St. John's Wort Oil - Proper Use. St. John's wort oil: useful properties and uses St. John's wort essential oil

St. John's wort, known as one of the basic medicinal herbs in herbal medicine and folk medicine, fully retains all its unique properties of a "wound healer" in the base oil, which is obtained by infusion in other oils (not to be confused with St. John's wort essential oil obtained by distillation). A thin, unusual oil that stands out from the herbaceous group is obtained from a perennial branchy plant with amber buds of inflorescences, which grows as a weed, wild "grass" in the part of the CIS close to Europe, in western Siberia and in the Central Asian mountain valleys.

In the West, St. John's wort is better known as the herb of St. John or John the Baptist (connected with the legend that St. John's wort blooms most intensively on June 24, the day when Christians celebrate the birth of John the Baptist), and the domestic name of this plant appeals to the ability to increase sensitivity to the sun in pets, cause poisoning, inflammation, skin ulcers or even death. St. John's wort oil has been known for a long time, its popular name - red oil - indicates not only its characteristic color, but also respect for its healing abilities.

Specifications

St. John's wort oil is obtained by two methods - the classic, maceration, or infusion of flowers in oil and a newer method of extraction using carbon dioxide. In both the first and second cases, stems with inflorescences are used, but the properties of the oils differ significantly.

• St. John's wort extract obtained with the help of carbon dioxide is often stabilized with antioxidants - alpha-tocopherol and the same carbon dioxide extract of rosemary, which allows the composition to retain all its properties for a longer period and even under the influence of light.
• St. John's wort oil obtained by classical maceration has less strong healing properties, because it is much more unstable and sensitive to the storage environment. Unlike the extract, it cannot be used for a whole year without any fear - the fresher the oil, the better. If you buy infused macerate, its properties will largely depend on the oil used. Extra virgin olive oil optimally reveals the properties of St. John's wort.

The composition of St. John's wort oil is unpredictable in many ways. The fatty acid content should be looked at by the properties of the oil in which it was infused or added for stabilization. But the rest of the chemical composition is always based on a very high proportion of tocopherols and flavonoids, an admixture of tannins, micro- and macronutrients, azulene, provitamins and vitamins A, groups P and C, cypericin, St. John's wort essential oil, nicotinic acid and carotene.

Outwardly, St. John's wort oil is very easy to recognize: thanks to cypericin, it has a clear red tint (with macerate - with brown notes), while the oil should be absolutely transparent, liquid, but noticeably oily.

Medicinal properties

The healing properties of St. John's wort oil cover a fairly wide range of anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic characteristics. It is excellent, has a general sedative effect, has a pronounced analgesic effect and can be used as a sedative.

Effectively healing the skin, St. John's wort oil promotes accelerated treatment of abrasions and wounds, burns, bruises, all types of skin dermatitis and rashes. The anti-inflammatory effect of St. John's wort oil is complemented by the ability to penetrate deeply into tissues and skin, contributing to the resorption of bruises, hematomas and bruises, tissue regeneration. It is also effective in the treatment of hemorrhoids.

Use in cosmetology

In the cosmetic field, the most active are the soothing and regenerating properties of St. John's wort oil. It helps to maintain a normal, healthy skin condition under excessive stress and stress, to restore and normalize, not allowing the modern rhythm of life to affect the condition of the skin, not only of the face, but also of the hands. Among the base oils, St. John's wort is one of the most powerful antioxidants.

But the most pronounced properties of St. John's wort oil in the care of prone to allergic reactions and overly sensitive skin. It is an ideal care product for combination, problematic, oily, dehydrated and rash-prone skin. St. John's wort oil is effective and as a moisturizing and emollient additive for dry skin, it avoids moisture loss, normalizes the hydrolipid balance.

St. John's wort oil demonstrates high efficiency in the treatment of sun and thermal burns, helps to quickly get rid of the crust after a herpetic rash, has an anti-couperous effect, and prevents capillary fragility. At low concentration, it promotes fast tanning.

St. John's wort oil mixed with base oils is excellent as a massage agent. It is one of the most effective base oils for working with oily hair, including fighting dandruff, strengthening hair, accelerating hair growth in case of baldness and seborrhea. With regular use, it tones the hair in a darker and "rich" shade.

Application features

It is strongly discouraged to use St. John's wort oil in its pure form, because it can cause significant skin sensitivity to sunlight. Likewise, do not use pure oil as a base and vehicle. Before use, it is dissolved in another plant or base, preparing a diluted version with a content of St. John's wort extract in a fraction of 10% to 20%. The aroma of the oil completely retains all the shades of the scent of the plant inflorescences, it is quite easy to guess.

St. John's wort oil perfectly penetrates the skin without leaving an oily sheen and demonstrating fast antioxidant and anti-inflammation effects. The effect after application to the skin is largely determined by the oil to which it was added. It does not cause an unpleasant sensation, but it should be used with caution before sunbathing and take into account the increased susceptibility of the skin to their effects.

