodermatitis or the need for prolonged exposure to the open sun;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• age up to 12 years;
• severe liver pathology;
• endogenous depression.

In the treatment of prostatitis, it should be borne in mind that long-term use (more than 3 weeks) of St. John's wort leads to a decrease in potency.

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that despite the numerous beneficial properties of St. John's wort, treatment with its preparations should be approached thoughtfully, without neglecting the advice of experienced specialists.

Good health to you!

St. John's wort- perennial herbaceous plant of the St. John's wort family (Guttiferae), 30-100 cm in height, with dihedral, branched stem and opposite leaves The leaves of St. John's wort are sessile, 0.7 - 3 cm long and 0.3 - 1.5 cm wide, oval, obtuse, with numerous translucent dotted glands. St. John's wort flowers are golden yellow, with 5 sepals and 5 petals, the inflorescence is broadly paniculate, almost corymbose. The fruit of St. John's wort is an oblong ovoid capsule 6 mm long, 5 mm wide. St. John's wort seeds are small, up to 1 mm, cylindrical, brown. St. John's wort blooms and ripens from May to August. St. John's wort grows almost everywhere, with the exception of the Far North.

Grass Hypericum contains dyes. Found in the composition of the sparrow are also flavone compounds, essential oil, up to 10% tannins, up to 55 mg% carotene, ceryl alcohol, choline and traces of alkaloids.

St. John's wort is used for medical purposes. Collect the flower tops of St. John's wort along with the leaves during flowering. St. John's wort is dried in dryers at a temperature of 35-40 ° or in air under a canopy.

St. John's wort raw materials, ready for use, are leafy stems with flowers, buds, and partly fruits and seeds, matte green raw materials, with a faint aromatic odor, with a bitter, slightly astringent taste. In pharmacies, St. John's wort is sold in packages of 100g in boxes or bags.

Pharmacological properties of St. John's wort

Preparations Hypericum have astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and stimulating tissue regeneration properties. It has also been established that the infusion and extract of St. John's wort stimulate the activity of the heart, increase the amplitude of heart contractions, increase blood pressure, constrict blood vessels. In addition, St. John's wort has astringent, antihelminthic properties.

The use of St. John's wort in medicine

Preparations Hypericum used as an astringent, disinfectant and anti-inflammatory agent, orally for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, acute and chronic colitis of non-bacterial origin.

St. John's wort helps patients with chronic gastritis. St. John's wort infusion is taken orally 100 ml 3 times a day before meals, for 1-2 months. At the same time, pain subsides in patients, heartburn disappears, and the acidity of gastric juice normalizes.

Very useful and also St. John's wort oil. It is obtained by steeping 500 g of fresh flowers with leaves in 1 liter of sunflower oil and 500 ml of white wine for 3 days, then the wine is evaporated. The drug is used to treat long-term non-healing wounds, ulcers and bedsores by applying bandages.

Also successfully used oil Hypericum for the treatment of gastric ulcer in a dose of 1 tablespoon on an empty stomach or 3-4 hours after a meal, for 1-2 months.

In dentistry, St. John's wort oil is used to treat chronic and subacute gingivitis and stomatitis. At the same time, St. John's wort does not have irritating properties.

Preparation of preparations from St. John's wort

Hypericum infusion. Prepare as follows: 3 tablespoons of chopped St. John's wort, pour 250 ml of boiling water, leave for 2 hours and take a third of a glass 3 times a day.

Hypericum tincture. Extraction of 70% alcohol from coarsely ground St. John's wort in the ratio of raw materials to alcohol 1:10. Used for rinsing the mouth, 30-40 drops per 100 ml of water. Inside appoint at colitis, cholelithiasis, cystitis.

Going on a trip, they take with them a first-aid kit with a set of necessary drugs in case of illness or injury on the way. But anything can happen along the way. For example, the first-aid kit is wet or lost, and help must be provided immediately. How to be? In such cases, the ambulance of the flora that always surrounds us comes to the rescue. "Green First Aid Kit" has a huge number of effective medicines. But, unfortunately, we do not always know how to use this or that plant in the current situation. It is good if the group includes a doctor who is versed in plants that can be used as medicines. If there is no medical worker in the group, one of the participants in the trip, who is responsible for the health of everyone, must definitely consult a doctor in advance and write everything down carefully. One should also remember this medical truth: "Everything is poison and everything is medicine." In other words, the use of infusions, decoctions, juices of wild plants requires a strict dosage, otherwise, instead of treatment, irreparable damage to health can be caused. How to use Wild Plants as remedies is described in this section.

