St. John's wort - a cure for a hundred ailments! How can St. John's wort be used for infectious and inflammatory diseases

Hello dear readers. Today we will talk about the herb St. John's wort, consider the medicinal properties, the use of St. John's wort and contraindications. John's wort is widely used in folk medicine. Infusions, tinctures, tea, oil, ointment are prepared from the herb and used for medicinal purposes. St. John's wort is part of various herbal preparations. St. John's wort for the treatment of diseases was used by my grandmother, she did not buy grass in a pharmacy, but she collected and dried it herself. Although now St. John's wort grass can be purchased at the pharmacy.

In the old days, people used to say that St. John's wort can cure ninety-nine diseases. In addition, this herb was used in magical rituals and to protect housing from evil spirits. The grass was collected in bunches and hung at the entrance to the dwelling.

St. John's wort is a perennial plant that can reach a meter in height. St. John's wort blooms with yellow flowers, which are collected in inflorescences. St. John's wort flowers from June to August. We love to walk in the woods with children in the summer, often there you can find a St. John's wort plant in the clearings. St. John's wort grows in clearings, along forests, fields, on the edges of forests, in meadows, in gardens.

In our area, St. John's wort can even be found on the playground. St. John's wort grew on our site last summer. Truth be told, I had no desire to rip it off. All the same, so many cars drive around, and cars are parked literally half a meter from St. John's wort. Yes, he grew up small. While there is a lot of it in the forest. And moreover, it grew in large clearings.

For therapeutic purposes, the upper part of the plant is used, that is, the flowers along with the leaves. St. John's wort is harvested only during the flowering period. Dry in the shade under a canopy, the grass needs to be laid out in a thin layer, so it dries faster. You can dry in the attic, but only in a well-ventilated, or in a dryer. The dried grass is stored in a cotton bag in a dry place.

And in winter, you can brew very tasty and fragrant tea from St. John's wort, and in combination with other herbs, such tea is even more useful. And I would say that for preventive purposes it is better not to get carried away with St. John's wort often. And if you drink, then in combination with other herbs, preferably containing estrogens. Why this is needed, you will learn about this at the end of the article.

St. John's wort is a unique plant that contains ascorbic, nicotinic acid, carotene, sugar, tannins, resinous and bitter substances, essential oils, phytoncides, choline, saponins, alkaloids.

St. John's wort grass. Medicinal properties.

Due to its composition, St. John's wort has wound healing properties, heals wounds, cuts, ulcers, burns.
John's wort is used as a diuretic.
St. John's wort has anti-inflammatory properties, it is used for colds, and St. John's wort tea also reduces the temperature.
St. John's wort has antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral properties.
St. John's wort is also used as a choleretic agent, that is, with diseases of the gallbladder.
John's wort has a vasodilating property.
Due to the fact that St. John's wort contains tannins, the grass has an astringent property.
St. John's wort has a tonic and tonic properties.
St. John's wort has antispasmodic properties, relieves spasm of blood vessels, muscle spasms of internal organs.
St. John's wort tea helps to cope with insomnia, fatigue, lethargy, fatigue, irritability. St. John's wort has a calming effect on the nervous system.
St. John's wort stimulates the work of our immune system, improves the functioning of the body's defense mechanisms.
St. John's wort has a hemostatic healing property.
The best remedy for burns is St. John's wort oil, it promotes rapid tissue regeneration, and prevents scarring. I say this for a reason, my grandmother always used St. John's wort oil for burns, always very effectively.

I don’t know about you, but I have long noticed that many drugs that are used to quickly heal wounds leave a scar. Sometimes even a small scratch turns into a noticeable scar on the skin, and when using St. John's wort oil, even a deep wound can be barely noticeable.

As you can see, St. John's wort has a fairly wide range of medicinal properties. The people are very respectful of this miraculous herb. Now I want to talk about the use of St. John's wort in traditional medicine. Also about how to prepare oil, tincture, infusion, decoction of St. John's wort.

St. John's wort grass. Application.

