St. John's wort is a well-known medicinal plant, which our ancestors spoke of as a cure for 99 ailments. Since ancient times, it has been used as a remedy. Hippocrates, Galen, Avicenna mentioned St. John's wort in their writings. St. John's wort plant extract is successfully used for acute catarrh of the respiratory tract, purulent wounds, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver. St. John's wort is an excellent antidepressant, included in herbal preparations, which are used for colds, headaches. This medicinal plant is effective in cases of moderate and mild depressive disorders.
The use of St. John's wort for depression
Every year, depression undermines the health of millions of people around the world. At the first signs of the disease, it is worth starting treatment by contacting a specialist. Modern medicine, along with drug treatment, successfully uses folk remedies. First herbalist Nichols Culpeper back in 1652. Later, St. John's wort began to be used in combination with pharmaceutical antidepressants. In the 70s, the effectiveness of St. John's wort was confirmed by specialists from Germany. Since then, St. John's wort has been very popular in Europe and the USA. It is prescribed in cases where complex medicines for some reason cannot be taken:
- women during menopause
- teenagers
- To old people,
- during the postpartum period, when a woman is not breastfeeding.
Useful properties of St. John's wort
Used in folk medicine. It contains many chemical compounds that can alleviate the condition during nervous disorders. They prevent the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter by brain cells. The composition of St. John's wort includes hyperforin and hypericin, they affect the work of the central nervous system.
Scientists believe that St. John's wort is in no way inferior to standard antidepressants in moderate depression, but it will be of little use in clinical depression. Russian doctors use St. John's wort as an alternative remedy for mild depression. Although some experts in the field of psychiatry believe that the properties of St. John's wort are somewhat exaggerated.
All parts of St. John's wort contain essential oil, flavonoids, dyes, tannins, organic acids. The plant is rich in vitamins, ascorbic and nicotinic acids, carotene. St. John's wort has a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory effect
Features of taking St. John's wort for depression
St. John's wort should not be treated as a completely safe medicinal plant. This remedy can be used only after the permission of the doctor. He will be able to choose the optimal dosage for the treatment of depression of different categories. If the dosage is observed, St. John's wort will have a positive effect on the entire body, help restore strength. Treatment of depression is carried out with the help of infusion, decoction, tea based on St. John's wort. The daily dose of infusion should not exceed 300 ml.
St. John's wort in traditional medicine recipes
St. John's wort for depression can be prepared in many ways. Reception should be carried out in courses, that is, drink a decoction or tea for 2-3 weeks, then take a week break, then continue treatment again.
Hypericum tea
To make tea, you need to take 2 tsp. St. John's wort and 200 ml of boiling water. It is enough to insist the mixture for about 10 minutes to get a useful medicine. The drink should be drunk freshly brewed in the evening and in the morning. Herbal treatment is a long process, in order to improve the condition, it will take regular tea intake for 2-3 months. The first improvement will come in a month.
St. John's wort decoction
2 tbsp. l. St. John's wort pour 300 ml of water. Heat the mixture in a water bath for 25 minutes. Then cool a little and add boiled water to restore volume. The decoction helps to get rid of anxiety, but after three months of treatment. St. John's wort should be taken after a meal, 1/3 of a glass three times a day.
Hypericum infusion
10 g of dried raw materials should be poured with 250 ml of boiling water. To obtain a healing drink, the mixture is infused for 30 minutes. Infusion take 1 tbsp. spoon up to six times a day strictly after meals.
This infusion helps with depression, as well as with headaches, diseases of the bladder, liver, pain in the intestines and stomach. St. John's wort is a hemostatic and antihelminthic agent.
Hypericum tincture
The tincture is prepared with alcohol. 15 g of dried St. John's wort is poured into 0.5 liters of vodka. Infused for two weeks in the dark. The resulting tincture is taken 30 drops, diluted with water, three times a day.
Contraindications and side effects of St. John's wort
It is not recommended to take drugs with St. John's wort at the same time as warfarin, other antidepressants, drugs prescribed for HIV infection. St. John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of contraceptives, heart medications.
If the dosage is violated, as well as in case of individual intolerance, the following symptoms may occur:
- dry mouth
- skin rashes,
- fatigue,
- diarrhea,
- dizziness,
- sensitivity to sunlight
- nausea.