Plantain has the properties to stop bleeding, accelerate the healing of even festering wounds, and relieve pain. Yarrow endowed with the same property and used in the same way as plantain.

Stinging nettle- A decoction of this plant stops bleeding well.

Highlander bird used as lotions, compresses, rinses for the treatment of non-healing wounds.

coltsfoot has long been considered an effective wound healing agent. It blooms in early spring, after which leaves grow. Their upper side is smooth, green; dorsal - soft, pubescent with silvery hairs, warm to the touch. The leaves are used to treat wounds.

St. John's wort considered a cure for 999 diseases. It grows among shrubs, on the edges, slopes of beams. If you rub the flower with your fingers, then the skin of the hands will turn purple-violet. They can stop the blood, relieve inflammation, heal wounds. An infusion prepared from the upper parts of the stems and flowers is moistened with lotions and put on burns or washed. The medicine is prepared as follows: a tablespoon of dry grass is poured with a glass of boiling water, infused for 15 minutes, filtered and cooled. With this infusion, you can rinse your mouth with friability or bleeding gums. St. John's wort grows in many regions of Kazakhstan.

horse sorrel- in a decoction of its seeds, a clean rag or handkerchief is moistened and compresses are made to treat burns. Powder from dried rhizomes is sprinkled on burnt places.

pharmaceutical camomile heals burns, lotions are impregnated in its infusions. Boils are also treated with the same compresses. 2 tablespoons of flowers pour 2 cups of boiling water and insist for 25-30 minutes.

moss sphagnum grows in swamps. Dry moss absorbs moisture 4 times more than medical cotton wool. Phytoncidal substances were found in it. You can use a thin bandage as a bandage. linden bast or young pine bark or ate.

There are many other plants that help fight diseases that occur during a hike or travel, restore vigor and good mood.

Headache subsides if you drink infusion Valerian officinalis rhizomes, herbs motherwort a tablespoon 3-4 times a day, as well as tea leaves from dried flowers tansy(5 grams per glass of water) 1/2 cup 3 times a day. For headaches, you can apply to the temples linden leaves.

Flowers are used at high temperatures black elderberry, linden inflorescences They are brewed like tea and drunk. A spoonful of crushed dry burdock root pour 2 cups of water and make a decoction.

When coughing, use tea leaves from thyme (thyme) creeping. This shrub grows on the slopes of steppe beams, ravines, in dry pine forests. Infusions are drunk 5-6 times a day for a tablespoon (2-3 tablespoons per glass of boiling water). Cough can be soothed with a decoction of the leaves plantain, flowers and leaves coltsfoot- 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.

motherwort and cottonweed lower blood pressure, improve overall well-being, calm the nervous system, help with insomnia.

Considered a good remedy for a cold chamomile flowers(a tablespoon is insisted on a glass of boiling water, filtered and washed with a nose). You can also add the same amount of herbs to chamomile sage officinalis.

Diaphoretics that help with colds include linden flowers, grass creeping thyme, Hypericum perforatum, a series of tripartite(1-2 tablespoons are brewed and drunk as tea).

Also used for colds lingonberry leaf decoction. An upset stomach is treated with decoctions of herbs Hypericum, tansy flowers, oak bark; St. John's wort and pharmaceutical camomile improve the functioning of the stomach.

Help with constipation buckthorn bark, seeds cumin, flax, plantain leaves.

Improve digestion, stimulate appetite decoctions and infusions from the roots dandelion, common chicory, herbs yarrow, Hypericum.

The use of plants as remedies is possible only if you are well versed in herbs and know their healing properties. If any of them causes you doubt, it is better not to use them.

About 400 plants grow in our country that can cause poisoning. The use of large quantities of even the most harmless plants can also lead to serious consequences. General poisoning of the body occurs not only from the fact that you have taken this or that herb in the form of infusions or decoctions, but also from the abundant inhalation of volatile substances of wild rosemary, lily of the valley, magnolia, spotted aronnik and some other herbs. Therefore, when traveling or hiking, never bring them into a tent or room. Try not to be in the thickets of these plants for a long time, otherwise a headache, cough, runny nose, lacrimation, and suffocation will appear.