St. John's wort is often used for headaches and dizziness.
At high temperatures, as St. John's wort tea reduces the temperature well.
St. John's wort infusions and decoctions are used for gastric and duodenal ulcers. St. John's wort is the strongest antispasmodic.
St. John's wort is used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is most effective for diarrhea and colitis.
Herb St. John's wort has a positive effect on the body with cystitis and women's diseases.
For acne, boils, St. John's wort is used in the form of lotions and compresses.
St. John's wort is used for diseases of the gallbladder and liver.
With insomnia, fatigue, irritability.
As an anti-inflammatory agent for angina.
St. John's wort and St. John's wort oil are effective for hemorrhoids.
St. John's wort is used for nighttime urinary incontinence.
With bronchitis, with colds.
St. John's wort is used as a hemostatic agent for uterine bleeding.
It is used as a tonic for cardiovascular diseases.
St. John's wort is used for tumors.

Preparation of tea, decoction, tincture, infusion, oil, ointment from St. John's wort.

St. John's wort herb decoction. We use one tablespoon of chopped herbs, pour 0.5 liters of water, boil over low heat for about 15 - 20 minutes, insist and strain the broth. Apply 1/3 of a glass a day before meals for diseases of the stomach, intestines, insomnia. Externally with rashes, abscesses, boils. Gargle with a decoction for stomatitis, inflammation of the gums is used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

St. John's wort alcohol tincture. An alcoholic tincture is prepared from St. John's wort. 4 tablespoons of herbs pour 200 ml. alcohol, insist 10 days in a dark place, then filter the tincture. It is used for cuts, wounds, abrasions, gum disease, to eliminate bad breath.

St. John's wort herb infusion. In 200 grams of boiling water, add one teaspoon of St. John's wort and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. The infusion is filtered. Taken with diseases of the stomach, headaches, bronchitis, cystitis.

St. John's wort oil. A tablespoon of fresh St. John's wort flowers should be poured into 200 ml. vegetable oil, it can be olive, linseed, corn oil. Insist in a cool place for 10 days, and the contents must be shaken periodically. Then the oil must be filtered. It is used for burns, for wounds, for douching, for hemorrhoids, for diaper rash of the skin. St. John's wort oil, in addition to its wound-healing medicinal properties, also has analgesic properties.

St. John's wort ointment. St. John's wort ointment, like oil, is used to heal wounds, cuts, and abrasions. St. John's wort leaves should be rubbed with fresh lard. The ointment is stored in the refrigerator in a glass jar.

St. John's wort in diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Herb St. John's wort is used for diseases of the throat, for coughs, for sore throats, as inhalations, gargles, decoctions or infusions.

To prepare inhalation, two tablespoons of St. John's wort should be poured over the floor with a liter of boiling water, boil for 5-7 minutes and breathe over the steam wrapped in a towel. Excellent cough remedy.

With a sore throat, a warm decoction of St. John's wort should be gargled 5 times a day. You can use alcohol tincture. Add 20 drops of tincture to a glass of boiled warm water.

For a cold, mix linden flowers, dry raspberries, St. John's wort in equal proportions. Pour two tablespoons of a mixture of herbs into the floor with a liter of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes. Drink this infusion warm. Honey and lemon can be added to this infusion to taste.

St. John's wort in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

St. John's wort is used for diarrhea, as an astringent, for colitis. To prepare a decoction, you need 1 tablespoon of herbs and half a liter of water, add grass to the pot and pour water, put on fire, boil for 15 minutes, filter. Drink a warm decoction 1/3 cup five times a day.

With peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum and gastritis, you need to drink an infusion or decoction of St. John's wort, half a glass before meals three times a day.

St. John's wort is also used for hemorrhoids. St. John's wort oil is used for enemas, they are also lubricated with hemorrhoids. Apply warm sitz baths from a decoction of hemorrhoids grass. So the wife's grandmother treats hemorrhoids, St. John's wort for hemorrhoids is really a very effective remedy.

St. John's wort for cystitis.

St. John's wort is brewed and drunk for both chronic and acute cystitis. St. John's wort relieves inflammation and spasms. The broth is prepared as follows: one teaspoon of St. John's wort is poured with a glass of boiling water, boiled over low heat for 15 minutes, filtered, brought to the original volume with boiled water. Drink 1/4 of a glass three times a day.

Herb St. John's wort for diseases of the oral cavity.

An infusion of St. John's wort is used to rinse the mouth with bad breath. St. John's wort herb decoction rinse the mouth with stomatitis, inflammation of the gums, St. John's wort broth has antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory healing properties.

