home Cottage and garden Use the herb St. John's wort. St. John's wort: medicinal properties and contraindications. Other medical uses

Use the herb St. John's wort. St. John's wort: medicinal properties and contraindications. Other medical uses

In the second half of summer, fields, meadows, and forest edges look like chickens. They are covered with small bright yellow flowers. And there are so many of them that they can easily be confused with weeds - well, a cultivated plant cannot grow in such quantities. Indeed, it is not a weed. The yellow flowers are a medicinal plant called St. John's wort; you'll recognize it right away from the photo. St. John's wort smells like summer, honey, meadow herbs, morning dew.

St. John's wort is popularly valued for its healing power, because St. John's wort, Wikipedia claims, is capable of overcoming no more or less, but 99 diseases. But be careful. St. John's wort can only save people from 99 misfortunes. For animals, namely livestock, it is a poison. Where do you think the grass got its name from?

St. John's wort. Useful properties and contraindications

St. John's wort blooms in summer. And then you can pick it and prepare it for home herbal preparations. This is easy to do - just dry the flowers in the shade, and then lightly rub them with dry hands. The stems easily separate from dry flowers and leaves. Or you can decorate your home with dried flowers.

This herb is very useful and complex in its composition, so we will not list the substances and components included in the chemical composition. It’s better to pay more attention to how useful St. John’s wort is, a herb medicinal properties which has been valued since the times Ancient Rus' when medicine was still in its infancy.

St. John's wort is medicine not only traditional medicine. Traditional medicine doesn’t “flap its ears” either. She makes the most of St. John's wort, the medicinal properties of which chemists and doctors have studied far and wide, adding it to homeopathic preparations. Medicines such as Novoimanin and Imanin are made from St. John's wort. It has been proven that the plant extract eliminates inflammation and destroys pathogenic microbes. Therefore, these drugs are used for wounds, even purulent ones, for burns of varying degrees, for sinusitis, mastitis, pharyngitis and some other diseases. And psychiatrists prescribe the medicine Gelarium for depression. The basis of the medicine is the same - St. John's wort.

In folk medicine, St. John's wort is used to treat many (remember, how many?) diseases.

St. John's wort is invaluable as a tonic and astringent. It should be on hand for coughs, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, gum and liver diseases. The grass can even stop blood, making it thicker.
Some drugs prescribed by doctors for rheumatism, ulcers of various origins, gout, stress, depression, diarrhea or the presence of helminths also contain flowers, leaves and extract from St. John's wort.
And dentists advise rinsing your teeth with a decoction of the plant to get rid of bad odor, stop bleeding gums, and relieve inflammation.
St. John's wort (use and recipes will come a little later) will also help those who suffer from pain in the liver, stomach, kidneys, intestines and gallbladder. It strengthens stool, relieves pain due to gastritis, and treats ulcers.
And if you administer a drug containing St. John's wort extract intravenously, the heart begins to work better, more rhythmically, faster. At the same time, the blood vessels narrow and the pressure rises.
You can bathe your children in a bath with St. John's wort to prevent diaper rash, rashes, and diathesis. And in the presence of ulcers, abscesses, and swelling of the mammary glands, herbalists highly recommend making compresses.
St. John's wort root is also useful. Its decoction or tincture is used for bone tuberculosis and dysentery.

This strong plant is St. John's wort. It has contraindications, and serious ones, and they must be treated very responsibly.

St. John's wort constricts blood vessels, contracts the ventricles of the heart, causing blood to flow through the veins faster. Therefore, St. John’s wort is contraindicated for heart patients suffering from arrhythmia, tachycardia, and vascular sclerosis.
It is not recommended to consume it in any form if you have high blood pressure.
St. John's wort is also contraindicated for expectant mothers - it is unknown how the changing body will react to the action of the plant.
St. John's wort treats gastritis, but a strong infusion of the herb, on the contrary, can provoke this disease.
St. John's wort is a sunny herb. Maybe that’s why the skin (if you drank tea, infusion) is so susceptible to sun tanning. Or rather, to ultraviolet rays, and they are so harmful to our skin.
Men, do not be alarmed if, after treatment with St. John's wort, you suddenly feel male impotence. This is all the tricks of St. John's wort. In a couple of weeks everything will get better and you will forget about the misunderstanding. Or do not drink the herbal infusion for more than a couple of weeks.
St. John's wort is generally not recommended for treatment for a very long time - it is not a component proper nutrition. Otherwise, you may feel bitterness, heartburn, pressure on the liver, and even hives.

