Herb St. John's wort: medicinal properties and contraindications. St. John's wort The healing properties of St. John's wort and its use

St. John's wort is a well-known herbaceous perennial, which is popularly considered one of the main and frequently used medicinal herbs. St. John's wort can be used to treat inflammatory diseases of the stomach, nervous system, and for washing wounds and abrasions. The medicinal properties of St. John's wort herb are recognized in folk and official medicine. Most often this herb is used in the form of infusions and decoctions. Let's learn more about the medicinal properties, contraindications and how to prepare medications.

Herb St. John's wort description

A plant with this name does not look like a monster at all. And, most likely, it got its name due to the fact that in hot weather, animals (white and spotted) that ate it could become seriously ill, and even die if eaten intensively.

St. John's wort tends to increase the sensitivity of ruminants to direct sunlight. When the stomach interacts with grass, “blonde” animals begin to experience severe skin itching, during which they fall to the ground, bite themselves until they bleed, and their faces become covered with tumors, which later turn into ulcers. This is very important to know and not to overdose!

St. John's wort perennial herbaceous plant, distributed almost throughout the globe. It can be found in the European part, Australia, America and Asia, North Africa.

St. John's wort can be found on the edges of forests and meadows, in a sunny meadow and on a path along the road.

St. John's wort refers to St. John's wort, which has about 370 species. In this article we will talk about St. John's wort or St. John's wort. This plant is the most common in our country.

This herb got its name because of the structure of the leaves, which, when viewed in sunlight, resemble perforations.

St. John's wort reaches a height of 30 centimeters to 80 centimeters. There are plants up to 1.5 meters in height. As a rule, this plant grows in thickets that can occupy a fairly large area.

St. John's wort has an erect stem that is green at the beginning and becomes reddish-brown at the end of the growing season.

The leaves are small, oblong, ovate, about 1.5 centimeters wide and up to 3 centimeters long.

Golden flowers yellow color, which release a reddish liquid when crushed. This property is perfectly used when dyeing fabrics.

St. John's wort blooms for a period of 25 to 30 days, starting in June and ending in August, depending on the region of growth.

Not only in Russia, St. John's wort is known and used, which has received many names: “Ivanovo grass”, “coniferous grass”, “healthy grass”, “hare’s blood” and others.

In France, St. John's wort is used as a heart stimulant. In Poland it is used for insomnia and neurasthenia. And the English doctor Djeradi called the best balm in the world - oil, which included the herb St. John's wort.

The plant is used not only in medicinal purposes, often in Food Industry, as a spice and flavoring additive for drinks.

There are legends and superstitions about St. John's wort, which tell us that the plant supposedly drives out evil spirits from the house and is considered an enemy of demons, because it has a strong effect against human temptations, protection from spells and spells.

And about its red color in Christianity they say that falling drops of blood from the dish on which the head of John the Baptist lay, falling to the ground, grew the grass called “Ivanovo”, and every year in the fall it turned into a blood-red plant.

Useful properties of St. John's wort

St. John's wort is a unique medicinal plant that contains a huge amount of biologically active substances, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids and others useful substances. Not every plant can boast such a rich and beneficial composition for the human body. Among all this diversity, first of all it is necessary to highlight:

Essential oils;

Flavonoids;

Organic acids;

Tannins;

Hypericin;

Vitamins E, C, carotene, PP;

Alkaloids.

Possessing many beneficial properties, the herb St. John's wort has a beneficial effect on the entire human body. When taken regularly, it has a tonic effect. Its active compounds, having a relaxing effect on smooth muscles, relieve spasms internal organs: intestines, respiratory organs, and genitourinary system.

Flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are large quantities Contained in the herb St. John's wort, they promote the accumulation of vitamin C and reduce the permeability of blood vessels.

Essential oils have a relaxing and antispasmodic effect, and also disinfect wounds.

Organic acids increase saliva production, which in turn increases the production of gastric juice and bile. This property of St. John's wort is useful for normalizing digestion and helps with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

St. John's wort tannins inhibit the growth of bacteria and microorganisms, which makes useful application herbal infusions and decoctions for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of internal organs.

The beneficial properties of St. John's wort are used in dentistry in the treatment of inflammation of the oral cavity. St. John's wort is also useful for accelerating the healing of wounds and burns: it disinfects wounds and enhances the process of restoration of damaged tissue.

Medicinal properties of St. John's wort

Due to its composition, St. John's wort has many medicinal properties:

Antimicrobial;

Anti-inflammatory;

Knitting;

Hemostatic;

Choleretic;

Antispasmodic;

Toning;

Wound healing;

Sedative;

Diuretic.

