St. John's wort - beneficial properties and applications. Parts and active substances used. St. John's wort in home cosmetology

Infusion.
Brew 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort herb with a glass of boiling water and leave for about 2 hours, then filter. Drink 3 r. 1/3 glass per day before meals. Infusion for nervous fatigue.
Pour a glass of boiling water over 1 spoon of St. John's wort herb and leave for 5 minutes, then strain. Take 1/2 liter per day with meals. Tincture for stomatitis and gingivitis.
Pour 5 parts vodka into 1 part St. John's wort herb and let it steep for a week, then filter. Use 3 r. 40-50 drops per day.
To rinse the mouth and throat, dilute 30-40 drops of tincture in 125 ml of water.
Decoction for colds and headaches.
Pour a glass of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort herb and boil for 15 minutes over low heat, then cool and filter. Drink 3 r. 0.25 cups per day. St. John's wort oil for external use (bedsores, burns, ulcers, oral diseases).
Pour a glass of sunflower oil into 3 tablespoons of St. John's wort herb and leave for 2 weeks, shaking occasionally, filter. A decoction for kidney and bladder diseases.
Pour a quarter liter of boiling water over a tablespoon of St. John's wort herb and boil over low heat for about 15 minutes, then cool and drain through cheesecloth. Drink 3 r. 1/2 cup per day. A decoction for diseases of the digestive system.
Pour a glass of boiled hot water into 1.5 tablespoons of St. John's wort herb, heat for 30 minutes in a boiling water bath. Cool for 10 minutes, filter, squeeze out the raw materials. Bring the volume of the decoction to the volume of a glass. Drink 3 r. A day, 1/3 glass 30 minutes before meals. A decoction for gynecological diseases for douching.
Pour 2 liters of water into 2-3 tablespoons of St. John's wort herb and boil for about 20 minutes, then cool the broth and strain. Decoction for depression.
Pour a glass of boiling water over a tablespoon of St. John's wort herb and simmer over low heat for 10 - 15 minutes, and then strain. Drink 3 r. 1/4 cup per day. St. John's wort ointment.
Crushed St. John's wort herb is mixed with vegetable oil, and turpentine is added. Rub into painful areas (for radiculitis, arthritis, sciatica).
Briquettes of St. John's wort herb (Herba Hyperici) are used to make decoctions for rinsing the mouth and are used internally for diarrhea and colitis. St. John's wort briquettes: rectangular, 120x65x10 cm in size, weighing 75 g, divided into 7.5 g slices. The decoction is prepared at the rate of one slice per 200 ml of water. St. John's wort herb is also available in packs of 100 g. Store in a cool, dry place.
Novoimaninum is a polyphenolic complex drug. A transparent, resinous, reddish-yellow mass with the smell of honey. Available in the form of a 1% solution in 95% ethyl alcohol. For external use, inhalation, and also in otorhinolaryngology, a 0.1% solution of the drug is used, which is prepared by diluting a 1% alcohol solution with a 0.25% anesthesin solution or a 10% glucose solution, or an isotonic solution of sodium chloride or distilled water. Solutions obtained by diluting a 1% alcohol solution of novoimanin are suitable for use within 24 hours. The shelf life of the drug is 3 years, 1% alcohol solution is 2 years.
Novoimanin is used externally for infected wounds, panaritiums, paronychia, phlegmons, abscesses, carbuncles, boils, hidradenitis, diseases of the ear, nose and throat, trophic ulcers and burns of II and III degrees. The drug increases the regenerative properties of tissues and accelerates the healing process of wounds. For postoperative infiltrates, lymphadenitis, adenophlegmons, some forms of osteoimelit, purulent lesions of the pleura and lungs, postoperative wounds, novoimanin is used using electrophoresis. Aerosol inhalations of novoimanin are used for bronchitis, pneumothorax, lung abscesses, purulent pleurisy, tonsillitis, acute respiratory diseases and exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis, including in children.
The use of novoimanin solution is contraindicated in rapidly developing granulations, as it can lead to bleeding.
Giflarin (Hyflarini) is a preparation from the herb St. John's wort, St. John's wort or St. John's wort meal after receiving novoimanin. It has anti-inflammatory, hypoazotemic, capillary-strengthening and antioxidant effects. It is used in the treatment of acute and chronic nephrosonephritis, nephrosis, all stages of chronic renal failure with symptoms of hyperazotemia and impaired diuresis.
Deprim - St. John's wort extract, contains biologically active substances hypericin and hyperforin. The drug improves mood and reduces feelings of fear and tension, normalizes sleep and appetite, increases motor and mental activity, and performance.
St. John's wort tincture (Tinctura Hyperici) is used in dental practice as an anti-inflammatory and astringent. Prepare in a ratio of 1:5 in 40% alcohol. 40-50 drops are prescribed orally 3-4 times a day. For rinsing - 30-40 drops per 1/2 glass of water. Shelf life: 4 years.
Imanin (Imaninum) is a plant antibiotic isolated in Kyiv under the leadership of Academician V. G. Drobotko from St. John's wort, which has a detrimental effect on more than 40 types of microbes. It is used in the treatment of abscesses, phlegmons, infected wounds, second and third degree burns, ulcers and sinusitis.
St. John's wort oil - pour fresh olive or sunflower oil over the green grass, boil for 30 minutes, cool. Prescribed externally for the treatment of wounds and burns.
Decoction of St. John's wort (Decoctum herbae Hyperici): 10 g (1 1/2 tablespoons) of the raw material is placed in an enamel bowl, poured with 200 ml of hot boiled water, covered with a lid and heated in boiling water (in a water bath) for 30 minutes, cooled for 10 minutes at room temperature, filter, squeeze out the remaining raw materials. The volume of the resulting decoction is adjusted to 200 ml with boiled water. The prepared broth is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. Used for external use, for douching and washing wounds.

