A very useful, but extremely capricious medicinal plant is St. John's wort . It grows in small strips on meadows, forest edges and glades, never forms large thickets. For proper harvesting and obtaining really high quality plant raw materials it is important to know when to collect St. John's Wort. In addition, there are several nuances of its collection, which should be remembered by both beginners and experienced herbalists.
When to collect and how to dry St. John's Wort for tea?
Phytotherapists are advised to collect the medicinal plant during its active flowering period. Usually it falls on June, July and August, and in some regions even September and October.
During the collection it is important to follow certain rules:
- Search for a plant only in ecologically clean places. Roadside St. John's wort can not be used.
- Cut the upper part of the stems, on which there are green leaves, blossoming flowers and a few buds.
- Root and coarse grass base can not be damaged. The optimal height of the cut off stems is up to 30 cm.
Immediately after harvesting, it is necessary to start drying the plant, otherwise it will lose its useful properties:
- Go through the phytochemicals.
- Lay the stems on paper in one layer.
- Leave the St. John's Wort to dry in a sun-protected room for 5 days. Every day you have to mix the grass.
Also allowed to dry the plant in the oven (at a temperature of 40 degrees).
When to collect St. John's Wort for treatment?
People's herbalists and healers prefer more exact dates than those indicated earlier.
It is believed that the day when you can collect St. John's Wort, coincides with the holiday of Ivan Kupala . At this time (by the middle of July) the plant finds the maximum healing and magical power, since it contains the highest amount of active ingredients, essential oils and vitamins.