home Endocrinology Medicinal properties and contraindications of St. John's wort. Classical medicine: scope. Collection and preparation of St. John's wort

Medicinal properties and contraindications of St. John's wort. Classical medicine: scope. Collection and preparation of St. John's wort

St. John's wort, St. John's wort husband. Hypericum perforatum plant, hare's blood, blood, Svyatoyansk potion, healthy herb. | St. John's wort, grass plant, Hypericum quadrangulum. | Hyssopus officinalis hyssop| Menyanthes trifoliata, trefoil, trefoil,... ... Dictionary Dahl

St. John's wort- perforated. St. John's wort, a genus of herbs and shrubs (St. John's wort family). Over 300 species, mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones of both hemispheres, as well as in the mountains of the tropics. They grow in coniferous and mixed forests, in clearings and... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Hunter Dictionary of Russian synonyms. St. John's wort noun, number of synonyms: 16 vodka (162) hypericum ... Synonym dictionary

St. John's wort, a genus of herbs and shrubs (St. John's wort family). Over 300 species, mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones of both hemispheres, as well as in the mountains of the tropics. They grow in coniferous and mixed forests, in clearings and clearings. St. John's wort... ... Modern encyclopedia

A genus of herbs and shrubs of the St. John's wort family. Over 300 species, mainly in temperate and subtropical zones. St. John's wort is a medicinal plant (astringent and antimicrobial effect). Many types are decorative. 2 species are protected... Big encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Hypericum), genus of plants of the family. Clusiaceae (or St. John's wort). Herbs or shrubs with leaves usually equipped with punctate glands. Flowers are solitary or in semi-umbrellas, collected in corymbose or paniculate inflorescences, b. h. yellow, with a pentad... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

St. John's wort- ST. John's wort, I, m. One who often fights with the so-called. "persons of southern nationality." From the beast; joking contamination with common food “St. John’s wort” (Possible influence of the title of F. Cooper’s novel) ... Dictionary of Russian argot

A genus of meadow and forest herbs or subshrubs, usually with yellow flowers. St. John's wort herb contains up to 0.5% essential oil, vitamin C, carotene and other substances. Used as components in the composition of a bouquet of various spices, herbs,... ... Culinary dictionary

Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

1. St. John's wort1, St. John's wort, male. (book outdated). Animal hunter. 2. St. John's wort2, St. John's wort, husband. (bot.). The name of a special type of plant, meadow and forest perennial grasses. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Books

St. John's Wort, Cooper James Fenimore. The novel "St. John's Wort" is the first book in a series by the wonderful American writer Fenimore Cooper, dedicated to the adventures of the hunter Nathaniel Bumpo, nicknamed St. John's Wort. Among the heroes of the novel is an Indian...
St. John's Wort, Cooper J.F.. The novel "St. John's Wort" is the first book in a series by the wonderful American writer Fenimore Cooper, dedicated to the adventures of the hunter Nathaniel Bumpo, nicknamed St. John's Wort. Among the heroes of the novel is an Indian...

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

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

Appearance

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

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

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

St. John's wort root is branched.

Kinds

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

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

Where does it grow?

When is it collected and how is it dried?

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

By folk beliefs, special magical and healing power possesses St. John's wort, collected on the night of Ivan Kupala

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

Peculiarities

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

Characteristics

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

Calorie content and chemical composition

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

glycoside;
hyperoside;
routine;
quercitrin;
isoquercitrin.

IN chemical composition St. John's wort also includes:

Find out more information about useful properties ah St. John's wort, you can from the following video:

Beneficial features

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

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

Harm

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

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

Contraindications

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

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

Oil

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

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

Tea

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

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

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

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

Tincture

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

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

Decoction

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

Before taking the resulting medicine, it must be shaken.

Extract

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

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

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

Medicines for depression are produced based on St. John's wort extract.

Application

In cooking

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

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

In medicine

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

In cosmetology

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

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

When losing weight

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

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

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

In field conditions

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

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

For women

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

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

Growing

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

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

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

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

One of the most common medicinal plants is St. John's wort. Begins to bloom in June-August - small flowers appear yellow color. The grass itself can reach 70 cm in height. St. John's wort is usually collected at the very beginning of flowering - since it is during this period that the grass contains useful substances reaches its peak.