The actions of some poisonous plants are already affected by direct contact with them. First aid for such poisoning depends on the ways in which the poison enters the body. If it gets through the mouth, it is necessary to rinse the stomach as soon as possible by drinking 2-4 glasses of an aqueous suspension of activated carbon (2 tablespoons per 0.5 liters) or a 0.1% solution (light pink) potassium permanganate. When these drugs are not available, they dilute table salt(0.5 teaspoon per glass of water), then the victim is given Activated carbon(1-2 tablespoons per 100 grams of water). If not, you need to eat 100 grams of black crackers. To slow down the absorption of poisons, they drink beaten egg white, milk. If a person has been poisoned by the smells of flowers, he must be taken to fresh air and ensure complete rest. When breathing weakens, give a sniff of ammonia, provide plenty of fluids: hot tea, coffee. In any case of poisoning, the victim must be taken to the nearest medical center.

Herbaceous plants have been used in medicine and cosmetology since ancient times. They contain essential oils, anticoagulants and other substances useful for the human body. One of these herbs is St. John's wort. The plant is found in all regions of Russia.

What is hypericum

The perennial grows near the edges of coniferous forests, in sunny glades, on the outskirts of fields and along roads. Botanists identified 560 species and 9 genera of St. John's wort. The plant belongs to the subclass Dilleniidae, the tea order, the St. John's wort family. St. John's wort (ordinary), tetrahedral, cup-shaped are often found on the territory of Russia. Peculiarities:

• The leaves are simple, opposite, with dark or transparent dots.
• Flowers actinomorphic, solitary or collected in pyramidal, corymbose inflorescences.
• Raw materials are collected from June to August. The plant is cut to 30-35 cm, tied in bunches and dried indoors or under a canopy. Raw materials should not be exposed to sunlight. After the leaves and flowers have dried, they are crushed and stored in a glass jar. You can store raw materials in bags made of linen, cotton or other natural dense fabric. Shelf life - 2 years.

The benefits and harms of St. John's wort

The plant belongs to the class of low toxicity, so it is used to treat adults and children. Hypericum Benefits:

• helps to get rid of hypertension;
• is a natural aphrodisiac;
• restores nerve fibers;
• normalizes the production of melatonin;
• reduces inflammation.

Any medicine is good for health only in certain proportions. If they are exceeded, serious side effects will occur. John's wort harm:

• greatly increases blood pressure;
• in high concentration causes emotional lability or increased excitability;
• accelerates the excretion of nutrients from the body;
• if the cyclical intake is not observed, it disrupts the functioning of the hormonal system.

medicinal properties

The substances that make up the plant have a beneficial effect on human health. Medicinal properties of St. John's wort:

Chemical composition

The plant contains vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, flavone compounds. The chemical composition of the herb:

• tannins;
• flavonoids;
• myrcene;
• retinol;
• tocopherol;
• nicotinic and ascorbic acids;
• cineole;
• alkaloids;
• geraniol;
• pinenes;
• carotene;
• phytoncides;
• routine;
• saponins;
• hyperoside;
• coumarin;
• quercetin, isoquercetin;
• azulene;
• hypericin.

What helps St. John's wort

The plant is suitable for the treatment of many diseases. St. John's wort helps with the following conditions:

• severe pain syndrome;
• inflammation of external tissues and internal organs (pustular diseases, sinusitis, infections of the genitourinary system, abscess, hemorrhoids);
• insomnia, migraine, anxiety;
• excessive oiliness of the skin;
• inflammation of the gallbladder, problems with the gastrointestinal tract caused by viruses and chronic diseases.

Medicinal use

The plant is used in traditional and folk medicine, allopathy. St. John's wort is used to treat:

• inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity (tonsillitis, stomatitis, pharyngitis);
• depression, insomnia, psychosis;
• acute and chronic diseases of the digestive tract and intestines (bloating, gastritis, hepatitis, diarrhea, heartburn);
• diseases of the spine and joints (rheumatism, arthritis).

The dosage depends on the disease. Women use up to 400 mg of dry product daily. For men, the dosage increases to 600–800 mg. St. John's wort is given to children from the age of 12 after consulting a doctor. If the age of the child is less, then this herb is not prescribed. Children are given no more than 150 mg of dry product daily.