Today, St. John's wort is included in many pharmaceutical preparations. Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort is an excellent remedy for the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity: stomatitis, gingivitis, and bleeding gums.

Often decoctions and infusions of herbs are prescribed as anthelmintics in the presence of dwarf tapeworms and roundworms.

Preparations with St. John's wort are used for asthenic conditions, neuroses, neurasthenia, insomnia and headaches.

This herb is part of the drug “Novoimanin”, which is used in the treatment of infected wounds and abscesses, to heal cracked nipples, burns and other diseases.

Having anti-inflammatory properties, St. John's wort is used as an analgesic for radiculitis.

Providing an antispasmodic effect, St. John's wort is often used for myocarditis and endocarditis.

St. John's wort is prescribed for:

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: stomach and duodenal ulcers, enterocolitis, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids;

Liver diseases (acute and chronic hepatitis);

Gallbladder: gallbladder dyskinesia, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis;

Diseases of the bladder and kidneys: pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, cystitis, inflammation of the prostate gland;

Inflammatory diseases of the throat in the form of gargles;

Treatment of inflammatory diseases of the female genital area, premenstrual syndrome and menopause;

Bedsores, burns, non-healing wounds.

Often, preparations with St. John's wort are more effective than traditional antibiotics.

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

Our ancestors appreciated medicinal properties herbs St. John's wort. The above-ground part of the plant is used in the form of infusions, decoctions, tinctures, oils, and medicinal teas.

St. John's wort juice can bring a dying person back to his feet. Unfortunately, today this powerful medicine is practically not used. St. John's wort has long been in folk medicine used for diseases:

Gastrointestinal tract, which helps to quickly relieve inflammation, accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissues of the stomach and digestive tract and alleviate the patient’s condition;

Diseases of the liver and gall bladder: decoctions and infusions suppress pathogenic microorganisms and promote rapid recovery;

For respiratory diseases: sore throat, pharyngitis; bronchitis and other diseases;

Diseases of the urinary tract;

Oral diseases;

Skin diseases, including purulent wounds, burns, abscesses and others;

Diseases of the nervous system.

What our ancestors knew hundreds of years ago has now been confirmed Scientific research. Hypericin, which was found in the herb, has a powerful psychoactive effect that has a positive effect in the treatment of nervous diseases, such as depression, anxiety, restlessness, sleep problems.

St. John's wort is widely used for diseases of the joints (gout, rheumatism), childhood diathesis, in the treatment of bedsores and fistulas, and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Herb St. John's wort application

Since the time of Hippocrates, the plant has been in great demand. Infusions and decoctions have antispasmodic properties and are effective for diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and hemorrhoids, and the alcohol tincture helps get rid of pinworms.

When using preparations from the herb St. John's wort, a persistent improvement in venous circulation is noticed, spasms of blood vessels and especially capillaries are reduced.

The plant has been studied for many years and herbalists know about its properties in preparations; rinsing and baths are often used. The results of treatment of hypertension, gynecological diseases, and allergies are positive.

For treatment, St. John's wort can be used in the form of decoction, infusions, alcohol tincture, tea. Ointment and oil are prepared with this herb.

St. John's wort decoction

St. John's wort decoction is used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, colitis, enteritis, cholecystitis, hepatitis. It is recommended to gargle and gargle with this decoction, use it for insomnia, uterine bleeding, for washing wounds, burns and other skin problems.

To prepare the decoction, pour two tablespoons of chopped dry herb into a glass hot water. Place in a water bath and boil for 25-30 minutes. Cool and strain.

St. John's wort infusion

To prepare the infusion, pour three tablespoons of crushed dry herbs into a glass of boiling water and leave for two hours. Strain and drink 1/3 cup for diseases of the stomach, liver, gall bladder, insomnia, cystitis.

Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort

Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort is a powerful remedy for treating the oral cavity and throat. It is also used to treat wounds and abrasions. Very rarely, the tincture is taken orally, 10-15 drops dissolved in water.

To prepare the tincture, use 70 percent alcohol or vodka. If the tincture is prepared with vodka, then increase the dosage when taking it.

To prepare the tincture, take 10 parts of alcohol or vodka for 1 part of dry herb. Infuse for two to three weeks, shaking the container periodically. Then filter and store in a closed dark glass bottle in a cool place.

St. John's wort oil

St. John's wort oil helps in healing various wounds, burns, ulcers, and hemorrhoids.

To prepare the oil, pour half a two hundred gram glass of finely chopped flowers and leaves into a glass of any vegetable oil and let it brew for about a month. Then the cake is removed, and the liquid is filtered and used for its intended purpose.

