Medicinal plants which. Medicinal plants in medicine. We offer you a list of the most common medicinal plants

As practice shows, we do not always know how to competently and fully use the gifts of Mother Nature, who generously provided us with natural medicines with which our ancestors treated many diseases. It's time to remember the healing properties of herbs and plants, their role in medicine, rules of administration, harm and benefit.

Medicinal plants in medicine

But medicinal plants are used not only for therapeutic purposes, but also for preventive purposes, for example, to cleanse the body. Regular cleansing is one of the secrets of people who, even in old age, can boast of excellent physical and mental health.

Of course, medicines from plants do not have pronounced pharmacological activity, since they act on the body slowly, but in some cases it is plants that are more effective than their synthetic “brothers”. Thus, among the 3,000 drugs that are used in modern medicine, about 35–40 percent are made from medicinal plants, and the number of herbal drugs increases every year.

However, it is important to remember that only a doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe a medicinal plant, while self-medication may not lead to the desired result (in best case scenario) or make you feel worse (in the worst case).

What is the secret of efficiency herbal medicines?
The fact is that plants are a biogenetically formed complex consisting of actively active ingredients and other (secondary) elements, including:

• metabolites,
• proteins,
• various essential oils,
• chlorophyll,
• microelements,
• different groups,
• inorganic salts.

Therefore, it is not surprising that scientific medicine, which considers traditional methods treatments that are imperfect and archaic, nevertheless resorts to the help of medicinal plants that have proven their effectiveness and usefulness over the course of their existence. And this is not surprising, because medicinal herbs and plants do not have any chemical additives, since nature itself has endowed them with beneficial properties, creating a kind of safe “natural pills”.

Little of, modern science Not only is the experience of traditional medicine being studied and carefully tested, but the arsenal of therapeutic agents is also being replenished.

Medicinal plants and their uses

The following are made from medicinal plants:

• infusions,
• decoctions,
• tinctures,
• powders,
• ointments,
• extracts,
• syrups.

Infusions

• cold method - the crushed plant (or collection) is poured with cold boiled water, infused for 5 – 8 hours, after which the mixture is filtered through gauze,
• hot way– the crushed plant (or collection) is poured with boiling water and placed on the fire for 20 minutes, it is important not to bring the water to a boil, then the infusion is squeezed out through cheesecloth.

Decoctions

To prepare a decoction, you need to add water to the crushed plant and bring to a boil, then strain and bring to the desired volume by adding boiled water. Both decoctions and infusions are stored for no more than one to two days.

Tinctures

Powders

Ointments

Binders:

• petrolatum,
• lanolin,
• unsalted pork lard,
• fresh butter or vegetable oil.

Extracts

Syrups

Properties of medicinal plants

• alkaloids,
• glycosides,
• coumarins and furocoumarins,
• essential oils,
• resins,
• tannins,
• vitamins

Alkaloids

The most used alkaloids:

• strychnine,
• brucine,
• caffeine,
• morphine,
• nicotine,
• quinine,
• atropine.

• pilocarpus,
• belladonna,
• pink periwinkle,
• securinega subshrub,
• ephedra,
• egg capsule

Glycosides

• digitalis,
• lily of the valley,
• Adonis.

2. Anthraglycosides:

• buckthorn,
• rhubarb,
• cassia,
• aloe.

3. Saponins.
They have the following effects on the body:

• expectorant: roots of istod, roots of cyanosis and primrose,
• diuretic: herb kidney tea,
• choleretic: St. John's wort.

• lower arterial pressure,
• provoke vomiting,
• have a diaphoretic effect.

• sagebrush,
• gentian,
• dandelion,
• centaury.

• increase appetite,
• enhance gastric peristalsis,
• improve food absorption,
• I increase the secretion of gastric juice.

• hawthorn,
• chokeberry,
• liquorice root,
• tansy,
• buckwheat.

• P-vitamin activity,
• bactericidal effect,
• choleretic effect,
• removal of radioactive substances.

Coumarins and furocoumarins

• umbrella,
• legumes,
• Rutaceae.

• vasodilator
• antispasmodic,
• antitumor,
• photosensitizing.

Essential oils

The most common essential oils:

• mint,
• valerian,
• thyme,
• eucalyptus,
• oregano,
• Melissa,
• juniper,
• wormwood,
• sage.

• anti-inflammatory,
• antimicrobial,
• antiviral,
• anthelmintic,
• soothing,
• stimulating,
• painkiller,
• vasodilator,
• expectorant.

Resins

Plants from which resins are obtained:

• rhubarb,
• pine,
• birch,
• sandarac,
• gopher,
• myrrh.

• bactericidal,
• antiputrefactive,
• wound healing,
• laxative.

Tannins

Plants with tanning properties include:

• birch,
• bird cherry,
• St. John's wort,
• Oak bark,
• sagebrush,
• rhubarb,
• tansy.

• astringent,
• bactericidal,
• anti-inflammatory,
• hemostatic,
• anti-inflammatory.

Vitamins

Taking medicinal plants

1. Before taking herbs, you should mandatory consult a doctor who will select the required dose and develop a regimen for taking the drug.


2. Potent herbal preparations are taken for 7 to 20 days, then a ten-day break is taken, after which the course of treatment is resumed.

3. Medicinal herbal preparations that do not have a strong effect are allowed to be taken for no more than two months.

4. Remember that the dosage indicated in the prescription is intended for use by an adult, therefore, when taking the medicine by children, adolescents and sick people, it is necessary to reduce the dose, following the recommendations of a specialist.

5. In the absence of clear instructions in the prescription regarding use, it is recommended to take the drug half an hour before meals.

6. Strictly observe the duration of use of the medicinal plant, since certain toxic plants can provoke the following reactions:

• allergic,
• temporary impotence,
• weakness,
• nausea,
• vomiting
• diarrhea,
• dizziness.

8. During the use of medicinal plants, it is prohibited to consume alcoholic beverages and fatty foods.

9. It is undesirable to take long breaks in treatment, as this may lead to the need to repeat the entire course.

10. Raw materials should be stored in a dry and, most importantly, clean place, and for storage it is necessary to use closed containers into which dust cannot enter. It is also necessary to exclude contact of the medicinal plant with animals, which are often carriers of dangerous diseases.

11. Infusions and decoctions must be prepared daily, as they spoil very quickly, especially in the summer.

12. Plants used in medicinal purposes, must undergo careful monitoring. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase them in pharmacies or special medicinal shops.