St. John's wort. Decoctions and infusions

St. John's wort is used in the form of infusions, decoctions, and compresses.

The infusion is prepared like this. Take a large spoonful of dry herb per glass of boiling water. You need to insist for half an hour, take a third of a glass before meals 3 times a day.

A decoction of St. John's wort is prepared at the rate of a spoonful of herb per glass of drinking water. Boil the mixture for 15 minutes, then filter it. This glass is also drunk a day - every time before eating. You can also gargle with it to eliminate bad breath or for a sore throat.

And now in more detail about St. John's wort. The herb, the instructions for use of which are followed by the patient, is doubly healing. Avicenna also thought so.

For the stomach

For gastritis and colitis, we prepare a herbal mixture. Take St. John's wort in equal parts and mix them. For every tablespoon of the mixture there is a glass of boiling water. Let it brew and drink 0.5 cups no more than five times a day.

If you suffer from heartburn, then you will need another mixture: our St. John's wort, and cinnamon, also known as cucumber. For 3 tablespoons of mixture there is a liter of boiling water. Leave for two hours and drink 0.5 cups of infusion before meals.

For the liver

The recipe for the infusion for the liver is the same as for the stomach. But you need to take it in the morning on an empty stomach, half a glass for a week. After 30 minutes you can have breakfast. During the day, drink 2 spoons after meals. This will increase bile production and speed up the treatment of cholecystitis or gallbladder disease.

For sinusitis

Cook St. John's wort in a steam bath. The proportions are the same as for the infusion - a spoonful of herbs per glass of water. First, you need to put drops into your nose to narrow the blood vessels and relieve swelling of the mucous membrane.

Inject the strained broth into the nostril using a syringe or a syringe without a needle. After rinsing, be sure to blow out the nose well.

From alcoholism

St. John's wort gives battle even to the green serpent. But there is one “but”. An addicted comrade must want to get rid of addiction.

And the recipe is simple. Heat 2 tablespoons of herbs and a glass of boiling water in a water bath for 20-30 minutes. Drink the decoction on an empty stomach in the morning and before meals in the evening, 2 tablespoons. In 2 weeks you can completely get rid of alcoholism.

For vitiligo

Those suffering from a lack of melanin production (vitiligo) know how difficult it is to overcome this scourge. The disease does not cause any particular inconvenience, except for aesthetic reasons - the skin, which was once even in color, becomes covered with white spots. But St. John's wort can help get rid of vitiligo. You only need 8 sessions of 3 weeks each. The break between sessions is 8 days.

In a teapot, brew a teaspoon of St. John's wort in a glass of boiling water. After half an hour, strain the tea and drink 1 large spoon four times a day.

St. John's wort is also useful in cosmetology.

For acne, steep a spoonful of the herb in a glass of boiling water for 20 minutes. And wash your face with this infusion every morning and every evening. You can freeze ice cubes from the infusion. This will also narrow enlarged pores.
For oily skin Also good are washing with a decoction of St. John's wort and wiping your face with a frozen infusion. And the pulp can be used for face masks. The duration of the procedure is 10 minutes.
Ice cubes from a decoction or infusion tone the face, tighten the oval and smooth out fine wrinkles. The skin becomes young and radiant.
Men! Have you noticed that a bald spot has appeared? Drink St. John's wort infusion: 1/3 glass twice a day before breakfast or before dinner. Don't be afraid, it won't do any harm other than good.
And women can soften their heels. Make them pink and smooth. Let's do it. Pour 8-10 tablespoons of St. John's wort into a liter of boiling water and cook for 5-7 minutes. Then we pour it into a basin, wait for the broth to cool a little, and take a foot bath.

St. John's wort oil at home

In addition to decoctions and infusions, St. John's wort oil is often used. It has found application in both medicine and cosmetology. And you don’t have to buy it when you can make it at home from regular ingredients.

Oil can be prepared from both fresh and dried St. John's wort flowers. The flowers are infused in vegetable oil for 2 weeks. It can be sunflower, wheat - whichever you like most. To prevent the oil from spoiling, it must be strained after 2 weeks and stored in a dark jar in the closet.

