What does the herb St. John's wort help with? What the herb St. John's wort treats, benefits for various diseases. What diseases does St. John's wort treat?

In the old days, people believed that this plant could not be found more useful in the meadows. With its help you can rejuvenate, increase external beauty and heal various ailments.

According to healers and herbalists, this magical plant, when it enters the body, itself finds diseases in the organs and heals.

Healers call St. John's wort a magical plant

What is unique about the herb St. John's wort? medicinal properties and it would be useful to know the contraindications for those who prefer to be treated with non-traditional folk methods.

Rich composition of St. John's wort

Has an amazing composition medicinal plant St. John's wort.
It contains:

flavone components that rejuvenate cells and provide antioxidant effects;
nicotinic, ascorbic acid, which the cardiac, nervous, and immune systems need;
rutin – helps strengthen blood vessels;
vitamins of group C – prevents the formation and degeneration of malignant cells, strengthens the immune system;
saponins, which enhance the functioning of the glands;
vitamin E – its deficiency in the body is detrimental to humans;
carotene – necessary for the organs of vision, accelerates regeneration, protects against attacks by viruses and pathogenic bacteria;
tanning components that prevent the development of infection and accelerate wound healing.

St. John's wort contains many useful to the body substances

It's difficult to list everything healing properties St. John's wort. This herb is incredibly useful and necessary for humans. With its help, you can easily overcome many diseases, improve the condition of the body, and rejuvenate.

Therapeutic effect of St. John's wort

Healers often add this herb to their potions. Medicinal properties St. John's wort are multifaceted. It helps heal wounds and destroy helminths that have settled in the intestines.

It is an excellent wound healing, diuretic and analgesic.

What does the herb St. John's wort treat?
With the help of decoctions, tinctures, and witchcraft mixtures, you can get rid of many ailments, namely:

heart disease;
rheumatism, arthritis;
diseases gastrointestinal tract;
liver, bile ailments;
pathological conditions and abnormalities associated with the genitourinary system;
viral diseases respiratory organs, ORZ;
depression, insomnia;
seborrhea, increased work sebaceous glands, acne;
aging and sagging skin, its increased dryness;
inflammation of the female reproductive organs;
hemorrhoids;
unnatural and intense hair loss;
cracked skin on the arms and legs.

For more information about the medicinal properties of St. John's wort, watch the video:

Our ancestors knew well what diseases St. John's wort would help get rid of. People brewed tea from dried leaves and drank it regularly before bed and meals. It should be noted that this herbal tea has pleasant aroma and amazing taste. It perfectly quenches thirst when the summer heat is unbearable.
Healers recommend taking St. John's wort in the form of tea for the intestines, treating the stomach, as well as for those who complain of:

tingling, feeling of heaviness in the area of the heart muscle;
weak immunity, frequent colds;
disruptions in the functioning of the nervous system (considered the best effective means St. John's wort for depression, how to take it, the doctor will advise);
insomnia, restless sleep;
unusual increased fatigue a few hours after a night's rest.

It is recommended to brew tea from St. John's wort, whose medicinal properties are the strongest. You need to drink regularly for several weeks in a row, then take a two-week break. More benefits will be received by the body if you drink it after a bath ( hot bath). After this procedure, blood circulation is accelerated, the pores are opened. This means that each cell of the body will receive its own norm of St. John’s wort benefits.
St. John's wort tea is especially useful after a bath

St. John's wort herb is brewed (indications for use: insomnia, depression, pain in the stomach, in the liver area) according to a special recipe:

Scald the teapot (use exclusively porcelain) with boiling water;
Pour dried St. John's wort flowers and leaves (1 tbsp) into a teapot, pour a glass of boiling water;
Wrap the dish in a towel and leave to steep for 15 minutes. Healing tea from St. John's wort for the liver, stomach, strengthening the heart muscle is ready. Take only fresh drink.

If desired, you can add additional medicinal herbs to the tea: chamomile, mint, thyme, currant leaves.

Such herbs will not only increase the usefulness of the drink, but will also make it more aromatic and more pleasant to the taste.

If St. John's wort is brewed for a cough, it is recommended to add a little honey and chopped black radish to the drink.

St. John's wort decoction for the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract

Those who are tormented by stomach pain are recommended to drink this herb. Its magic is that after the first use the pain subsides. St. John's wort is very helpful for gastritis, stomach upsets, and digestive problems.
You should not prepare a lot of broth at once. It is drunk within an hour after preparation. After 60 minutes, the magic of the drink gradually fades away. Drink 70 ml warm half an hour before meals.

Tips on how to brew St. John's wort correctly so that it turns out healing decoction, will be useful to many:

Place about 10 grams of herb in an enamel ladle or pan. Pour in 200 ml of water, previously brought to a boil;
Place on the stove and simmer on the lowest heat for 30 minutes;
After half an hour of cooking, strain the broth and squeeze well.

St. John's wort decoction is ready for use. If you have stomach diseases, be sure to cool the drink. It is strictly forbidden to drink it hot.
St. John's wort decoction should be cooled before use.

