The healing properties of herbs St. John's wort The herb St. John's wort and its use in medicine   described in many ancient books of the doctors of the distant past. Grandmothers and great-grandmother of many of us with his hands St. John's wort was collected, dried, and in autumn and winter it was used for the treatment and prevention of many diseases.

Plants can also be unsafe

The herb St. John's wort - low plant, which at the end of June or beginning of July, the color yellow; once used not only to treat disease, but also for protection against evil forces .  Today, manufacturers of alternative medicines in the St. John's wort earn about hundreds of millions of dollars annually, he became one of the most popular herbal medicines on the market; Since most people do not know where and how to collect it, they buy it .  In most cases, Hypericum received in the form of capsules or decoction, at least - in the form of tinctures .  Although it helps in numerous diseases, it is currently most often used to treat mild to moderate depression .  Given these properties of St. John's wort, it seems rather surprising that it causes unwanted interaction with some of the most commonly used currently antidepressants .  Moreover, the herb Hypericum appeared to reduce the effectiveness of some oral contraceptives .  It was recorded a case where a woman for nine years successfully used combined oral contraceptives, six months after she started taking St. John's wort, came unplanned pregnancy .  Furthermore, it was found that hypericum reduces the effectiveness of many drugs used to treat heart disease, epilepsy, cancer, as well as to suppress the activity of the immune system following organ transplants .

However, many drugs cause potentially dangerous drug interactions - this is not a novelty. The problem is the integrity of producers in relation to customers - this quality can boast, not all manufacturers of drugs based on St. John's wort. In 2008 it has been audited 74 funds from St. John's wort from different manufacturers, and found that only a quarter of the packaging says that St. John's wort can be dangerous to take together with antidepressant medication. Information about St. John's wort interaction with oral contraceptives was only 8% of packages.

Various organizations in many countries have repeatedly raised the issue of the need to impose strict standards for alternative drugs that are currently on sale and used very widely. However, until now laws against producers of such funds remain very soft. In particular, the law does not oblige them to inform customers about the potential dangers of their own products. Manufacturers themselves to actively oppose the adoption of more stringent laws, and the lack of warnings on packages of natural medicines helps to perpetuate the ideas in people's minds that such medicines are always harmless.

Why do people still buy St. John's wort, without receiving information about the associated potential dangers? One of the reasons is that every major manufacturer there are supporters of the government, defending its interests, and the other reason is the fact that in many countries, companies that produce drugs from medicinal herbs or dietary supplements are not required to prove their safety and efficiency (in contrast to the producers of drugs) .  As a rule, it is the task of government organizations involved in the quality control of medicinal products - to prove, if necessary, that a particular vehicle is unsafe .  (For example, to ban ephedra in that order - supplement for weight loss - it took more than seven years, despite numerous data indicating that it has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and several deaths) .  St. John's wort is not so dangerous, but nonetheless, fighting for that in preparations of this plant appeared cautionary continues .

What's inside?

Ask a question when buying drugs based on St. John's wort that within them, more than appropriate: studies show that the concentration of active ingredients in a variety of very different with St. John's wort. The standardized preparations of St. John's wort Preparations from St. John's wort - recipes of traditional medicine   must contain 0, 3% of hypericin - one of the main active components of the plant. However, until recently, experts rarely have studied the content of hypericin and pseudohypericin - another active substance St. John's wort - in such preparations. This question became engaged only after the scientists talked about the potential dangers of the use of St. John's wort St. John's Wort: application - medicine for 99 diseases And must take into account that the currently available information may be incomplete.

Recently completed a study in which five products studied St. John's wort, which are freely sold over the counter. All of these products are relatively low hypericin.

In one of the tools that have become the objects of study, the amount of hypericin was 39% as stated on the label, in the other - from 2% to 22%. With regard pseudohypericin, it was not mentioned on the label at all, but are present in all samples tested. Thus both hypericin and pseudohypericin relieve the symptoms of depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood   and struggling with certain viruses. In addition, experts note that even a single manufacturer of active component in the different batches can vary. Thus, those who take Hypericum may be difficult to properly adjust the dose, as well as adjust the dose of other medications that may interact with the hunter. For this reason, herb St. John's wort children, people with chronic diseases as well as immunosuppressed not recommended: the results of its use may be too unpredictable.