Important! Sometimes the use of medicinal plants can provoke a deterioration of the condition (especially in the first days of taking the drug, infusion or decoction). You shouldn’t be afraid of such manifestations, because this is how activation occurs immune mechanism. But if after 3–4 days no improvement is observed, it is better to stop taking the drug or replace it with another (similar).

The benefits of medicinal plants

• low toxicity,
• possibility of long-term use,
• complexity of impact,
• no significant side effects,
• easy absorption by the human body,
• bioavailability,
• rare cases of intolerance,
• wide spectrum of action,
• a high degree of activity against strains of microorganisms, as well as viruses, which during their existence have acquired resistance to various synthetic drugs, including antibiotics.

• chronic diseases,
• recurrent diseases,
• gastrointestinal pathologies,
• pathologies of the urinary tract,
• pathologies of the respiratory system,
• skin problems,
• functional disorders neuroendocrine system.

Harm from medicinal plants

Self-medication can provoke poisoning even from non-poisonous plants.


Yes, long-term use sweet clover may provoke:

• dizziness,
• nausea,
• vomiting
• migraine,
• drowsiness,
• liver dysfunction,
• disruption of the central nervous system.

• narrowing blood vessels,
• increased blood pressure.

• increased blood clotting,
• hypertension,
• atherosclerosis,
• bleeding.

The following medicinal plants that have an abortifacient effect are contraindicated for pregnant women:

• aralia,
• aloe,
• Highlander,
• elecampane,
• barberry,
• oregano,
• nettle,
• buckthorn,
• crocus,
• wormwood,
• celandine,
• licorice,
• thyme,
• juniper,
• bearberry,
• yarrow,
• sage.

Poisonous medicinal plants

I must say that toxic properties many medicinal plants do not disappear during drying or heat treatment. Many poisons present in plants have no taste or smell, which makes them especially insidious and dangerous.

Especially poisonous plants, which must be taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor and in the dose prescribed by him:

• St. John's wort,
• buckthorn bark,
• male fern,
• yarrow,
• sagebrush,
• belladonna,
• tansy,
• rhubarb,
• rhododendron,
• horsetail,
• licorice,
• bearberry,
• physalis,
• hellebore,
• henbane,
• common bird cherry.

Popular medicinal plants

Aloe vera

• moisturizes the skin,
• smooths out wrinkles,
• eliminates sunburn,
• heals cuts and scratches,
• relieves inflammation, providing a calming effect,
• reduces itching and burning,
• relieves swelling.

Burdock

• boil,
• rashes,
• bruise,
• burn,
• acne,
• ringworm,
• traces of insect bites.

Marigold

• bites,
• sprains varying degrees,
• pain in the eyes,
• varicose veins.

Chamomile

• increase the secretory function of the digestive glands,
• stimulate the process of bile secretion,
• increase appetite,
• relieve spasms localized in organs abdominal cavity,
• reduce gas formation in the intestines,
• relieve pain
• eliminate inflammation,
• regulate the menstrual cycle,
• relieve itching,
• increase sweating.

Echinacea

• anti-inflammatory,
• antifungal,
• antiviral,
• antiallergic,
• antirheumatic,
• immunomodulatory.

• cold,
• flu,
• otitis,
• illnesses Bladder,
• mononucleosis,
• blood poisoning,
• liver diseases,
• chronic inflammatory processes,
• diabetes,
• eczema,
• herpes,
• hives,
• burns,
• insect and snake bites.

Peppermint

• Vitamin A,
• Vitamin C,
• manganese

• reduces symptoms such as “irritable bowel”,
• eliminates digestive disorders,
• relieves fever
• normalizes digestive process,
• fights flatulence,
• reduce nausea,
• relieves headaches,
• reduces inflammation,
• dilates the blood vessels of the heart, lungs and brain.

Tea tree

• acne,
• various vaginal infections,
• mycosis,
• warts,
• insect bites,
• herpes,
• burns,
• thrush.
• chronic fatigue syndrome.

• antiseptic, bactericidal,
• immunomodulatory,
• antifungal,
• antiviral.

Ginseng

• calms the nervous system,
• reduces cholesterol levels,
• increases immunity,
• increases endurance,
• improves appetite,
• normalizes sleep,
• relieves pain in chronic gastritis,
• normalizes intestinal function.

Sage

• antiseptic,
• anti-inflammatory,
• diuretic,
• astringent,
• antispasmodic,
• painkiller.

• angina,
• Qatar upper respiratory tract,
• bronchitis,
• pneumonia,
• tracheitis,
• laryngitis,
• inflammation of the mucous membrane oral cavity,
• obesity,
• articular rheumatism,
• arthritis,
• menopause

Calendula

• anti-inflammatory,
• wound healing,
• bactericidal,
• antispasmodic,
• choleretic,
• sedative.

• cervical erosion,
• colpitis,
• proctitis,
• chronic fistulas,
• minor wounds,
• cuts,
• burns,
• boils,
• swelling,
• cardiovascular diseases.

St. John's wort

• anti-inflammatory,
• antibacterial,
• painkiller,
• soothing,
• hemostatic,
• stimulating.

• dyskinesia biliary tract,
• hepatitis,
• congestion in the gallbladder,
• cholecystitis,
• gastritis,
• flatulence,
• diarrhea.

Medicinal plants. The use of plants to treat diseases and promote health began in ancient times. Even primitive people used the gifts of a living pharmacy - nature. Information about healing properties plants were passed down from generation to generation; how these plants were used by people is evidenced by references in ancient myths, legends, and tales.

With the advent of writing, information about useful plants began to be recorded, which significantly expanded their practical use. Especially widely herbal treatment used in ancient Palestine, Egypt, Greece, Rome, India and China. A lot of interesting information By medicinal use plants given by ancient thinkers and doctors: Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Pliny, Galen, etc.

In the Middle Ages, the importance of medicinal plants increased even more. The outstanding Tajik scientist Abu Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna), who lived at that time, in his famous book “The Canon of Medical Science” provides information about almost nine hundred medicinal plants. Among the plants he described, there are many that were not used in ancient times. Mediterranean countries and originated from India and other Asian countries. Medicinal plants were widely used in Armenia and Georgia.