St. John's wort for women's health

St. John's wort for women's health priceless. With its help you can cure inflammation of the genital organs. For treatment, you can take the decoction orally, use it for baths and washing.
The herb is excellent for relieving pain during menstruation. Women experiencing menopause, in order to reduce the number of hot flashes and smooth out sensations during hormonal changes, are advised to drink St. John's wort decoction.
If there is thrush accompanied by itching, St. John's wort will help, but beneficial features and contraindications in gynecology must be studied before use.

The herb is absolutely not suitable for treatment if the lady is pregnant, has sexually transmitted diseases, or is prone to allergies. It is also not recommended for women to take St. John's wort for stomach pain during breastfeeding.

St. John's wort for men

The stronger sex should take a closer look at this wonderful herb. Tea made from flowers and leaves helps overcome stress, reduce fatigue, and eliminate muscle pain (relevant for athletes). And this is not the only benefit of St. John’s wort for men. Decoctions and tinctures treat prostatitis, improve potency, and St. John's wort oil lifts the sexual mood. Teenagers are recommended to drink tea during puberty to combat acne.
St. John's wort tea can help fight acne

But be careful when taking St. John's wort; its medicinal properties and contraindications for men should be taken into account.

Harm to the body and damage male power may be caused if St. John's wort is taken in large quantities and for a long time.

Side effects and contraindications

Like most medicinal herbs, used by healers to treat people, St. John's wort is non-toxic, side effects rarely appear.

But there must be moderation in reception and use.
Despite all the benefits, the following reactions may occur:

allergies (from minor manifestations to severe swelling);
nagging pain in the liver area;
the occurrence of bitterness in the oral cavity;
slight dizziness, loss of coordination (with simultaneous administration with an antidepressant).

Many people are interested in the question: does St. John's wort increase or decrease blood pressure? Considering that the plant can increase tone circulatory system, hypertensive patients are not recommended to use medicinal herb inside to prevent increased blood pressure.

Hypertensive patients are not recommended to take St. John's wort internally.

Also, undiluted St. John's wort should not be given to children; at what age can it be taken orally, the pediatrician will advise.
It is strictly forbidden to take St. John's wort internally:

people suffering from serious mental disorders;
women taking pills to protect against pregnancy;
during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
children under 5 years old;
young men with naturally weak potency;
hypertensive patients.

When self-medicating and using witchcraft recipes, you should be attentive to your own body.

If unusual symptoms appear or the condition worsens, it is better to stop taking it and get examined.

Similar materials

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is used in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart and blood vessels, inflammation of the oral cavity, and also externally in the case of bruises, contusions, and ulcers.

Preparation, useful composition

The herbaceous plant reaches 1 m, prefers meadows, river valleys, and is found on forest edges and clearings. It is harvested during the flowering period, from June to September, and cut with garden shears. The raw materials are dried in a well-ventilated place, placed in a clean cloth bag and threshed with a stick to separate the grass.

Prepared from leaves and flowers healing infusions, tinctures, oil.

St. John's wort treats with the beneficial properties of its constituents tannins. They have a slight astringent and anti-inflammatory effect, destroy some microbes that are immune to the action of synthetic antibiotics.

Microelements: manganese, copper, chromium, selenium.
The anti-inflammatory and soothing properties of St. John's wort infusion help with gastritis:
Take St. John's wort infusion (recipe above) 1 tbsp. after meal.

Stomach and duodenal ulcers
St. John's wort oil has astringent action, stimulates appetite, in folk medicine the herb has long been used for treatment peptic ulcer. Exact dosage selected individually after consultation with a doctor.
To heal the ulcer during the day, take a mixture of 0.5 liters of St. John's wort infusion and 10 ml of lavender oil.

Hepatitis, cholecystitis
A common cause of hepatitis (liver inflammation) is alcohol abuse and viruses.
The body uses bile to digest fatty foods. With cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), after eating, the stomach hurts, nausea, and fever.
Education stagnation V gallbladder flavonoids from St. John's wort prevent the formation of stones.
For the prevention and treatment of cholecystitis, cholelithiasis:
take St. John's wort infusion (see recipe above) 1 tbsp. after meal.

Medicinal oil of St. John's wort is useful because it improves liver function and prevents the formation of gallstones.
Pour 3 tbsp. St. John's wort herb 300ml, add half a glass of red wine.
Leave in a dark, cool place for a week, stir every day, and when finished, boil for 45 minutes.
Leave for another month, then strain when finished.

Take 1 tsp for three months. once a day 15 minutes after eating.

Urolithiasis, cystitis
To treat diseases associated with impaired renal function, the anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, astringent, and diuretic properties of St. John's wort are used.
Urolithiasis disease. Acid-base imbalance is a common cause. My stomach hurts, I often want to go to the toilet, my temperature is elevated, I feel nauseous.
After consultation with a doctor, to prevent the formation and dissolution of stones, treat with St. John's wort infusion:
Take a third of a glass during the day.
Cystitis(inflammation of the bladder) accompanied by pain when urinating. Tests are necessary to determine the nature of the infection.
After consulting with a doctor, treat the disease with herbal infusion:
Stir 3 tbsp. , 4 tsp. oregano, 4 tsp. knotweed, 8 tsp. St. John's wort.
Brew 4 tbsp liter of boiling water. mixture, leave for 12 hours, strain.

Take half a glass an hour after meals.
The study and evaluation of histological and biochemical results confirmed that St. John's wort protects against acute renal ischemia.