In traditional medicine

Useful properties of St. John's wort are used in pharmacology. Based on this plant, antidepressants and sedatives are produced. In allopathy, grass is used to strengthen the immune system, normalize the work of the heart. Examples of medicines:

• Life 900.
• Gelarium Hypericum.
• Neuroplant.
• Deprivation.
• Negrustin.
• Novoimanin.

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

The herb is used in the form of decoctions, lotions, external mixtures, tinctures, ointments. A mixture of several medicinal herbs (mint, chamomile, elderberry, etc.) will give a greater effect. Healers treat St. John's wort:

• gastritis;
• inflammation of the gallbladder;
• cholelithiasis;
• different types of arrhythmias;
• alcoholism.

In cosmetology

The plant tones the cells of the skin. St. John's wort for the skin is used for the following problems:

• Acne. With acne, it is useful to treat the face with St. John's wort lotion or decoction of herbs daily. After 7-10 days, pimples and blackheads will disappear.
• Dandruff and baldness. One third of a glass of infusion is consumed 10 minutes before meals 2 times a day. The same tool is used to rinse the hair.
• Peeling skin. An infusion is used to soften the skin. It is applied every 2 days to flaky areas.
• Skin aging, wrinkles. Infusion of the plant is diluted with red or pink clay to the consistency of sour cream. The resulting mask is applied to the face for 15-20 minutes. The tool copes with shallow mimic wrinkles, tones the skin.

Folk recipes

Healers prepare various preparations based on St. John's wort. Folk recipes:

• St. John's wort tea. Put 1 teaspoon of herbs in a teapot and pour 250 ml of boiling water. If desired, add honey, linden flowers, a handful of strawberries or raspberries. The resulting tea is used to restore immunity, treat the onset of a cold.
• Plant decoction. 1.5 tablespoons of dry grass are placed in an enameled pan, and then poured with a glass of hot water. The container with the brewed plant is heated for 20–30 minutes in a water bath. It is impossible to bring the broth to a boil, otherwise some of the useful substances will be destroyed. The tool is used immediately.
• Infusion. 2 tablespoons of dried or fresh herbs pour a glass of boiling water. The liquid is infused for 3-4 hours in a dark place, and then consumed 15-20 ml 3 times a day.
• Hypericum tincture (extract). The grass is insisted on vodka or alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 10 or 1 to 7. The remedy is infused for 3 days in a dark place. Alcohol tincture is diluted with 50 ml of water before use.
• St. John's wort oil. The flowers of the plant insist on olive, peach, almond or jojoba oil in a ratio of 1 to 2 for 3 weeks. The finished product is used for compresses.

St. John's wort treatment

In the right proportions, St. John's wort will cope with microbes, strengthen immunity, and relieve inflammation. The herb is used to treat:

• colds;
• gynecological diseases;
• impotence;
• vitiligo;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT);
• urinary system.

For gargling

The plant has a pronounced antimicrobial effect, effective against streptococci, staphylococci and other microorganisms. To eliminate pain or bad breath, use a decoction or infusion of herbs. In case of illness, rinsing is repeated from 3 to 10 times a day. You can not swallow the drug. For bad breath, use the infusion after brushing your teeth.

With a cold

When coughing and fever, doctors recommend using an infusion of water. To prepare it, pour 2 tablespoons of dried chopped herbs with a glass of boiling water, let it brew. When the liquid has cooled, it is filtered and taken 3-4 times / day. The duration of treatment is 1 week. The infusion is suitable for washing the sinuses with sinusitis.

John's wort for impotence

A decoction of the plant is taken 1–1.5 hours before sexual intercourse. To improve the effect, mint or honey is added to it. Folk healers believe that St. John's wort and potency in men are strongly related. If you constantly use products with this plant, the natural production of testosterone will decrease.

With vitiligo

With this disease, some areas of the skin lose pigmentation. In some patients, parts of the body become completely white. Vitiligo is treated with ointment and infusion based on St. John's wort:

• For the ointment, fresh flowers of the plant are collected, they are tightly packed into a glass jar, and then poured with cold-pressed oil. The mixture is left for 2 weeks in the sun, and then the procedure is repeated again 5 times. White spots are treated with a ready-made thick ointment.
• The infusion is taken 3 times a day for 8 weeks.

John's wort in gynecology

After cauterization of cervical erosion, the damaged mucosa needs additional care. Douching with St. John's wort is carried out 2-3 times a day for 7-10 days. For procedures, an infusion of room temperature is used. Another remedy is cotton-gauze swabs with St. John's wort oil. They are administered for 2-3 hours during the day or all night.