Thanks to this healing herb, you can cure a lot of all kinds of diseases:

ARVI;
gastrointestinal diseases;
inflammatory processes in oral cavity;
depressive states and neuroses.

Dermatological ailments are also treated with the use of St. John's wort - from minor burns to ulcerative lesions of the epidermis. Let us consider in detail the medicinal properties of St. John's wort, how to use the herb, what forms it comes in and other interesting information about the medicinal plant.

Composition of St. John's wort

So, let’s look at what substances make St. John’s wort a reliable assistant in the treatment of many diseases:

If we talk about St. John's wort in general, this herb has the following effects on the body:

eliminates depression;
promotes tissue regeneration;
has a pronounced choleretic effect;
promotes excretion excess liquid from the body;
has an analgesic effect;
is an anthelmintic;
able to relieve alcohol addiction;
excellent antiseptic.

In what cases is it important to use St. John's wort?

Indications for use are the following conditions:

diseases of the cardiovascular system;
rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis;
muscle or joint pain;
infectious, viral diseases;
ailments gastrointestinal tract, in particular, the stomach and liver;
genitourinary diseases;
hemorrhoids;
depression, neurosis;
problems with skin– pimples, acne;
age-related changes in the form of wrinkles, loss of skin turgor;
seborrheic dermatitis;
cracks in the skin;
alopecia (baldness).

Let's consider all the points in detail.

As mentioned above, the medicinal plant has proven itself very successfully in the beauty industry. This is due to the fact that St. John's wort fights well age-related changes skin - such as nasolabial wrinkles, " crow's feet"in the eye area, loss of facial turgor. The herb is also used in the fight against seborrhea, to eliminate acne and comedones.

You can use St. John's wort in the following cases:

Before use, you must consult a doctor in order to know for sure whether you have an individual intolerance to the medicinal herb.

What therapeutic properties does the plant have?

Many call St. John's wort a herb for 99 diseases - and this is true. Thanks to decoctions and tinctures, you can get rid of almost any disease, provided that the mixture is used regularly. You can make tinctures yourself or purchase them at a pharmacy.

Classical medicine: scope

IN official medicine They use both the herb itself in dried form and various preparations in which it is found.

The medicinal plant is useful for the following diseases:

Gastrointestinal diseases. This may include diarrhea, biliary dyskinesia, bloating, liver disease, etc.
Oral ailments such as stomatitis, inflammation and bleeding of gums, sore throat.
Nervous system disorders. St. John's wort is prescribed for insomnia, anxiety states, neuroses, depression accompanied by depression.
Skin diseases. Eat special drugs, which contain St. John's wort. They are used for purulent or infected wounds, burns, abscesses. It is noteworthy that even Staphylococcus aureus can be cured with the use of St. John's wort - despite the fact that the infection is resistant even to penicillin drugs.

Due to the fact that the medicinal herb contains special essential oils, it is possible to normalize intestinal motility and eliminate flatulence. Also, thanks to essential oils, a choleretic effect is achieved.

Numerous clinical researches, who proved that with regular use of St. John's wort decoction you can get rid of depression. It is noteworthy that you can achieve an even more pronounced effect than when taking mild antidepressants. Wherein harmful effects on the liver and other organs will be much lower. Preparations containing St. John's wort eliminate anxious thoughts, contribute to the normalization of the general emotional state, also improve mood.

Traditional medicine: scope

Important: positive dynamics during therapy can be achieved only if the person knows exactly his diagnosis, knows the treatment method and is sure that he has no contraindications to the use of St. John's wort. If the case is advanced, or there are concomitant ailments, in such cases traditional methods therapy should be combined with traditional medicine, and the technique must be approved by a doctor.

heartburn accompanied by flatulence;
gastritis with low or high acidity;
violations heart rate– tachycardia or arrhythmia;
burn lesions of the skin;
various viral and infectious diseases;
ailments of the central nervous system, primarily depression;
sinusitis;
alcoholism and other addictions.