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

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

Name in Latin: Hypericum perforatum

Name in English: St. John's worth ordinary

Family: St. John's wort

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

Features of St. John's wort

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

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

Description

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

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

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

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

They are distinguished by a number of characteristics:

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

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

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

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

Geography and distribution

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

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

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

Collection and preparation

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

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

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

Composition and properties

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Application of the herb St. John's wort

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

Decoction for the stomach

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

Preparation

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

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

Tea for liver diseases

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

Preparation

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

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

Antiseptic infusion

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

Preparation

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

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

Cough infusion

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

Preparation

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

Alcohol tincture

It is not prepared at home; it is produced industrially. The pharmaceutical industry extracts St. John's wort extract from coarsely ground herbs, which is fixed with 70% alcohol in a ratio of one to ten. Use internally and externally.

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

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

St. John's wort oil

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

Preparation

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

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

The drug "Novoimanin"

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

Contraindications

When using all medicinal forms of the plant, one should take into account the contraindications of St. John's wort. “The herb is rarely used in its pure form,” notes herbalist Andrei Varenikov. “You can appreciate all its wonderful properties in the form of combined fees.”

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

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

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

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

St. John's wort family - Guttiferae (Hypericaceae).

St. John's wort (St. John's wort, St. John's wort; lat.Hypericum perforatum ) is a herbaceous perennial rhizomatous plant with an erect, dihedral, branched stem. The leaves are opposite, fragrant, oblong-oval, with translucent pinpoint glands. The flowers are yellow, with a large number of stamens, fused in threads into three bunches. Pistil with three columns and a three-locular superior ovary. The fruit of St. John's wort is a three-locular multi-seeded capsule. Plant height 30-100 cm.

Common names: common duravets, hare's blood, bloodwort, thornwort (most regions of Russia), hare's krivtsa (Ukraine), dzherabai (Kazakhstan), dazy (Azerbaijan), krazana (Georgia), arevkurik (Armenia).

Flowering time: June July.

Spreading: St. John's wort is found in forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones of the European part of the country, in the Caucasus, Western Siberia and the mountains of Central Asia.

Place of growth: St. John's wort grows in forest clearings, bushes, gardens, and dry meadows.

Applicable part: grass (stems, leaves, flowers) and leaves.

Collection time: June July.

Chemical composition: St. John's wort herb contains the coloring matter hypericin, flavonoids hyperoside, rutin, quercitrin and quercetin, nicotinic acid, ceryl alcohol, tannins, a small amount of choline, carotene (up to 55 mg%), vitamins C, and PP, traces of alkaloids and phytoncides. St. John's wort, when crushed, has a peculiar pleasant odor and a slightly astringent, bitter-resinous taste.

Collection and preparation: St. John's wort is collected at the height of flowering. Cut off the entire above-ground part of the plant at a height of 10 cm from the ground; it is cleaned of impurities, tied into bundles and dried in the fresh air in the shade or in dryers at a temperature of 50-60°C. Sometimes the flowering tops of the plant are harvested separately. Shelf life - 2 years.

Contraindications: St. John's wort herb can cause discomfort in the liver and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, constipation, and loss of appetite.

St. John's wort slightly increases blood pressure; it is advisable to prescribe it to people suffering from hypertension only as part of a collection.

ATTENTION! The plant is poisonous.

Application:

The name of the plant comes from the Kazakh “jerabai”, which means “healer of wounds”. St. John's wort was known as a medicinal plant in Ancient Greece. In Russia it was used at the beginning of the 17th century. Russian folk medicine considers St. John's wort to be “the herb for ninety-nine diseases” and is widely used, especially in mixtures of medicinal herbs, to treat many diseases. The plant is used in folk medicine in many countries.

St. John's wort has an astringent, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, wound-healing, diuretic and choleretic effect. The plant stimulates the appetite, stimulates the excretory activity of various glands, promotes tissue regeneration (restoration), and has a calming effect on the nervous system.

An infusion of St. John's wort is used for women's diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (especially colitis and various diarrhea), pain in the stomach and intestines, diseases of the liver, heart and bladder, in particular for kidney stones, cystitis and involuntary night urination in children . The herb is also used as a sedative and analgesic for headaches and other nerve pain.

An infusion of St. John's wort is used as a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and anthelmintic.

In German folk medicine, St. John's wort infusion is taken for various gastrointestinal diseases, dropsy, liver and kidney diseases, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, and is used as a sedative for headaches, irritability, restless sleep and nervous spasms.

An alcoholic tincture of St. John's wort in the form of drops is taken orally for rheumatic diseases.

Crushed fresh leaves of St. John's wort applied to wounds promote rapid healing. Crushed herbs, infused with vegetable oil and mixed with turpentine, are rubbed on joints affected by rheumatism.

An alcohol tincture of St. John's wort, diluted with water, is used to rinse the mouth to eliminate bad odor; a clean tincture is used to lubricate the gums to strengthen them.

St. John's wort is included in various medicinal preparations (diuretic, astringent and antirheumatic).