In addition to medicinal properties, St. John's wort, like any other medicinal plant, has contraindications. Now let's look at contraindications.

St. John's wort grass. Contraindications.

Herb St. John's wort is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, with allergies.
Contraindicated in pregnancy and young mothers when breastfeeding.
Do not use preparations from St. John's wort for a long time, as this can cause hives, bitterness in the mouth, nausea, and vomiting.
With high blood pressure.
Do not use too strong infusions and decoctions of St. John's wort, follow the dosage.
Do not use a course of treatment for more than 10 days. This is especially true for men.

And now let's dispel the myth that men should not drink St. John's wort. Here's what scientists have to say about it. St. John's wort is very widely used in the treatment of ulcers. And with ulcers in women and men, a lack of estrogens and an excess of androgens. And St. John's wort in the treatment affects the production of male sex hormones. It stimulates the production of hormones. And as a result, overexcitation occurs, and then impotence.

Men become powerless not from a calming effect, but from overexcitation. But such an action of St. John's wort can be avoided if, for example, licorice root is used together with St. John's wort. It is in this root that contains a large amount of estrogen. But this is not the only plant containing estrogens. Estrogens are also found in red clover, medicinal sage, common hops, and peppermint.

Herb St. John's wort is an excellent medicinal plant that helps to cope with various diseases. John's wort has a wide range of medicinal properties. Now St. John's wort is used not only in folk, but also in official medicine. But, before using St. John's wort, read the contraindications. Before using the herb, it is also best to consult with your doctor.

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

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

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Characteristic

St. John's wort - family St. John's wort, botanical name Hypericum perforatum, comes from the Greek word meaning "perforated". On the leaves of the plant there are translucent dots in the form of holes. These dots are containers of essential oil that give the herb a delicate, mild scent.

About plant:

1. Low perennial shrub.
2. The stem reaches about 100 cm in height, straight, hard, branched above, tree-like below.
3. Small leaves are arranged crosswise, according to the description of an elliptical or lanceolate shape, green in color. Below are lighter, have characteristic points resembling holes.
4. Yellow inflorescences, collected at the top in a racemose-corymbose thyrsus. The flowers are regular in shape, up to 3 cm in diameter, with a double five-membered perianth. Flowering lasts 25-30 days in June-August.
5. The fruit-bag, which opens with three valves, is filled with many small dark brown seeds.

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

Collection and drying

For medicinal purposes, flowering young shoots are used, which should be collected from June to mid-July, and then in mid-August, when the cut plants grow back and bloom again. Harvested herbs can be dried in a ventilated, shady place. Raw materials are laid out in a thin layer on white paper or canvas. Grass can also be dried in dryers at temperatures not exceeding 30°C. When it dries, it crumbles into pieces that are stored in paper bags.

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

Compound

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

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

St. John's wort flower, if rubbed in the fingers, it releases a red dye - hypericin.

Therapeutic action

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

Possible side effects and contraindications

Side effects and interaction with other drugs:

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

Contraindications:

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

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

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

Medicines and Prescriptions

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

In traditional medicine, St. John's wort is used in various mixtures with other herbs. The plant, combined with strawberry, raspberry and mint leaves, stimulates metabolism. And consumed with valerian root and hop cones is helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms. The harmful effect of St. John's wort neutralizes mint and thyme.

Recipes:

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

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

Hello, friends! Today I want to remind you of the miraculous herb that is familiar to each of us. This is St. John's wort - a herb with medicinal properties, the benefits and proper use of which I will try to reveal as fully as possible in my story.

A modest-looking bush with colorful flowers can be found almost anywhere in our country. It grows densely on the edges of forests, in fields, meadows and along country roads. Despite its unpretentiousness, the plant is considered one of the most commonly used in herbal medicine. No wonder the second, its popular name is ailment. And indeed it is.

St. John's wort - medicinal properties

Herb St. John's wort - its medicinal properties are so diverse that there is hardly a person who has never used them as an adjuvant for a variety of ailments. It is useful for small children to rinse their mouth and neck with a decoction of St. John's wort at the first signs of inflammatory processes.

And adults who have stomach problems take infusions based on it orally to relieve the exacerbation of the disease. Paralyzed or bedridden patients should definitely wipe the bedsores with oil containing crushed flowers of the plant - this will reduce the risk of tissue necrosis and contribute to the speedy healing of wounds.