How is the herb used?

St. John's wort can be found in the following forms:

alcohol tincture;
tincture of water;
decoction;
tea with healing properties;
ointment.

Very popular are products that contain not only St. John's wort, but also other medicinal plants. As a result, we get a synergy effect - the herbs multiply the effects of each other, which allows you to heal much faster.

Make healing decoction Or you can make the tincture at home - it won’t be difficult, and the manufacturing method is indicated on any package. You can buy St. John's wort either in bulk or in filter bags. Experts say that it is much more convenient to take a medicinal plant in bulk, since the bags are intended for preparing healing tea. If you know exactly what St. John's wort looks like, you can collect it yourself without any problems; the plant often lives in wild conditions. However, it is necessary to remember that the grass should be collected away from highways and factories - there the plants are saturated harmful substances, therefore, the decoction from them will no longer be so healing.

Harvesting occurs when the plant begins to bloom. You need to cut the grass as close to the ground as possible. Next, you need to dry the St. John's wort. To do this, it is divided into bunches and hung upside down. The best option is to dry the plant under a canopy - this is due to the fact that it is necessary to avoid exposure to sunlight.

Are there any contraindications for use?

St. John's wort should not be used continuously as it may cause allergic reactions in the form of urticaria, and in men, in some cases, impotence. Women should remember that treatment with St. John's wort can significantly reduce the effect of contraceptives, which can lead to unwanted pregnancy.

IN large quantities medicinal herb You should also not take it, as it can cause the following negative consequences:

Strong headache;
nausea;
vomit.

Due to the fact that St. John's wort combines negatively with antibiotics, you should not take tinctures and decoctions if a person has a high fever.

During pregnancy, treatment with St. John's wort is not prescribed, since this can cause miscarriage even in healthy woman. There is also no need to use this medicinal plant if a person has high blood pressure.

When therapy using St. John's wort, it is necessary to observe the following measures precautions:

You should not drink strong coffee or alcoholic beverages.
In order to achieve pronounced therapeutic effect, it is advisable to eat healthy food, and forget about smoked meats, sweets, and pickles for a while.
St. John's wort should not be taken if the doctor has already prescribed antidepressants. St. John's wort itself is such, so during therapy you can come to negative consequences. Many patients reported confusion, anxiety, restlessness, etc.
Tea with the addition of St. John's wort is actively used for diseases such as gastritis, ulcers, cholelithiasis, etc. But it is worth remembering that everything should have its own measure - when excessive consumption St. John's wort may cause stomach cramps and bloating.
St. John's wort should be used with anesthetic drugs only as prescribed by a doctor, with caution. This is due to the fact that the herb can change the effect of drugs - it will either disappear or last longer.
At long-term treatment constipation, bitterness in the mouth, and loss of appetite are possible.

Contraindications for use

Let's consider in which cases it is better to refuse treatment with St. John's wort:

cirrhosis of the liver;
nephritis;
when using drugs that affect blood clotting;
if you plan to sunbathe, the grass increases sensitivity to ultraviolet rays.

St. John's wort during pregnancy: benefit or harm

We all know very well that women in this position are forced to give up medicines– due to the fact that they can cause significant harm to the fetus. This is why many expectant mothers turn to medicinal herbs - as you know, most of them are not dangerous and do not cause allergic reactions.

However, even at first glance, safe herbs may be harmful to a pregnant woman. St. John's wort belongs to this group of remedies. Of course, this plant has a mass positive qualities– it fights many diseases, acts as a prophylactic agent, and can be used in complex therapy. St. John's wort copes well with depressive states, diseases of the stomach and biliary tract.

The grass contains special substance, which is called hyperin. This is what helps eliminate depression and improve mood. A nicotinic acid allows you to establish metabolic processes, is responsible for protein digestibility. Thanks to St. John's wort, you can also strengthen the walls blood vessels. It seemed like there was only one benefit for a pregnant woman, what was the catch?