St. John's wort is used in scientific medicine for colic and kidney stones. Clinical studies have shown the good effect of the ether-alcohol tincture of the plant in acute and chronic colitis. A new drug has been made from St. John's wort - Imanin for external use for burns (no disfiguring scars remain) and skin diseases, fresh and infected wounds, ulcers, boils, purulent inflammatory processes of the skin and acute runny nose. Acute runny nose goes away within a few hours after using Imanin.

Internal use of St. John's wort, as a poisonous plant, requires caution: large doses of the plant should not be taken.

St. John's wort flowers can be used for dyeing fabrics: a water infusion gives yellow dye, and a hot infusion, depending on the concentration, gives pink and red dyes.

Mode of application:

1) Brew 10 g of dry St. John's wort herb in 1 glass of boiling water, leave. Take 1 tablespoon 2-4 times a day after meals.

2) infuse 15-20 g of dry St. John's wort herb in 1/2 liter of alcohol or vodka. Take 30 drops with water 3 times a day after meals.

3) Grind fresh leaves of St. John's wort and sage (take equal parts) with fresh lard, squeeze through cheesecloth. Store in a sealed jar. Use as an ointment for healing wounds and abrasions.

4) add 20-30 drops of alcohol tincture of St. John's wort herb to 1/2 cup of water. Use as a rinse to treat bad breath.

A more concentrated infusion of St. John's wort for external use is prepared (2-3 tablespoons of herb per 2 cups of boiling water).

St. John's wort tincture is prepared at a ratio of 1:10 in 70% alcohol. Take 30-50 drops orally with 1/3 glass of water or to rinse the oropharynx.

Oil (Oleum Hyperici) is prepared as follows: 2-3 tablespoons of fresh St. John's wort flowers are poured into 200 g of linseed or sunflower oil. Insist for 2 weeks. in a dark place at room temperature, shaking occasionally. Strain and use as an external remedy.

Preparations:

Infusion and tincture are used

Rp.:Inf. Herbae Hyperici 10.0:200 m

D.S. 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day

Rp.: T-rae Hyperici 100 ml

D.S. To lubricate the gums

St. John's wort is also used in homeopathy. Hypericum perforatum 3X-2 is used. Prescribed for shooting pains of a neuralgic nature, for nerve injuries. Used as an ointment in the treatment of thrombophlebitis and trophic ulcers of the lower leg.

St. John's wort herb - may also be called St. John's wort, pierced, punctured, and so on. This is a very famous plant in our country with bright yellow flowers and a specific tart, but rather pleasant smell. The plant is herbaceous, perennial, of the St. John's wort family. The height of the plant can be from thirty to one hundred centimeters. Stems are branched, dihedral with opposite leaves. St. John's wort has sessile leaves, 0.3-1.5 cm wide and 0.7-3 cm long, obtuse, oval, with numerous punctate glands.

Flowers with five sepals and five petals, the inflorescence of the plant is broadly paniculate, almost corymbose. The fruit looks like an oblong-ovoid capsule 5.0 mm wide and 6.0 mm long. The seeds of the plant are small, less than 1 mm, cylindrical, brown in color. St. John's wort blooms and ripens from May to August. Usually this plant grows everywhere, with the exception of the cold Far North. St. John's wort is considered almost the most important medicinal herb, which is part of many herbal preparations. It has long been said that the medicinal properties of St. John's wort cure 99 diseases.

This herb got its name for a reason. The fact is that St. John's wort is slightly toxic to people, but can cause poisoning in animals. Cattle, horses and sheep are sensitive to grass.

Preparation of St. John's wort

For medicinal purposes Almost the entire plant is used. When harvesting, the stem is cut close to the branch. The lower bases of the stem are not subject to harvesting. When collecting, it is necessary to use cutting tools, otherwise you can pull out the St. John's wort with its rhizome, which will lead to a decrease in the number of plants and a decrease in the quality of the resulting raw materials.

The grass obtained after collection is loosely placed in bags and immediately delivered to the place where drying will be carried out. You can dry it under canopies, in attics, in rooms with good ventilation and in dryers at temperatures up to +40˚C. The raw materials for drying are scattered in a layer 5 to 7 cm thick and mixed periodically. The raw material is considered dried when the plant stems become brittle. St. John's wort dries quickly, losing its bright color and turning brown. The finished raw material emits a faint aromatic odor, the taste is bitter, slightly astringent.

In the herb St. John's wort there is about 0.1%-0.4% hypericin, which belongs to dianthraquinone compounds, 12% tannins, 0.2% essential oil, saponins, flavonoids, 17% resinous substances, carotene and vitamin C.

In traditional medicine, St. John's wort is used as an astringent, tonic and anti-inflammatory agent for coughing and hemorrhage.

Drugs, which include St. John's wort, are used to treat peptic ulcers, gout, rheumatism, nervous diseases, and also as a diuretic and anthelmintic. The herb is also used to treat psychosis, diseases of the intestinal tract (chronic gastritis, diarrhea, etc.), diseases of the gallbladder and liver.

A strong infusion of St. John's wort is used in dentistry. It strengthens gums, eliminates unpleasant odor from the mouth and is used as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Research has established that the extract of this herb, when administered intravenously, perfectly stimulates cardiac activity, increases the amplitude of heart contractions, raises arterial blood pressure and constricts blood vessels.

St. John's wort is one of the few plants that provides raw materials for the production of effective plant antibiotics. The high antibacterial activity of acetone, alcohol, ether and other extracts from this plant has been established.

Imanin– an antibiotic prepared from St. John’s wort has a detrimental effect on more than 40 different types of microorganisms, including the causative agents of tuberculosis, dysentery and whooping cough.