Oil can be prepared in another way from a mixture of vegetable oil and wine. To do this, 500 grams of fresh St. John's wort flowers are poured with 1 liter of olive oil and 500 ml of dry white wine. Mix everything thoroughly and leave to infuse for 3-4 weeks, covering the jar with a napkin. During this time, the alcohol will evaporate from the oil.

This oil can be used to treat wounds, burns, and cuts simply by lubricating the skin with it. It is also used to treat hemorrhoids, lubricating the nodes, or making microenemas by heating the oil.

The oil is taken internally for stomach ulcers in the morning on an empty stomach, one tablespoon at a time for 20-30 days.

Tea with St. John's wort

Tea with St. John's wort helps with insomnia, increased anxiety, and fatigue. You can also drink tea for colds, fever, and general body fatigue. You can add other herbs to tea with St. John's wort, such as mint, rosehip, linden. Add the herb to regular black tea.

To brew herbal tea with St. John's wort, you need to take 2 tablespoons of the herb and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Infuse and drink with honey.

St. John's wort ointment

Ointment with St. John's wort can be used for abrasions, cuts, bruises, and fractures.

Prepare the ointment as follows. Two or three tablespoons of finely ground herb (to powder) are mixed with a small amount pork fat. mix well and store in the refrigerator.

The ointment can be prepared in another way. To do this, you need to take St. John's wort, ground to powder, and Vaseline or baby cream in a 1:1 ratio. Stir the resulting mass and heat for 3–5 minutes. Cool and store in the refrigerator.

Contraindications to the use of St. John's wort

Decoctions and infusions of St. John's wort have a positive effect on the body. But this does not mean at all that it can be taken unnecessarily and without any control. However, this medicine has a number of contraindications.

You cannot continue treatment with St. John's wort for more than 1 month without a break.

During treatment with St. John's wort, you should avoid sunlight, as it increases the photosensitivity of the skin.

In addition, there are a number of contraindications to the use of this herb. This:

Pregnancy and lactation period. St. John's wort imparts a bitter taste to milk and may cause the baby to refuse breastfeeding;

Hypertension;

Taking antibiotics, sedatives and oral contraceptives. Taking St. John's wort can significantly reduce the effect of these medications.

St. John's wort as a medicine has many beneficial properties and can help with many diseases, but it is better to consult a doctor before taking medications with this herb.

How to prepare St. John's wort

But despite the warning, it should be noted that the plant has valuable healing properties. Today you can buy St. John's wort at any pharmacy and store it for about three years.

And to harvest the grass yourself, they cut off the top part, about 25–40 centimeters, tie it into a bundle and hang it to dry in the open air under a canopy.

Do not confuse St. John's wort with other plants from this family, because this particular species has medicinal properties. In order not to be mistaken, pay attention to the leaves and flowers of the plant, which are perforated in unison with the name, and flowering occurs from July to August.

Learn more about the beneficial and medicinal properties of St. John's wort from a herbalist

St. John's wort, beneficial features and whose contraindications are widely used in the treatment of many ailments, grows in well-lit forest clearings and dry meadows. This is an annual medicinal plant with bright yellow flowers, oblong leaves, up to 80 cm in height. All its aerial parts are used in folk medicine. How is St. John's wort useful?

Biochemical composition

Preparation and storage of St. John's wort

For medicinal purposes, the herb is collected during flowering, which begins in late June. Plants are cut completely to the ground and tied in bunches. Dry flowers down in a warm, dry room. The air temperature should not be higher than 40˚ in order for all the healing properties of St. John's wort to be preserved. Store dried herbs in an airtight container in a dry place and can be used for 3 years.

What diseases does it treat?

The beneficial components of St. John's wort allow you to cope with pathologies of the circulatory, digestive, nervous, and genitourinary systems.