St. John's wort will help with oncology. For the treatment of cancer of the uterus and appendages, the following mixture is prepared:

1. 200 g of garlic are steamed, crushed to a mushy state.
2. 200 g of crushed hazel kernels and 300 g of ground walnut kernels are added to garlic. The mixture is thoroughly stirred.
3. 25 g of licorice root, 25 g of St. John's wort flowers, 25 g of powdered ginger, 50 g of ground dill are added to the mixture. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
4. The resulting homogeneous mass is added to 1 kg of honey. Mix thoroughly.
5. Use the finished product 1 tablespoon 2-3 times / day after meals.

With menopause

Hot flashes during menopause are experienced by many women. To get rid of them, it is recommended to make herbal tea. This will require:

• St. John's wort - 25g;
• melissa leaves - 15g;
• cuff leaves - 15g;
• yarrow flowers - 15g;
• hawthorn leaves and flowers - 5g;
• elderberry flowers - 5g;
• cornflower flowers -3g;
• calendula flowers - 2g.

1 tablespoon of the collection is poured with 1 liter of boiling water. Herbal tea drink 2 – 3 times a day before meals. In depressive states, traditional healers recommend using alcohol tincture. The drug is taken before meals, 20 drops 3-4 times a day.

St. John's wort as a sedative

Hypericin is a red substance widely used in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. This compound, together with hyperforin, is found in St. John's wort. Sedative preparations with this herb were first released in 1998 in Germany. At home, prepare the tincture according to the recipe above. The course of treatment is 1 month. Tincture is taken 10-12 drops 3 times / day before meals.

For diseases of the stomach

St. John's wort is good for gastritis, diarrhea, cholecystitis, provided it is taken regularly. Features of the treatment of diseases of the stomach:

• With an exacerbation of gastritis, an infusion will help. It is drunk 15 ml before each meal.
• Diarrhea is treated with a mixture of St. John's wort, mint, thyme, linden, rosehip. These herbs are mixed together in equal proportions. 2 tablespoons of the resulting mixture is brewed with 500 ml of boiling water, insisted for 30 minutes, and then filtered. Drink at least 200 ml of decoction daily.
• With cholecystitis, the benefits of St. John's wort tea are immediately noticeable. The tool is an antispasmodic and choleretic agent. Drink it on an empty stomach 3 times / day.
• In chronic liver diseases, infusion is used 3 times / day, 125 ml each. The course of therapy is 1.5 months. It is repeated 2 times a year. The plant accelerates the regeneration of liver cells, improves vascular blood flow, relieves spasms.

St. John's wort for the liver and kidneys

For cholelithiasis and urolithiasis, St. John's wort is used. The concentration of medicinal substances here is lower, but in this form St. John's wort is more useful against stones. The infusion is consumed 100 ml 3 times / day for a month. The tool stimulates the healing of damaged diuretic and choleretic channels.

Treatment of cystitis

A tablespoon of St. John's wort is poured with a glass of boiling water, covered with a towel, left for 20 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered, take 1/4 cup 3 times a day. Use the remedy until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely.

Contraindications and side effects

The healing properties of St. John's wort are not always manifested. The herb should be used with caution by people suffering from hay fever. Such patients are preliminarily tested for sensitivity. If there is no reaction after contact with a small amount of the plant, treatment can be continued. Contraindications:

• Photosensitivity (sensitivity to ultraviolet light). The plant enhances the skin's susceptibility to sunlight.
• You can not use St. John's wort while breastfeeding and during pregnancy. Grass makes milk bitter, contains substances that can adversely affect the development of the baby. External means during gestation and lactation are allowed to use.
• Hypertension. Grass greatly increases blood pressure.
• Recovery period after transplantation. Substances from grass provoke rejection of transplanted tissues and organs.
• Taking contraceptives. The effectiveness of contraceptives decreases.
• Taking antidepressants. It is especially dangerous to combine St. John's wort tablets for patients with manic syndrome. The plant causes an exacerbation of this disease.
• Reception of Indinavir, anticoagulants, cardiac drugs. Grass reduces the content of the listed drugs in the blood by almost 2 times. This is due to the fact that when using St.

Side effects:

• loss of coordination;
• dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting;
• sudden mood swings;
• decrease in the level of iron in the blood;
• confusion;
• increased sensitivity to ultraviolet;
• constipation, diarrhea, flatulence.