Heart, blood vessels
The healing properties of St. John's wort strengthen the heart muscle and help cope with arrhythmia, a symptom of various cardiovascular diseases.
Medicinal collection recipe:
Stir 2 tbsp. lemon balm herb, 2 tbsp. yarrow, 2 tsp. valerian root, 4 tsp. St. John's wort.
Brew a glass of boiling water 1 tsp. mixture, strain after 2 hours.

Take half a glass once a day in small sips.
Oral cavity
Inflammation of the mucous membranes and gums.
Brew 1 tbsp glass of boiling water. St. John's wort and medicinal, leave for half an hour, strain.

In the absence of sage, treat the mucous membranes by rinsing with a weak St. John's wort infusion.

The anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties of St. John's wort are used in another medicinal infusion:
Brew 2 tablespoons glass of boiling water. chamomile, St. John's wort, leave for half an hour, strain.

Rinse your mouth after eating.
Bad smell. The healing and anti-inflammatory properties of St. John's wort tincture are used in the treatment of disease and are used to strengthen gums.
Recipe for healing composition:
Half a glass warm water add 20-30 drops of alcohol tincture.

Rinse your mouth several times a day.
Adenoids.
Grind the St. John's wort into powder and sift.
Add butter at the rate of 1 part powder to 4 parts butter.
In 1 tsp. add 5 drops of juice to the mixture, mix by shaking to obtain an emulsion.

Apply into each nostril several times a day.
Stomatitis, gingivitis. St. John's wort is useful for treating diseases of the oral cavity.
Infusion for rinsing:
Brew a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. herbs, infuse, strain.

Keep the warm infusion in your mouth for several minutes, do not swallow. Perform the procedure several times a day after meals.
Periodontitis. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of St. John's wort oil are used in the treatment of periodontitis:
Apply compresses to affected areas 2-3 times a day, maximum duration procedures 15 minutes.

Strengthening loose teeth, restoration of gums, elimination of bad breath:
Rinse your mouth with a mixture of St. John's wort and rose oils.

Depression
Headaches, insomnia, irritability, emotional instability, depression, as well as neuralgia and epilepsy are treated by the healing properties of St. John's wort. The plant calms and relieves tension in the nervous system.
To eliminate depression, it is useful to brew tea:
Stir in equal parts St. John's wort, lemon balm, rosemary leaves, and berries.
Brew 1 tsp. mixture with a glass of boiling water.

Drink instead of tea.
A 2016 review concluded that St. John's wort is best used for mild treatment and moderate depression.
The study does not support the effectiveness of St. John's wort for severe depression.

St. John's wort for women
Perimenopause. The use of a beneficial plant can improve the quality of life in case of perimenopause.
The study confirmed a significant reduction in symptoms after taking St. John's wort extract, but clinical trials are needed.

Mammary cancer – malignant tumor among women.
The study confirmed that hypericin, which is part of St. John's wort, can slow down the growth of tumor cells.

Creation antitumor drug prevents the property of St. John's wort from interacting with medications against cancer.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The study confirms the relative safety of St. John's wort in breastfeeding, but further evidence is required. Therefore, it is better to avoid taking medicinal herb preparations during pregnancy and lactation.

External use
St. John's wort treats injuries skin– acne, ulcers, wounds, scratches, inflammation, bruises, abrasions.
Vitiligo(). Take St. John's wort infusion orally:
Brew incomplete s.l. herbs with a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour.

Take several times throughout the day. Lubricate white spots with St. John's wort oil.
Trophic ulcers, skin cancer Treat the healing properties of St. John's wort oil - apply oiled swabs to the affected areas and secure with a bandage.
Inflammation, consequences of burns lubricate with St. John's wort oil.
Recipe to enhance the healing and healing effect:
beat 30 ml of butter with raw egg, obtain a homogeneous mass.

The study confirms the healing properties of St. John's wort oil extract for the healing of wounds, bruises, burns, ulcers, and when caring for bedsores.
The study also confirmed the effectiveness and antimicrobial activity of St. John's wort oil extract.
St. John's wort infusions and tinctures should not be treated at elevated temperatures; they do not combine well with taking antibiotics.
You should not take St. John's wort preparations for hypertension (increases blood pressure), and also to avoid fetal malformations.
The study confirms that St. John's wort reduces sperm motility, reduces the likelihood of egg fertilization and pregnancy.

The plant changes the duration of action of anesthesia drugs - it can become longer or, conversely, shortened. You must inform your doctor about treatment with St. John's wort.
The plant neutralizes or significantly weakens the effect medications, which are used to treat various diseases - antidepressants, birth control, anticonvulsant and heart pills, drugs for (anticoagulants), which in some cases can be life-threatening.
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.
However, the study confirms that increased sensitivity to sunlight skin and eyes after treatment with St. John's wort is rare and is associated with taking excessively high doses.

Modified: 03/16/2019

St. John's wort, St. John's wort, yellow St. John's wort, hare's blood, red herb, St. John's wort, St. John's wort, Svetojanskoe potion

A plant widely used in folk medicine. It has anti-inflammatory, astringent, sedative, antiviral effects. Non-toxic. Used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, in gynecology, for the treatment of depression, and wound treatment.

