Grass of St. John's wort. Tincture on St. John's Wort: preparation and use

Why use such a plant as St. John's wort? Tincture of this herb has a lot of useful properties. Such a tool can be made independently, but can be purchased at any pharmacy. About how and for what the mentioned preparation is applied, we will tell right now.

Pharmacological action of plant matter

What are the properties of the drug based on a plant such as St. John's Wort? Tincture made on alcohol, vodka or moonshine, contains the derivatives of anthracene. They include hypericin and pseudo-hypericin. Also, the drug includes in its composition such flavonoids as quercitin, hyperoside, isocvcithin, rutin and amentoflavone.

In addition to the listed components, St. John's wort contains alcohol for xanthones, essential oils, acyl chloro-glycinols, oligomers, caffeic acid derivatives (including chlorogenic acid), procyanidins and other catechin tannins.

Properties of the medicinal product

What properties does St. John's Wort have? Tincture and decoctions from this plant are able to have mild anxiolytic, sedative and antidepressant effects. Also, the drug stimulates all organs of the digestive tract and blood circulation in general. In addition, it has a general toning effect.

Experts argue that the antidepressant effect of this plant is due to the fact that its active components are able to inhibit the re-uptake of serotonin and other neurotransmitters, as well as influence the exchange of melatonin.

Due to the high content of flavonoids, the drug in question has a rather strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Indications for the use of herbal remedies

What is St. John's Wort used for? Tincture made from this herb is used for reactive and symptomatic depressions, anxiety states and sleep disturbances.

It should also be noted that such a remedy is often prescribed as an additional drug for endogenous depression, including during the climacteric period. In addition, the tincture of St. John's wort on vodka or alcohol is used to treat various diseases of the lungs, intestines, stomach and gall bladder.

Most patients take this medication internally. However, experts say that it can be used externally. Do this with muscle and joint pain (as an additional tool), as well as with herpes zoster, hemorrhages and for disinfection of wounds.

Contraindications to the use of a herbal preparation

In what cases is contraindicated to the use of St. John's wort? Alcohol tincture is not prescribed if the patient's sensitivity to the biologically active substances of the plant is increased, and also together with the simultaneous use of MAO inhibitors.

Methods of application and dosage of the drug

How is St. John's wort used? The use of this drug depends on the indications. The dosage of the tincture can be different. Therefore, it should be prescribed only by the attending physician.

Inside tincture on vodka or moonshine should take 40 or 50 drops three times a day. To rinse the throat or mouth, the same amount of the drug is dissolved in half a glass of plain water.

If you decide not to use an alcohol product, but an infusion on the water, then inside it is prescribed 1/3 cup three times a day, half an hour before meals. It is also used for rinsing the mouth. Before use, the preparation should be shaken.

If the herbal remedy is used topically, then rub it lightly with massaging movements and do not rinse.

Side effects

Does it have side effects of St. John's wort on moonshine, vodka or alcohol? When using the drug in recommended doses and strictly according to indications, undesirable phenomena almost never arise. However, it is impossible to exclude the appearance of constipation, a feeling of overcrowding and photosensitivity.

Drug Interactions

What features does St. John's wort have on vodka or alcohol? Before using this herbal preparation, you should read the instructions or consult a doctor. The latter should tell the patient about the drug interaction of this remedy:

• Joint use of the drug with MAO inhibitors can enhance the development and effects of hypertensive crisis.
• Admission tincture of St. John's wort significantly affects the concentration in the blood of any drugs that are metabolized with the participation of enzymes belonging to the cytochrome P450 system.
• Simultaneous reception of a medicine with "Digoxin" can reduce its effectiveness, and after cancellation of tincture - to increase its toxicity.
• With the simultaneous administration of tannic acids contained in St. John's wort, they inhibit the absorption of iron.
• The intake of preparations based on St. John's wort reduces the concentration of "Theophylline" in the blood, especially in patients who regularly receive it.
• There are reports of the development of acyclic bleeding with the joint intake of St. John's wort (including tinctures) with oral contraceptives, which contain a combination of levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol.

• Simultaneous reception of tincture with "Fluoxetine", "Fluvoxamine", "Paroxetine", "Citalopram" and "Sertralin" enhances the development and effects of serotonin syndrome (that is, the patient has tremor, increased sweating, confusion, redness, agitation).
• When the drug is used together with "Cyclosporin", the concentration of the second in the blood plasma is reduced.

special instructions

Experts suggest that tincture of St. John's wort in high concentrations and doses can damage the human reproductive cells. It should also be noted that this drug is not recommended during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Infusion and tincture on St. John's wort: cooking recipes

Despite the fact that this drug has a fairly low cost, most people do it themselves. To do this, you can use different components (for example, vodka, alcohol, moonshine, etc.).

To prepare tinctures on vodka, only freshly harvested grass should be used. It is thoroughly washed and crushed with a knife. Laying the plant in a glass jar, it is poured 40-degree vodka in a ratio of 1: 5. After this, the resulting mass carefully stir spoon, cover with a lid and leave to infuse in a dark place for 10-14 days.

After a while, the finished drug is taken as prescribed by the doctor. Typically, tincture on vodka is drunk in quantities of 40 drops twice or thrice a day.

If you decide to make a tincture on alcohol, then take 4 tablespoons of chopped grass and put it in a small jar. Gulf the plant ½ cup 95-99% alcohol, mix the mixture in a dark place and stand for about 10 days.

After the time has passed, the tincture is filtered and poured into a small jar of dark glass. This drug is taken three times a day for 15 or 20 drops (you can pre-dilute with water).

Now you know how to make a tincture of St. John's wort. However, it should be noted that such a drug can be made not only with the use of moonshine, vodka or alcohol, but also with the use of ordinary water. To do this, dried herbs in the amount of 1 large spoon pour steep boiling water, cover with a lid and leave in this form for 30 minutes. After a while, infusion filter and drink before meals three times or four times a day for ¼ cup. This product has the same properties as the alcohol tincture. However, it should not be stored for more than a day. A prepared broth should be drunk during the day.

When using a filter bag it is placed in enamel or glassware, pour 100 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid and insist for about ¼ hour. After that, the contents of the filter bag are strongly squeezed out, and the volume of the herbal preparation is brought to 100 ml (boiled water). In this form it is taken before meals for 3-5 large spoons.

Use in folk medicine

Despite the fact that the tincture of St. John's wort is sold in pharmacies and is often prescribed by doctors, this remedy is very often used in alternative medicine. This drug is used as an antiseptic, antibacterial, wound healing, tonic, analgesic, astringent, anthelmintic, diuretic, choleretic, antirheumatic and regenerating medication.

One can not help saying that the supporters of traditional medicine often cure St. John's wort colic, cough, liver disease, diarrhea, and also strengthen the gums.

Medicinal plant and drugs based on it are often used for purulent wounds, burns, rhinitis, sinusitis, phlegmon, pharyngitis and mastitis. In addition, there are reports that tincture of St. John's wort is very effective in such a serious ailment as an abscess.

This plant can cure stomach ulcers, gout and diseases of the nervous system. By the way, St. John's wort is actively used in folk medicine for the therapy of depressive psychoses, hysteria and insomnia. Such fragrant grass copes well with epilepsy.

Infusions and decoctions of St. John's wort on the water well save people from gynecological diseases and heart diseases, flu and colds, enuresis in children, hemorrhoids, headaches, tuberculosis and rheumatism. Also, such funds are used for diseases of the mammary gland and urogenital system.

It should also be noted that the strong infusion of this plant will permanently rid you of bad breath. If you have children, a tincture of St. John's wort will help cure abscesses on the fingers and skin rash.