This simple and unpretentious grass, which we see in the photo, has many useful characteristics.

Ailment has:

anti-inflammatory,
bactericidal,
hemostatic;
antispasmodic;
wound healing;
choleretic;
sedative;
expectorant;
astringent property

Decoctions from it are used in the treatment of the liver, gastrointestinal diseases, ulcers, abscesses, mastitis, rheumatism and many other problems. Recently, it has been scientifically proven that the substances contained in this herb have a positive effect on the nervous system.

Therefore, doctors are increasingly prescribing drugs based on it for the treatment of mild depression. Due to its astringent and antiseptic properties, St. John's wort is used in cosmetology to improve skin condition, reduce acne, fight dandruff and baldness.

And which of us is unfamiliar with the taste of tea with dried yellow flowers? This truly Russian drink has long been present on peasant tables. It is believed (and not in vain) that herbal tea tones and strengthens the body, helps our nervous system fight stress, gives good sleep and improves immunity.

There are many folk recipes with which we can alleviate the painful conditions of various organs at home. Let's find out some of them:

For colds, SARS, to stabilize general well-being - take 50 ml of St. John's wort three times a day after meals.
With inflammatory processes of the oral mucosa (stomatitis, gingivitis), 40 drops of pharmacy alcohol tincture, diluted in half a glass of warm water, will help you. Rinse your mouth with this solution.
Do your joints often bother you? Fold several layers of gauze soaked in warm St. John's wort oil, and put a compress on the sore spot. Wrap the top with a wool scarf.
To improve the condition of the hair, place 3-4 tablespoons of dry St. John's wort and sage flowers in half a liter of water and boil under a lid over low heat for half an hour. Strain the solution and rinse clean hair and scalp after water treatments. After a few days of such therapy, your curls will acquire a healthy shine, become lush and flexible, and dandruff will disappear.

St. John's wort - herb, medicinal properties and contraindications

It is known that St. John's wort - grass has its own medicinal properties and contraindications. Often these characteristics depend not only on the method of application and dosage, but also on compliance with the conditions for collecting and storing the plant.

Like any other medicinal herb, St. John's wort must be properly processed in order to preserve all its beneficial properties.

The collection and harvesting of grass takes place throughout all three summer months, since this time is the time for its flowering. You need to cut off the tops before the fruits ripen - they have all the useful properties. Further actions do not differ from the preparation of any other medicinal herb. If you have ever done this, then you probably know all the rules:

clean raw materials from dust and dirt;
dry under the sun or in the attic, spreading the grass on a clean cloth in one thin layer;
gather dried plants in bunches and hang in a dry, well-ventilated and protected from sunlight room.

In this form, the plant can retain its benefits for three years.

Here are some simple tips on how to prepare St. John's wort infusion:

Place 1 tablespoon dried or 2 full tablespoons of fresh flowers in an enamel or ceramic dish.
Pour the grass with a glass of boiling water (200 ml).
Cover with a lid and leave to infuse for a couple of hours.
Strain and take in a dosed form no more than 3 times a day.

Such an infusion is effective for gastritis, cystitis, colitis, and will help to quickly relieve a headache.

Do not forget that with all the positive effects of herbal medicine, you may have contraindications to this type of treatment. With caution, herbal decoctions and tinctures should be approached if you have:

individual intolerance to any of the components that make up the plant;
on the skin there are manifestations of an allergy of an unknown nature of origin;
exacerbation of a chronic disease;
you are taking strong medications.

Before engaging in herbal treatment, consult a qualified medical professional. Based on your individual indications and tests, he will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate therapy. And St. John's wort will be your reliable help on the road to recovery.

St. John's wort herb medicinal properties for men

The positive effect of the healing properties of St. John's wort for men has long been known. Healers advised those suffering from male impotence to regularly drink tea with this herb; its dried flowers were part of many love spells.

It is believed that the infusion of St. John's wort with honey has the properties of a natural aphrodisiac and, taken immediately before intimacy, gives a stunning effect. This is not only popular belief, but also a scientifically proven fact - the biologically active substances contained in the plant have a positive effect on the functioning of the endocrine glands and accelerate blood circulation, which, in turn, enhances male potency.