When applied, after a few minutes, it shows its soothing and regenerating properties, perfectly removes excessive oily skin. Due to deep penetration and active influence at the cellular level, it is able to stimulate active internal changes, cause a qualitative transformation, including of damaged skin.

The use of St. John's wort oil depends on the effect you want to achieve.

• Diluted 10-20% oil can be used to improve or prepare mixtures for the care of normal, oily, dehydrated skin, in cleansing lotions and masks for problem skin, for regenerating balms, shampoos, etc.
• It is an excellent base for the care of problem areas, a base for massage and a product for applications and cosmetic compresses.
• In case of sprains, injuries, inflammation of the skin, bruises and bruises of various origins, linseed napkins soaked in oil are applied, and the places of burns, wounds, abrasions are gently lubricated several times a day without covering.
• St. John's wort oil allows you to calm down, get rid of various and depressive conditions when added to the bath (with preliminary mixing with sea salt).

Guess whose name? Bloody, Healthy grass, Herb from a hundred diseases, Youth blood ... This is the familiar St. John's wort. The names speak not only of the color of the oil of this plant - bright, blood-red, but also of the invaluable healing properties of St. John's wort. Today we will focus on the use of St. John's wort oil, this amazing and seemingly ordinary plant.

First, a little history. In Russia it was known and revered since ancient times. He was the main component of most of the healing collections of ancient healers. “Just as one cannot bake bread without flour, so a person cannot be cured without St. John's wort,” they said. In addition to its healing properties, the plant was attributed to many magical ones. For example, protection from witches, love spell, expulsion of evil spirits ...

In Western countries, St. John's wort is called the herb of St. John, since the plant blooms on June 24, the day of John the Baptist.

Soldiers who participated in grueling campaigns during military campaigns in past centuries received to recuperate and gain vigor. And by throwing the twigs of a plant into the water from an unfamiliar natural source, one could save oneself from dysentery.

If you look at a leaf of St. John's wort, you can see holes - glands. They are filled with oil, the main active ingredient of this flower. It includes: nicotinic and ascorbic acids, hyperoside (reduces the excitability of the nervous system and cholesterol levels), hypericin (a mild antidepressant) and hyperforin (inhibits bacterial growth and improves microflora). They determine the beneficial properties of St. John's wort. The plant also contains tannins, they have an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect even on something that is resistant to.

How to collect St. John's wort for cooking oil:

It is necessary to collect St. John's wort during flowering, when the concentration of active substances reaches a maximum. Be sure to pay attention to the place where St. John's wort grows. It should not be collected near the road, since the ability to accumulate heavy metals is inherent in all plants. It is better to collect medicinal plants before noon, be sure to let the morning dew dry.

How to make St. John's wort oil:

To prepare the oil, we need fresh raw materials - blossoming flowers and leaves of St. John's wort. It is necessary to put everything in a glass jar and fill it with any vegetable oil so that St. John's wort is covered two centimeters from above, close the lid and put it in the sun. The longer the oil matures in the sun, the more saturated the product will be. Be sure to stir every day. In a month we receive our precious dark cherry oil.

It is interesting that during this time the St. John's wort oil will separate into three parts: at the bottom there will be light-colored yeast, then water, but on top there will be the same healing oil of St. John's wort you have prepared. Pour very carefully into a dark glass bottle and store in the refrigerator. It makes no sense to store it for more than a year, the nutrients will be active only until the next season.

You can experiment with the base oil that you pour over the flowers and leaves of St. John's wort - it determines the fatty acid content and other properties of the oil. Try to insist St. John's wort in olive, sunflower (better) or flaxseed oil - each time you get a different healing result.

The use of St. John's wort oil

Cosmetology: the use of St. John's wort oil for the face

St. John's wort oil is an excellent soothing agent that promotes skin regeneration, one of the most powerful antioxidants, that is, substances that prevent skin aging. This is very important under heavy loads and stress. The oil can be applied both to the face and to the hands, it is absorbed very quickly without leaving any greasy residue.
Even if your skin is prone to allergic reactions or is overly sensitive, St. John's wort oil will be a very good and delicate moisturizer that prevents moisture loss and the development of skin infections.

To relieve stressful conditions

St. John's wort oil added to an evening bath will help to improve sleep and relieve depressive conditions (it is optimal if you also mix it with sea salt). Try it and your healthy sleep will return!

Treatment of ulcers using St. John's wort oil

The following recipe helps well for scarring ulcers: a teaspoon of dry St. John's wort powder should be washed down with a teaspoon of St. John's wort oil. Repeat three to four times a day half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is three weeks.

St. John's wort oil: application for hair

To treat oily seborrhea and strengthen hair, you can make a nourishing mask from St. John's wort oil. Apply a sufficient amount of oil to the hair and cover with a towel to enhance the effect. Keep for half an hour, and then rinse your hair well.

Apply once a week.

It is also an excellent remedy for enhancing hair growth.

Constipation treatment

A teaspoon of St. John's wort oil twice a day will help normalize digestion and improve bowel function. It also works well with irritable bowel syndrome.