Side effects and harm from using St. John's wort

  • The main contraindications for St. John's wort are during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The plant increases blood pressure and can cause spontaneous abortion. At breastfeeding the milk may taste bitter.
  • Hypericin enhances the effect of sunlight on the body (photosensitization). Therefore, during treatment with St. John's wort, you should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun to avoid getting burned.
  • The harm of St. John's wort manifests itself with prolonged use of the herb (more than 1 month); allergic manifestations may occur in the form of nausea, vomiting, and urticaria. It is caused by saponins and vitamin C.
  • St. John's wort is a catalyst for the formation of enzymes that accelerate the removal of drugs from the body. Therefore, when taking antibiotics or other medications, their benefit is significantly reduced. The effect of using painkillers will decrease. Oral contraceptives may not work.
  • If used for too long (more than 1 month), patients may experience a feeling of heaviness in the liver and kidneys. Excess vitamin E acts as a toxin on the cells of these organs.
  • St. John's wort increases blood circulation and raises blood pressure. Therefore, it can cause harm to hypertensive patients.
  • The medicinal plant may cause harm to patients with bipolar affective disorder (manic-depressive disorder). An exacerbation of manic syndrome is observed. In complex therapy with medications convulsions, hallucinations, and confusion occur.
  • For older people taking antidepressants, the harm to health from using St. John's wort is the development of side effects: hallucinations, migraines, tremor, dizziness.
  • The plant is harmful when treating HIV-infected patients. St. John's wort can neutralize the effects of medications.
  • Long-term use medicinal plant does not bring benefit, but harm to men. Temporary sexual dysfunction may occur. You can use decoctions and tinctures for no more than 30 days. After stopping the use of the herb, sexual dysfunction in men can be observed for another 1-2 weeks.
  • It is harmful for children under 12 years of age to take St. John's wort due to the toxic components of the plant - saponins.

Since St. John's wort has an effect on nervous system, during therapy you should stop using alcoholic drinks and driving.

St. John's wort oil

You can buy St. John's wort oil at any pharmacy or prepare it yourself. To do this, take 20 g of fresh leaves and flowers of St. John's wort, add 200 ml of cold-pressed natural vegetable oil (sea buckthorn, pumpkin, olive, sunflower, flaxseed). The mixture needs to stand for 4-6 weeks in a dark room, stirring constantly, otherwise it will become moldy. When exposed to sunlight, the anti-inflammatory properties disappear. Afterwards, the resulting mass is filtered through cheesecloth so that there is no sediment; it can be passed through a filter. The finished oil has a dark ruby ​​color, a specific aroma and a bitter taste.

The product is used in the treatment of wounds, bedsores, burns, ulcers. A bandage soaked in a healing agent is applied to the damaged area of ​​skin. St. John's wort oil is also used to treat ulcers in the mouth with stomatitis and gingivitis.

To scar stomach ulcers, you need to drink 1 tbsp. spoon of oil in the morning on an empty stomach. Full treatment course – 1 month.

The components of St. John's wort improve blood supply to the body and promote rapid resorption of hematomas, therefore St. John's wort oil helps in the treatment of hemorrhoids. It can be taken internally and externally. Drink 1 teaspoon on an empty stomach 2 times a day until the condition improves, but not more than 30 days.

St. John's wort oil is also used in cosmetology. The product helps eliminate inflammation and irritation of the skin, moisturizes it well and preserves youth. For women, it is useful to use a hair strengthening product.

Recipes for healing decoctions and tinctures

Decoctions normalize blood circulation in the body, stimulate the glands, and therefore have a beneficial effect on potency in men. The remedy is beneficial if sexual impotence is caused by psycho-emotional disorders. Thanks to the calming effect of St. John's wort, men note improved erections.

For women, using the decoction helps normalize hormonal imbalances during menopause and reduce PMS pain. The product can be used as an antiseptic douche for leucorrhoea and vaginitis.

A medicinal decoction for oophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries) in women: take 2 teaspoons of St. John's wort, add 2 teaspoons of motherwort, 1 teaspoon of stinging nettle, 2 teaspoons of chamomile. Then 2 tbsp. spoons of the mixture are poured into the prepared container, 1 liter of boiling water is poured, closed with a lid and wrapped. Leave the decoction for 12 hours. Take 100 ml in the morning and evening for 7–10 days. Externally wipe the decoction on oily skin. This helps relieve inflammation and irritation.

For diseases of the digestive system, prepare the following decoction: add 200 ml to 10 g of dry St. John's wort warm water, boil for 15–20 minutes. Then strain and take a third of a glass three times a day 30 minutes before meals. Therapeutic course is 2-3 weeks.

Decoction for the treatment of the gallbladder, liver: 1 tbsp. spoon of St. John's wort, 2 tbsp. spoons of oregano, 1.5 tbsp. spoons of sandy cumin inflorescences. The herbs are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, kept in a steam bath for 10 minutes, cooled and strained. The resulting decoction is divided into 3 doses and drunk before meals for 1-2 weeks.

The finished decoction should be stored for no more than 2 days.

Alcohol tincture: take 100 g of herb for 0.5 liters of vodka. Let it brew in a dark place for 7–10 days. Used as a mouth rinse antibacterial agent(add 30 drops of tincture to 100 ml of water). Take 50 drops orally with meals. The benefits of the tincture are manifested in increasing potency in men, improving appetite and the functioning of the digestive system.