Name in Latin: Hypericum perforatum

Name in English: St. John's worth ordinary

Family: St. John's wort

In folk medicine, it is difficult to find a medicinal plant used more often than St. John's wort, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which were described by the famous Soviet herbalist Mikhail Nosal. An experienced herbalist called the plant a remedy for ninety-nine diseases. Without it, as Mikhail Andreevich noted, many diseases of children and adults cannot be treated. The plant can be used independently, but is more often included in a complex of phytotherapeutic preparations.

Features of St. John's wort

By its name, the culture is associated with a dangerous culture, capable of “beating animals.” In fact, the plant is absolutely safe in its natural habitat, non-toxic. Its name comes from the Kazakh term “jerabai”, which means “healer of wounds”.

St. John's wort or common St. John's wort is part of the large St. John's wort family. The term "perforated" comes from external features culture. Specks of resinous sap form on its leaves. When illuminated by the sun, these spots refract the light in such a way that they appear to be holes.

Description

St. John's wort. Botanical illustration from the book “Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz” by O. V. Thome, 1885.

Perennial herbaceous plant It has a thin but powerful rhizome that can grow to great depths. Every year, the upper grassy part dries out in the fall and grows back in the spring. Several thin stems rise from the root. At the beginning of development, they attract attention with rich green, as the growing season becomes reddish-brown. The height of the stems is different. Some bushes grow no more than forty centimeters, others grow up to one meter.

The stem is smooth but uneven. Periodic internodes and edges are noticeable on it. Using the latter, you can accurately determine the type of plant. St. John's wort has two faces, they are located strictly opposite, and in relation to the internodes, clearly at an angle of ninety degrees.

The question of what St. John's wort looks like is important when planning harvesting. The culture is very similar to its closest “relatives” from the St. John's wort family. Nine species grow in our country.

They are distinguished by a number of characteristics:

spotted - has four edges (edges) on each stem;
rough - the stem is covered with small hairs, but there are no ribs on it at all;
mountain - the stem is covered with sparse whitish needles, there are no ribs.

As the stem grows, it becomes covered with periodic leaves. They are located infrequently, strictly opposite, elliptical or oval shape. The leaves are small, grow up to three centimeters in length, and reach one and a half centimeters in width. Characteristic points of a resinous substance are “scattered” along their plane, which is why the leaves look full of holes.

Common St. John's wort blooms with bright golden-yellow flowers, collected in inflorescences in the form of a shield or panicle. The type of crop can be determined during the flowering period. If you rub a golden flower between your fingers, your skin will turn red.

The flowering period of each plant is long, about one month. General period St. John's wort blooms in the summer months - from June to August. Then boxes are formed on the stems - containers for seeds. They are ovoid in shape and consist of three valves. By the end of September, all the stems are covered with such boxes.

Geography and distribution

Where St. John's wort grows is well known to herbalists. This unpretentious crop is often found in sunny areas. It prefers well-lit clearings, forest edges, and meadows, often adjacent to young pines in the undergrowth. You can find grass along roads, under fences of summer cottages, and in abandoned fields.

In Russia, it grows within the temperate climate zone to Siberia, Baikal and Transbaikalia. But more often it grows in thickets in warm regions of the Caucasus and Crimea.

In its natural environment, St. John's wort grows freely and actively in the Volgograd and Pskov regions. Its distribution areas are noted in the Krasnodar Territory, Altai and Stavropol Territory. There are also designated plantations where the crop is harvested centrally for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry.

Collection and preparation

The medicinal properties of the herb St. John's wort largely depend on the time of its collection. The period for harvesting is determined by the time period of flowering of the crop until the formation of fruits. Collect top part plants, capturing stems no more than thirty centimeters long. Tough shoots are left on the root.

During collection, it is necessary to use pruners, scythes and other cutting tools. This is important for preserving the root system of the crop in the ground, from which new shoots will develop next year. Pulling out a plant by its roots leads to its destruction, a decrease in population and a decrease in the quality of raw materials. You should also periodically save stems with flowers on the site for seed propagation.

The harvested raw materials are formed into bags and bales and quickly delivered to the drying site. There they lay it out on paper under a canopy, spread it in a thin layer up to seven centimeters and leave it to dry. As the grass is harvested, it must be stirred and turned over. St. John's wort is ready when its stems break easily.

Composition and properties

According to herbalist Mikhail Nosal, the question of why St. John's wort is useful should be considered broadly. In addition to the fact that this plant has an exceptional composition and is superior in value to most other medicinal crops, it retains its healing qualities for a long time.

Mikhail Andreevich compared the therapeutic power of St. John's wort with healing strawberries. But, according to the scientist, the value of the grass is higher, since strawberries can be used only three months a year, during the fruiting period. The use of St. John's wort is possible throughout the year, since its chemical composition remains practically unchanged after drying.

The composition of phytoraw materials has been well studied. The main components are tannins, their volume in the raw material reaches thirteen percent. High content of resinous substances - up to seventeen percent. Flavanoids are recognized as important elements - rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin, as well as carotenes and ascorbic acid are identified in the composition.

Recent studies have identified other compounds that were not previously known. It has been established that St. John's wort contains steroid substances and the antibiotic hyperforin. So intense natural complex is a rarity among medicinal plants, which is why the healing properties of St. John's wort are so extensive.