Healing herbs were also popular among the ancestors of the Slavs who inhabited the territory of the European part of our country. With the adoption of Christianity and the emergence of monasteries use of medicinal plants has expanded significantly. The monks, using information from Greek herbalists, used not only imported dried herbs, but also local plants. Nevertheless, for several centuries in Russia, many healers used mainly information gleaned from translated European medieval herbalists, and only in the 16th century did Russian handwritten herbalists begin to appear, which described some plants of the domestic flora. The first Russian herbal book was published in 1588.

Creation in the mid-17th century pharmacy order led to a significant expansion in the use of medicinal plants. The study of not only local, but also plants growing in the lands of Siberia began. They began to lay " apothecary gardens", in which medicinal plants were grown. Under Peter 1, such gardens were created at military hospitals in all major cities. Large plantations of medicinal plants appeared in Astrakhan and Lubny. At the same time, they began to harvest more wild plants, which made it possible to abandon the import of some expensive medicinal plants from other countries.

Since the end of the 18th century, botanists and doctors began studying medicinal plants of the domestic flora. Information from traditional medicine collected and verified by doctors made it possible to enrich the arsenal of medicinal remedies with valuable plants, many of which have not lost their significance to this day.

However, the use of medicinal plants in scientific medicine in pre-revolutionary Russia was limited. The rapid development of medicinal plant growing, a broad search for new plants and comprehensive study began in the middle of the 20th century.

Many families have home first aid kits containing medicines and medicines necessary for first aid. first aid in various accidents and some acute diseases, as well as drugs that are used for a long time on the recommendation of a doctor by patients suffering from chronic diseases. Among such preparations there are often herbal remedies and plants from which medicines are prepared at home. Moreover, many plants, when dried, retain their medicinal properties for several months and years, which allows you to have a supply of them if necessary.

Plants included in the state pharmacopoeia- a special publication that is a mandatory guide for all pharmacies, called official, i.e. pharmacy. Medicinal plants that are not included in the pharmacopoeia are called informal, although under certain conditions they can also be used in medical practice. Due to the emergence of more effective means some of the plants previously used by doctors similar action loses its medicinal value and their use in scientific medicine ceases. Along with this, the process of replenishing the arsenal of scientific medicine with plants borrowed from traditional medicine and plants about medicinal use which were not previously known.

Before introducing a plant into medical practice, a number of special preliminary studies are carried out. Their chemical composition is studied, then pharmacologically studied in animal experiments. In the case of experimental identification of healing properties, the drugs obtained by chemists and pharmacologists, in accordance with the nature of the physiological effect they exhibit, are tested on healthy and sick people in safe therapeutic doses. Only if detected valuable medicinal properties, confirmed clinical trials(tests are usually carried out in large clinics and institutes under the guidance of leading experts - professors, doctors and candidates of science). The Russian Ministry of Health may authorize the use of a new drug in medical practice. Thus, the entire path of a new medicinal plant or preparations from it from the experimenter’s table to widespread testing in clinical conditions allows for a comprehensive assessment of them medicinal qualities and protects scientific medicine from drugs that are insufficiently effective or have harmful side effects.

The popularity of medicinal plants is very high, and their use is not limited to official species. Among the informal plants consumed by the people, there are many whose healing properties have been scientifically confirmed; their use for treatment is safe and possible at home. These plants, along with those used in scientific medicine, are often collected by people themselves. If they are accurately identified by botanical characteristics, those parts that contain a sufficient amount of medicinal substances are collected in a timely manner, drying is carried out correctly, they can be used.

You should not use medicinal plants, as well as other medicinal products on the advice of ignorant healers who cannot correctly determine the cause of the disease, determine individual characteristics patient, etc. This can not only delay recovery, but also lead to a significant deterioration in the patient’s health. As a rule, such people do not have special training, have little knowledge of the chemical composition of medicinal plants and the mechanism of their action on the human body, which aggravates possible harmful effects their recommended treatment. Sometimes they prescribe plants that have medicinal properties and are also poisonous, which, with a slight overdose of drugs prepared from them, can lead to poisoning or cause an exacerbation of the disease. The same danger lurks in some recommendations of traditional medicine if used without medical supervision. Only a doctor can accurately diagnose the disease, assess its development and course, and prescribe necessary medications. Therefore, medicinal plants should be used only after consultation with the attending physician or on his advice.

Based on materials from the book "Medicinal Plants in Everyday Life".

Probably, medicinal plants began to enter into human use as soon as he satisfied his hunger at least a little. I immediately felt a desire to live longer and not suffer from illness. Having learned to recognize useful plants for themselves, gained knowledge by observing animals and neighboring tribes, as well as experience - by trial and error, part of the population, who know what winter is like first-hand, became concerned with the problem of how to preserve not only food, but also medicinal plants . This is how the first medicines arose - at first just powders from dry plants, then ointments based on animal fat and vegetable oils. Well, when alcohol appeared (the honor of this discovery is attributed to Arab doctors, in particular Avicenna), then medicines began to be stored even better and, as practice has shown, many active ones began to be extracted more efficiently.

The second problem that people became concerned with, by the way, much earlier than design (I don’t care if I were alive) is growing medicinal plants near the home. Discovering new countries and continents, travelers took familiar plants with them, and those who returned took with them many useful plants of overseas flora and planted them in their gardens. This is how a whole industry was born - medicinal plant growing, taking various forms - monastery gardens, university botanical gardens, apothecary gardens, and, finally, state farms. Well, everything that did not grow in the garden continued and continues to be collected from nature.

So we can very briefly list the main stages of the neighborly relationship between medicinal plants and humans.

But in last years these relationships have intensified. It would seem that the pharmaceutical industry, especially in foreign countries, works perfectly, export-import does not fail and you can get acquainted with the products of almost all countries, the pharmacy network cannot be thicker, almost like grocery stores. And they also included teas with medicinal plants, proudly bearing the title of “functional products.” But no! Everyone enthusiastically studies books and articles in specialized magazines on how to grow medicinal plants on their own and what can be prepared from them and for what diseases all this can be taken.

What is the reason for this interest? There are probably several reasons. Firstly, not all plants can already be bought at the pharmacy. Many of them, as a result of active harvesting, simply became rare and endangered, for example, many Araliaceae, Rhodiola rosea, and red root. Industrial cultivation of these species is very problematic. It is, of course, possible, but in this case the medicines made from them will be very expensive. But growing several plants in a garden plot is not a problem at all.

Secondly, many simply do not trust what is being sold to them. Even if medicinal raw materials look great, they may contain radionuclides, mycotoxins and heavy metals invisible to the eye (and this is very common). Therefore, the modern consumer wants to be sure that everything he consumes himself, and what he enthusiastically feeds to his family, is absolutely safe and “environmentally friendly.”