But do not forget that constant stimulation can backfire and reduce sexual desire. Do not resort to this method too often.

St. John's wort - medicinal properties in gynecology

The medicinal properties of St. John's wort are also widely used - herbs in gynecology. Many of the women face the problem of painful or intermittent periods, unstable hormonal levels, or early menopause. With all these unpleasant conditions, a decoction of St. John's wort has a stabilizing and calming effect. For the treatment of inflammatory processes, ointment helps well - it should be used in the form of tampons at night.

erosive process of the cervix;
colpitis, vaginitis and another type of inflammation of the vagina;
painful menstruation;
violations of the monthly cycle;
mastopathy.

However, it must be remembered that it is not recommended to use herbal infusions during pregnancy and lactation. St. John's wort reduces the content of the hormone prolactin in the blood of the expectant mother, which can adversely affect the proper development of the fetus. Also, teas or drinks containing this herb can affect the taste of breast milk, give it bitterness, which will cause problems with feeding the baby.

St. John's wort - benefits and harms

Unfortunately, there is not a single product in the world that would be a panacea for all diseases and would be equally well suited for the body of every person. Herb St. John's wort is no exception and, if used improperly, can bring not only benefits, but also harm to our health.

There are certain situations when decoctions based on St. John's wort can cause negative consequences. It is not recommended to take herbal teas and tinctures inside:

Children up to 12 years old.
With high blood pressure.
Increased acidity.
Tendency to internal bleeding.
During pregnancy and lactation.
With a significant increase in body temperature.

Remember that excessive consumption of herbal infusions can adversely affect liver function, cause a decrease in the effectiveness of certain drugs (for example, antibiotics, heart drugs, oral contraceptives and anticoagulants), provoke constipation and intestinal cramps.

In general, do not forget the proverb - "From medicine to poison - one step." Do not increase the dose of medicinal preparations, infusions or decoctions on your own and monitor your well-being.

St. John's wort herb - medicinal properties and contraindications for children

Before using herbs in pediatrics, you must definitely familiarize yourself with what medicinal properties of St. John's wort are contraindicated for children.

Young children should not take St. John's wort internally. This is allowed only when they reach adolescence. But all sorts of ointments, lotions or compresses based on it will quite effectively help fight small pustules or skin burns, and show their wound healing properties. It is also recommended to add an infusion of herbs to the water when bathing the baby - this will have an antiseptic effect on the skin and help to calm down before going to bed.

It must be remembered that the children's body is much weaker than an adult, so any side effects will be more acute, to a greater extent. This means that it is quite dangerous to independently prescribe treatment for your child according to traditional medicine prescriptions, and can lead to unforeseen and unpleasant consequences.

Here it is, St. John's wort - medicinal properties, indications and contraindications. I was happy to share with you all the secrets of this simple and affordable folk method of treatment. Do not forget that official science cannot always explain the effect of a particular natural drug on the human body. However, it would be foolish to deny that this interaction exists.

If you learned interesting information from the article or read something new, share it with your friends and acquaintances on social networks. After all, the topic of health is close to each of us. Don't worry and see you soon!

Good day, dear readers!

In today's article, we will consider with you such a wonderful plant that has medicinal and other useful properties, like St. John's wort, as well as its beneficial properties and contraindications, composition and treatment with St. John's wort. So…

St. John's wort (lat. Hypericum)- one of the most effective in therapeutic practice of plants. It grows up to 30-70 cm, blooms with small yellow flowers from June to September. Favorable habitats are dry meadows, river valleys and light forest glades.

In nature, there are several types of St. John's wort, growing both in the form of shrubs and small trees. St. John's wort (perforated) and St. John's wort tetrahedral are used in folk medicine. Outwardly and in healing properties, they differ slightly.

Its name "St. John's wort" was not accidental. This medicinal plant has the ability to increase the sensitivity of certain areas of animal skin to solar radiation. The first eyewitnesses were shepherds. They noticed that after eating St. John's wort, redness and itching appear on their light skin areas. Unhealed ulcers often occurred and the glands became inflamed. Sometimes the consequences were quite strong, leading the animals even to death.

It is best to harvest St. John's wort from the beginning of flowering, cutting off leafy tops with inflorescences with garden shears. The collected raw materials must be dried in a well-ventilated place. Then place in a clean cloth bag and thresh with a stick to weed out the stems.