Anti-inflammatory. The main effect of the medicinal plant is provided by tannins. In this capacity, decoctions and infusions are used both internally and externally. The hyperoside contained in the plant activates the production of the enzyme lipoxygenase. This substance is involved in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes - cells involved in suppressing the inflammatory process and allergic reactions.
Antimicrobial. The antibiotic hyperforin has an antibacterial effect. Is the main one active component antimicrobial and wound-healing agent "Novoimanin", used for the treatment of infected wounds and abscesses, therapy of the upper respiratory tract during acute inflammatory processes. Several years ago, scientists discovered another property of hyperforin. The substance has an antitumor effect and, as such, is promising for science and the pharmacological industry.
Antiviral. Provided nearby active substances contained in St. John's wort. Proven to be effective against several viruses, including avian influenza and AIDS. Activity occurs due to the presence of the substance hypericin. In 2005, its properties to inhibit a whole range of the most important enzymes in the human body, which have antiviral and antitumor activity, were experimentally proven.
Antidepressant. St. John's wort is included in the cohort herbal antidepressants, the benefits of which are assessed by official medicine. During recent years At least thirty studies were conducted, which involved almost five and a half thousand people suffering from mild to moderate depression. Treatment with St. John's wort for depression provided no less noticeable effect than using standard synthetic antidepressants. At the same time, the number of side effects turned out to be less. In particular, in patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, which are often observed with depressive states, noted positive impact therapy for cardiovascular system. Other tests have confirmed the effectiveness herbal remedy in the treatment of anxiety and self-forming disorders.
Therapeutic. General healing effect that carries out herbal preparation in the body, is noted in a number of directions. Therefore, the question of what St. John's wort treats should be considered comprehensively. It makes it easy sedative effect, stops bleeding. In patients with epilepsy, it reduces the likelihood of developing a seizure. The substances quercetin, kaempferol and biapeginin work as neuroprotectors in coronary artery disease and support the heart. The herbal medicine reduces the intensity of colitis and reduces the manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome. The extract stimulates the immune system and reduces the manifestations of menopausal conditions.

The latest research has confirmed that taking St. John's wort in tablets reduces the need for nicotine. This allows us to consider it as an important component of tobacco addiction treatment.

The substance hypericin is not preserved when the plant is harvested. It is found only in fresh St. John's wort juice. It has been established that hypericin has a photosensitizing effect, which can be used for radiation therapy tumor diseases. When introduced into the body, the substance selectively accumulates in cancer cells, which become obvious targets for exposure to rays.

Application of the herb St. John's wort

In folk medicine, St. John's wort is used extremely widely. It is used to treat acute and chronic diseases inflammatory, pathological nature.

Decoction for the stomach

Traditionally used for the stomach, as a remedy for colitis. The decoction helps in the treatment of acute and chronic gastroenterocolitis and has a healing effect in the presence of ulcers.

Preparation

Place ten grams of herb (heaped tablespoon) in an enamel container.
Pour two hundred milliliters of boiling water.
Simmer over low heat for ten minutes.

The product should be taken thirty minutes before meals. Dosage - one third of a glass three times a day.

Tea for liver diseases

For liver diseases, bile flow disorders, chronic diarrhea It is recommended to brew tea from St. John's wort. The drink has an astringent, bitter taste.

Preparation

Place a tablespoon of dried herb in a cup.
Fill with boiling water with a volume of two hundred milliliters.
Leave to sit for ten to fifteen minutes.

You should drink the tea chilled half an hour before meals. Take a quarter glass up to four times a day.

Antiseptic infusion

St. John's wort tincture has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The substances it contains are especially active against staphylococci, including those resistant to penicillin. It is applied for external processing infected, poorly healing wounds, ulcers, burn surfaces. Used for rinsing in dentistry for gingivitis and stomatitis. In gynecology, it is used as an anti-inflammatory agent for vaginitis and colpitis.

Preparation

Place three tablespoons of raw materials in a glass container.
Leave covered for two hours.
Strain.

An antiseptic infusion is used to wipe the affected surfaces of the skin, treat the mucous membranes and the oral cavity. To treat the vagina, douching is performed. The infusion is used in cosmetology as a remedy for acne, blackheads, and oily skin. To combat inflammation, wipe the skin with tampons soaked in a medicinal product twice a day.

Cough infusion

The product has an anti-inflammatory effect, recommended for bronchitis, tracheitis, inflammatory processes other parts of the respiratory system.

Preparation

Place a tablespoon of herb into a cup.
Pour boiling water with a volume of two hundred and fifty milliliters.
Leave to brew and strain.

Alcohol tincture

They don’t prepare it at home; they use manufactured industrially. The pharmaceutical industry extracts St. John's wort extract from coarsely ground herbs, which is fixed with 70% alcohol in a ratio of one to ten. Use internally and externally.

Oral treatments help combat unpleasant smell and strengthen gums. To do this, you need to rinse your mouth with a solution of thirty drops of alcohol tincture per one hundred milliliters of warm water.

An alcohol tincture taken internally is prescribed for cystitis, enterocolitis and cholelithiasis. Drink thirty drops diluted in water thirty minutes before meals three times a day.