Thirdly, it’s simply excitingly interesting to grow some kind of rare view, about which it is written everywhere that it doesn’t want to grow in culture, and you can independently prepare medicine from it according to all the rules. The same sea buckthorn oil is on sale. But many people prefer to cook it themselves. True, when reading recipes in various publications, there are a lot of contradictions. Unfortunately, many publications are guilty of rewriting old mistakes from each other. But science does not stand still. Some recommendations are confirmed, some are debunked as myths, for many plants “new pages of biography” are opened, that is, directions for their use.

Taking care of your health is gradually turning into a way of life. That is, this is not only treatment with medications, preferably natural ones, but also proper nutrition with healthy foods. Nutritionists broadcast from all TV channels and newspaper pages. But most fruits and vegetables, without which a diet is simply unthinkable, are medicinal plants. For example, celery, dill, fennel, and anise are included in the pharmacopoeias of various countries, that is, they are official medicinal plants that are presented on pharmacy shelves. There are a lot of medicinal, not culinary recipes with garlic and potatoes, carrots and beets. And some are used to prepare medicines - for example, artichoke - a delicacy and raw material for many choleretic drugs.

On the other hand, some commonly used medicinal plants are promoted as food plants, for example calendula. Have you tried a salad or casserole with petals (scientifically, reed flowers)?

And finally, one more aspect - many medicinal plants are simply very beautiful, and some ornamental plants are medicinal. Therefore, they can be placed on the site so that they become not a necessity, but a decoration: echinacea, nasturtium, daisy, bergenia, evasive peony and many others can be stars in flower beds, and not Cinderellas in the backyard.

Therefore, the main task of our new section “Medicinal Plants” is to help grow the desired plant, prepare it correctly and warn against possible troubles. After all, many medicinal plants must be used in small doses and, like any medicine, have contraindications. And, of course, help purchase seeds and planting material, get expert advice and exchange experiences.

Doctor of Agricultural Sciences

Photo: Rita Brilliantova, Maxim Minin

Mint

The healing properties of mint have been known to people since ancient times. And despite the abundance of various medicines, this plant has not lost its popularity to this day.

The main medicinal component in mint is menthol (essential mint), which has anesthetic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, and vasodilating properties.
Thanks to menthol, mint extract is used to treat headaches, angina pectoris, and atherosclerosis. The antiseptic properties of menthol are used during epidemics viral diseases, for colds, sore throat, inflammation of the gums.

Tea with mint is a choleretic agent, relieves meorism, colic and intestinal pain. Mint decoctions speed up digestion and prevent fermentation and putrefaction in the stomach. A strong mint infusion helps cope with intestinal disorders.
Mint is an excellent remedy for insomnia and other nervous disorders; it helps get rid of nausea.

Today, mint is actively used not only in folk medicine, but also in traditional medicine. It also found application in other areas of life - cosmetology, household chemicals.

Collection of raw materials

Mint harvesting begins in late July - early August, when it blooms. The stems should be collected in dry weather, after waiting for the dew to dry. To prepare preparations, shoots with young flowers or only the leaves of the plant are used.

The collected plants are dried in a ventilated area where there is no direct contact sun rays. During drying, the raw material must be stirred periodically, being careful not to break it. Dried mint should be stored in cotton bags or in a closed jar.

Peppermint medicines

Mint decoction helps with many health problems: nausea, stomach and liver colic, seasickness, vascular spasms, menopause. It is prepared like this: pour a tablespoon of chopped dried mint with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for one hour. Strain the finished broth and take one tablespoon 5-6 times a day.

This decoction will be useful for the intestines, stomach and improving appetite: pour 50 g of mint raw material into 1 liter of water and boil for 15 minutes. It should be taken 30 minutes before meals, half a glass.
Can be cooked alcohol tincture, which is recommended to be taken externally for rubbing and internally to improve immunity and metabolic processes, 30 drops per day. To prepare the tincture, mix mint and alcohol (vodka) in a ratio of 1:5, respectively, and let it brew for two weeks.

We grow ourselves

It is best to propagate mint vegetatively, using cuttings or rhizomes. Cuttings are planted in the summer, first they are rooted in the sand and then placed on permanent place. Rhizomes from old bushes are divided and planted in spring or early autumn according to a 50x20 cm pattern.
Mint can also be propagated by seeds, but they are very small, so they are not embedded in the soil, but simply pressed into it. When propagating from seeds, it is better to use the seedling method.

Caring for mint is not difficult. You just need to weed it regularly and loosen it 2-3 times a season. And to obtain a lush green mass, it is recommended in the spring, as it grows, to make strong pruning, then the mint will bush well.

Note!

People with low blood pressure should avoid using medications with mint. varicose veins veins Peppermint can also cause heartburn.

Calendula officinalis

Calendula, or marigold, grows in many garden areas. These yellow flowers have been known to us since childhood. But they are not only decoratively attractive, but also medicinal, and can be of great benefit to our body.

Why is she rich?

Calendula has a rich set of beneficial substances and microelements. It contains essential oils that give the plant its characteristic aroma and make the petals slightly sticky. In addition, the flowers contain vitamin C, trace elements and tannins.

Due to its composition, this plant has choleretic properties and cleanses the liver, slows the growth of tumors, reduces swelling of various origins, helps women during menopause, and promotes wound healing. Calendula is natural antiseptic and an immunostimulant.

Procurement of raw materials

Inflorescences are collected immediately from the moment flowering begins, at least twice a week. It is better to cut baskets on warm sunny days.

It is important to pick off the inflorescences at the very base or with a remaining peduncle 3 cm long, otherwise there is a chance of damaging the bottom of the inflorescence, which may crumble when dry.

How and what to treat

A decoction of calendula can be taken to treat diseases of the stomach, liver, gargle with it for a sore throat, or inhale it and breathe in the steam. It can also be taken when gynecological diseases(douching).

The decoction is prepared as follows: pour one tablespoon of flowers into 0.5 liters of boiling water and boil in a water bath for 10 minutes. After this, let the broth brew for 20 minutes and strain.
You need to take the medicine warm, half a glass three times a day. The finished broth can be stored in the refrigerator for two days.

From calendula flowers you can prepare an ointment that has healing properties; it is good for smearing cracks on the lips, heels, and also for treating wounds, abrasions, bruises and bruises.