St. John's wort tea

Herbal tea recipe: 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort herb is poured into 1 glass of boiling water, the drink is brewed for 5 minutes. Porcelain dishes are used to prepare tea, as they retain heat longer. You can add other aromatic medicinal herbs; it is better to use honey instead of sugar. For medicinal purposes, tea is drunk 2-3 times a day, 200 ml for 2 weeks. The benefits of the drink include alleviating depression, improving sleep, strengthening the immune system, and protecting the body from viral infections.

St. John's wort tea can be taken to prevent viral colds and strengthen the body's immune defense.

Recipe for medicinal tea for colds: take equal proportions of St. John's wort, marshmallow root, sage, and eucalyptus. Brew one tablespoon of the mixture in 1 liter of boiling water. Drink tea 2-3 times a day, 200 ml, until the symptoms of the disease disappear.

Tea recipe for men: mix mint, St. John's wort, oregano in equal proportions. 1 teaspoon of the mixture is poured into 0.25 liters of boiling water, brewed for 5–10 minutes under the lid. Drink tea 2-3 times a day, 200 ml. The use of tea helps improve potency and is a preventative against prostatitis in men.

Important! Use of St. John's wort for more than one month can lead to temporary sexual dysfunction in men, which goes away after stopping the herb. This is caused by the ability of St. John's wort to increase blood pressure. Blood stagnation occurs in the pelvic vessels.

Tea recipe for diseases of the digestive tract (gastritis, heartburn, ulcers): mix 1 teaspoon of St. John's wort, blueberry leaves and 1.5 teaspoons of fireweed tea and rose hips. Brew 1 tablespoon of herbal mixture per 1 liter of boiling water. Take tea 3 times a day for 7–10 days.

Tea for women: mix St. John's wort, chamomile, nettle, sweet clover, coltsfoot, calamus, buckthorn bark at a ratio of 1:1. Pour 1 tbsp. spoon into 0.25 liters of boiling water, let stand for 30 minutes. Drink 100 ml tea 3 times a day. The benefit of the drink is in the treatment of endometritis, adnexitis, and has a calming effect during menopause.

It is harmful to drink tea that is brewed too strongly (more than 2 teaspoons per 200 ml of water), it irritates the mucous membranes of the stomach and leads to cramps.

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St. John's wort decoction will help against many diseases, as it has a rich vitamin and mineral composition. The plant belongs to flower family St. John's Wort, order Malpighiaceae. Previously, the plant genus was classified as part of the Clusiaceae family.

The flower has more than 458 species distributed throughout the globe. Most of the varieties are distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and in the tropical zone in the south. Most varieties are observed in the Mediterranean.

Most species are perennial herbaceous plants, less often annual. There are so many flowers in appearance that among them there are shrubs, subshrubs and even trees.

Stems are tetrahedral. The leaves of most species are sessile, with short petioles.

If you look closely at the leaf in the light, you can see thin black veins in the gap. Flowers are single, collected in umbels. The flower calyx is semi-separated.

The flower has five petals, the color is bright yellow. The base in the center of the petals is round. The fruit is in the form of a leathery box with seeds inside.

Blooms from June to August. Starting in mid-summer, the flower is collected and dried. The collected tops of stems with flowers should be dried at a temperature of 40 degrees, and the shelf life of the shrub is up to three years.

The plant is widespread throughout the CIS, in particular Russia. The most numerous species are St. John's wort and St. John's wort. Both subspecies were found equally good use for traditional medicine purposes due to its medicinal properties.

A decoction of St. John's wort cannot be used in home veterinary medicine, since the use of the decoction in animals causes weakness and dizziness. There are evergreen species. For Agriculture The following types of St. John's wort are valuable:

  • Gnarled (small, wild-growing shrub, branched and beautiful, recommended for landscaping gardens and decorating streets).
  • Creeping.
  • Hollow or common grows well in dry soils.
  • Tetrahedral is a weed that should be taken for various diseases.
  • Woody is also called zenovka and zynovet.

What ailments should you take the plant for?