St. John's wort oil

A delicate form of a medicinal product for healing wounds, large burn surfaces, and various skin lesions.

Preparation

Pour one part of the flowers without stems into the container.
Fill with one part of alcohol (a liter jar requires two hundred and fifty milliliters of alcohol with a strength of forty percent).
Pour in two parts of sunflower oil (half a liter of oil is needed per liter of product).
Leave to brew for three days in a dark place.
Pour into a saucepan and simmer over low heat until the alcohol and water have completely evaporated.
Strain while hot.

St. John's wort oil has wound healing and antiseptic properties. Softens the skin and stimulates its regeneration. Can be used on hair as a means of stimulating growth. Oil your scalp three times a week. After an hour, the product should be rinsed with warm water and rinsed with shampoo.

The drug "Novoimanin"

It is an extract of St. John's wort in the form of a reddish-yellow oily mass. Smells like honey. It has antibacterial activity and is therefore used for treatment infectious diseases. For sinusitis, it is used to treat the sinuses in the form of a ten percent solution; it is prepared at the rate of one part of the drug to ten parts of distilled water.

Contraindications

When using all dosage forms plants should take into account the contraindications of St. John's wort. "IN pure form the herb is rarely used, notes herbalist Andrey Varenikov. - Rate it all wonderful properties possible in the form of combined fees.”

The famous herbalist Mikhail Nosal shared the same opinion. His book “Medicinal Plants and Methods of Their Use among the People” contains recipes for more than ten anti-inflammatory herbs, in which, along with St. John’s wort, chamomile, bearberry, oregano, elderberry and other herbs are used. “If you don’t have a large amount of herbs on hand, you can combine St. John’s wort with sandy immortelle,” recommends Mikhail Andreevich. “This collection has an anti-inflammatory effect and is good for the liver.”

When used externally, the product has no contraindications and can be used for a long time. Indoor use requires caution. It is noted that with prolonged use the plant increases blood pressure and stimulates contraction. blood vessels.

According to the observation of herbalists, the culture provokes the production of male hormones in the body. In women, this can lead to menstrual irregularities, facial hair growth, and increased skin oiliness. St. John's wort for men is dangerous for the development of secondary impotence, which is characterized by premature ejaculation. At long-term use there is overexcitation, fatigue, anxiety.

Despite the fact that the medicinal properties of the herb St. John's wort are well described in the medical literature, science continues to study this medicinal plant. Its potential as a antiviral agent, an auxiliary element of antitumor therapy. People use the culture widely and often. Largest positive effect achieved in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases and internal organs. In its pure form, the herbal medicine should be taken with caution, in short courses. As medicinal fees The product is recommended for the treatment of diseases of the liver, kidneys, respiratory tract, and stomach.

Update: October 2018

St. John's wort belongs to the genus of flowering plants and the family Hypericaceae or St. John's wort. It grows in the Northern Hemisphere in temperate climates, in the southern regions under the tropics, especially the Mediterranean. Favorite places– clearings, clearings, dry meadows.

The plant has a tetrahedral stem up to 70 cm high, entire sessile or short-stalked leaves, single or numerous flowers collected in semi-umbrellas and inflorescences. The fruit is a leathery capsule that breaks into 3-5 parts after ripening. Flowering will occur in June-August. Numerous seeds are small, oval or cylindrical.

Two types of plants are used in medicine: St. John's wort and tetrahedral. St. John's wort extract is integral component medicines official medicine, such as Negrustin, Deprim and others, used to treat depressive conditions. There are many described in folk medicine effective recipes with a plant. At the same time, we must not forget that the beneficial properties of St. John's wort can be harmful if you have contraindications to the use of this herbal medicine.

Compound

The beneficial properties of St. John's wort are due to its chemical composition:

The plant also contains essential oil, resinous substances and bitterness.

Medicinal properties of St. John's wort herb

antiseptic
antibacterial
sedative, antidepressant
wound healing
choleretic, diuretic
painkiller
astringent
antirheumatic
regenerating
anthelmintic (anthelminthic).

Indications for use of St. John's wort herb

Heart diseases (see);
Rheumatism (see);
Muscular and joint pain(cm. );
Flu and ARVI;
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the liver and stomach;
Bladder pathologies;
Hemorrhoids (see);
Inflammatory processes of the female genital organs;
Depressive states (see);
Fading skin;
Seborrhea, increased fat content skin (see);
Acne (see);
Alopecia (see);
Cracks in the skin (see).

Traditional medicine recipes

St. John's wort is used in the form of tincture, infusion, decoction and tea, as well as oil, which can be easily prepared at home. The raw material is dried plant herbs, purchased at a pharmacy or prepared independently.

Infusion

To prepare it, take 30 grams of fresh crushed St. John's wort or 15 grams of dry raw materials, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 4 hours in the dark, filter.

Take 15 ml before meals three times a day for gastritis, increased acidity gastric juice, cystitis, colitis, cholelithiasis, hypotension, menstrual pain and diseases of the female genital area.
To treat liver and gall bladder diseases, take 0.5 cups of infusion on an empty stomach daily for 7 days. You can have breakfast in half an hour. Then during the day take 2 tbsp. infusion after each meal.
To treat inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, rinse with St. John's wort infusion.
To eliminate inflammation on the skin, vitiligo, apply daily lotions with infusion.
Treatment acne involves daily, morning and evening washing with infusion.
To treat alopecia, take one third of a glass of infusion 10 minutes before meals, twice a day for 14 days.
Skin non-communicable diseases in children they go away faster if you bathe children in a bath with infusion of St. John's wort.