Proportions for oil from fresh flowers: 1 part flowers to 2 parts oil.
Proportions for oil from dried flowers: 1 part flowers to 1.5 parts oil.

Don't be surprised if the oil turns blood red. There is a fairy tale that one day a lightning-fast fantastic bird descended to earth - it was wounded by some evil monster. Where the bird's bloody feathers fell, St. John's wort grew. People did not invent fairy tales just like that, but to try to explain the incomprehensible...

The oil is usually used for masks, rubs, and compresses. Sometimes, as in the case of ulcers, it is taken orally, 1 spoon on an empty stomach or three hours after a meal.

A method of treating vitiligo has already been described above. Enhance the result with a special recipe oil. Press the St. John's wort flowers, fill them with vegetable oil and place the jar in the sun for 2 weeks. After two weeks, add fresh flowers, tamp down until the oil covers them and leave in the sun again for a couple of weeks. Do this 5 times. As a result, the oil should become viscous and thick. Apply this substance to the white spots, allowing the cream to absorb. And after 0.5 hours, the excess can be washed off.

The oil is classic recipe helps with ulcers, stomatitis, bedsores, wounds and even large burns.

And the Ancient Romans rushed into the forests at midnight to trample St. John's wort with their left feet. They believed that a white horse would appear, capable of rushing them off to an enchanting land for the whole night and endowing them with the most incredible abilities (also for one night). Maybe that’s why the barbarians destroyed them - the Romans, who believed in white horses, could not adequately assess the danger...

Well, they have had this for a long time, but in our country St. John's wort was used to protect the house and sleep of babies from all evil spirits. And, surprisingly, witches and ghosts did not visit such houses. But the point here is not the grass, but the fact that ghosts do not exist, and witches were burned at the stake in time...

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 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.

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 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, 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. 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).

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 skin lesions.

Tea with St. John's wort is a tonic and healthy drink. It is good to drink in winter; this tea has no side effects and mainly has a relaxing effect 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,, rosehip, 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 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, an unpleasant sensation in the liver area and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth may develop.

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 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.

St. John's wort is a plant with beneficial properties. In the old days it was called “the cure for 100 ailments” and was used to treat diseases.

The herb St. John's wort contains many substances that are beneficial and necessary for the body, but it also contains toxic components that can have a depressing effect on health. Animals avoid eating grass because it is poisonous to them - hence the name “St. John’s wort”.

Composition of St. John's wort

The vitamin series of St. John's wort is represented by , P, PP and C. Vitamin A is good for vision, skin and hair. Ascorbic acid affects the bulk of processes in the body, tones and strengthens. increases in combination with other vitamins contained in St. John's wort.

The plant also includes:

tannins, which have an astringent and antibacterial effect.
essential oils and resins with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
saponins, phytoncides and traces of alkaloids.

What are the benefits of St. John's wort?

In the old days they said that St. John's wort itself finds “weak” places in the body and treats where it is most needed. The plant has a beneficial effect on all body systems.

For the digestive tract

The decoction successfully treats gastritis, ulcerative lesions of the gastroduodenal region, colitis, diarrhea, diseases of the liver and gall bladder, kidneys and urinary tract.

For the nervous system

St. John's wort actively helps restore the functions of nerve fibers, calms the nerves, relieves tension and restores strength. It is used to relieve PMS and menopause in women, in the treatment of neuroses, especially complex ones, accompanied by headaches and insomnia.

The plant is included in some antidepressants.

For the circulatory and cardiovascular system

St. John's wort is able to relieve vascular spasms - this normalizes the functioning of the heart and blood circulation in general. The plant has hemostatic properties and is used in the treatment of wounds and damage caused by surgery.

St. John's wort has unique property relieve inflammation of the mucous membranes. This allows it to be used in the treatment of respiratory organs and dental problems, as well as inflammation of the female genital area.

St. John's wort tincture

The drug is used to treat tonsillitis, tonsillitis, cancer, diseases of the gallbladder, intestines, stomach, lungs, and is also indicated for depression. To prepare the infusion, pour 1 part of the dried herb with 5 parts of vodka, close the container with the mixture and place in a dark place for a week. Take 40 drops 3 times a day.

Harm and contraindications of St. John's wort

When using St. John's wort, it is necessary to remember that it also contains toxic substances, which in large quantities can have a depressing effect on perception - photosensitivity increases and helps to increase blood pressure. To avoid unpleasant symptoms, always stick to the recommended doses and use herbal remedies wisely.