To prepare the ointment, take 100 g of calendula flowers and mix them with 200 g of unsalted rendered lard, place on water bath, simmer over low heat for five minutes, stirring with a wooden stick. Store the finished cooled ointment in the refrigerator in a closed glass container.
-I have cataracts. To treat it, I prepare an infusion of calendula: three teaspoons of dry crushed flowers are poured into a thermos with 0.5 liters of boiling water and left for 1-2 hours, then filtered. I drink half a glass of the infusion four times a day, and I also rub my eyes with it - summer resident Maria Kozlova shared the recipe.

Carefully

Preparations based on calendula are contraindicated for people with allergies to it and individual intolerance, pregnant women, and hypertensive patients (calendula lowers blood pressure).
Calendula should not be taken together with drugs that have sedative properties, as this plant itself is a powerful sedative. A side effect of long-term treatment with calendula is urticaria.

Growing

Calendula tolerates replanting well even during flowering. It is cold-resistant, can withstand frosts down to minus 5 degrees. Can grow on any soil, prefers sunny areas.
Seeds can be sown directly into the ground in early spring (April-May) or before winter (October). When sown in winter, calendula sprouts earlier and flowering occurs much earlier. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2-4 cm. Shoots appear in 7-10 days; after a couple of weeks they need to be thinned out, leaving a distance between plants of 15-20 cm.

Yarrow

Bloodstone officinalis is the name given in ancient times to yarrow, which was famous for its ability to stop bleeding. But besides this property it has many others.
The plant contains a large amount of tannins, which give the grass bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. This allows you to soothe and tone irritated skin.

Yarrow, thanks to the vitamin K it contains, helps strengthen capillaries, increases blood clotting and, as already mentioned, has a hemostatic effect. The bitterness inherent in the plant increases bile secretion and improves appetite.

Yarrow contains carotene in large quantities, which removes toxins from the body and strengthens the immune system.

Decoctions, teas and tinctures from this plant lower blood pressure, reduce allergies, improve digestion, accelerate the absorption of substances, and also help with flatulence, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, flu, colds, and decreased liver function.

The entire aerial part of yarrow is used as a medicinal raw material during its flowering period. Since the leaves and flowers have different healing properties, they are used for different purposes. The inflorescences do not have hemostatic properties, but have an antispasmodic effect.

Harvesting is carried out from the beginning to the middle of the flowering of the plant (June-August). The tops of the stems, 15 cm long, are cut off; the leaves on the lower, thick part of the stem are torn off. When harvesting flowers, only inflorescences with peduncles are cut so that the length of the peduncles does not exceed 4 cm.

Dry the raw materials under sheds, in attics or in dryers at a temperature of no more than 40-45 degrees, laying them out in a thin layer and turning them over periodically.

Uses of yarrow

Yarrow is usually used together with other plants in the composition. medicinal fees. But its separate use is also possible.

An infusion from this plant is taken in the presence of bleeding, gastritis and ulcers (increases the acidity of the stomach), diathesis, indigestion, neurasthenia, and urinary incontinence. It can also be used externally to wash bleeding wounds, cuts, ulcers, and boils. This infusion can be used for hemorrhoids by making enemas from it. For bleeding gums, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with it.

The infusion is prepared in this way: pour one tablespoon of the herb with two glasses of boiling water, close the lid, let it brew for half an hour, strain. Take 0.5 cups three times a day 30 minutes before meals.

be careful

Yarrow is a poisonous plant. It can be taken orally only if the dosage is strictly observed. After prolonged or too intensive use, the plant may cause skin rash and dizziness.

Yarrow can cause delayed menstruation. It should not be taken by pregnant women or people prone to thrombophlebitis. The plant should be used very carefully if you have allergies.

Yarrow in the beds

Sowing of seeds is carried out in winter or before winter. Since the seeds are small, they are not embedded in the soil, but simply sprinkled with a thin layer of earth. Yarrow grows best in sunny areas.

Valerian

“Healthy grass” - this is how the name of valerian is translated from Latin. After all, our great-grandfathers noted the healing and even magical properties of this plant.

Note!

Valerian has virtually no contraindications, but long-term use can cause an overdose. It manifests itself as nausea, agitation, headache, and indigestion. Therefore, you cannot take valerian preparations for more than 1.5-2 months.

Uniqueness of the plant

Our ancestors used a decoction of valerian roots as a means to lift the mood and calm the soul.

In XY!!! For centuries, valerian has been recognized by official medicine and included in the list of medicinal herbs. To date, the study of the medicinal properties of the plant has not been stopped, and it is surprising that it is still possible to discover new secrets of this herb.

The composition of valerian is unique, it has no analogues among others medicinal herbs. Its roots contain about a hundred individual substances, including essential oils, acids, alcohols, alkaloids, tannins, organic acids, glycosides, vitamins (A, B, C) and others previously unknown known to science substances.

Due to such a diverse composition, valerian affects various areas human body. Medicinal properties are manifested in the following:

Oppression of the central nervous system, decreased excitability thresholds;
- reduction of muscle spasms;
- regulation of the cardiovascular system;
- improvement of blood circulation processes;
- strengthening of bile secretion processes;
- increased gastrointestinal secretion;
- relief of headaches and migraines;
- increased blood pressure;
- normalization of heart rate;
- help with insomnia.

Uses of valerian

Valerian root will help get rid of migraines. To do this, pour a tablespoon of crushed dry rhizomes with a glass of cold boiled water and let it brew for 12 hours. There is no need to boil or heat the tincture. Strain the finished tincture and take one tablespoon three times a day before meals.

I use Valerian for various ailments. To do this, I take a bath with this decoction: I pour one glass of herbs into a liter of boiling water, simmer for five minutes, then wrap it up and let it sit for another five minutes, strain it and add it to the bath. You need to take a bath for 20 minutes. This procedure helps to calm the nerves, relieve anxiety, fall asleep faster, and restore heartbeat, increase blood pressure,” writes Albina Sizova, a summer resident from Barnaul.

This decoction will help with insomnia: pour a tablespoon of crushed root into a glass of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes over low heat, let steep for 10 minutes, strain. Adults take a tablespoon three times a day, children take a teaspoon three times a day.

Tincture of valerian root with red wine helps with glaucoma and vision impairment. To do this, pour 50 g of powder from the root of the plant into 1 liter of red grape wine, let it brew for 15 days, then strain. You need to take it one tablespoon three times a day before meals.

