St. John's wort oil: properties, use and cooking at home
St. John's wort is a completely unremarkable herb. Behind the “brutal” name are hidden harmless small yellow flowers on tetrahedral legs up to 80 cm high. It blooms at the end of June, and it is at this time that the useful substances for which this plant is famous, it has the maximum amount, so the collection of grass is most often scheduled for the middle summer.
St. John's wort received the formidable name for certain reasons. The fact is that it contains substances that, when they enter the mouth of an animal, exhibit a photosensitizing effect. From this, the skin of the beast becomes very photosensitive, up to burns.
Healing decoctions, infusions are prepared from the plant, they are used as part of various oils. St. John's wort oil is produced by the oil extraction method. At the end of the process, the extract turns out to be a beautiful wine color. It is used both as a medicine and in various cosmetic procedures.
Compound
Behind the unprepossessing look of St. John's wort, there is a whole baggage of useful compounds that benefit the body, and, of course, all the beneficial properties of St. John's wort are also inherent in the oil made from this ingredient.
It contains such an element as cineon. Thanks to him St. John's wort oil helps with prolonged depression, fatigue, nervous tension, migraines.Cineon improves the functioning of the nervous system and stimulates tissue repair.
Alkanoids and azulene, which are part of St. John's wort oil, are struggling with the same problems, eliminating nervous conditions and calming the nervous system. Hepericin has a regenerating effect on the cells of the whole body and helps to eliminate old, unnecessary ones. Geraniol and myrcene inhibit the development of E. coli and work to eliminate it, as well as to cleanse the body of other parasites.
Hyperoside and saponins fight edema, having a diuretic effect. Rutin strengthens the vascular walls, and vitamins C, P and B strengthen the immune system, prevent the development of viral diseases and strengthen the heart muscle.
Beneficial features
As can be seen from the composition of St. John's wort oil, it is rich in elements necessary for a person for the normal functioning of his nervous, digestive, urinary and immune systems.
It perfectly suppresses depression and has an analgesic effect. The elements that make up St. John's wort regenerate tissues, fight edema, and help with alcohol addiction. In addition, St. John's wort oil is an excellent antiseptic and has antihelminthic properties. In addition, it has a hemostatic effect and is often used in folk medicine to treat wounds.
Anti-inflammatory properties are also inherent in this plant. That is why St. John's wort extract is widely used in gynecology for the treatment of erosion, adhesions, inflammation, amenorrhea and infertility.
The list of problems that St. John's wort is able to deal with is quite long:
- depressive states;
- joint pain;
- heart diseases;
- diseases of the stomach and digestive system;
- bladder disease;
- gynecological diseases;
- haemorrhoids;
- infectious diseases;
- loss of elasticity of the skin of the face, wrinkles;
- problem skin, acne;
- neurological problems.
Possible harm and contraindications
The oil has a number of contraindications that must be taken into account when using it.
- The product is not recommended to be used in its pure form. First, it should be mixed in any other vegetable oil so that the proportion of St. John's wort extract is 15-20% of the total volume of the mixture. Pointwise, it is allowed to be used in its pure form.
- Do not use this product before sunbathing due to its phototoxic properties.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as individual intolerance are also contraindications to the use of this product.
- At elevated temperatures, as well as pressure above normal, the use of St. John's wort oil is prohibited.
- Specialist laboratory technicians using radioactive elements in their work are highly discouraged from using St. John's wort oil.
Application methods
St. John's wort oil is a universal remedy that is applicable in various fields of medicine and cosmetology.
In cosmetology
St. John's wort oil has proven itself in cosmetology. This oil is used both on young problematic and aging skin covered with wrinkles.
St. John's wort performs well in solving cosmetic problems in the form of rashes, redness and acne. In addition, St. John's wort oil is suitable not only for oily and inflamed skin, but also for dry dehydrated skin, restoring the hydrolipid balance in the epidermis.
St. John's wort ether has powerful regenerating functions. It rejuvenates the cells of the epidermis, restoring skin elasticity and protecting it from premature aging.
There are many ways to use this oil on the skin of the face in order to solve many cosmetic problems.
Anti-couperose skin remedy
Ingredients:
- St. John's wort oil - 10 g;
- rosemary ether - 3 drops.
To prepare the product, you need to heat the oil and add rosemary ether. Then, using a cotton swab, wipe the entire surface of the face with the composition and leave the product on the skin for 30 minutes.
After the procedure, the oil can be washed off with a cleansing gel and a cleansing mask or just a cream can be applied.
Dryness Mask
Ingredients:
- crushed oatmeal flakes - 5 g;
- watermelon pulp - 20 g;
- St. John's wort oil extract - 5 g.