St. John's wort has been known for its medicinal qualities since ancient times; even Hippocrates used it in the treatment of various ailments. In the first century AD, this medicinal plant was used for burns, sciatica, fever attacks, and in case of bites from poisonous insects, St. John's wort was first infused with wine, after which it was successfully used in treatment.

St. John's wort is a perennial herbaceous plant with yellow-orange flowers and oblong leaves with holes. The plant reaches a height of 30-60 cm. The flowering period is June-July. It grows mainly in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part of Russia, Central Asia, Siberia and the Caucasus. Despite the huge benefits, a medicinal plant in large quantities can be poisonous to animals.

The composition of St. John's wort and its medicinal properties.
The healing properties of St. John's wort are due to its unique composition. This herb contains a lot of essential oils, vitamins (C, carotene, PP, nicotinic acid), tannins and resinous substances, alkaloids, phytoncides. The combination of these and many other active elements contained in St. John's wort have an extremely positive effect on the organs and tissues of our body.

St. John's wort has a tonic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antidepressant, choleretic, sedative, antispasmodic, diuretic, analgesic, astringent and cleansing effect. The herb is able to strengthen the blood walls, increase blood circulation, stimulates cellular metabolism, increases appetite, improves digestion (by increasing gastric secretion), and also, with systematic use, restores the functions of nervous tissue. Also, the plant has hemostatic, wound healing, regenerating and anthelmintic properties, improves heart function.

In addition, the plant increases the sensitivity of tissues to light. This ability of the herb is used in the treatment of depressive conditions or a disease such as vitiligo. In this case, there is one unpleasant side effect - sunburn.

The use of St. John's wort.
John's wort is actively used in folk remedies to eliminate various ailments. But his close relative - St. John's wort, is a good antiseptic in the treatment of colitis and diarrhea. Due to its astringent properties, the plant is recommended in the treatment and prevention of gum disease, stomatitis, gingivitis. This plant is included in various preparations, the action of which is aimed at relieving spasms of blood vessels, strengthening capillaries and improving blood supply during venous circulation.

The plant is also often used in the manufacture of drugs for hypertension, anemia, allergies, headaches, including migraine, hemorrhoids, cough, respiratory diseases, pressure sores, jaundice, rashes, mastitis, lung and stomach diseases, wounds and ulcers (stomach ulcers and duodenum). St. John's wort is a natural antidepressant, therefore it is effective for depression, neurosis, excessive fatigue, irritability, loss of strength, insomnia and other sleep disorders.

The use of this plant has a beneficial effect on the immune system, improves the functioning of the body's defense mechanisms. Due to its antiviral properties, the plant is effective against the herpes simplex virus, influenza, and there is a positive effect on other types of viruses.

The effectiveness of St. John's wort in women with manifestations of PMS and menopause has been proven.

Due to the high healing properties of the plant, it is often used in the manufacture of ointments that accelerate wound healing and reduce scarring. Also, the plant relieves inflammation, can stop diarrhea and internal bleeding.

St. John's wort is useful for children with enuresis, as well as for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It also gives a positive result in the treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract infections and dysbacteriosis during antibiotic or steroid therapy. The plant also helps with inflammation of the sciatic nerve, with arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases.

St. John's wort is used in treatment mainly as decoctions, infusions, extracts, tinctures, in addition, it is included in the composition of various herbal preparations and teas. St. John's wort oil also has medicinal properties.

St. John's wort has a positive effect in the treatment of liver diseases, nephrolithiasis and bile ducts, providing a pronounced diuretic and analgesic effect. The herb relieves swelling and is effective in treating urinary incontinence.

Preparations based on St. John's wort are effective in the prevention of caries, as well as the treatment of periodontal disease, stomatitis and various infections of the oral cavity.

High antiseptic and wound healing properties make it possible to use the plant in the treatment of abscesses of various nature, trophic ulcers, first and second degree burns, pustular skin diseases, ulcerative scars on the stomach.

In the field of cosmetology, the plant is not the last place. It is especially useful for those with problem skin. Decoctions and infusions, used as daily rubbing or lotions, cleanse the skin, reduce or completely remove inflammation, and relieve acne.

St. John's wort is also included in cosmetic formulations for brittle hair, to treat dandruff and to relieve itching.

