What is a plant like St. John's wort used for? The tincture of this herb has a lot of useful properties. Such a tool can be made independently, or can be purchased at any pharmacy. About how and why the said drug is used, we will tell right now.
Pharmacological action of the herbal remedy
What properties does a preparation based on such a plant as St. John's wort have? A tincture made with alcohol, vodka or moonshine contains anthracene derivatives. These include hypericin and pseudohypericin. The drug also includes flavonoids such as quercetin, hyperoside, isoquercetin, rutin and amentoflavone.
In addition to the listed components, St. John's wort tincture for alcohol contains xanthones, essential oils, acylchloroglucinols, oligomers, caffeic acid derivatives (including chlorogenic acid), procyanidins and other catechin tannins.
Drug properties
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 has a stimulating effect on all organs of the gastrointestinal tract and blood circulation inin general. In addition, it has a general tonic effect.
Experts say that the antidepressant effect of the mentioned plant is due to the fact that its active components are able to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and other neurotransmitters, as well as affect the metabolism of melatonin.
Due to the high content of flavonoids, the drug in question has a rather strong anti-inflammatory effect.
Indications for herbal remedy
What is St. John's wort used for? A tincture made from this herb is used for reactive and symptomatic depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances.
It should also be noted that such a remedy is often prescribed as an additional drug for endogenous depressions, including during menopause. In addition, St. John's wort tincture with vodka or alcohol is used to treat various diseases of the lungs, intestines, stomach and gallbladder.
Most patients take this remedy by mouth. However, experts say that it can be used externally. They do this for muscle and joint pain (as an additional remedy), as well as for herpes zoster, hemorrhages and for disinfection of wounds.
Contraindications for herbal preparation
In what cases is St. John's wort contraindicated? Alcohol tincture is not prescribed for patients with increased sensitivity to biologically active substances of the plant, as well astogether with the simultaneous use of MAO inhibitors.
Methods of application and dosage of the drug
How is St. John's wort tincture used? The use of this drug depends on the indication. The dosage of the tincture may be different. Therefore, only the attending physician should prescribe it.
Inside the tincture of vodka or moonshine should be taken 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 to use not an alcohol preparation, but an infusion on water, then inside it is prescribed 1/3 cup three times a day, half an hour before meals. Also, this tool is used for rinsing the mouth. Shake well before use.
If the herbal remedy is used topically, then it is rubbed with light massaging movements and not washed off.
Side effects
Does St. John's wort tincture on moonshine, vodka or alcohol have any side effects? When using the drug in recommended doses and strictly according to indications, adverse events almost never occur. However, constipation, a feeling of fullness in the stomach and photosensitivity cannot be ruled out.
Drug Interactions
What are the features of St. John's wort tincture on vodka or alcohol? Before using such a herbal preparation, you must read the instructions or consult a doctor. The latter should tell the patient about the druginteraction of this tool:
- Co-administration of the drug with MAO inhibitors may enhance the development and effects of hypertensive crisis.
- The intake of St. John's wort tincture 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 use of the drug with "Digoxin" can reduce its effectiveness, and after the withdrawal of the tincture - increase its toxicity.
- When taken concomitantly, the tannic acids contained in St. John's wort inhibit iron absorption.
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- There are reports of the development of acyclic bleeding when St.
- Simultaneous intake of tincture with Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Citalopram and Sertraline enhances the development and effects of serotonin syndrome (that is, the patient develops tremor, increased sweating, confusion, redness, agitation).
- When the drug is used together with Cyclosporine, the concentration of the second in the blood plasma decreases.
Special Instructions
Specialists suggest that St. John's wort tincture in high concentrations and doses can damage human reproductive cells. Also followsPlease note that this medication is not recommended during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Infusion and tincture of St. John's wort: cooking recipes
Despite the fact that this drug has a fairly low cost, most people make it on their own. To do this, you can use different components (for example, vodka, alcohol, moonshine, etc.).
For the preparation of vodka tincture, you must use only freshly picked grass. It is thoroughly washed and chopped with a knife. Putting the plant in a glass jar, it is poured with 40-degree vodka in a ratio of 1:5. After that, the resulting mass is thoroughly mixed with a spoon, covered with a lid and left to infuse in a dark place for 10-14 days.
After the lapse of time, the finished drug is taken as prescribed by the doctor. As a rule, vodka tincture is drunk in the amount of 40 drops twice or thrice a day.
If you decide to make a tincture of alcohol, then you should take 4 tablespoons of chopped herbs and put it in a small jar. Bay plant ½ cup of 95-99% alcohol, put the mixture in a dark place and incubated 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, 15 or 20 drops (can be pre-diluted with water).
Now you know how to make St. John's wort tincture. However, it should be noted that such a drug can be done not only withusing moonshine, vodka or alcohol, but also using plain water. To do this, dried grass in the amount of 1 large spoon is poured with boiling water, covered with a lid and left in this form for 30 minutes. After a while, the infusion is filtered and drunk before meals three times or four times a day, ¼ cup. This tool has the same properties as alcohol tincture. However, it should not be stored for more than a day. The prepared broth must be drunk during the day.
When using a filter bag, place it in an enamel or glass dish, pour 100 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid and infuse for about ¼ hour. After that, the contents of the filter bag are strongly squeezed out, and the volume of the herbal remedy is adjusted to 100 ml (with boiled water). In this form, it is taken before meals, 3-5 large spoons.
Use in traditional medicine
Despite the fact that St. John's wort tincture is sold in pharmacies and 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 drug.
It should also be said that supporters of traditional medicine often treat St. John's wort for colic, cough, liver disease, diarrhea, and also strengthen the gums.
Medicinal plant and preparations based on it are very often used forpurulent wounds, burns, rhinitis, sinusitis, phlegmon, pharyngitis and mastitis. In addition, there is evidence that St. John's wort tincture is very effective in such a serious illness 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 treatment of depressive psychosis, hysteria and insomnia. This fragrant herb is also good for epilepsy.
Infusions and decoctions of St. John's wort on the water well save people from gynecological diseases and heart disease, flu and colds, enuresis in children, hemorrhoids, headaches, tuberculosis and rheumatism. Also, such drugs are used for diseases of the mammary glands and the genitourinary system.
It should also be noted that a strong infusion of the mentioned plant will forever save you from bad breath. If you have children, St. John's wort tincture can help treat sores on the fingers and skin rashes.
