Perennial herbaceous glabrous plant of the tyrlichaceae family. The stem is erect, simple, 30-60 cm tall, with short (up to 2 cm) leaves at the base. Stem leaves are opposite, elliptic, ovate or obovate, pointed, entire; the lower leaves are short-petiolate, the middle and upper leaves are sessile. The flowers are regular, bisexual, almost sessile, placed 4-5 in the axils of the upper leaves and at the top of the stem; calyx bell-shaped, 0.7 — 1.5 cm long, incised to a third, with erect lanceolate teeth; corolla bell-shaped, six-parted, 25-30 mm long, yellow or yellowish-white, with dark dots. The fruit is an egg-shaped capsule. Blooms in July – August.
Spread. The spotted tyrlich grows in the subalpine belt of the Carpathians on grassy slopes, among shrubs.
Procurement and storage . For the production of medicines, the roots of gentian (Radix Gentianae) are used, which are harvested in early spring or autumn, digging up plants at least 4 years old (on plantations, gentian roots are dug up in the fifth or sixth year of cultivation). The collected raw materials are shaken off the ground, freed from the stems, washed in cold water, cut into pieces 15 cm long, if necessary split in half and dried in the sun, and in adverse weather conditions – in a warm room or in a dryer at a temperature of 50-60° . It is necessary to dry the raw materials as quickly as possible, because with slow drying (fermentation) the transformation of bitter glycosides occurs, and the raw materials lose their medicinal properties. The finished raw materials are stored in dry, cool rooms with good ventilation. The shelf life is 5 years.
The plant is unofficial .
Chemical composition . St. John’s wort roots contain bitter glycosides (gentiopicrin, amarogentin), yellow dye gentisine, alkaloids, trisaccharide gentianose, disaccharide gentsobiose, fatty oil, resinous and pectin substances, and ascorbic acid.
Pharmacological properties and use. St. John’s wort preparations improve the functional activity of the digestive organs (stimulate appetite, stimulate the secretion of gastric glands, slightly increase the motility of the digestive tract), have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, and show an anthelmintic effect on Tohosara canis. Experimental studies have also established the cholagogue and choleretic properties of the products of St. John’s wort, their ability to strengthen heart contractions. It is especially effective to use St. John’s wort for digestive disorders accompanied by lack of appetite, achilles and dyspeptic symptoms, as well as for anemia and jaundice. In addition, St. John’s wort is an effective tonic for convalescent patients. In folk medicine, the spotted tyrlich is used for general strengthening of the body, stimulation of the liver and gall bladder, for pale weakness in underdeveloped girls, for scurvy and arthritis of various origins, diseases of the spleen, jaundice, heartburn, regurgitation and catarrh of the stomach, for flatulence, dysentery and constipation and as an antipyretic in colds of the respiratory organs and as a means to promote longevity. St. John’s wort is often used in combination with other medicinal plants that improve digestion. When used externally, the products of tyrlich are an effective remedy for smelly sweating of the feet, and promote the healing of purulent wounds. St. John’s wort is often used in combination with other medicinal plants that improve digestion. When used externally, the products of tyrlich are an effective remedy for smelly sweating of the feet, and promote the healing of purulent wounds. St. John’s wort is often used in combination with other medicinal plants that improve digestion. When used externally, the products of tyrlich are an effective remedy for smelly sweating of the feet, and promote the healing of purulent wounds.
Medicinal forms and applications .
Internally – root decoction (10 g, or 1 tablespoon of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water) 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 30-40 minutes before meals;
root infusion (half a teaspoon of raw material is infused for 8 hours in 400 ml of cold boiled water, filtered) half a glass 3-4 times a day 30-60 minutes before meals;
3 teaspoons of a mixture (equally) of the roots of the spotted yarrow, yarrow grass and yarrow are poured with 3 glasses of cold water, boiled for 10 minutes and the resulting decoction is drunk during the day in the absence of appetite, in case of chlorosis, gastritis, achilles of the stomach, spastic colitis and diarrhea ;
a tablespoon of a mixture of the roots of St. John’s wort, common St. John’s wort, common buckwheat and goose’s finger, taken in a ratio of 1:1:3:3, infuse for 20 minutes in 250 ml of boiling water and drink 2-3 glasses a day in case of diabetes insipidus.
Externally , purulent wounds are washed with a decoction of the roots (prepared as in the previous prescription) or sprinkled with a powder from the roots of the spotted sedge, mixed equally with the powder of medicinal chamomile flowers);
foot baths in a hot decoction (5 tablespoons of a mixture of the roots of the spotted gorse and the bark of the common oak, taken in a ratio of 1:3, per 1 liter of boiling water) are taken every day before going to bed with smelly sweating of the feet.
It should be remembered that large doses of sorghum can cause vomiting and deterioration of digestive organs.