Hypericum infusions perfectly relieve inflammation, eliminate swelling and have an analgesic effect in diseases of the joints of various origins. In addition, the infusions of this plant help well in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the female genital area, and are used as douches.

Preparation of medicinal preparations based on St. John's wort.
Any manipulations with the grass must be done in an enamel bowl (no aluminum!).

St. John's wort infusion: take a glass of boiling water on a tablespoon of herbs, previously crushed, leave for half an hour, strain, squeeze out the raw materials and use as directed. For internal use, the infusion should be drunk three times a day for a third of a glass thirty minutes before a meal.

St. John's wort tincture: take ten tablespoons of medical alcohol (you can use high-quality vodka) per tablespoon of the crushed plant, close the mixture tightly, put in a dark place for two weeks, shake occasionally, then strain, squeeze. For internal use: dilute 30 drops in a small amount of water, take three times a day before meals. For rinsing: 50 drops in one third of a glass of water. It can also be used externally as rubbing and compresses for mastitis and diseases of the mammary glands.

St. John's wort tea (may be combined with other herbs, depending on the desired effect) and hop cones are effective in relieving conditions with menopause. For a tablespoon of St. John's wort and hop cones, brew two cups of boiling water, leave for twenty minutes, take half a glass three times a day.

St. John's wort and lemon balm tea for concentration and increasing the focus of children in the learning process. Mix the herbs, take a tablespoon each, brew in a teapot, let the children drink like tea.

Decoction of St. John's wort: a tablespoon is poured into a glass of boiling water, put in a water bath for twenty minutes. Take half a glass twice a day before meals. Effectively cleanses the skin from pathogenic microorganisms. It is good to use in children suffering from diathesis.

St. John's wort oil: dry grass and flowers (500 g) are poured with linseed or sunflower oil (so that the raw material is completely immersed in oil), put oppression on top. Leave the mixture for two months, then strain and pour into a container with a screw lid. Can be used both externally and internally. Store in a dark cool place.

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

Coughs and colds.
St. John's wort oil (a small amount) is slightly heated and soaked in a soft cloth, which is applied to a sore throat, and wrapped with compress paper on top and wrapped warmly. Do the procedure at night, in the morning wash the area where the compress is applied with warm water and soap. The same warming procedure is effectively done on the chest.

To eliminate dry cough, do inhalations with hot infusion of St. John's wort. Breathe the steam for twenty minutes.

For a sore throat, use the tincture of the plant in the form of rinses. In a glass of warm water, dilute twenty-five drops of tincture, gargle five times a day.

To rinse an inflamed throat, you can also use this mixture: a teaspoon of salt and soda, ten drops of iodine and twenty drops of St. John's wort tincture. The procedure is also carried out five times a day.

To quickly get rid of a cold, mix a tablespoon of dried raspberry leaves with the same amount of St. John's wort and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse for twenty minutes, strain. Mix the resulting infusion with lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey. Drink preferably at night. The next morning, the condition improves significantly (temperature normalizes, chills, weakness go away).

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
St. John's wort is recommended for the treatment of gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, diseases of the liver and gallbladder. After a course of treatment with infusion of the plant, the intestinal microflora is normalized, the stool is normalized.

From heartburn, combine one tablespoon of herbs of yarrow, St. John's wort, cudweed, pour a liter of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Drink a warm infusion of 100 ml thirty minutes before each meal.

For stomach pain, heartburn, to improve digestion, it is recommended to take a tablespoon of St. John's wort after meals.

For the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, it is effective to use St. John's wort oil. In each case, the doctor determines his dosage.

Skin inflammation or burns.
St. John's wort oil is applied to the affected areas of the skin. The combination of oil (30 ml) with egg white enhances the healing effect.

hepatitis and cholecystitis.
Take St. John's wort infusion of a tablespoon each time after a meal. Or another recipe: three tablespoons of dry St. John's wort, 300 ml of olive or linseed oil, add 100 ml of red wine. Leave the mixture in a dark, cool place for a week, stir daily. After that, the mixture will put on fire, and boil for forty-five minutes. Strain, take a teaspoon fifteen minutes after the main meal (lunch). The course of treatment is three months.

Trophic ulcers, skin cancer.
On the affected skin areas, make dressings soaked in St. John's wort oil. Fix the bandages for several hours a day until complete recovery.

To prevent the formation and dissolution of kidney stones, it is useful to take an infusion of the plant in a third of a glass before each meal.

