English name: Perforate st John´s Wort
Family: Hypericaceae
Botanical characteristic: A perennial plant, 30 – 70 cm tall. The stem is double-angled. The leaves are opposite, ovate, entire, translucent-pointed with siliceous glands. The yellow flowers are arranged in apical inflorescences. The fruit is a glandular capsule.
Microscopic drawing:
Distribution: It grows in sunny, dry habitats, roadsides, forest stands, nutrient-poor meadows.
Drug: Hyperici herba
Harvesting method: It flowers from May to September. It is harvested in dry weather at the beginning of flowering with secateurs or cut.
Drying: St. John’s wort is dried naturally in thin layers in an airy, shady place. It can be tied into bundles. The artificial method of drying is in a drying room, where the temperature must not exceed 35 °C.
Active substances: In the St. John’s wort, naphthodianthrones are contained, with hypericin being the major constituent. Also known is a derivative of phloroglucinol – hyperforin. Other substances include flavonoids such as rutin and hyperoside, catechin tannins, xanthones and a small number of essential oils.
Uses: St John’s wort is used to treat milder forms of depressive conditions. Thanks to its tannins, it can also be used for diarrhoeal diseases. Olive oil with St John’s wort extracts is used to treat wounds, burns and eczema. It is important to point out that hypericin causes photodermatosis. Which means that it increases the irritation of the skin after exposing it to the sun.
Traditional method of use in indications determined solely on the basis of long-term use:
- a supportive remedy for temporary mental exhaustion,
– aid in the healing of minor superficial wounds, symptomatic treatment of minor skin inflammations, including sunburn,
– symptomatic treatment of mild gastrointestinal discomfort,
– supportive treatment of nervous exhaustion, restlessness, sleep disturbances.
Selected herbal preparations: AGROKARPATY Organic St. John’s wort herbal tea 20×2 g, APOTHEKE HERBAL TEA FOR BELLY AND BACKROAD 20×1,5 g, ADVANCE Modin cps 60 pcs, De-press cps 30 pcs, J.V. ALMER caps for memory and nervous system 50 ml, VIRDE LUBER OIL 50 ml.