St. John's wort perforated

This plant is also called healthy grass, youth blood, red grass, curse, blood. St. John's wort is perched along the roadsides, forest edges, glades and even hides among bushes. The plant is herbaceous, perennial, up to a meter in height( usually about 40 cm), with a branchy stem root.

Leaves - smooth, entire, oblong-ovate, opposite and seem pierced due to numerous translucent light and black dots. The plant blooms from the beginning of June to the end of August( a bright yellow broad-smelling, close to the thyroid, inflorescence).Seeds are brown, small, oblong, hidden in a three-star box. St. John's wort is not toxic to humans, however it is toxic to animals.

The properties of St. John's wort were known even at Avicenna. He recommended drinking an infusion of forty days to heal from the "inflamed sciatic nerve".Treatment of St. John's Wort "from 99 diseases" was known to the Slavic leaders, and the Kazakh tabibs.

Juice of St. John's wort is used, primarily, as an effective remedy, restoring the nervous system( up to the restoration of nervous tissues).It is a wonderful natural antidepressant. It is able to regulate metabolism and activate digestion. St. John's wort has spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, restorative, wound-healing, haemostatic, anthelmintic properties. It is useful for stimulating the work of the heart. Improves blood circulation( both venous and internal organs).

Used for acne vulgaris, otitis media( chronic, purulent), simple vaginitis, periodontal disease, burns, gingivitis, stomatitis, ulcers, catarrhal angina. Inside is indicated for chronic pyelonephritis, diarrhea, enteritis, colitis, gastritis, insomnia, headaches. For those who are sensitive to changing weather, this plant will help reduce vegetative fluctuations. A wine broth helps with tuberculosis.

It is used in the form of oils, infusions, tinctures, decoctions.

Now the plant is widely cultivated in suitable climatic zones( most of Ukraine and Russia, Central Asia, the Caucasus).

Seeds are sown in October in a dug out leveled soil( after applying a peat bog or rotted manure).Spring sowing is possible, but the seeds in this case should be stratified: mixed with sand, moistened( lightly) and soaked for a month and a half in the fridge. However, earlier shoots will occur if the seeds are still sown for the winter( they are sown superficially, they are not sealed in the soil).With an interval spacing of 50 cm, the optimum number of seeds is 0.4 g per square meter.

Shoots are rather tender, develop slowly, so it is desirable to fertilize( 2 grams nitroammofoski per square meter) and three-hand manual weeding.

The St. John's wort will begin to bloom in the first year, but expect a plentiful flowering in two or three years.

The workpiece is carried out when the flowers have just begun to bloom( the beginning of flowering) and until fruits begin to form( until August).The plants cut only the tops. GOST allows cutting up to 25-30 cm, but this height is rarely reached by St. John's wort. The correct harvest implies cutting with left hemp at 15 cm and three pairs of leaves. With a lower cut, the plant either grows poorly, or does not grow at all( the bushes weaken and can not stand the wintering).

Dried St. John's wort only in the shade( the faded plant loses its properties, becomes unusable).Dry better in fine bunches( thick bundles can cause rotting stems).Stored raw materials for three years( no more).September is the most suitable for harvesting seeds.

After collection, it is necessary to make some fertilizers( potassium-phosphorus, nitrogen can not be used, as they will cause new growth of the plant itself, while weakening the root).