Growing in the garden

Valerian does not have any special requirements for the soil and place of growth. It can be sown in early spring, summer or before winter (October - early November). Sowing is done in rows (row spacing is 45-70 cm), the seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm. When sowing in spring, seedlings appear in 15-20 days.

Valerian rhizomes are most often used as medicinal raw materials. They are dug up in September - October or early spring on plantations of the second year of life before greenery grows.
The dug up roots are dried in shaded, ventilated rooms, spread out in a layer of 5-7 cm. The finished raw material is brown on the outside, whitish on the inside, has a strong smell and a sweet-bitter taste. Rhizomes should be stored in bags in dry, ventilated areas.

St. John's wort

Herb for 99 diseases.
This is what they say about St. John's wort, which has long been recognized as both folk and official medicine. Not a single complex can do without this plant. healing collection. Why did they love him so much? Let's find out.

It's all in the composition

Indeed, St. John's wort has an incredibly rich composition. It contains many micro- and macroelements. Trace elements include manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, aluminum, selenium, nickel, strontium, cadmium, lead and boron. Macronutrients include calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.

The flavonoids included in the composition give the plant antispasmodic properties, which facilitates the secretion of bile, prevents it from stagnating, helps relieve spasms of the colon, improves urination, and strengthens the walls of capillaries.

Astringents have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect. St. John's wort helps prevent the development of dental caries due to the molybdenum it contains. This plant is also powerful natural antidepressant, as it contains hypericin, which helps increase the level of serotonin in the central nervous system.

Thus, a drug based on St. John's wort is used to treat abdominal pain and chest, from choking, cough, aching bones, gastrointestinal disorders, abscesses, rashes, bronchial asthma, periodontal disease, stomatitis, pharyngitis and other diseases.

How to be treated

Typically, St. John's wort is used for medicinal purposes in two forms, as an alcohol tincture and as a decoction.

To prepare the decoction, take one tablespoon of chopped St. John's wort herb and pour it with a glass of water. The mixture should be boiled for 15 minutes, then cool the broth and strain. You need to drink this dose in several doses throughout the day.

The decoction has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Therefore, it is good for them to rinse the mouth for various stomatitis, gingivitis, gum diseases, and also to gargle for sore throat.
To prepare an alcohol tincture, take four tablespoons of St. John's wort herb and pour 100 ml of alcohol, let it brew for 10 days in a dark place. You need to take this remedy three times a day, 15 drops. The tincture helps the secretion of bile and the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. You can also dilute it with water (50 drops per glass of water) and gargle your throat and mouth with the resulting solution.

Use with caution

St. John's wort is contraindicated for people with high blood pressure and pregnant women. It is forbidden long time taking St. John's wort preparations and exceeding the recommended dosage, this can lead to pain and cramps in the intestines.

In men, when using St. John's wort for more than three weeks, temporary impotence may develop, which will disappear after the drugs are removed from the body.

It is worth noting that preparations from this herb increase skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, so you should not take its decoctions if you are going to sunbathe.

Cultivation and collection

St. John's wort prefers soils rich in organic fertilizers. It is grown in one place for 3-5 years.

The easiest way to sow St. John's wort is before winter, lightly sprinkling the seeds with soil. The row spacing is 45 cm. In the first year, seedlings develop slowly, so care should be taken Special attention weed control.

Raw materials are harvested during the period of active flowering (June - August). St. John's wort shoots are cut 15-30 cm long in dry weather so that there is no dew on them.

When harvesting St. John's wort, avoid roads and driveways, as this plant is capable of accumulating cadmium, which causes serious harm to the body.

St. John's wort is dried in the shade in well-ventilated areas. It should be stored in places protected from the sun, because this herb contains substances that are destroyed by light. The shelf life of raw materials is three years.

Series

Chereda - annual herbaceous plant, which has more than 200 species, is widely used for medicinal purposes. Branches, tops of stems and leaves are used as medicinal raw materials. Now we’ll find out where and how exactly to use them.

What is the strength

The medicinal properties of the string are due to its composition, which includes essential oil, vitamins A and C, mucous, tannins and bitter substances, as well as a large number of trace elements (zinc, iron, potassium, copper, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, nickel, boron and etc).

This composition allows the series to have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and assist in the treatment of many skin diseases and problems associated with it. So, the series dries and heals various wounds on skin, has an anti-inflammatory and calming effect.
Also, the series can have a positive effect on the entire human body. It has diuretic and diaphoretic properties, improves digestion, normalizes metabolism in the body, lowers blood pressure, fresh grass helps with snake bites, liver and spleen diseases, diabetes, bronchitis, psoriasis and many other diseases.

For treatment at home

You can improve the condition of your skin and get rid of itching and redness by taking baths with a series, shares Ksenia Petrovna Likhacheva from Novosibirsk. -To do this, pour two tablespoons of 250 ml of boiling water and boil everything in a water bath for about 10 minutes. Cool the resulting infusion, strain and add to a warm bath. You need to take such a bath for 20 minutes, after which you do not need to rinse. For therapeutic purposes, 10-12 procedures will be enough.

To treat arthritis, it is recommended to pour one tablespoon of crushed string into one glass of boiling water and let it brew for 30-40 minutes. You need to take the infusion one tablespoon 4-5 times a day. The same infusion can be rubbed on sore joints.

Long-term drinking of tea from the series (brewed without dosage) helps cure gout. And the mush from fresh leaves, applied to ulcers and wounds, helps cleanse them of pus, dry them out and quickly heal.

The string is also taken together with other medicinal plants, for example, to treat diathesis in children, the string, mullein and violet flowers can be mixed in equal proportions. Take two teaspoons of the mixture, put it in a thermos and pour 100 ml of boiling water, let it brew overnight. In the morning, strain the tincture and take 25 ml four times a day.

Although string is a harmless herb, you should not overuse it. Too frequent use can lead to increased nervous excitability, bowel dysfunction and decreased blood pressure. Taking baths too frequently causes dry skin.

Procurement of raw materials

The tops of the stems and side branches up to 15 cm long and all the shoots should be harvested during the budding period (the first half of June), and during the flowering period only leaves and side shoots without fruiting baskets are harvested.

The harvested plants are dried in a room with good ventilation, spread out in a thin layer. The raw materials do not lose their medicinal properties for two years.

We grow ourselves

Place the sequence on personal plot best in low areas.
The plant can be sown at two times: before winter with dry seeds to a depth of 1 cm or in early spring with stratified seeds to a depth of 2-3 cm. The row spacing is 45 cm.