Decoction

One and a half tablespoons of St. John's wort herb is poured into a glass of hot water and the mixture is heated in a water bath for about half an hour, stirring, then filtered. The scheme and scope of application are similar to those of the infusion.

The decoction, in addition to the above pathologies, helps in the complex therapy of intestinal infections.
Used as a liquid for rinsing the sinuses at least 3 times a day.
For this purpose, make fifteen-minute foot baths at the rate of 1 liter of decoction per 3 liters of water.
To improve skin tone and eliminate fine wrinkles, freeze the broth in ice cube trays and do tonic wipes in the morning and evening before applying the main treatment.
It is used if a person wants to get rid of cravings for alcohol. Strong decoction - 4 tbsp. dry St. John's wort is poured into 400 ml of boiling water and left for half an hour in a water bath, cooled. Take 2 tbsp. morning and evening before meals for at least 14 days.

Tincture

One part of dry grass is poured with seven parts of vodka or diluted medical alcohol, leave for three days in a dark place. Used mixed with water: 1 tsp. tinctures are diluted in 50 ml of water. Scope of application: mouth rinse, inhalation, warming compress.

Tea

Pour no more than 1 tsp into a regular teapot. dry herbs and pour 1 cup of boiling water. For improvement taste qualities you can add dry berries, Linden blossom, confiture or honey. Tea is used as prophylactic, as well as strengthening the immune system during its seasonal decline or after illness.

St. John's wort oil

There are several recipes for making oil:

For inflammation of the oral mucosa

Dried herbs in a ratio of 1:1.5 are infused in vegetable oil for about 5 days. Ready product used to treat diseases of the oral mucosa, including bacterial infections(gingivitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis).

For gastrointestinal diseases

Grind fresh St. John's wort flowers (30 g) in a mortar and pour into 2 cups olive oil, stir and pour into a light glass container, leave it for 5 days in a warm place without covering (for fermentation), stirring the contents periodically. Then cover with a lid and leave in the sun for 5 weeks. By week 6, the oil should turn bright red. The aqueous layer should be separated and poured into a dark glass container. St. John's wort oil is taken orally, 1 teaspoon morning and evening, for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers).

For external use

One part of dried flowers is infused in two parts vegetable oil(olive, sunflower, almond) for 3 weeks. Ready oil used for preparing oil compresses for healing, ulcers, burns or wounds at the regeneration stage, with lumbago (lumbago), rheumatoid arthritis, for insect bites, as well as for rejuvenating aging facial skin as weekly care.

One part of the evaporated extract or dry powder of St. John's wort is mixed with two parts of petroleum jelly. Used for rubbing in the treatment of sprains, bruises, myalgia.

Treatment with St. John's wort - official medicine

St. John's wort is used as a herbal medicine from the dry herb of the plant, and also acts as a component of medicines. Indications for the use of dry herb St. John's wort include the following pathologies:

diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary tract (dyskinesia, increased gas formation, hepatitis, cholecystitis, diarrhea);
inflammatory processes of the oral mucosa (pharyngitis, sore throat, stomatitis, gingivitis);
depressive conditions - numerous studies have confirmed the high and more stable effectiveness of St. John's wort preparations for the treatment of depressive disorders in comparison with the effects of traditional antidepressants synthetic origin(Imipramine, Amitriptyline).

Dietary supplements, herbal medicines based on St. John's wort raw materials for the treatment of depressive conditions and anxiety disorders improve mood and eliminate anxiety without causing drowsiness and lethargy, i.e. can be used if necessary precision work and driving.


Negrustin	Gelarium Hypericum	Deprim, Deprim Forte 170-200 rub.	Optimistin 150 rub.	Neuroplant 250 rub.	Doppelhertz Nervotonic 400 rub.

Contraindications to the use of St. John's wort

Pregnancy and lactation - it is strictly prohibited to use the plant for internal use. Moreover, during these periods, local or external use of plant preparations is permissible.
Photosensitivity - avoid UV radiation (exposure to the sun, solarium, UV lamps) for 2 weeks (see).
Organ transplantation - cannot be used by both those planning a transplant and those who have undergone it.
Reception oral contraceptives(cm. ).
Serious mental illness, including severe course depression.
Severe hypertension.
Children's age - up to 12 years.

Side effects

Any medicinal plant has a complex chemical composition, contains microdoses of toxic and harmful substances that negatively affect the liver and the body as a whole, so overdose and long-term treatment are not permissible. The following side effects may develop:

Allergic reactions: rash, skin itching, eczema, increased sensitization to animal hair, skin pigmentation, photosensitivity.
From the central nervous system: headache, increased fatigue, anxiety.
Digestive system: abdominal pain, nausea, dry mouth, constipation or diarrhea, loss of appetite, anorexia.
Blood-forming organs: Iron-deficiency anemia.
Despite the mild toxicity of St. John's wort preparations, long-term use (more than 1 month) can lead to pain in the liver and bitterness in the mouth.
St. John's wort also negatively affects potency in men and leads to its decrease with prolonged use.