In mid-summer, yellow St. John's wort flowers enliven forest edges and clearings. St. John's wort, beneficial features and contraindications to the use of which are well studied and described, is one of the most common and powerful Russian medicinal plants.

The capabilities of the herbaceous perennial have long interested people, aroused admiration, fear, and were the reason for the emergence of legends and prejudices. The first thing people noticed when they saw the plant was the blood-red hue of the decoction. Thanks to him, St. John's wort is popularly called St. John's blood, which is associated with the legend of John the Baptist, from whose blood an amazing flower supposedly sprouted.

The grass was used in folk rituals, harvested and dried to make tea, lotions and other medicinal potions. Today, the medicinal properties of St. John's wort have been scientifically confirmed and are widely used not only in folk, but also in traditional medicine.

Why St. John's wort is useful: the composition of the medicinal herb

A plant with a branched erect stem, oval or ovate leaves and numerous golden-yellow flowers is a real storehouse of biologically active compounds. Moreover, most of them are located at the tops of flowering shoots.

The medicinal properties of St. John's wort and contraindications to their use depend entirely on the biochemical composition, including:

a complex of essential vitamins, including tocopherols, carotene, ascorbic acid, compounds of the B vitamin group, rutin;
flavonoids, including hyperoside;
phytoncides;
saponins;
essential oil;
micro- and macroelements, including potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium;
organic acids and alcohols;
tannins and resins;
natural bitters;
Sahara.

Such a lush bouquet of components determines the healing properties of St. John's wort and harm, which is difficult to avoid if you neglect existing contraindications and recommended dosages.

What St. John's wort herb treats: indications for use

The scope of application of St. John's wort is incredibly broad. Herbs collected during flowering:

used as a natural antibacterial, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory agent;
has the ability to reduce pain of various nature;
promotes wound healing and stimulates natural regeneration processes;
is a natural diuretic and is used for genitourinary diseases.

What else does St. John's wort herb treat? Due to its astringent, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing effect, St. John's wort is often used for stomatitis and other disorders of the integrity of the oral mucosa. A decoction of the herb relieves sore throat, pharyngitis, and toothache.

Cosmetologists who prescribe external use of drugs based on it are also well aware of the beneficial properties of St. John's wort:

for acne complicated by purulent and inflammatory processes;
for aging skin that needs support with vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids;
with excessive production of sebum, which provokes not only an untidy, greasy face, but also the development of inflammation.

The herb St. John's wort, which has no contraindications, is used for oily seborrhea. The herb perfectly dries out inflammation, nourishes, supplies tissues with moisture and has a safe antibacterial effect.

If the healing properties of the plant described above have been known for a long time, it is only recently that doctors have paid attention to the effect that St. John's wort has on the human nervous system. How is St. John's wort useful in this area?

Tea or healing oil of the plant prepared on the basis of St. John's wort perfectly tones, normalizes sleep, and strengthens the immune defense. The drink helps to quickly recover after a long illness, surgery or difficult, exhausting work.

Application of the medicinal properties of St. John's wort herb

The list of ready-made preparations containing medicinal herbs is very wide. Due to the small number of contraindications, the beneficial properties of St. John's wort are valued in the fight:

with inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and nasopharynx;
with liver and gallbladder diseases;
with digestive problems, for example, diarrhea, increased gas production, lazy bowel syndrome;
with stress, chronic fatigue, depressive states, accompanied by insomnia, sudden mood swings, irascibility;
with purulent processes and complicated wounds on the skin due to acne, burns, cracked heels;
with edema and pathologies of the genitourinary area.

If you look at the instructions for using St. John's wort, it turns out that fresh or shade-dried upper parts of the stems with flowers and leaves are used for oral administration. So that useful substances find the most accessible and active form, plant materials must go through a cooking process. St. John's wort is used to make alcoholic tinctures, water decoctions and infusions, prepare oil, and use the herb in blends for medicinal tea.

Fresh herb is great for external use. It is crushed and applied to problem areas for cuts, bruises, all kinds of wounds and burns. St. John's wort will make it easier to bear insect bites and ease the irritation caused by an allergic reaction.

IN folk medicine St. John's wort mixed with honey is an effective basis for a compress for radiculitis, rheumatism or other problems of the musculoskeletal system.