Novoimanin– a drug of the antibacterial series, obtained from St. John's wort, has an effect on gram-positive microbes, on staphylococci that are resistant to penicillin.

St. John's wort oil extract and tincture are sold in pharmacies; their medicinal properties are similar to the plant itself.

Not only professional doctors, but also healers and healers recommend using St. John's wort in the form of decoctions, infusions and ointments to treat a large number of diseases.

St. John's wort in gynecology. For the treatment of inflammatory processes in the uterus and uterine appendages with menstrual irregularities, an infusion of St. John's wort is used. Preparing the infusion is very simple, you need 2 tbsp. finely chopped herbs pour 1 tbsp. hot boiled water, leave for forty minutes, then cool and strain. Take 3 times a day thirty minutes before meals. TO The course of treatment is six to eight weeks.

St. John's wort ointment helps with inflammation of the vaginal and cervical mucosa, as well as with cervical erosion. You can prepare the ointment by chopping 500 grams of fresh plant flowers with leaves and pouring one liter of sunflower oil. This mixture should be infused in a dark place for three weeks. After this, the resulting ointment must be filtered. The ointment is applied using cotton swabs. The course of treatment is from 10 to 12 days.

St. John's wort for face and hair. In winter, autumn and spring, you need to actively use St. John's wort in facial skin care, since this herb has no equal in cosmetics. But in the summer it is worth stopping the use of St. John's wort, because it increases the sensitivity of the skin to direct sunlight. It is useful to wipe your face with St. John's wort lotion, especially if your skin is oily. For cooking you need 2 tbsp. dry ground grass pour 1 tbsp. boiling water and place on low heat for ten minutes. After this, cool and strain. The lotion is ready.

St. John's wort for hair is used in the form of a tincture. 2 tbsp. 500g of herbs should be poured. vodka and leave for one week in a cool, dark place. Before use, the tincture must be diluted with boiled water, then rub it into the hair roots. This tincture will strengthen your hair if you use it twice a week.

Tinctures and decoctions from St. John's wort used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, liver and kidney diseases, hysteria, insomnia, neuralgia, epilepsy and paralysis.

To prepare the decoction you need 1 tbsp. chopped St. John's wort pour 1 tbsp. water and boil for 12-15 minutes, after the broth has cooled, strain. The resulting decoction should be drunk in one day in several doses. In order to get a tincture from this plant you need 1 tbsp. St. John's wort pour 200 g of boiling water and leave for thirty minutes. Take 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day before meals. A decoction of St. John's wort is used to wash children with diathesis, rashes, abscesses, and skin tuberculosis. The roots of this plant help with bone tuberculosis and dysentery.

St. John's wort for men is also of great importance, taking a decoction can restore lost male strength. The men's decoction is prepared according to the following recipe: 10 grams of herb is poured into a glass of boiling water, infused and taken 60 grams 30 minutes before eating.

For external use You can make St. John's wort oil, which helps with severe bruises of the back and chest; it can heal ulcers, wounds, abscesses and other purulent inflammations. For burns, St. John's wort oil is a radical remedy. To prepare the oil, you need to pour 20 grams of freshly picked flowers into 200 grams of linseed or sunflower oil, leave for two weeks, shake periodically. The oil should be blood red in color.

Contraindications to the use of St. John's wort

St. John's wort is contraindicated during pregnancy. You should not take it if you have hypertension, as it increases blood pressure. Since St. John's wort contains a small amount of toxins, it should not be taken for a long time, as unpleasant painful sensations in the liver and a bitter taste in the mouth may occur.

Also, when taken for more than three weeks, St. John's wort can cause temporary impotence, but a few weeks after the end of use, St. John's wort will be eliminated from the body and everything will be restored. It is also necessary to take into account that St. John's wort increases the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet radiation, so when using the decoction and tincture you should refrain from sunbathing.

Despite all the contraindications and precautions, when used correctly and skillfully, this plant is very useful and effective.

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Our ancestors knew about the benefits of the herb St. John's wort from ancient times: not only healers hung dry bunches of these plants on the walls, this raw material was used in all huts without exception - both as a magical talisman and as a medicine. In modern pharmacology, the properties of St. John's wort are widely used in the manufacture of drugs such as “Imanin” and “Novoimanin”.

Description of the plant St. John's wort

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) belongs to the St. John's wort family (Hypericaceae).

This is a perennial herbaceous plant with erect stems 40-80 cm high.

The leaves are opposite, oblong-ovate or linear-oblong, up to 3 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide, entire, with numerous translucent pinpoint glands, which makes the leaf seem as if perforated by a needle (hence the species name).

As can be seen in the photo, the flowers of St. John's wort are large (about 3 cm in diameter), numerous, collected in terminal widely paniculate or almost corymbose inflorescences:

The perianth is double, five-membered. Sepals are green, with black glands; corolla golden yellow. There are many stamens, they grow together with threads into three bundles; pestle with three columns. The fruits are brown leathery capsules with numerous small dark brown seeds. It blooms in June-August, the fruits ripen in July-September.

As a special feature when describing the St. John's wort plant, it is worth noting the sepals - onilinear or lanceolate, sharp, a stem with 2 longitudinal ribs.

Not to be confused with St. John's wort, which is a small or medium-sized herb that grows in meadows and on the edges of deciduous and mixed forests. In appearance it is similar to St. John's wort, but it has small opposite oval leaves on the stem and ends in a corymbose inflorescence of yellow flowers. St. John's wort is distinguished by a tetrahedral hollow stem and leaves with black dotted glands without translucent dots.