The fact is that the medicinal plant has the ability to increase blood pressure - this is harmful to expectant mother. But this factor is far from the main one - the grass causes contractions of the uterus, which may well provoke a miscarriage, or cause irreparable damage to the health of the unborn baby. Therefore, if you want to bear a child calmly and without unnecessary problems, it is better to refuse therapy using St. John’s wort, or take the herb strictly as prescribed by the doctor, in no case exceeding the dosage.

Can St. John's wort be used to treat children?

As we have already seen, this herb quite useful and effective, however, not every person should undergo treatment with St. John’s wort. Among the main contraindications are high blood pressure and pregnancy. This raises a completely appropriate question - is it possible to treat young children using decoctions and tinctures of St. John’s wort?

All doctors say that therapy is possible, but it must be done very carefully, in no case exceeding the prescribed dosage. The best option is to talk to your doctor in advance; perhaps he will prescribe a complex of herbs, due to which the concentration of St. John's wort will be reduced.

It is useful for children to take St. John's wort during the harvest period - when it is present a large number of vegetables and fruits. It is at this time that, thanks to weak decoctions, it will be possible to avoid stomach problems - in children they often arise as a result of fiber abuse. It is imperative to make sure that the baby is not allergic to the medicinal herb. Also, do not forget to consult a doctor.

Of course, St. John's wort is a medicinal plant, thanks to which you can get rid of many diseases. But it is worth remembering that you need to know when to stop everything, and be careful - even if you use it for treatment. natural herbs. People with hypertension, pregnant women, and children should not take the decoction. St. John's wort should be prescribed with caution. Even if you are sure that there are no contraindications, before starting therapy, you need to consult a doctor and make sure that you have an individual intolerance medicinal plant absent.

Video: beneficial properties and uses of St. John's wort

St. John's wort – unique plant, which has a whole range of useful properties. In the old days it was called “the cure for 99 diseases.” St. John's wort is found throughout Russia, and you have probably already seen these bright, sunny flowers.

St. John's wort contains a lot of useful and necessary for human body substances, however, if consumed in excess, St. John's wort is poisonous. Animals avoid eating St. John's wort because it is poisonous to them (hence the origin name "St. John's wort").

St. John's wort is often brewed at the most various diseases, and just as simply in tea for vigor and strengthening.

Names of St. John's wort

The Latin name for St. John's wort is Hypericum perforatum.
The popular names of St. John's wort are bloodberry, devil's wort, red grass, valiant blood, dzherambay (among the Kazakhs).
The official name of St. John's wort is St. John's wort.

Why does the plant have such a scary name? Cases have been observed since ancient times poisoning of small livestock consuming St. John's wort, in particular sheep and cows. At the same time, not all animals were poisoned, but only white: they got inflamed lymph glands, poorly healing ulcers appeared. It turned out that the cause of the diseases is a special pigment of St. John's wort, which increases the sensitivity of non-pigmented areas of animal skin to sunlight. Therefore, the animals were specially painted dark.

Where does St. John's wort grow?

St. John's wort is growing in meadows, in the steppes, among bushes, on the edges, clearings, in cleared forests, near roads, in the mountains. For medicinal purposes, the plant is sometimes grown in specialized farms. St. John's wort is possible grow it in your garden.

What does St. John's wort look like?

St. John's wort - perennial with erect stems 40-80 cm high (up to 1 m), branching in the upper part.

St. John's wort leaves quite small St. John's wort flowers bright yellow, collected in inflorescences. If you look closely at the leaves and flowers of St. John's wort, you will never confuse it with anything else. How else to distinguish St. John's wort? If you crush a yellow bud, you will be left with bright purple paint on your hands.

St. John's wort flowering time

St. John's wort blooms from May to August, the fruits ripen in July-September. The fruit is an oblong-ovoid brown leathery capsule with numerous small seeds.