The infusion also helps with cystitis, inflammation of the bladder, accompanied by characteristic pain during urination. It is advisable to consult a specialist and identify the nature of the infection before starting treatment with infusion.

Heart disease.
To strengthen the heart and eliminate arrhythmias, it is recommended: combine a tablespoon of lemon balm, valerian root, yarrow with two tablespoons of St. John's wort, mix everything. Take a teaspoon of the herbal mixture and brew 200 ml of boiling water, let the infusion stand for two hours, then strain. Drink in small sips of 100 ml once a day.

Diseases of the oral cavity.
St. John's wort oil is good to use as compresses for periodontitis, apply three times during the day for fifteen minutes.

To relieve inflammation on the mucous or gums, it is recommended to rinse the mouth several times a day with an infusion of a mixture of sage and St. John's wort. To prepare it, you need to combine a tablespoon of herbs, pour 200 ml of boiling water and let it brew for half an hour, then strain. You can use another recipe for infusion: combine a tablespoon of St. John's wort, calendula and chamomile, add a glass of boiling water to the mixture, leave for thirty minutes, strain.

To get rid of bad breath and strengthen gums, rinse your mouth several times a day with a mixture of thirty drops of St. John's wort tincture and half a glass of warm water.

For the treatment of stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontitis, it is good to rinse your mouth with an infusion of this plant.

In chronic eczema, to reduce itching, it is good to take baths with infusion of herbs: mix 100 g of St. John's wort, chamomile flowers, celandine, succession, sage, valerian root. Take 300 g of the resulting herbal mixture and pour five liters of boiling water, leave in a warm place for five hours, then strain and pour into a bath filled with warm water (36-37 degrees). Take a bath for no more than twenty minutes.

To treat the nervous system, eliminate headaches, irritability, mood swings, and in case of stress and depression, it is useful to drink tea from a mixture of blueberries, lemon balm herbs, St. John's wort, rosemary. Everything is mixed in 50 g, 1 tablespoon is taken per glass of boiling water. Leave for fifteen minutes and drink like tea.

St. John's wort oil is applied to damaged areas in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, fistulas, animal bites.

For acne on the back, take baths with an infusion of herbs: combine 50 grams of St. John's wort, oregano, lime blossom, add 25 grams of needles, chamomile and juniper. Brew the mixture with two liters of boiling water and leave for several hours, then pour into the bathroom.

St. John's wort in cosmetics.
With inflammation, skin irritation and enlarged pores, a home tonic is effective: mix 10 g of sage and St. John's wort, brew a glass of boiling water, boil for two minutes on fire, then cool and strain. Wipe every day in the morning and evening.

Contraindications to the use of St. John's wort:

• individual sensitivity or intolerance;
• increased sensitivity of the body to ultraviolet radiation;
• depression on the background of mental illness;
• taking food supplements with amino acids;
• phototherapy;
• taking alcohol and reserpine, in combination with St. John's wort, the narcotic effect is enhanced and the effect of reserpine is weakened;
• the presence of diseases of the liver and kidneys in a chronic form;
• the presence of tumors of the reproductive system, provoked by estrogen;
• use of hormonal contraception, drugs to treat HIV, drugs to prevent transplant rejection;
• taking medications for epilepsy and migraine;
• pregnancy and lactation period.

Prolonged use of drugs based on St. John's wort can cause hives. With the accumulation of a high level of concentration of grass in the body of a man, temporary impotence may occur.

Uncontrolled intake of drugs based on St. John's wort can cause serious harm to the body. Therefore, before starting treatment with St. John's wort, consult with specialists.

Side effects of St. John's wort.
Basically, side effects develop against the background of prolonged and uncontrolled intake of grass. Among them, one can note temporary impotence, an increase in blood pressure, which, with long-term treatment of gastric or duodenal ulcers, can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. St. John's wort also has a slight toxic effect on the liver. After a course of treatment (two to three weeks), it is necessary to check the condition of the liver. Allergic reactions may also occur (rash, itching, urticaria, in advanced cases, Quincke's edema).

When working, requiring increased attention and speed of action, it is important to be careful when taking St. John's wort and preparations based on it, since it affects the nervous system.

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The ideal time to collect grass is the flowering period. The upper part of the stem 20 cm long should be cut off. It is desirable to dry the grass under a canopy, while the place should be well ventilated. Store dried St. John's wort in closed glass jars in a cool, dry place.