Spreading: everywhere in the European part of Russia and Western Siberia. A common plant for Central Russia. Prefers forest edges, bright clearings, grows along roads. An alien in North America.

Raw materials of St. John's wort: chemical composition and use

Pharmacy name: St. John's wort herb, St. John's wort oil.

Time to collect St. John's wort raw materials: June July.

Parts used: aboveground part of the plant (grass).

Composition of St. John's wort:

• gallic acid (10%);
• geraniol – essential oil of the plant;
• hyperin (hyperoside, quercetin-3-galactoside) - whole plant: 0.59-1.8%, stb. 0.13%, color. 1.1-3%;
• hypericin - stb., leaf, color, whole plant: 0.1-0.4%;
• hyperforin; camphor (camphor) - essential oil of the root;
• quercetin (quercetin) - plant;
• leucodelphinidin - plant;
• mannitol (mannitol, fraxinin) - krn. 1.1-2%;
• alpha-, beta-pinenes - plant essential oil, leaf essential oil;
• pseudohypericin - plant;
• rutin - whole plant: 0.5-0.71%, stb., leaf. 2%, color;
• beta-sitosterol (beta-sitosterol) - plant;
• chlorogenic acid - plant, color;
• choline - plant;
• cineole is the essential oil of the plant.

Also, the chemical composition of St. John's wort includes resins (up to 10%), carotene (up to 55 mg%), nicotinic and ascorbic acids, vitamin P, and ceryl alcohol. The juice from the fresh grass of this plant contains 1.5 times more active ingredients than the tincture.

The medicinal raw materials of St. John's wort are collected at the height of flowering. The above-ground part of the plant is cut off at a height of 10 cm from the ground, cleaned of impurities, tied into bunches and dried in the fresh air in the shade or in dryers at a temperature of 50-60°C. The end of drying is determined by the degree of fragility of the stems. When dried, they do not bend, but break. The raw materials are leafy stems with flowers, buds, fruits and seeds. The raw materials are matte green in color, with a faint aromatic odor, bitterish, slightly astringent taste. Under-dried raw materials quickly deteriorate. Shelf life - 2 years.

The plant is listed in the Red Books of Karelia and the Khanty-Mansiysk National District.

Growing: Any well-drained, moderately moist soil is required, preferably in a sunny place. The easiest way to propagate is by dividing the bush in spring or autumn.

This is one of the most popular medicinal plants. It has a general strengthening, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, antiviral, hemostatic and astringent effect. St. John's wort preparations have P-vitamin activity and reduce capillary permeability.

Acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic for inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

The herb St. John's wort has an antispasmodic effect and stimulates the activity of the heart; it is used for myocarditis and endocarditis.

St. John's wort is prescribed for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, enterocolitis, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids), liver and gallbladder (gallbladder dyskinesia, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, acute and chronic hepatitis).

Used as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent for glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, and inflammation of the prostate gland.

In folk medicine, St. John's wort is also used for diseases of the joints - metabolic, infectious and rheumatic etiology; for non-healing wounds, ulcers and fistulas, for acute colds, tuberculosis, hay fever and childhood diathesis.

The herb St. John's wort is widely used for the folk treatment of neoplasms and various types of inflammatory processes in the female genital area.

It is used as an anthelmintic; St. John's wort is used to treat bedwetting in children.

The herb has photosensitizing properties, that is, it increases the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet rays and is used in the treatment of vitiligo.

St. John's wort is also prescribed as an external remedy: for rinsing for diseases of the nasopharynx and oral cavity, for douching for leucorrhoea, for baths, in the form of ointments and compresses for burns, to accelerate the healing of wounds and bedsores.

50% alcohol extract of St. John's wort helps relieve feelings of fear and anxiety.

Medicines based on the herb St. John's wort

The properties of St. John's wort are used not only in folk medicine, but also in official pharmacology.

In surgery and dermatology, medicines from the herb St. John's wort are used - “Imanin” and “Novoimanin”.

Novoimaninum is an antibacterial drug. A 1% alcohol solution of 10 ml is produced in orange glass bottles. This remedy is obtained from St. John's wort. It is a resinous reddish-yellow mass with the smell of honey. Store in a place protected from light. Acts on gram-positive microbes, including staphylococci resistant to penicillin, the causative agents of diphtheria and whooping cough.

"Novoimanin" is used for abscesses, phlegmons, mastitis, hidradenitis, felons, boils, carbuncles, paraproctitis, after surgical opening of the abscess. For washing and irrigating the wound surface for non-healing wounds, ulcers and burns, a 0.1% solution of “Novoimanin” is used to wet bandages and tampons. The solution is prepared extempore (immediately before use), diluting with distilled water or 10% glucose solution, or saline. When treating burns, use a 0.1% solution obtained by diluting a 1% alcohol solution with a 0.25% anesthesin solution.

In otolaryngological practice for acute rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, chronic tonsillitis, chronic and acute otitis, in dentistry for ulcerative stomatitis, “Novoimanin” is used in solution (0.01-0.1% solutions obtained by diluting the original solution with distilled water ) for irrigation, wetting tampons, washing cavities, inhalations, electro- and phonophoresis, as well as in the form of drops in the nose and ear.

In obstetric and gynecological medicine, St. John's wort preparations for mastitis and cracked nipples are used externally in the form of a 1% solution in 95% alcohol.

“Novoimanin” is also prescribed for bronchitis, lung abscesses, pneumonia, purulent pleurisy, pyopneumothorax, abscess pneumonia in the form of inhalation of a 0.1% solution.

St. John's wort and preparations made from it promote tissue restoration without leaving disfiguring scars.