The chemical composition of St. John's wort

The unique combination of biologically active substances in the composition of St. John's wort allows it to be used in the treatment of:

Flavonoids- strengthen blood vessels, normalize gastric peristalsis, increase the outflow of bile and reduce blood clotting. Also, they have a diuretic and antiviral effect;

Essential oil(azulene, resinous substances, phytoncides) - has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, tissue regenerating, expectorant and sedative (sedative) properties, and also accelerates metabolism in the human body;

Phytoncides- suppress the reproduction of pathogenic fungi and;

Tannins- have astringent, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and bactericidal properties;

Saponins- increase the secretion of glands, thin and remove sputum from the bronchi, reduce the amount of cholesterol plaques in the blood, have a diuretic, laxative and sedative effect. But, an excess of these substances irritates the mucous membranes of the digestive organs, which can lead to disorders such as -, and;

hypericin, hyperforin- have a sedative and hypnotic effect, improve the functioning of the nervous system;

Hypericum overdose

An overdose of St. John's wort can be even if you drink too strong tea containing this plant or use several dietary supplements and teas with St. John's wort at the same time. This intake of St. John's wort can adversely affect the intestinal microflora and the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus. For example, even an absolutely healthy person can develop gastritis from too steep tea.

St. John's wort is considered a slightly toxic medicinal plant, therefore, with prolonged use of the herb, an unpleasant sensation in the liver area and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth may develop. Also, it can lead to a decrease in appetite.

For men, violations in the intake of St. John's wort or an increase in the length of time in some cases can lead to the appearance of impotence, although it is mostly temporary. After discontinuation of drugs with St. John's wort, sexual dysfunction usually recovers, but may be observed for some more time.

When using this plant in small quantities, for a short period of time and without the absence of contraindications, you will not harm yourself.

Important! Before using traditional methods of treatment with St. John's wort, be sure to consult with your doctor!

St. John's wort tea. St. John's wort tea is recommended to be brewed in a porcelain teapot, but before use, scald the teapot with boiling water. Take about 10 g of dried leaves and flowers of St. John's wort and pour 200 ml of boiling water over them. Let stand for a few minutes and the tea is ready. Drink fresh tea only. St. John's wort tea is a healthy and tonic drink. It is also drunk for digestive disorders and to calm depression, anxiety and poor sleep ().

Hypericum decoction. Place 10 g of St. John's wort in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of boiling water, close the lid and heat in a water bath for 30 minutes. Cool the product for 10 minutes at room temperature, strain and squeeze. Bring the volume of the broth with boiled water to 200 ml. Store in a cool place, but no more than 2 days.

Hypericum tincture. Pour dry and finely ground St. John's wort grass with 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1:5. After the remedy, set aside for infusion for 2 weeks, then strain. The shelf life of this tincture is 4 years.

St. John's wort oil. Take 20-25 g of fresh crushed leaves and flowers of St. John's wort, fill them with 200-250 g of olive oil (you can use sunflower or linseed oil). Insist 2-3 weeks in a warm place, stirring constantly, then strain through 2-3 layers of gauze. Store in a dark glass container.

St. John's wort ointment. Mix 1 part St. John's wort alcoholic tincture with 4 parts melted butter. Store in refrigerator.

Recipes for the use of St. John's wort for medicinal purposes

At . If gastritis is accompanied by severe pain, then the use of herbal collection is possible. Take one part of meadowsweet grass, and St. John's wort. Put the collection in a dry jar and mix with a wooden spoon. To prepare the product, 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of the collection into a teapot and fill it with 200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for 1 hour and drink 0.5 cup 5 times a day before meals.

At . Take and mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of St. John's wort, cudweed and. Pour in 1 liter of water. Let stand 2 hours. Drink warm, 0.5 cups (100 ml) 30 minutes before a meal or when you have heartburn.

With vitiligo - infusion. Take 1 teaspoon of dried St. John's wort, put in a faience teapot and pour 1 cup of boiling water. Let it brew for 30 minutes, strain. Take 1 tbsp. spoon in the morning, afternoon and evening before bed for 3 weeks. Next, take a break - 8 days and repeat the course of treatment. In total, do 8 treatment courses for 3 weeks with breaks of 8 days.