Medicines from St. John's wort for home use

The decoction is prepared at the rate of 3 tablespoons of dried herbs per 500 ml of water. The product is kept on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes, and then infused and filtered. The reddish-brown liquid completely retains the beneficial properties of St. John's wort and the contraindications specified in the instructions for use of plant raw materials. The decoction is used internally and externally as a base for lotions, rinses and compresses.

An infusion of dry or fresh herbs is ready 4–6 hours after the raw material is poured with boiling water. The rich aromatic liquid is used to treat gastritis, colitis, signs of hypotension, cholelithiasis and inflammatory processes in the genitourinary area. A warm infusion for rinsing perfectly relieves colds, sore throat, and stomatitis. The product is indispensable as a lotion after bites, for skin irritation, abscesses, weeping eczema, and wounds of various natures.

The most popular therapeutic and preventive remedy from St. John's wort is herbal tea. St. John's wort goes well with either black or green tea, as well as with other spicy-flavoring herbs, for example, mint, oregano, linden blossom, rose hips, leaves and strawberries.

The tincture is prepared from pre-dried herbs. For 1 spoon of crushed raw materials take 7 parts of alcohol or 10 parts of vodka. The liquid is infused in a tightly closed glass container for at least 3 days. What does St. John's wort help with in alcohol tincture? The main areas of application of this natural medicine are painkillers, warming, anti-inflammatory compresses or rubbing for muscle and joint pain.

Oil is obtained from the St. John's wort herb, into which all the beneficial properties of the plant are transferred. To infuse for 3-4 weeks, use olive, almond or other unrefined oil at a ratio of one to one.

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

No matter how useful St. John's wort is, there are still contraindications to its use. They cannot be ignored, otherwise the healing power of the plant can result in harm to health and deterioration of well-being.

hypertension;
exacerbation of peptic ulcer and gastritis;
increased photosensitive skin and acute reaction to solar radiation.

You should not drink decoctions and tinctures from the herb St. John's wort during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

In the first case, there is a risk of increased blood pressure and increased tone of the muscles of the pelvis and uterus. In the second, St. John's wort changes the taste of breast milk and can cause an undesirable reaction in the baby.

Children can be given preparations based on St. John's wort only from the age of 12. After five years, the infusion is used externally, for example, as a lotion or a useful additive in the bath for skin diseases or as a prevention of seasonal colds.

Rules for collecting and storing St. John's wort - video

The list of diseases for which St. John's wort can help is long. What does the plant help with? It is used for vascular and heart diseases, cystitis, gastrointestinal diseases, stress, skin ulcers. The herbaceous plant St. John's wort grows in clearings and forest edges. St. John's wort blooms from June to September, and its harvesting begins at this time. The grass is cut with pruning shears, dried, then threshed so that the stems are eliminated and the grass remains. For treatment, tinctures, infusions, decoctions, and oils made from St. John's wort are used.

Chemical composition of St. John's wort

All substances that make up St. John's wort are different healing properties. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Cineol helps improve mood and relieve stress.
Geraniol destroys the influenza virus, coli, Staphylococcus aureus, has a calming effect.
Myrcene inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.
Alkaloids eliminate depression.
Azulene has a healing and soothing effect.
Hypericin helps restore new cells and destroy weakened ones. The body rejuvenates.
Coumarins prevent the formation of blood clots.
Saponins prevent the formation of sclerotic plaques, weaken, and have a diuretic property.
Hyperoside is broken down into rutin, quercetin and other flavonoids. They reduce vascular tone, help cope with allergies, and treat diseases associated with capillary fragility.

St. John's wort contains a lot of vitamin C. In combination with vitamin P, it helps reduce capillary fragility and prevents the development of malignant tumors. The grass contains numerous microelements and vitamins.

St. John's wort in the treatment of cough and throat diseases

The use of St. John's wort for cough is very justified. St. John's wort oil helps a lot. It is brought to a warm state and applied to the fabric while warm. A compress is made on the throat, the neck is well wrapped. The procedure must be carried out at night.

If you have a dry cough, take inhalations with St. John's wort. For this, 1 tbsp. Brew a spoonful of herbs with boiling water (1 cup), strain. Breathe over the healing steam for 15-20 minutes.

Gargling with St. John's wort tincture will help relieve a sore throat. 30 drops of St. John's wort tincture should be diluted in a glass of warm water. Try to rinse every two to three hours.