• St. John's wort preparations turned out to be ineffective against retroviruses in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and those infected with HIV, and also do not relieve pain in polyneuropathy (multiple damage to peripheral nerves).

Economic purpose: St. John's wort herb is used in the distillery industry to make tinctures. Included in bitter liqueurs "St. John's wort", "Balsam" and wine "Vermouth".

St. John's wort herb is used as a seasoning for fish dishes and other products.

The flowers are used to dye fabrics yellow, green, pink and black. When adding a decoction of common sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.), St. John's wort produces fawn tones, and if you add a decoction of mint, you get an orange-red color.

In warm, humid weather, the flowers secrete a little nectar. Moderately visited by bees to collect pollen.

Traditional recipes based on St. John's wort for the treatment of diseases

Traditional recipes based on St. John's wort for the treatment of various diseases:

• decoction: 1 tablespoon of herb per 1 cup of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes over low heat and filter. Take 1/4 cup 3 times a day.
• Tincture: pour coarsely crushed St. John's wort herb with 40% alcohol or vodka in a ratio of 1:5, leave for 10 days to 1 month, filter. Take 30-40 drops per 1/2 glass of water as a mouth rinse for tonsillitis, sore throat, gingivitis, bad breath, stomatitis and turundica in the ear for otitis. The use of St. John's wort in folk medicine for breast cancer: apply St. John's wort vodka tincture daily for 20-30 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
• Tincture: in a ratio of 1:10 in 70% alcohol, leave for 7-14 days. Take 30-50 drops with 1/3 glass of water orally or use to gargle and rinse the mouth. For neurorheumatism, take 50 drops of tincture 3 times a day, washed down with an infusion of the herb bevitsa (chistets) half an hour before meals 3 times a day. After 2 weeks, a folk remedy based on St. John's wort can be replaced with an infusion of another herb, alternately making infusions for washing down with herbs: speedwell, meadow geranium, bedstraw, cinquefoil, meadowsweet.
• tincture for colitis: herb with vodka in a ratio of 1:5, leave for 14 days, shaking occasionally, filter. Take 45-50 drops 2-3 times a day.
• Infusion for internal use: 1 tablespoon of herb per 1.5 cups of boiling water, leave for 2 hours. Use of St. John's wort herb according to this traditional medicine recipe: 1/3 cup 3 times 20-40 minutes before meals.
• infusion for external use: 2-3 tablespoons of herb per 2 cups of boiling water. Use as intended.
• St. John's wort infusion recipe for the treatment of enterocolitis: 2 tablespoons of herb per 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1.5-3 hours, filter. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
• decoction for colitis: 2 tablespoons of herb per 500 ml of boiling water, boil for 10-15 minutes, filter. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
• vegetable oil with St. John's wort herb No. 1: take 1 tablespoon of dry St. John's wort, calendula flowers, eucalyptus leaves and 400 ml of vegetable oil (preferably olive). Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat, covered, for 10-15 minutes, filter. Keep refrigerated. Before use, slightly warm the required amount of oil. An excellent antibacterial agent for a home first aid kit, especially when treating children. They lubricate wounds, burns and abrasions, and also instill a few drops into the nose 2-4 times a day for acute respiratory infections, dry nose, and to prevent the flu.
• olive oil with St. John's wort herb No. 2: Grind 1 tablespoon of the dried flowering tops of the St. John's wort herb in a mortar. Pour 1 cup of olive oil into a white glass jar, which is left uncovered, leave in a warm place, stirring occasionally. After 3-5 days, when fermentation is over, close the jar and keep it in the sun until the oil turns bright red (about 6 weeks), filter.
• Vegetable oil with St. John's wort herb No. 3: Fill a glass jar up to the shoulders with fresh flowering tops and add olive oil, if it is not available, any vegetable oil must be cold-pressed. Press the grass to the bottom with some glass object - it should not be on the surface of the oil, otherwise mold will appear, and this should not be allowed under any circumstances. The use of St. John's wort according to this traditional medicine recipe is possible after 3 weeks, but it must be filtered after 3 months. Take 1 teaspoon of St. John's wort oil 2-3 times a day shortly before meals for head trauma, vitiligo, trophic ulcers (as a compress for a long time), for skin cancer, apply St. John's wort oil to the affected areas as often as possible. Keep refrigerated.
• Vegetable oil with St. John's wort herb No. 4: Mix crushed St. John's wort with vegetable oil, add turpentine. The proportions of oil:turpentine are 1:1, 2:1 or 3:1, depending on the sensitivity of the skin. To use oil with St. John's wort according to this traditional medicine recipe, you need to rub the composition into painful areas for radiculitis, arthritis, and sciatica.
• flaxseed oil with St. John's wort herb No. 5: Fill a glass jar up to the shoulders with fresh flowering tops, without compacting, and fill with linseed oil. The grass should be completely covered with oil. Filter after 3-5 months. Take starting from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon 2 times a day, for 6 weeks with a small amount of vegetable salad or brown bread. If discomfort occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to reduce the dosage to an acceptable one. At the same time as taking flaxseed oil, do not take other oils and fats, as well as cheeses, sausages, smoked meats, and fatty meats. Do not take oil after 18 hours. Take 2-3 courses per year. Used for prostatitis and hemorrhoids in the form of enemas and tampons, as well as orally for diseases of the liver and bile ducts, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, herpes of various localizations, opisthorchiasis, giardia, depression, for cold allergies in winter, both internally and externally, for heavy physical and nervous stress, vitiligo, psoriasis, skin diseases, osteochondrosis, memory loss, decreased thyroid function, wounds, chemical burns, in cosmetology. Additional contraindications for flaxseed oil: use the oil with caution if you have glaucoma, when using hormonal contraceptives and MAO inhibitors, or with increased thyroid function.
• decoction: 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort seeds per 0.5 liters of water, boil for 5 minutes. Use for pain in the tailbone and anus in the form of sitz baths.
• emulsion for adenoids: Grind the St. John's wort herb into powder and sift. To 1 teaspoon of powder, add 4 teaspoons of vegetable oil and 25 drops of celandine juice (fresh or canned), shake until an emulsion is formed. Instill 2 drops into each nostril 3-4 times a day.

