The mother tincture of St. John’s wort, excellent for calming states of anxiety and nervousness, is useful in menopause and against depression. Let’s find out more.
Properties of the mother tincture of St. John’s wort
The flowering tops of the Hypericum plant are rich in flavonoids and perform an antidepressant and sedative action. These substances, hypericin, rutin, quercetin and hyperoside, have a strong antidepressant and sedative action and are obtained from the dry extract or mother tincture.
In addition to calming states of anxiety, nervousness and insomnia, they are able to increase serum serotonin levels, similar to certain antidepressant drugs, rebalancing mood.
The mother tincture is the most used hypericum remedy since it contains in itself all the active ingredients of the plant in the same concentration that they have before refining.
Description of the plant
Hypericum is a plant with a short rhizome and erect stem (1 m.), woody and branched. The leaves are opposite oval or oblong, tapped with tiny transparent glands (containing the essential oil) that in backlight resemble small holes and give it the nickname “perforated”.
The flowers, of intense yellow color, are gathered in a sort of corymb, appear in summer; if crumpled they color the skin red. The whole plant gives off a pleasant smell. Very common in dry soils, along the edges of roads, at the edges of fields and in clearings, it grows up to 1600 m of altitude.
How to prepare the mother tincture of St. John’s wort
St. John’s wort tincture is a hydroalcoholic preparation obtained by cold maceration in hydroalcoholic solvent of appropriate gradation of fresh or dried plant.
Utilization
The mother tincture of St. John’s wort is a valid ally used against nervousness, anxiety and states of tension, useful against depression, insomnia, menopause, nervous exhaustion; it has a stimulating action on mood and mental energy.
Generally, 50 drops are used diluted in a little water 1-3 times a day for 2 consecutive months. It is always important to consult a doctor or an expert before taking it, to evaluate individual cases.
Among the contraindications, St. John’s wort decreases the anticoagulant effect of certain drugs such as Warfarin and can lower blood levels of Ciclosporin; reduces the effect of oral contraceptives; enhances the effects of synthetic antidepressants. It should not be taken during pregnancy or lactation.