Indian onions refers to poisonous plants, however, it is used in folk medicine as an external agent. Indian onion juice is used to treat inflammatory joint disease, osteoarthritis, neuritis of various origins, and some other diseases.

The botanical characteristics of Indian onions

Indian onions (ornithogalum tailed) - is a perennial bulbous plant of the lily family. Grow it mainly as an ornamental and houseplants.

The plant has a large (up to 10 cm in diameter) round, small green onion sitting on top of which are located yellowish scales. Directly from the bulbs grow long flat next remnevidnye hanging leaves (width - about 5 cm, length - 30 cm), folded at the ends into tubes. The ends of the leaves are often dry, while an onion they continue to grow. Each year, the plant grows a leaf, so its age can be determined by counting the number of leaves. Under the scales of bulbs produced numerous subsidiaries bulbs, they are separated from the mother bulb, and grow in any soil. Roots at numerous Indian onion, white in the form of cords.

Indian Onion Blossoms in spring, in April and May, the flowers are small, in the form of stars, yellowish-white on the outside of the leaves have a green stripe. The flowers are collected in inflorescence resembling hyacinths. In addition to the flowers in the inflorescence has a thin green needles sitting on stalks. Fruit - many-sided box contains a flat round black seeds. Of these, the bulbs can be grown.

Indian onion is considered the homeland of Africa, but in our case it is perfectly grown as an ornamental and medicinal plant.

Indian Chemical composition bow and its action on the human body

The chemical composition of Indian onions is not fully understood. But it found that its leaves and bulbs contains many biologically active substances including alkaloids (nitrogen-containing substances which have a pronounced effect on the human body, are often toxic) and colchicine kolhamin.

Colchicine has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, prevents deposition in tissues of uric acid salts Uric acid - a normal level?   (protivopodagricakih action). However, this substance is toxic and can cause poisoning. Kolhamin - is also an alkaloid, but is less toxic than colchicine.

Moreover, Indian onions contain essential oils, vegetable proteins, organic acids, mineral salts, volatile (they have a bactericidal effect).

Indian onion improve local blood circulation, reduces swelling of tissues and lymph drainage of the inflamed tissues, stimulates metabolism Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting , Prevents thrombosis.

As used in Indian folk medicine onions

Applied Indian onions only externally with osteochondrosis, inflammatory and metabolic disorders of the joints, muscular and neuralgic pains, gout attacks Gout - the "disease of kings" , Insect bites, bruises.

For the treatment of the most cut off old leaves of Indian onions drying soil. Used mainly fresh juice of the leaves by rubbing them sick part of the body or by applying to the skin cut sheet and wrapped top. First, it causes severe burning, dilation of blood vessels and blood flow, after which the pain and inflammation are gradually reduced.

But it happens that sometimes an Indian bow accidentally taken orally, and it is difficult to avoid poisoning. Nor can we avoid getting into Indian onion juice in the eye.

Recipes of traditional medicine with Indian onions

There are many recipes for the treatment of Indian onions:

• alcoholate: crushed leaves of Indian onions pour vodka at the rate tablespoon per 100 ml, put in a dark place for a month, shaking occasionally, then strain, squeeze and hold the tincture in the fridge;
• compress the mixture to prepare: two tablespoons of honey, one tablespoon of aloe juice Aloe - its amazing healing properties   and three tablespoons of alcohol tincture of Indian onions together, moisten the gauze applied to aching joints, put a piece of polyethylene, cotton, bandage, wrap up and leave for an hour; It helps with arthritis, arthritis, gout, osteochondrosis.

But we must remember that the juice of the Indian onion is very irritating to the skin, so before the first application of its worth checking out, as it is sensitive to the skin of the person. Sometimes it causes skin swelling and blistering, in which case it can not be used. Check sensitivity can lubricate the juice of a small patch of skin on the inner surface of the forearm. If irritation is very strong, the plant is better not to use the treatment.

Indian onions - a plant that is not yet fully understood, so its use should be taken with caution.

Galina Romanenko