Contraindications to the use of St. John's wort

Despite the high medicinal properties of St. John's wort, there are also contraindications to its use. As popular as this plant is among the people, it is also dangerous if the rules of administration are not followed and the recommendations are ignored!

• The herb St. John's wort is slightly toxic. When used for a long time in its pure form, it can cause discomfort in the liver and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth.
• St. John's wort preparations are safe for oral administration when used for a short period (up to 8 weeks) in moderate doses.
• St. John's wort slightly increases blood pressure. For persons suffering from hypertension, it is prescribed only as a herbal mixture and in small doses. The drugs are used as directed and under the supervision of a doctor, or it is better to refuse them altogether.
• St. John's wort should not be used with other medications, especially immunosuppressants. Being a powerful catalyst for CYP enzymes, in particular CYP3A4, St. John's wort accelerates the elimination of medications from the body, thereby reducing their therapeutic effect, and this can, for example, lead to rejection of a transplanted organ due to the removal of an immunosuppressant from the body. If you take a blood pressure pill to reduce blood clotting, bronchodilators and many other medications, you will not feel their effect or relief. And this can lead to a tragic outcome.
• When taking St. John's wort and tacrolimus simultaneously, the content of the latter in the blood plasma decreases sharply, so the dosage of the medication is increased by 60%.
• St. John's wort prolongs the effect of analgesics and anesthetics, and can also provoke cardiovascular failure during anesthesia in people who have taken St. John's wort preparations for 6 months, and should be discontinued 1 month before the upcoming operation under anesthesia.
• St. John's wort reduces the effect of indirect anticoagulants: warfarin and comadine.
• St. John's wort may increase thyrotropin (TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels.
• St. John's wort reduces the effect of digitalis and digoxin.
• The simultaneous use of drugs based on St. John's wort and tramadol (an opioid analgesic), frovatriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, fenfluramine, meperidine, sertraline and zolmitriptan can cause a narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain and lead to serotonin intoxication.
• Concomitant use of St. John's wort with antidepressants (especially nefazodone, paroxetine and sertraline) may increase side effects from taking medications.
• Simultaneous use of St. John's wort and theophylline leads to a decrease in the therapeutic effect of the latter and adjustment of theophylline doses is necessary. Stopping taking St. John's wort leads to the restoration of theophylline in the blood plasma to normal.
• Medicines containing St. John's wort can cause psychosis and progressive dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease.
• In case of endogenous mental illness (bipolar affective disorder, bipolar disorder, formerly manic-depressive psychosis, MDP), taking St. John's wort preparations can provoke the development of hypomania, mania or depression.
• When taking MAOIs, you should not take St. John's wort for another 14 days after stopping the medication.
• You should not take St. John's wort with Paxil (paroxetine), as the side effects of the medication will increase. There is now evidence that Paxil does more harm to the body than good, even without St. John's wort.
• You should not take St. John's wort and drugs that cause photosensitivity (sulfonamides, tetracycline, quinolones, amitriptyline).
• There are still many modern medicines on the list of prohibited use with St. John's wort preparations.
• St. John's wort increases the metabolism of phenytoin (anticonvulsant, anti-rhythmic, muscle relaxant), so it is necessary to increase the dose of the medicine, or better yet, abandon St. John's wort.
• St. John's wort preparations can cause hypersensitivity reactions to any substance.
• Even in healthy people, strongly brewed St. John's wort tea can cause symptoms of acute gastritis, and those suffering from hyperacid gastritis or gastric ulcers may experience severe spasms and pain in the intestines.
• In case of overdose (more than 0.5 liters of decoction per day), preparations based on the herb St. John's wort cause depression of the central nervous system, apathy, lethargy and drowsiness.
• Abuse of St. John's wort can provoke a headache, the so-called “torticollis” - stiff neck, nausea, vomiting.
• Amino acids, tryptophan and tyrosine, and amphetamines should not be used simultaneously with St. John's wort.
• Asthmatics should not use inhalers at the same time as St. John's wort.
• When taking oral contraceptives, concomitant use of St. John's wort can cause abnormal menstrual bleeding not only during menstrual cycles, but also between them.
• Cheeses, beer, coffee, wine, chocolate, smoked or pickled foods, and yogurts are not combined with St. John's wort.
• You cannot combine hay fever medications or nasal drops with St. John's wort; drugs are excluded.
• St. John's wort preparations should not be taken at elevated temperatures.
• Long-term (more than 9 months) use of St. John's wort reduces sexual potency and the ability to reproduce offspring.
• When taking St. John's wort, neuropathy (nerve damage of various etiologies) may occur.
• There is an opinion about the possible influence of St. John's wort preparations on the development of cataracts, but there is no confirmation of such facts yet.
• Long-term use of St. John's wort can cause hives.
• Taking St. John's wort at night can cause vivid dreams.
• St. John's wort increases the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, so after drinking tea or herbal infusion, you must refrain from sunbathing and avoid being in the sun. If this rule is violated, St. John's wort can cause sunburn of the skin, even severe dermatitis. They are especially difficult for blondes and people with delicate skin; they must use protection from direct sunlight.
• St. John's wort is also known as an accumulator of the poisonous metal cadmium (depending on the place of growth).
• You should stop taking medications with St. John's wort during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• It is better not to give St. John's wort to children under 12 years of age.