To prepare the mask, you need to mix all the ingredients until smooth and apply a dense layer over the entire surface of the face for 25 minutes. At the end, the mask can be removed with a damp towel.
Banana and cream mask
Ingredients:
- banana - 1 pc.;
- cream - 1 teaspoon;
- St. John's wort extract - 2 tablespoons.
Cooking:
- mash a banana with a blender;
- combine puree, cream and plant extract;
- apply the mixture on the face and leave for 20 minutes;
- At the end, wash off the rest of the mask with warm water.
For skin with signs of dryness
For skin with signs of dryness in the form of peeling, a gelatin mask is suitable.
Ingredients:
- gelatin - 10 g;
- St. John's wort oil - 5 g.
Cooking:
- dissolve gelatin in warm water;
- add oil extract to gelatin and mix well;
- apply a mask on the face with a cosmetic brush and leave to dry;
- remove the mask after half an hour, pulling one end of the resulting film to the side.
Face mask
- sour cream - 10 g;
- lemon juice - 5 drops;
- tomato - 1 pc.;
- St. John's wort oil - 5 g.
To prepare the mask, it is necessary to peel the tomato by dipping it in boiling water first. This will make it easier for the skin to come off. Then mix all the components of the mask into a homogeneous substance using a blender in one bowl and apply the mixture on a cleansed face for no more than 8 minutes. Then its remains are removed with a damp cloth.
Mask for dehydrated skin
Ingredients:
- dry chamomile flowers - 20 g;
- St. John's wort extract - 10 g;
- milk - 300 g.
To prepare the mask, you need to take a small saucepan, pour milk into it, add chamomile flowers and put on a slow fire. Boil flowers should be no more than 10 minutes. Then the broth should be infused for 2 hours, then it is filtered through a sieve to remove flowers. Plant extract is added to 2 tablespoons of strained broth, mixed and applied to the face. After 5 minutes, the face is washed with the remaining decoction and rinsed with plain water.
Mask against irritations on the face
Ingredients:
- grape seed oil - 10 g;
- St. John's wort oil - 10 g;
- honey - 10 g.
After mixing all the components, the mask is applied for 15-20 minutes on cleansed face skin. After it is washed off with warm water using a small amount of foam for washing.
For narrowing pores
If the pores are enlarged, then to solve this problem, you can use a mask based on St. John's wort and tea tree oil.
Ingredients:
- St. John's wort oil extract - 5 g;
- tea tree oil extract - 4 drops;
- egg white - 1 pc.
All ingredients of the mask are mixed and distributed over the entire surface of the skin of the face, avoiding the area around the eyes, for 10-15 minutes. At the end of the procedure, the remnants of the mask are removed with a damp cloth and washed with foam and gel.
This oil is also included in the top of the best products for deep wrinkles on the face, which clearly deserves attention from the fair sex, who are struggling with the signs of aging.
Facial elasticity mask
- St. John's wort oil - 2 tablespoons;
- cucumber pulp - 1 pc.;
- starch - 1 tablespoon.
All components of the mask are mixed in one bowl using a blender. Then the mask is applied to the face, avoiding the area around the eyes. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash off with warm water.
Hair Mask
The use of St. John's wort oil on the hair helps to strengthen the hair follicles, prevents brittleness and dryness of the hair, helps with hair loss and eliminates dandruff. It also enhances the natural natural shine of the hair and helps in the fight against itching of the scalp. It is recommended to use it only on oily hair, as well as on combination hair, since St.
The usage procedure is very simple. The oil is rubbed into the roots of the hair, left for a while and then washed off with detergents. For a visible result, repeat this process every 10 days for 3-4 months.
St. John's wort masks are often used in combination with other ingredients that have a beneficial effect on the hair structure and follicles.
Firming mask with egg and honey
Ingredients:
- St. John's wort oil - 10 g;
- honey - 10 g;
- chicken egg - 1 pc.
All components are mixed together and the resulting mixture is applied to the hair roots and along their entire length. Covering the hair with a film, and then with a towel, leave it for 1 hour on the hair. After the mask can be washed off with shampoo.
Mask against hair loss
Ingredients:
- shampoo - 10 g;
- St. John's wort - 10 g.
Cooking:
- mix the ingredients of the mask;
- wet your hair a little
- apply the mask to the hair roots and along the entire length and leave for 10 minutes;
- after the time has elapsed, wash off the remnants of the mask with shampoo.
Anti-dandruff mask
Ingredients:
- honey - 5 g;
- St. John's wort oil - 20 g.
To prepare the mask, you need to mix honey and oil, apply the mixture with massaging movements on the scalp. For best results, you should perform a five-minute massage, and then leave the mask on your hair for 1 hour. Then it is washed off with water and shampoo.