The subshrub is widely used in folk medicine due to its wide range of positive effects on various diseases. In total, St. John's wort treats about 80 known
diseases. The shrub should be taken for:

  • Depressive states.
  • Insomnia.
  • Sleepwalking.
  • Chronic fatigue.
  • Seasonal depressive exacerbations.
  • Overweight.
  • Cirrhosis of the liver.
  • Ascites.
  • Hepatitis.
  • Biliary dyskinesia.
  • Gastritis with high acidity.
  • Ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.
  • Pain in the stomach.
  • Helminthic infestations.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Varicose veins.
  • Low blood pressure.
  • Arthritis.
  • Varicose ulcers.
  • Cardiovascular failure.
  • From alcoholism.
  • Burns (external use).
  • Colds.
  • Cough.
  • Pathologies of the respiratory tract.
  • Hemorrhoids.
  • Gout.
  • Tuberculosis.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Urinary incontinence (enuresis) and bladder diseases.

Recipes for decoctions for alcoholism and various ailments

  • To treat alcoholism, you need to take a decoction of St. John's wort.

    To prepare, you will need one and a half tablespoons of dried herbs, poured with boiling water. It is advisable to boil the mixture in a water bath for at least fifteen minutes. After the expiration date, wait until the finished mixture has cooled completely. When the liquid has cooled, it is filtered through a thick layer of gauze. If after boiling the mixture there is too little liquid left, then you can add 200 milliliters of boiled water to the finished mixture. It should be taken for at least two or three weeks three times a day after meals. It is important to understand that using one decoction will not relieve serious psychological illness. Treatment for alcoholism should be comprehensive and aimed at combating the root cause of serious addiction. Help for alcoholism medications, reducing cravings for alcohol-containing drinks, antidepressants, drugs that restore health and normalize body functions (a decoction based on St. John's wort is one of them), as well as feasible psychological assistance. Moreover, medication or psychological intervention alone is not enough to recover from alcoholism. First of all, the close support of the patient’s relatives and friends, as well as the strong desire and willpower of the alcoholic, will help against alcoholism.

  • For pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and lung diseases.

    Take 10 grams of St. John's wort herb, pour hot boiling water (one glass of hot water). The mixture should simmer over low heat for at least half an hour. Afterwards, the mixture is removed from the heat and cooled for about ten minutes. Next, the broth should be strained well through a thick layer of gauze. Application: drink a third of a glass (70 milliliters) 3 times a day, half an hour before meals. The drug should be taken for at least a month to speed up recovery.

  • St. John's wort tea.

    Tea is universal remedy, which should be taken if the immune system is weakened to prevent the occurrence of acute respiratory infections. viral diseases in unfavorable weather, for the treatment of mental overexcitement, for colds, for indigestion. It is recommended to drink tea freshly prepared hot. Take ten grams of dried plant flowers (half a tablespoon) and pour a cup of hot boiling water, cover with a thick container for a quarter of an hour and infuse. After fifteen minutes have passed, the liquid is filtered and drunk.
    Take for therapeutic purposes for at least a month, once a day. The interval between meals does not matter. If desired, you can add honey to your tea as a natural and healthy sweetener or mint to add a piquant aroma.

The plant is taken in a strict dosage; it cannot be taken deviating from the specified dose in the formulation, since it has a weak toxic effect and in case of overdose there can be unpleasant side effects. For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you should drink the infusion after or before meals, depending on the pathology. Alcohol tinctures should not be given to people with alcohol addiction.

Contraindications to the use of plant recipes

Do not give herbal medicine to children, pregnant women or during lactation. It is contraindicated to use the drug with high blood pressure, as it has a hypertensive effect. The herb should not be used orally for a long time; it has a slight toxic effect and long-term use may cause heaviness in the stomach and a bitter taste in the mouth. Some men may experience temporary impotence with long-term use. After stopping taking it, libido returns to normal. During plant therapy, it is not advisable to visit solariums. You cannot brew tea strongly, otherwise it may appear.

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, sickwort, 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 types of St. John's wort are found in Russia, of which the most common are European Russia— 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.

In both folk and scientific medicine, preparations from the herb St. John's wort are used as astringents, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents that promote 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 of 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 that become constant companions of chemical antidepressants. The drug "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. Take it as an 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).

From St. John's wort juice, evaporated by half, an ointment is prepared in butter in a ratio of 1:4 and stored in a cold place. The ointment is used for various skin lesions.


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.

A tea drink made from St. John's wort is an effective remedy for depression, fears and nervous anxiety, and 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 there is an intensive process of assimilation of useful and medicinal substances by the 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,, rose hips, chamomile, currant leaves,. Good honey will not only add a piquant aroma to this drink, but will 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 blood pressure and provoke a narrowing of blood vessels. Therefore, people suffering from hypertension and vascular diseases need to reduce the dosage and duration of taking the herb.

This medicinal plant It 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 can negatively affect the 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.