Drug interactions

Antidepressants- when used together with citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, it aggravates hemolytic reactions, as well as serotonin syndrome - (irritability, anxiety, nausea, tremor, increased sweating, dizziness, headache), leading to exacerbation of the clinic, migraines, hallucinations, convulsions, and even coma. Therefore, the interval between taking these drugs and St. John's wort should be more than 2 weeks.
Antibiotics – accelerate the elimination of the drug from the body and weaken the antimicrobial effect.
Anticoagulants – reduced effect, increases the risk of bleeding.
Cyclosporine - reduces its concentration in the blood.
Cardiac glycosides– weakening of effectiveness, reduces the concentration of digoxin in the blood.
The drug "Indinavir", used for the treatment of HIV-infected people - a 2-fold decrease in blood concentration.
Anesthetics – their effect increases or decreases. Shortens sleep caused by drugs - barbiturates, and lengthens sleep caused by narcotic analgesics and drugs for general anesthesia.
Theophylline - increases the rate of metabolism of theophylline.
St. John's wort enhances the photosensitizing effect of drugs such as quinolones, thiazide diuretics, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, piroxicam, etc.

Thus, St. John's wort cannot be combined with these groups of drugs.

Preparation and storage of St. John's wort

The optimal time for harvesting raw materials is the very beginning of flowering. The stems are cut close to the ground, tied into small bunches and hung to dry in the shade. St. John's wort can be stored in cardboard boxes or paper or fabric bags for up to 24 months.

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

Common names are hare's blood, St. John's wort, yellow St. John's wort, St. John's wort, red herb, krovaviets, krovtsa, thornwort, Svetojanskoe potion.

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

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

The fruit is a triangular capsule, opening with three doors, with small seeds.

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

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

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

Collection of St. John's wort herb

St. John's wort is harvested when it is in full bloom (on Midsummer's Day - June 24). They cut it near the ground, tie it into bunches and dry it in the air in a shaded place. The entire above-ground part of the plant is used to make medicines.

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

People noticed the healing properties of St. John's wort back in ancient times. It is believed that the word “St. John’s wort,” which is more understandable to Russian people, originates from the Kazakh “dzheroboy” - “healer of wounds.”

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

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

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

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

St. John's wort preparations (infusions, decoctions) are taken orally for inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Used for rinsing for stomatitis, inflammation in the mouth and throat, as well as for lubricating gums during inflammation.

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

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

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

Recipes for using St. John's wort in folk medicine

The water infusion of St. John's wort has a reddish color; Previously it was believed that this was “well done” or “rabbit blood”. In one of the ancient herbal books we read:

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

In Russia, St. John's wort was so popular that people called it (and not without reason) “The Cure for 99 Ailments.” St. John's wort tea was especially favorite - it was steamed and drunk for various ailments, and simply as a pleasant drink. People said:

Just as you can’t bake bread without flour, you can’t treat many diseases without St. John’s wort.

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

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

For rheumatism, gastric and duodenal ulcers, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, bladder diseases, urinary incontinence in children, hemorrhoids, gout and tuberculosis, prepare a decoction: take 10 g of herb, pour 1 glass of hot water, boil for 30 minutes over low heat, cool for 10 minutes, strain and squeeze.

The resulting decoction is taken ⅓ glass 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

For diseases of the liver and gall bladder take a mixture consisting of 10 g of St. John's wort herb, 15 g of flowers, 10 g of wheatgrass roots and 20 g of buckthorn bark. This mixture is poured into ½ liter of hot water, boiled over low heat for 10 minutes, infused, filtered and taken 100 g 5 times a day.

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

St. John's wort herb tincture prepared with 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1:5. They accept her as astringent and as an anti-inflammatory rinse for the gums and mouth (30-40 drops per ½ glass of water). Sometimes the tincture is prescribed for internal use (40-50 drops).

An ointment is prepared from St. John's wort juice, evaporated by half. butter in a ratio of 1:4, store in a cool place. The ointment is used for various lesions skin.

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

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

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

Tea made from the herb St. John's wort is also good after a bath, when blood circulation is improved and along with it an intensive process of assimilation of beneficial and medicinal substances body.

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

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

St. John's wort oil

To prepare the oil extract, take 20-25 g of fresh crushed leaves and flowers of St. John's wort, pour in 200-250 g of olive oil (you can also use sunflower or linseed oil for this), leave for 2-3 weeks in a warm place, stirring constantly, and then filter through 2-3 layers of gauze. Store the product in a dark bottle.

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

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

St. John's wort oil is also used in dentistry to treat stomatitis. By the way, it does not have irritating properties.

St. John's wort grass - video

Contraindications for St. John's wort

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

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

This medicinal plant is not recommended for pregnant women and breastfeeding women. In nursing mothers, milk may taste bitter.

If you are taking antibiotics, it is better to stop taking St. John's wort. St. John's wort may have a negative effect on optic nerve. And also, women who use contraception need to know that some components included in St. John's wort can reduce the effects of the drugs.

At long-term use herbs, St. John's wort can lead to constipation and decreased appetite.