Oily roots and dry ends
If the hair is oily at the roots and dry at the ends, then a mask with olive and St. John's wort oil will moisturize the ends and dry the scalp.
Ingredients:
- St. John's wort oil - 20 g;
- olive oil - 10 g;
- burdock oil - 20 g.
To prepare the mask, you need to mix all the ingredients and apply the oil mixture on the scalp and hair from roots to ends. The duration of this mask is 2 hours. Then it is washed off with shampoo, if necessary several times, since the oils from the hair are not washed off immediately.
A mask with St. John's wort oil and kefir will help with excessive oily hair
Ingredients:
- kefir - 200 g;
- oil essence of St. John's wort - 20 g;
- honey - 10 g.
Before performing the mask, you should remove the kefir from the refrigerator and leave it on the table until it reaches room temperature. Then oil and honey are added to it, the mixture is stirred well and applied to the roots and hair, leaving the mask for an hour under a film and a towel. Then the remnants of the mask are washed off with warm water and shampoo.
In gynecology
The use of St. John's wort oil in the treatment of gynecological problems must be approved by the attending physician.Only after consultation with a specialist is it recommended to use St. John's wort ether in the fight against female ailments of various origins.
St. John's wort oil is used in the treatment of cervical erosion. For this, ordinary tampons are used, which are dipped into a container with St. John's wort oil to fill them with this product. Then apply such homemade phytotampons at night for 10 days.
As a folk remedy for the treatment of ailments
Thanks to its antiseptic, antiviral, healing, regenerating properties, St. John's wort oil extract is used to treat many diseases, as well as in the complex therapy of various diseases as a folk remedy.
- Angina, stomatitis, pharyngitis. For treatment, 1 teaspoon of oil is absorbed 5 times a day.
- Burns. St. John's wort extract is used to lubricate the affected area of the skin.
- Gastric ulcer. Treatment with St. John's wort oil takes place for 40 days in combination with celandine oil.
- Vitiligo. Treatment is performed by wetting gauze in oil and applying it to problem areas for 30 minutes. The course of treatment is 40 days.
- Rheumatism, dislocations, diseases of the spine. Treatment is carried out by lubricating and rubbing oil on painful places.
Cooking options at home
Anyone can make St. John's wort oil at home. To do this, you will need freshly picked flowers of the plant in the amount of 30 g and olive oil. Other vegetable oils can also be used, such as almond, flax, and sunflower oils.
200 g of oil is poured into a glass dish (preferably with a lid) and flowers are added. It is closed and placed in a dark place, for example, in a closet. After 45 days, the readiness of St. John's wort oil can be checked by its color, which should change from yellow to reddish.The oil is filtered through a fine strainer, the finished product is poured into a dark glass storage jar.
Butter can also be prepared in an unconventional way using white wine.
Ingredients:
- 500 ml of wine;
- 500 g St. John's wort.
The ingredients for the manufactured product are mixed in a glass container and left for 3 days in a cabinet. After this infusion is put on the stove and the liquid is evaporated from the mixture over minimal heat. The resulting substance is filtered and put away for storage in a dark glass dish. The resulting product relieves redness well and treats frostbite of the skin.
You can also use dry material to prepare oil essence. Flowers are dried after picking in the country, and in urban conditions they buy the finished product in a pharmacy.
To prepare oil from dried flowers, take 1 part of the plant and 2 parts of your favorite oil (olive, corn, almond). After mixing the ingredients, spread the mixture in a bowl, put it in a water bath and leave it there for 3 hours. After such heating, the mixture is removed for 3 weeks in a dark place and then, after filtering the oil, is used for its intended purpose.
Usage tips and reviews
And finally, a few more tips on using this amazing and useful product, which were tested in practice by the people who used it and confirmed their effectiveness.
- St. John's wort oil works better and gives a good result when it is heated, so before using it directly, it is worth warming it up to body temperature, but not more than 40 degrees.
- If the balsamic herbal smell of St. John's wort turned out to be unpleasant, then you can fix this by adding a few drops of ylang-ylang or orange essential oil. The citrus aroma covers any specific smells well.
- St. John's wort oil, like any oil product, does not wash off immediately, so you do not need to wet your hair before using a cleanser. First, you should apply shampoo to the hair roots, massage the scalp well, walk through all the hair and only then send a stream of water to the hair.
- St. John's wort is a good helper in the treatment of many ailments that a person faces, but it cannot become a panacea. You should never give up modern methods of treating a particular disease, which are shown by your doctor, giving preference to phytotherapy with St. John's wort oil.
You will learn more about St. John's wort oil from the following video.