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

The medicinal properties of St. John's wort have been known for a long time and have been confirmed by many studies. Extracts and infusions from the plant have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, have a diuretic effect, and help with women's ailments. Herbal preparations have a sedative effect, so they are often used in the treatment of depression.

St. John's wort grows wild in Europe, western Asia, North America and Africa. Also found in Australia. In Russia it grows in sands, swamps, dry meadows, and among thickets.

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    Characteristic

    St. John's wort is a member of the St. John's wort family, and its botanical name is Hypericum Perforatum, which comes from the Greek word meaning "perforated." The leaves of the plant have translucent dots in the form of holes. These dots are containers of essential oil that give the herb a delicate, soft aroma.

    About the plant:

    1. 1. Low perennial subshrub.
    2. 2. The stem reaches about 100 cm in height, straight, hard, branched above, tree-like below.
    3. 3. Small leaves are arranged crosswise, as described, elliptical or lanceolate in shape, green in color. They are lighter underneath and have characteristic dots that resemble holes.
    4. 4. Inflorescences are yellow, collected at the apex into a racemose-corymbose thyrsus. The flowers are regular in shape, up to 3 cm in diameter, with a double five-membered perianth. Flowering lasts 25-30 days in June-August.
    5. 5. The fruit is a pouch, opening with three valves, filled with many small dark brown seeds.

    St. John's wort has several varieties, all of which are considered medicinal. In Europe there are 44 species of St. John's wort, while in Russia the most popular are St. John's wort (perforatum) and tetrahedral.

    Collection and drying

    For medicinal purposes, flowering young shoots are used, which should be collected from June to mid-July, and then in mid-August, when the cut plants grow back and bloom again. Collected herbs Can be dried in a ventilated, shady place. The raw materials are laid out in a thin layer on white paper or canvas. The grass can also be dried in dryers at a temperature of no more than 30 °C. When it dries, it crumbles into pieces, which are stored in paper bags.

    Properly collected and dried raw materials should retain the natural color of green stems and leaves and yellow flowers, and should not contain woody stems and shoots. Dried St. John's wort can be stored for 3 years.

    Compound

    The main component responsible for the healing properties of St. John's wort is hypericin. Other compounds found in the herb include:

    • flavonoid glycosides: rutin, hyperoside, isocercitrin, kaempferol, quercetin;
    • tannins (7-16%);
    • vitamins A and C;
    • hypercin, protohypericin;
    • essential oil up to 1%: aliphatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, pinene;
    • acids: nicotinic, tannic;
    • resins;
    • phytosterols;
    • choline;
    • pectin.

    If you rub a St. John's wort flower between your fingers, it releases a red dye - hypericin.

    Therapeutic effect

    The beneficial properties of St. John's wort are used in the treatment of all body systems:

    Possible side effects and contraindications

    Side effects and interactions with other drugs:

    1. 1. St. John's wort may interact with other medications and reduce their effect. This applies to drugs used for HIV infection, as well as combined oral contraceptives.
    2. 2. St. John's wort should not be used simultaneously with serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Fluoxetine, Imipramine. The herb, when interacting with drugs from this group, can cause the so-called serotonin syndrome. It manifests itself as anxiety, muscle pain and headaches, sweating, chills, acute poisoning, and convulsions.
    3. 3. St. John's wort reduces the effect of the antiviral drugs Saquinavir, Indinavir, as well as drugs that dilate the bronchi - Theophylline, Digoxin, Amitriptyline, Cyclosporine.
    4. 4. Concomitant use of St. John's wort with Piroxicam may lead to photosensitivity.
    5. 5. The plant enhances the effect of barbiturates - anticonvulsants and tranquilizers, and increases the occurrence of side effects of these drugs.
    6. 6. Simultaneous use of St. John's wort with anticoagulant drugs Waferin, Acenocoumarol leads to a decrease in therapeutic effect these funds.

    Contraindications:

    1. 1. Hypericin undergoes photochemical reactions, so after using preparations containing St. John's wort, you should avoid the sun and going to the solarium. The herb is not recommended for people with fair skin or skin changes.
    2. 2. The plant should not be taken by people with hypersensitivity to herbal components, severe liver and kidney dysfunction, or high fever.
    3. 3. St. John's wort is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women. Should not be used in the treatment of children under 7 years of age.

    St. John's wort can interact with tyramine - this is a so-called vasoactive amine, that is, it has an effect on the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. The herb increases its level in the body, and this causes tachycardia (accelerated heartbeat), severe headache or may worsen coronary artery disease. Tyramine is found in red wine, beer, herring, cheese (especially long-ripening cheese) and yeast. Therefore, when using medications from St. John's wort, you should avoid the products listed above.