St. John's wort macerate and its properties

• Color: transparent reddish-brown oily liquid.
• Aroma: characteristic pleasant smell.
• Plant part used: stems with flowers.
• Receipt method: oil extraction from flowers and leaves, CO2 extraction from stems.

Cosmetic effect: powerful antioxidant, strong regenerating agent. Ideal for caring for problematic, combination, oily and mixed skin that has become dehydrated for any reason. Prevents moisture loss, normalizes the composition of the hydrolipid layer of the skin, reduces inflammation, irritation and itching. Used for skin infections. Used to care for oily hair (dandruff). Used to care for skin prone to allergic reactions.

Application:

• to care for oily hair with dandruff, to strengthen and accelerate hair growth with seborrhea and baldness - the oil is rubbed in 1 hour before washing your hair or at night, while the hair is tucked under a plastic bag and wrapped in a warm scarf.

Healing properties:

• inhibits inflammation and calms the nervous system;
• eliminates hematomas, has a resolving, regenerating effect;
• eliminates capillary fragility, exhibits anti-rosacea effect;
• for hemorrhoids, use tampons at night;
• for the treatment of ulcers and wounds, abrasions, bruises, bruises, scars;
• powerful anti-burn agent;
• promotes regeneration and epithelization of the skin during herpetic rash;
• used in the treatment of inflammatory processes on the skin.

Methods for using the medicinal properties of St. John's wort macerate:

• cosmetics: as an additive to base cosmetic oils - 10-20%;
• compresses: linen napkins soaked in St. John's wort oil help with muscle sprains and cramps. It is better to use together with other plant extracts, for example, in creams and lotions for the care of oily and normal skin, cleansing masks, and anti-acne lotions. St. John's wort increases the sensitivity of discolored skin to ultraviolet rays, so after application to the skin, prolonged exposure to sunlight is undesirable.
• burns: Burnt areas of skin are lubricated with oil 2-3 times a day.
• rough skin: A mixture of 1 teaspoon of St. John's wort oil, 1 teaspoon (without top) of table salt and 5 drops of calendula oil is intensively rubbed into the steamed and treated sole.
• insomnia: If you have trouble sleeping and are in a depressed mood, take a bath by first mixing 4 tablespoons of sea salt with 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort oil and dissolving in water.
• massage: base oil, 20% St. John's wort oil and a few drops of essential oil if desired.

Precautions when using St. John's wort macerate: increases skin sensitivity to light, so prolonged exposure to the sun should be avoided. Do not use in its pure form!

St. John's wort in cosmetology

St. John's wort vegetable oil.

Wound healing, regenerating, decongestant and antioxidant agent for any skin type. It is used in hair care products of any type as a strengthening and anti-dandruff remedy. Can be used with caution in tanning cosmetics. Hazard factor 1 on a ten-point system. Has a sensitizing effect. It is introduced into formulations from 10 to 20%.

Contraindications:

St. John's wort oil extract.

Regenerating, antioxidant, softening, toning and anti-rosacea agent for any type of body skin, especially sensitive and problematic. Used in children's cosmetics. Enter from 1 to 20%.

Contraindications: increases skin sensitivity to light.

St. John's wort macerate.

Moisturizing, pore-tightening, anti-inflammatory, anti-rosacea, soothing, normalizing secretion and slightly whitening product for oily, combination and problem skin. Restores the hydrolipidic barter of the skin. Used in acne preparations. For any type of hair it is used as a growth stimulating and anti-dandruff product. Up to 50% is introduced into cosmetics.

Contraindications: increases skin sensitivity to light.

Dry extract of St. John's wort.

Fine-grained powder of light brown color, highly soluble in water. Deodorizing, antiseptic, bactericidal, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and anti-irritation agent for oily, normal and combination skin of the body and nails. Included in anti-dandruff shampoos for oily and normal hair. Up to 5% is introduced into the aqueous phase.

Contraindications:

St. John's wort hydrosol.

Anti-aging, bactericidal, moisturizing, toning, normalizing secretion, increasing elasticity, regenerating and softening for oily, aging and dry skin. Can be used for herpes, fungal diseases, diaper rash, itching, inflammation, rosacea, varicose veins and rosacea. Introduced into cosmetics up to 100%.

Contraindications: Individual intolerance is possible.

Supercritical CO2 extract of St. John's wort.

Supercritical fluid extraction with natural carbon dioxide from grass. An ointment-like mass of a brownish-marsh color with white inclusions with a characteristic odor of the plant. In cosmetic products it is used as a tonic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. It is used in creams and lotions for the care of oily and normal skin, cleansing masks, acne lotions, bath products and hair strengthening products, for seborrhea and baldness. It is introduced into cosmetics from 0.01 to 0.1%.

Contraindications: Individual intolerance is possible.

St. John's wort in home cosmetology:

• disinfectant lotion: 2 teaspoons of St. John's wort per 200 ml of boiling water, boil for 3-5 minutes, let cool, filter. Add 2 teaspoons of vodka. Use only in the evening.

Contraindications: Individual intolerance is possible.