Ginseng

This is the name in the East for Rhodiola rosea, also known in our country under the name “golden root”, which it received because of its bronze-colored roots. This plant is credited with truly magical powers.

The plant is a mystery

The composition of Rhodiola rosea is incredibly rich. It contains various vitamins, minerals, active substances, but still scientists around the world cannot determine the reason for the amazing benefits that the plant has. But one thing is known that better means you can’t find it from fatigue and loss of strength. Golden root is a source of life and energy. Preparations based on the miracle plant literally revive a completely tired and exhausted person, activate the work of all his organs, including stimulating mental activity.

In addition to giving energy, Rhodiola rosea has many other beneficial properties. It facilitates well-being in case of vegetative-vascular dystonia, normalizes blood pressure, and is an excellent remedy for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Golden root is recommended to be taken for physical and nervous exhaustion, stress, during periods of intense mental work, hypotension, periodontal disease, bacterial and infectious diseases of the oral cavity, anemia, diabetes, gout, male impotence and other health problems.

Tibetan ginseng has tonic, stimulating, antiviral, antiallergic, hemostatic and wound-healing properties. It is also an excellent natural antioxidant.

Home healer

A tincture of golden root in alcohol will help increase vitality and increase vigor. To prepare it, take 100 g of crushed Rhodiola rosea roots and pour 1 liter of vodka (alcohol) over them. You need to insist in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks, shaking the mixture every 3-4 days. Strain the finished tincture.

You should take the medicine 3 times a day, one teaspoon. If during the treatment period sleep becomes restless and problems with falling asleep arise, the evening reception should be removed, special cases You will also have to give up daily use of the tincture.
The same tincture can be used to treat ENT diseases, diluting it with water 1:5. You need to gargle with the resulting solution 4-5 times a day.

To restore potency, drink tea from golden root. To do this, take one teaspoon of root powder and pour boiling water, cook for 15 minutes and let it brew for half an hour. You can add mint, honey, sugar, lemon to the decoction to taste, and also dilute it with boiled water to a pleasant concentration. This tea is good for everyone general health improvement body.

Do no harm

Before using preparations based on golden root, you should consult your doctor, as they have contraindications.

Thus, Rhodiola rosea should not be consumed by pregnant and lactating women, children under 12 years of age, people with high blood pressure, emotional arousal and high body temperature.

With long-term use of Tibetan ginseng or its overdose, side symptoms may appear: headache, insomnia, increased irritability, pain in the heart area.

Procurement of raw materials

Golden root for medicinal purposes is dug up in August - September. It is washed, the rotten parts and the brown cork are separated, cut crosswise into pieces 10 cm long and dried in the oven at a temperature of 50 - 60 degrees, but under no circumstances in the sun.

Leaves are harvested in May - June. Dry them in a well-ventilated area, spreading them out in a thin layer.

Growing in the garden

Rhodiola rosea grows well in the garden, so there is no need to go to “distant lands” for it.

Rhodiola can be propagated by seeds and division of rhizomes. Seeds are sown in late autumn or winter in boxes with nutritious soil. There must be a drainage layer at the bottom of the box. The seeds are evenly distributed throughout the soil and covered with sand on top with a layer of 2 mm. The box is covered with film and taken out to the balcony (garden).

In March, the crops should be brought into the house and placed on a sunny windowsill. In a few days, shoots will appear, now the film can be removed. When the seedlings have two true leaves, they will need to be picked into separate containers. In May, seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the garden.

Plants that are at least two years old can be propagated by dividing the rhizomes. Their rhizomes are divided into two parts (the sections are treated with ash) and planted in prepared holes filled with humus. The rhizomes are covered with compost or humus, but the renewal buds must be on the surface. After light watering, the plantings need to be mulched with peat.

Eleutherococcus

Eleutherococcus is often called "Siberian ginseng" because its composition is very similar to that of ginseng. Let's find out why this thorny bush is useful.

Medicinal properties

This plant contains glycosides, resins, essential oils, gums, vitamins and other biologically active substances.

Preparations based on Eleutherococcus stimulate the central nervous system; they are prescribed for physical and mental fatigue, as they have tonic properties, increase endurance and performance. The effectiveness of this plant for psychological disorders has been proven.

Eleutherococcus can also reduce blood sugar, and its regular use reduces the risk oncological diseases almost to zero. This plant also soothes irritated, tired eyes, sharpens hearing and vision.

Preparations from Eleutherococcus help increase the body's resistance to various unfavorable factors(infections, poisonings, irradiations). They can be used to increase appetite, improve metabolism, and for faster healing various wounds on the skin, to raise blood pressure, with initial stages atherosclerosis, vegetative-vascular neurosis, they also improve lung function.

The use of Eleutherococcus is contraindicated for people with high blood pressure, cardiac dysfunction, severe atherosclerosis, insomnia, increased nervous excitability, during acute infectious diseases, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular pathology, pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under 12 years of age. .
It is also worth noting that Eleutherococcus can increase body weight, cause irritability, and disrupt the menstrual cycle. Therefore, before self-medicating, be sure to consult your doctor.

Preparations from Eleutherococcus

Eleutherococcus can be taken in various forms: tincture, decoction, extract, tea and even in the form of honey.
To prepare the tincture, take 50 g of finely chopped roots and pour 500 ml of vodka over them, let it brew for seven days, periodically shaking the mixture well. This tincture can increase sexual function, if you take it 40 drops per day. And to improve your hearing, drink 15 drops at least twice a day, the course of treatment lasts at least three weeks. If necessary, treatment can be resumed after a week's break. The same tincture is indicated for the treatment of neuroses, various respiratory diseases, mild stage atherosclerosis. You need to take one teaspoon three times a day.

To prevent infectious diseases, normalize blood pressure and increase tone, I take Eleutherococcus extract (I buy it at the pharmacy), about 40 drops 15 minutes before meals three times a day, shares Stepan Arkadyevich, a gardener from Zarinsk Altai Territory. - You need to be treated with this remedy for three months: you take it for one month, rest for one month, and so on three times.
During treatment colds Tea made from the roots and leaves of Eleutherococcus will be indispensable. For one glass of boiling water or regular tea, you need to take one teaspoon of the mixture of raw materials and let it brew for 10-15 minutes in a tightly sealed container. You need to drink this drink in the morning on an empty stomach. This drink is also a good antipyretic, tonic and sedative.