    Due to the large list of contraindications and side effects, St. John's wort preparations should be taken only after consultation with your doctor.

    Medicines and prescriptions

    St. John's wort can be bought in pharmacies without a prescription; the medicine comes with instructions for use, which indicate the rules and dosages for taking the herb for various diseases. Most often, ready-made preparations containing 500 mg of St. John's wort extract are used. Sometimes the permissible dose is 900 mg. This corresponds to 5.4 g of grass. Ready-made preparations are also used on the field to make tea.

    IN traditional medicine St. John's wort is used in various mixtures with other herbs. The plant in combination with strawberry, raspberry and mint leaves stimulates metabolism. And when consumed with valerian root and hop cones, it is useful in relieving the symptoms of menopause. The harmful effects of St. John's wort are neutralized by mint and thyme.

    Recipes:

    • Herbal decoction. Take 1.5 tbsp. l dried herbs and 2 glasses of water. The raw materials should be filled with water and cooked over low heat for 5 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes, strain and pour into a thermos. Drink 1/3 - ½ glass 3 times a day before meals as a diuretic.
    • Herbal infusion. You will need 1 tbsp. l. herbs and a glass of water. The crushed raw materials should be poured with a glass of water and left under the lid for 15 minutes. Drink 2-3 times a day before or after meals as a sedative. Can be used before meals for digestive disorders as a stimulant of the secretion of gastric juices, as a choleretic agent. An infusion taken after meals works as an antibacterial, sedative and tonic. As a natural sedative, it is recommended to use 2-4 times a day for at least 6 weeks. The infusion can also be used externally as a gargle for the mouth and throat, preparing compresses for damaged epidermis, for burns and difficult-to-heal wounds.
    • Aqueous extract. You need to take 0.5 liters of water and 2 tbsp. l. St. John's wort herb. Add St. John's wort to cold water and leave for 6-8 hours. After this time, drain the water and bring it to a boil. Drink warm liquid.
    • Infusion with the addition of mint. Need 1 tbsp. l. St. John's wort herb and the same amount of mint, a glass of boiling water. Pour boiling water over the herbs and leave covered for 30 minutes. Strain. Drink a glass 2 times a day for poor urine output, cholelithiasis, varicose veins of the legs, increased permeability and fragility of blood vessels.
    • Tincture of St. John's wort herb. For it you will need 100 g of St. John's wort or 50 g of flowers, 500 g of alcohol, 100 g of honey. Pour alcohol over the grass (or flowers) and leave for two weeks. Then strain and squeeze through cheesecloth. Add honey and let stand for at least 3 months to allow the infusion to mature. Apply internally 2 times a day, 1 tsp. half a glass of water for diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder. Externally, the tincture is used for rubbing for joint pain. St. John's wort tincture reduces symptoms light form depression. Helps with mild insomnia and migraines. Soothes anxiety and pain associated with menopause. It has a choleretic, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect, stimulates digestion. Can be used externally for wounds and gargling. Useful for colds. Use internally, 50 drops 3 times a day, for gargling, 40 drops dissolved in a glass of warm water.
    • St. John's wort oil. You need to take 500 ml of olive oil and 50 g of St. John's wort flowers. Place the raw materials in a glass jar and add olive oil. Keep away from light, stirring regularly. Soak for 2 months, then strain using cheesecloth. To keep the oil longer, add 5% lavender essential oil. St. John's wort oil is used externally for rheumatic diseases, sunburn, and as a remedy to soothe pain from sprained joints. It treats bruises and herpes.
    • You can prepare butter in another way. Fresh flowers St. John's wort should be moistened with alcohol and then poured with warm vegetable oil in a 1:1 ratio (oil for fresh raw materials). The extract can be strained after 3-4 weeks. The prepared oil relieves acne symptoms. Other indications for its use are fatigue in infectious diseases. The product can be taken 1-2 tsp. in a day. Treatment can be stopped after 2-3 weeks.
    • Tea against hypertension. Take 1 tsp. lemon balm, milk thistle seeds, fenugreek herb and 2 tsp St. John's wort herb. Mix all the herbs and add 2 cups of hot water. Cook covered for 15 minutes. The infusion can be sweetened with 1 tsp. honey Dosage: 2-3 cups per day.

    There is also a recipe for tea for digestive disorders. 2 tbsp. l. pour dried herbs into a cup hot water and cook covered for 10 minutes. ½ part of the tea should be drunk 2-3 times a day before meals. It has a beneficial effect on bile secretion and can be used for numerous diseases (bloating, indigestion, tingling in the right side).

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