To relieve cold symptoms, you need to prepare an infusion: take 1 tbsp. spoon of St. John's wort and dry raspberry leaves, brew a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Squeeze out the raw materials, add 20 g of lemon juice and 30 g of honey to the prepared infusion. In the evening, drink a medicinal drink and go to bed. The infusion will help reduce fever and cure colds at an early stage. You can wake up healthy the next morning.

You can mix 40 ml of St. John's wort tincture, the juice of half a lemon and the juice of a small onion. Take 1 teaspoon, can be diluted with water. After taking it, do not eat or drink for an hour. The course of treatment is 5 days.

Treatment of gastrointestinal diseases

The healing properties of St. John's wort can be useful in the treatment of stomach ulcers, gastritis, gallbladder and liver diseases. The infusion eliminates stool disturbances and normalizes intestinal microflora.

For heartburn, you can use an infusion made from a mixture of medicinal herbs. You need to take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of yarrow, dried wort and St. John's wort. Brew the mixture with a liter of boiling water and leave. For treatment, take 100 ml of infusion, preferably warm.

For gastritis, an infusion of St. John's wort will help eliminate heaviness, relieve stomach pain, and relieve nausea. You need to take 1 tbsp. spoon of infusion.

In case of liver damage, cholecystitis, you can take 1 tbsp after meals. spoon of St. John's wort infusion.

Treatment of cystitis, urolithiasis

St. John's wort herb has a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, astringent effect. This allows St. John's wort to be used for kidney diseases. If you have urolithiasis, you can start treatment with St. John's wort infusion, but only after consulting a doctor. The infusion is prepared according to the classic recipe (1 tablespoon of raw materials per glass of boiling water). It is necessary to drink 100 ml of infusion throughout the day.

Another recipe used for inflammation of the bladder, cystitis. This herbal collection consists of the following herbs:

oregano - 4 tbsp. spoons

knotweed - 4 tbsp. spoons

chamomile - 3 tbsp. spoons

St. John's wort - 8 tbsp. spoons

Brew a mixture of medicinal herbs with a liter of boiling water and leave for 12 hours. Take 100 ml after consultation with a doctor.

Treatment of heart diseases

It is necessary to prepare a medicinal mixture using medicinal herbs:

valerian root - 2 tbsp. spoons

yarrow - 2 tbsp. spoons

lemon balm herb - 2 tbsp. spoons

St. John's wort herb - 4 tbsp. spoons

Pour 1 teaspoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water. The infusion should be strained after two hours. Take 100 ml once a day.

Treatment of oral diseases

What else does St. John's wort infusion help with? It has been successfully used to treat diseases oral cavity. 1 tbsp. a spoonful of infusion is diluted in a glass of boiling water. Strain after a few hours. You need to rinse your mouth with the warm infusion, holding it there without swallowing. It is better to rinse your mouth several times a day.

Rinsing with a mixture of rose and St. John's wort oil will help restore gums and eliminate unpleasant odor.

Treatment of diseases of the nervous system

An infusion of St. John's wort helps eliminate depression. What does the herb St. John's wort treat? Effectively treats insomnia, neuralgia, relieves irritability and headaches. It is useful to drink tea, which is prepared by mixing herbs: St. John's wort, lemon balm, blueberries, rosemary leaves. It helps with depression.

Contraindications to treatment with St. John's wort

Women taking contraceptives should be careful when taking medications with St. John's wort, as they weaken the effect of the medications.
An overdose of an infusion of a medicinal plant leads to headaches, vomiting and nausea.
If you have an elevated temperature or are taking antibiotics, you should not drink St. John's wort infusion.
During pregnancy, St. John's wort tincture can cause miscarriage.
You should avoid drinking alcohol, smoked foods, chocolate and coffee during treatment.
It is necessary to abandon antidepressants if treatment with St. John's wort is carried out. Otherwise, dizziness and confusion may occur.
For peptic ulcers and gastritis, you need to be careful to avoid overdose. Otherwise your stomach will hurt.

You should not start treatment with St. John's wort without consulting your doctor. This plant should absolutely not be taken for the treatment of nephritis and hypertrophic cirrhosis of the liver. St. John's wort has the unique property of increasing sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. You should not sunbathe during treatment. People suffering from heart disease should be careful.