St. John's wort, turtle grass, sedge, balsam or hypericum, forerunner herb- because it blooms in June, the month of the feast of St. John
It reaches a height of 80 cm. It has yellow flowers with petals and sepals up to 2 cm, with black spots on the edges and blooms from early spring-early summer.
It grows from sea level up to 1500 m, very rarely up to 2000 m.
Sedge is native to Europe and grows on rocky slopes, forest clearings, topsoil, subalpine meadows.
In antiquity it was used mainly as a healing agent for wounds from swords, hence the name "spatho xorto". It is referred to as the ancient Spartan remedy.
It is reported by: Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galinos
In the Hippocratic Collection Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) is mentioned in the books "Peri Gynaecis Physios", "Gynaecia tò Proton", "Gynaecia tò Deuteron", "Peri Nusa tò Deuteron" as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, healing
According to Dioscorides it is useful against sciatica, for healing wounds, as an antipyretic.
According to Gennadius it is healing and is indicated in the treatment of wounds and skin diseases.
Galen and Dioscorides also mention it as a diuretic, emmenagogue and hemostatic
It contains among others hypericin, hyperforin and pseudo-hypericin, flavonoids, xanthones, phenolic acids and essential oils.
Antimicrobial, viostatic, antifungal, antipyretic, antiseptic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, burn and wound healing. Also, antidepressant (the alcoholic extract).
Pharmaceutical forms
Oily extract of flowers and leaves.
Alcoholic extract ('tincture') of the flowers and leaves.
As a dried product of the flowers and leaves (tablets or capsules).
As an infusion with cold water or as a decoction ('teion') with boiling water.
Pharmacological and therapeutic applications
As an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, topically on the skin for burns and superficial wounds. Also as a viostatic in herpes simplex (oily extract).
Orally, as an antidepressant (alcoholic extract).
Orally, for respiratory and genitourinary diseases (aqueous infusion, tablets, capsules).
Method of processing the medicinal herb
Flowers and leaves are placed in vegetable oil and exposed to sunlight for one week. The resulting oily extract has a deep red colour.
Flowers and leaves are placed in a 30-40% alcoholic solution. The resulting tincture is also deep red in colour.
Adverse actions
Topical use has no significant side effects. Pharmacotechnical forms taken orally may reduce the action of other drugs. Long-term use with other medicines should be avoided.