Treatment of gallstone disease and cholecystitis

To treat these diseases, you need to slightly supplement the composition of St. John's wort oil. To do this, pour the raw materials of St. John's wort (herbs and flowers) with 300 ml of vegetable oil (preferably olive oil) and 100 ml of red wine. The mixture is infused for a week (do not forget to stir!), Then it is boiled for half an hour. Next, you need to stand for another month for full ripening, then filter. The course of treatment is three months, take a teaspoon once a day after meals.

Precautionary measures:

• avoid sun exposure during treatment with St. John's wort oil to avoid burns. The active substances of the plant increase the sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet light;
• If you are going to take a serious course of treatment with a preparation containing St. John's wort oil, be sure to consult your doctor. This is necessary, since the active substances contained in the plant can weaken the effect of some drugs.

St. John's wort will bloom soon - its season is coming ... Take a moment and prepare red oil - healing, unique and essential for your home medicine cabinet.
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Irina Inari specially for the Eco-life website.
Photo: photl.com

At the edge of the forest, in the meadows near the fields, you can see green shrubs with yellow flowers in the shape of stars. This plant is called St. John's wort. It is an effective assistant in the battle against many diseases. This representative of the plant kingdom lives in the middle lane, in the Mediterranean region and not far from northern latitudes.

The oil is extracted from the stems of the plant, which have flowers on them. It is obtained by the method of extraction using carbon dioxide, as well as oil extraction.

St. John's wort oil. Compound

St. John's wort oil contains flavonoids, esters, anthraquinones, saponins, tannins, and minerals. It looks like an oily liquid with a reddish-brown tint, which has the aroma of a plant called St. John's wort. It also contains fatty acids. It is generally accepted that the oil obtained by oil extraction does not differ in properties from.

St. John's wort oil. Medicinal properties

The benefits and properties of St. John's wort oil include an extensive list of distinguishing features. It is an antidepressant, has a relaxing effect, and has a marked pain relief effect. It is used as a sedative. It effectively heals the skin, therefore it is used to quickly heal wounds, bruises, various skin diseases and rashes. Elimination of inflammation is complemented by the fact that the agent seeps deeply into the tissues, which helps to dissolve hematomas, bruises, and regenerate the skin.

For cosmetic purposes, the oil is indicated for combination skin, as well as those prone to oily and acne. Since it has powerful antibacterial properties, it can easily eliminate inflammation on the skin and get rid of acne. In addition, it normalizes the protective layers of the skin, therefore, the production of sebum decreases, and overdried skin is saturated with the necessary moisture. In addition, the use is recommended for sensitive skin type with allergic formations and irritations. This is due to its ability to soothe the skin. It is a powerful antioxidant that stops the aging process.

When used internally, it relieves spasms, is able to regulate the filtration capacity of the kidneys. Helps relieve stomach pain. It has a diuretic effect, and disinfectants prevent cystitis.

St. John's wort oil. Preparation

Consider how to make St. John's wort oil. For the first method you will need:

The second recipe requires:

½ tbsp. ground leaves and flowers;
, flax or olive.

The mixture is poured and infused for 21 days. After that, it is wrung out and filtered. Keep cold.

A similar remedy copes with burns, wounds, ulcers, abscesses, abscesses. Remember that the right oil has a reddish brown tint.

St. John's wort oil. Application and contraindications

For cosmetic purposes, the use of St. John's wort oil is popular due to its regenerating properties. It makes it possible to strengthen the health of the skin during stress, to normalize and regenerate it. Among base oils, it has a powerful antioxidant effect.

Pronounced properties are noticeable when added to products for skin prone to allergies and redness. It is a wonderful helper for oily, mixed type skin prone to acne formation. Efficiency will bring in the form of an additive to soften dry skin, normalize water balance. This will help eliminate moisture loss.

The oil is highly effective in treating burns of various origins. Easily removes herpes crusts, has an anti-couperous effect, eliminates capillary fragility. With a low concentration, it helps to obtain a beautiful tan. The oil combined with the base oil is excellent.

This is an effective way to fight oily hair, the formation of dandruff, and give curls strength. The oil helps to accelerate growth, stop hair loss and eliminate seborrhea. Systematic use helps to tone dark curls in a "richer" shade.

But do not forget that undiluted St. John's wort oil is not recommended. It causes the skin to become more sensitive to the sun. It cannot be used undiluted as transport oil. Dissolve in base oil before adding. It turns out a remedy with an extract of St. John's wort 10-20%. The scent matches the scent of flowers, it is easily recognizable.

The use of this oil depends on the result you want to get:

10-20% oil is used to enrich and create mixtures for the skin, in the composition of various products, balms and hair masks;
it is an excellent basis for eliminating skin problems, creating applications, performing massages;
for muscle damage, bruising and other disorders, apply linen napkins soaked in oil. Carefully lubricate the burns with it;
the oil will help to relax, eliminate anxiety, relieve sleep disturbances, depression in the form of an additive to the bath (mix with sea salt).

As you can see, the range of oil applications is wide. Add it to a variety of masks and compresses for skin and hair care. This will help you get healthy looking skin and shiny curls.