With vitiligo - ointment. Collect fresh St. John's wort flowers and pack them into a glass jar up to the shoulders. Drizzle with cold-pressed vegetable oil (olive is best). Expose to the sun for 2 weeks. After that, collect fresh St. John's wort flowers again, pack them tightly in a jar and pour in the squeezed oil from the first portion. Let it brew for 2 weeks. Again, collect the flowers in a jar and pour the squeezed oil from the second portion. Do this 5 times. The last time the oil will turn into a thick viscous liquid, which resembles a cream in consistency. Lubricate the spots of vitiligo with this cream once a day and leave until completely absorbed (for 30 minutes). You can then rinse with warm water.

At . For the treatment of sinusitis with St. John's wort, it is necessary to wash the nasal sinuses (sinuses). Before washing, drip vasoconstrictor drops into the nose to relieve swelling and free access to healing water to the sinuses. To prepare the product, you need to pour 1 teaspoon of St. John's wort with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for about 10 minutes, strain. Rinse your nose with warm decoction 2-3 times a day. Washing can be done with a syringe without a needle: tilt your head over the sink, draw a decoction into the syringe and spit it into the nostril that releases liquid. After the procedure, blow your nose well with both nostrils at once. The course of treatment is 7 days.

At . 15 g of dried St. John's wort pour 0.5 liters of vodka. Insist 2 weeks in a dark place. Then strain and take 30 drops 3 times a day with water.

At . Warm a small amount of St. John's wort oil and saturate a soft cloth with it. Apply to a sore throat, and wrap it with compress paper on top and wrap it warmly. Do this procedure at night, and in the morning wash the area where the compress was applied with warm water and soap. Such a warming procedure is effectively done on the chest.

At , and . When using tincture of St. John's wort in the form of rinses. To prepare a remedy, dilute 25 drops of tincture in a glass of warm water. Gargle 5 times a day.

Also, for rinsing an inflamed throat, you can use this recipe: 1 teaspoon of salt and soda, 10 drops of iodine and 20 drops of St. John's wort tincture. Rinse also 5 times a day.

With a cold. 1 st. mix a spoonful of raspberry leaves (in dried form) with the same amount of St. John's wort and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Let stand 20 minutes and strain. Mix with lemon juice and a teaspoon. Drink at night. In the morning you will feel much better.

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

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

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

What is useful St. John's wort: the composition of medicinal herbs

A plant with a branched erect stem, oval or ovate leaves and numerous flowers of a golden yellow hue is a real storehouse of biologically active compounds. At the same time, most of them are in the tops of flowering shoots.

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

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

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

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

The scope of St. John's wort is incredibly extensive. Grass collected during flowering:

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

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

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

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

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

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

St. John's wort tea or healing plant oil perfectly tone up, normalize sleep, strengthen immune defenses. The drink helps to recover quickly after a long illness, surgery or difficult, exhausting work.

The use of the medicinal properties of St. John's wort herb

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

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

If you look at the instructions for the use of St. John's wort, it turns out that for ingestion, fresh or dried in the shade upper parts of the stems with flowers and leaves are used. In order for useful substances to acquire the most accessible and active form, vegetable raw materials must go through a cooking process. St. John's wort is used to make alcohol tinctures, water decoctions and infusions, oil is prepared, as part of blends, grass is used for medicinal tea.

The fresh herb is excellent for external use. It is crushed and applied to problem areas for cuts, bruises, all kinds of wounds and burns. St. John's wort can help ease insect bites and ease irritation caused by an allergic reaction.

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

St. John's wort medicines for home use

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

An infusion of dry or fresh herbs is ready 4-6 hours after the raw material is poured with boiling water. Saturated aromatic liquid is used to treat gastritis, colitis, signs of hypotension, gallstone disease and inflammatory processes in the urogenital area. A warm infusion for rinsing perfectly relieves the condition for colds, sore throats, and stomatitis. The tool is indispensable as lotions after bites, with skin irritation, abscesses, weeping eczema, wounds of various nature.

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

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

From St. John's wort, oil is obtained, into which all the beneficial properties of the plant pass. For infusion for 3-4 weeks, olive, almond or other unrefined oil is taken at the rate of one to one.

Contraindications to the use of St. John's wort

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

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

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

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

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