Collection and preparation of St. John's wort

St. John's wort is collected only when it is in bloom. Carefully cut off the top 10-20 cm of grass. It is convenient to collect St. John's wort with your hands, sharply breaking it and, as it were, cutting the stem. Be careful not to damage the rest of the plant and roots. Never collect all St. John's wort, always leave a couple of inflorescences on the bush for subsequent reproduction. Tie the St. John's wort herb into bunches and hang to dry. The best thing dry St. John's wort without artificial heating, but in the attic or in a dark, ventilated room. Do not dry St. John's wort in the sun. Dried St. John's wort can be stored for quite a long time - about 3 years.

Medicinal properties and uses of St. John's wort

In the old days they said that when St. John's wort enters the body, it finds “weak” spots and begins to treat where it is most needed. The plant has a beneficial effect on all body systems.

St. John's wort contains flavonoids (up to 1%), tannins (up to 13%), essential oil, coloring matter (about 0.5%), resins, carotene, which is provitamin A (up to 55 mg), ascorbic acid, that is, vitamin C (up to 140 mg), vitamin PP, etc.

Digestive tract

St. John's wort decoction successfully used in the treatment of diseases such as gastritis, ulcerative lesions gastroduodenal area, colitis, diarrhea, liver and gall bladder diseases, kidneys and urinary tract.

Nervous system

St. John's wort actively promotes the restoration of the functions of nerve fibers, calms the nerves, relieves tension, and restores strength. It is successfully used for PMS relief and during menopause in women, in the treatment of neuroses, especially complex neuroses accompanied by headaches and insomnia. This plant is included in some antidepressants. Modern scientists have proven that the use of St. John's wort helps strengthen immune system and helps cure depression.

Circulatory and cardiovascular systems

St. John's wort is able to relieve vascular spasms, which normalizes heart function and blood circulation in general. St. John's wort has hemostatic properties and is widely used in the treatment of wounds and injuries 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 the respiratory system and dental problems(pharyngitis, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, gingivitis, etc.), as well as inflammation of the female genital area.

Joints

St. John's wort used in the treatment of joint diseases, it relieves inflammation, reduces swelling, and normalizes joint movement. External use allows you to strengthen the walls of capillaries and speed up the healing of cuts and abrasions.

To relieve symptoms of skin diseases and allergies, a decoction of St. John's wort is added to baths.

St. John's wort - contraindications

When using St. John's wort, you must remember that it also contains toxic substances, which in large quantities can have a depressing effect on perception (photosensitivity increases significantly), contribute to an increase blood pressure(therefore, St. John's wort is contraindicated in hypertension).

Application of St. John's wort

In Rus', they drank an infusion of St. John's wort for bruises and to maintain vigor and health. For this reason, herbalists often recommended its use for those who get tired very quickly or engaged in grueling work.

For the same purpose, St. John's wort was also used by soldiers who had to make long treks on foot.

By throwing branches of St. John's wort into the collected water, the Slavs got rid of the risk of contracting dysentery and other diseases. Chewing St. John's wort could remove bad smell from mouth.

Herbalists, when there was nothing at hand, treated cuts and burns with St. John's wort. It was necessary to chew the flowers and leaves, and then cover the wound with the resulting pulp.

St. John's wort in popular belief is considered one of those plants that originated from the blood or feather, etc. of a bird (lightning), which brought heavenly fire to the earth and was wounded by a hostile creature. Later, St. John's wort was credited with the property drive away evil spirits.

St. John's wort is popularly considered a magical plant: it protects against witches and ghosts.

If you crush a yellow flower or bud of St. John's wort, a well-colored purple juice will flow out of it. Purple juice of St. John's wort was considered a charming remedy.

St. John's wort gives honey bees a lot of pollen, especially in the morning.

IN Ancient Rus', and later in Ukraine, from the roots of St. John's wort they got the insect “early worm”, and then made it from it: they collected the blue bubbles located in the upper part of the root in a vessel, in which there is dye insect. Red paint was called red paint, and the month of June, when they collected St. John's wort with insects, was worms. In addition to Ukrainians, June is called worm by Bulgarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and Poles call worm. In ancient times, this paint was sold to foreign merchants for a lot of money, until a similar insect living in cacti was found in Mexico. The Mexican method of extracting paint turned out to be cheaper and more productive, and the ancient Russian paint was forgotten.