The herb of St. John's wort

St. John's wort (Hyperici herba) refers to pharmacopeial medicinal plants, that is officially recognized not only by domestic medicine, but also by British herbal pharmacopoeia, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), European Pharmacopoeia, and the World Health Organization. Only in the West this plant is called otherwise: the grass of St. John.

Indications of the herbs of St. John's wort

Phytotherapy is one of the additional methods of complex treatment of many diseases, and indications for the use of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) include:

• chronic fatigue, psychoemotional instability, mild depression;
• Gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis with low acidity, gastroenteritis, colitis, diarrhea, flatulence);
• pathology of the gallbladder (dyskinesia of the biliary tract, cholestasis, cholecystitis);
• diseases of the urinary bladder, urinary tract and kidneys (cystitis, urethritis, urolithiasis);
• tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils), stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucosa), gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), halitosis (unpleasant odor from the mouth);
• infected wounds, burns, pyoderma.

The biochemical effect of Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericum perforatum L.) - psychotropic (antidepressant), antispasmodic, antimicrobial, astringent, regenerating - is provided by the active substances that make up its composition (see below - Pharmacodynamics).

[1], [2], [3]

Release form

The form of St. John's wort is different:

• dry crushed vegetable raw materials (a mixture of dried flowering tops and other above-ground parts of St. John's wort), packed in cardboard packs of 50-100 grams (to prepare a decoction and infusion);
• packaged in filter bags (1.5-2 g) powder for making herbal tea;
• extract of St. John's wort dry (in different packaging and packaging);
• extract of St. John's wort in tablets (Gelarium Hypericum, Deprivit, Deprim, Herbion Hypericum);
• liquid extract of St. John's wort Doppelherz Nervotton;
• 1% Novoimanin alcohol solution in vials;
• St. John's wort tincture (Tinctura Hyperici) in vials.

Names of fees: St. John's wort (Hyperici herba). Also this plant is a part of multicomponent herbal collections: herbal tea Kidney, herbal tea № 7 Gastrointestinal, herbal tea Healthy stomach, gastrointestinal collection Phytogastrol, collection Gastrofit, etc.

[4]

Pharmacodynamics

The therapeutic effect of St. John's wort is manifested in different ways, and the pharmacodynamics of this medicinal plant continues to be investigated.

Tannins of St. John's wort have antibacterial and astringent properties and help with diarrhea, as well as various inflammations in the oropharynx and urinary tract. Flavonoid epigallocatechin is an antioxidant and accelerates the regeneration of tissues, stabilizing the cell membranes damaged by inflammatory infections. Rutin (vitamin P) strengthens the walls of blood vessels, it also participates in regulation of bile production (accelerating the synthesis of CYP-enzymes).

Foci of infection in case of damage or inflammation of the skin and soft tissues are eliminated by the external application of the herb infusion of St. John's wort, which contains phenolic acids (ferulic, hydroxybenzoic, etc.), terpenic compounds of essential oils and other biologically active substances. And the pharmacodynamics of their powerful anti-inflammatory effect is due to the fact that the ways of the inflammatory reaction (in the form of arachidonate-5-lipoxygenase and COX-1) are blocked.

The main psychoactive substances of St. John's wort - flavones of hypericin, pseudo-hypericin, hyperforin and adhyperforin - are prenyl derivatives of floroglucin, which provides the coloration of St. John's wort flowers. With the internal application of the preparations of this plant, these substances, in fact, correct violations in the transmission of pulses by neurons of the central nervous system, blocking the re-acquisition of neurotransmitters (including serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and GABA), MAO (monoamine oxidase)

[5], [6], [7], [8]

Pharmacokinetics

Metabolism of all active substances of St. John's wort is not yet known, but some manufacturers briefly describe the pharmacokinetics. So the company's pharmacists

KRKA (releasing tablets extract of St. John's wort Gerbion Hypericum) indicate that within six hours after taking the pill, hypericin is absorbed into the digestive tract by 80% (and coincides with its peak in blood plasma), and pseudo-hypericin adsorbs to 60%.

Within 25-27 hours the main psychoactive substances of St. John's wort are transformed by 50%, but metabolites are not called. There is no data on the elimination of the final metabolic substances from the body.

[9], [10], [11], [12], [13]

Dosing and administration

Method of application Gelarium Hypericum, Deprivit, Gerbion Hypericum - inside, the standard dose of these drugs - 1 tablet 2-3 times a day (course of admission - 1 month);

Doppelherz Nervolotonics are also taken inside - on a tablespoon twice a day (after a meal), the duration of admission is 14-21 days.

Tincture of St. John's wort can be taken inside - 30-40 drops twice a day, and can be used to prepare a solution (a teaspoonful for 150 ml of water) to rinse the throat with tonsillitis and the mouth with inflammation of the mucosa, gums, bad breath, after tooth extraction, etc.

Novoimanin is applied externally - by wetting the dressings for infected wounds and purulent skin ulcers, and also for rinsing the cavities (in the form of a solution diluted with distilled water).

Decoctions and infusions from the dry grass of St. John's wort are used both inside, and for rinsing and rinsing. The standard dose of herbs for a glass of boiling water is a tablespoon with a small slide. The broth boils for five minutes and insists in a sealed container for 30-40 minutes. It is recommended to drink 2-3 sips several times a day.

[19], [20], [21], [22], [23]

Use of the herbs of St. John's wort during pregnancy

Oral use during pregnancy of broths, extracts and tinctures of St. John's wort is strictly forbidden, since this plant helps to reduce the level of estrogen.

Contraindications

The list, which includes contraindications to the use of St. John's Wort herbs inside, is as follows: inflammation of the esophagus, liver and kidney failure, photodermatitis, age younger than 12 years, severe depressive condition and severe mental disorders and diseases (MDP, schizophrenia, etc.).

[14], [15], [16],

Side effects of the herbs of St. John's wort

Medicinal herbs and preparations on their basis give fewer side effects, but they do exist. Side effects of decoctions, infusions, extracts of herb St. John's wort intake, may manifest as headache and dizziness; increased blood pressure and swelling of soft tissues; dry mouth, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea; deterioration of appetite, a sense of fatigue and anxiety.

Sometimes St. John's wort causes increased photosensitivity (photosensitization), which can lead to eye hypersensitivity to light and sunburn.

[17], [18]

Overdose

It should be borne in mind that an overdose of St. John's wort (associated with headache, dizziness and dry mouth) is possible even with the use of phyto-tea containing St. John's wort, especially if you drink it often.

[24]

Interactions with other drugs

It is especially important when using Hyperici herba as an antidepressant to take into account its interactions with other drugs.

It is not allowed to take any medicine on the basis of St. John's wort simultaneously with drugs against depression, means for reducing blood clotting, lowering cholesterol, antiviral, antibacterial and analgesic drugs.

St. John's wort reduces the effectiveness of drugs used against HIV and rejection of transplants, as well as hormonal contraceptives.

[25], [26], [27]

Storage conditions

All forms of St. John's Wort herb are usual: at room temperature, ready-made broth - at + 10-15 ° C. 

[28], [29], [30]

Shelf life

Shelf life of dry herbs - 24 months, drugs Gelarium Hypericum, Deprivit, Herbion Hypericum, Doppelgerz Nervotonik, Novoimani - 3 years.