Growing

In the natural conditions of Russia, this plant is not widespread, but it is very unpretentious, so it grows well in garden plots.

Eleutherococcus is shade-tolerant. It is best propagated by layering or root shoots. You can replant to a permanent place both in autumn and early spring. In the first year of cultivation, seedlings need light shading and protection from winter cold.

When propagated by seeds, they must be stratified for 4-5 months, and in the spring sown to a depth of 2-3 cm. Shoots appear in the second and even third year.

Roots for medicinal purposes are dug in May, before the leaves appear, but it is better in October, since it is at this time that the content of biologically active substances reaches its maximum.

Sweet clover

Even bees know about the benefits of this plant, because it is not for nothing that they collect nectar from tributary flowers. Honey, like the plant itself, has a beneficial effect on the human body and helps to cope with many ailments.

Beneficial features

Sweet clover contains many useful substances, thanks to which it is actively used in folk medicine. Sweet clover grass contains coumarin, lactone, coumaric acid, resinous substances, essential oils, tannins, vitamin C, carotene, sugars, proteins and others useful material.
Coumarin, which is part of the composition, increases blood pressure, increases the quantitative content of leukocytes in the blood, and normalizes blood circulation in the abdominal cavity.

Preparations based on sweet clover have analgesic, wound-healing, antiseptic, expectorant, anticonvulsant, and laxative properties.

Sweet clover is used to treat seizures, coronary thrombosis, angina pectoris, gynecological diseases, hypertension, atherosclerosis, hemorrhoids, venous dilatation, flatulence, and upper respiratory tract diseases.

Sweet clover is widely used as an infusion or decoction for taking baths, preparing compresses and ointments for the treatment of furunculosis, abscesses, bruises and sprains. Dry crushed herb from the plant helps with skin diseases, cracked nipples, inflammation of the eyelids, even mastitis can be cured with its help.

Treatment with sweet clover

For medicinal purposes, decoctions, infusions, ointments, and tea are prepared from sweet clover. Here are some recipes for using this plant.

To prepare a soothing infusion, take two teaspoons of crushed sweet clover powder and add two tablespoons of water, let it brew for two hours and take 70 ml five times a day.

To relieve a headache, fill a half-liter jar one third with sweet clover herb and fill it to the top with vodka, leave for two weeks in a dark place, periodically shake off all the contents. The finished tincture needs to be strained. If you soak your fingers in it and rub the whiskey with the tincture, your head will stop hurting.

People suffering from flatulence can prepare the following decoction: pour 15 g of dry sweet clover roots into 200 ml of boiling water and put on fire for 10 minutes. Afterwards, cool the broth and strain. For treatment, take this remedy one tablespoon three times a day.

Cure ulcers, boils, skin irritations You can use the following infusion: pour 30 g of sweet clover herb with a glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. The strained infusion is taken as lotions, compresses and added to baths.

Be careful - poison!

Be sure to consult your doctor before using sweet clover-based medications, as this plant is poisonous! Only a doctor can give you precise recommendations on the use of this plant.

How to grow

Sweet clover is not picky about soil conditions; it is drought-resistant, so it does not need constant watering.

Newly ripened or immature seeds are considered viable. During storage, the shell of the seeds becomes denser, so before sowing they need to be scarified (break their shell).
The seed sowing rate is 200 pieces per 1 m². The distance between the seeds is approximately 3 cm.

Sweet clover blooms in the second year of life. During the flowering period, you need to start harvesting and preparing medicinal raw materials. For these purposes, the tops of the plant and side shoots are cut off, and thick, coarse branches are discarded. The cut raw materials are dried under a canopy or in a barn, tying the grass into bunches.
The dried raw materials must be threshed and passed through a wire sieve. Flowers, leaves, fruits and small stems are used for medicinal purposes.

Chamomile

Who among us hasn’t told fortunes using daisies? Perhaps, everyone was doing this, and yet chamomile can be useful not only for these purposes, because it is also a medicinal plant.

The main thing is not to confuse

Officinalis chamomile can easily be confused with field or dog chamomile. Chamomile is a branched plant, up to 30-40 cm high, growing along roads, on grassy slopes, in rye crops. Its important distinguishing feature is the curved, skittle-shaped and hollow bottom of the basket; its leaves are small, similar to dill.

Field and dog chamomile have a flat, dense bottom of the basket; these plants have an unpleasant odor, which is sharply different from the smell of medicinal chamomile.

World healer

The medicinal properties of chamomile are known all over the world. Flowers (baskets) are used as medicinal raw materials. They are harvested during flowering from June to the end of August. The entire plant can also be used to prepare baths. The collected grass should be dried in the shade.

Chamomile is one of those plants that have a beneficial effect on the entire body, so it should be in every home, especially if there are small children or elderly people in it.
Chamomile contains essential oils, glycosides, flavonoids, organic acids, bitterness, mucus and other bioactive substances that give the plant anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and carminative properties.

Chamomile is considered one of the the best means for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammation gastric mucosa, which can not only relieve symptoms, but also heal the disease. The anti-inflammatory property of chamomile is actively used to treat colitis, inflammation caused by chronic constipation with colic.

This herb improves the digestion process, promotes the release of gases during flatulence, and sometimes helps with allergic diseases.

Chamomile is indicated for liver failure and some female diseases, for colds, sore throats, gastritis; tea with this herb helps with insomnia.

Chamomile can be used not only internally, but also externally in the form of baths, lotions for inflammatory diseases skin, hemorrhoids.

But you should not get too carried away with chamomile treatment, since an overdose may cause depression of the central nervous system, headache and weakness. You should not use chamomile preparations for anacid gastritis, a tendency to diarrhea and individual intolerance.

How to be treated

Chamomile infusion can cure the entire gastrointestinal tract. To prepare it, take a tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers and pour a glass of boiling water over them, let it brew for several hours. Drink the strained infusion warm 3-4 times a day, half a glass. The same infusion helps with inflammation of the gallbladder, liver and kidneys, colitis, and flatulence.
For external use, chamomile infusion is prepared in this way: 2-3 tablespoons of the raw material are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for one hour in a well-sealed container, then filtered. It is used for hemorrhoids in the form of lotions, for douching for gynecological diseases, and also for baths for various skin irritations.

Chamomile is also used for cosmetic purposes to strengthen and grow hair and get rid of dandruff. To do this, pour four tablespoons of dried flowers into 1.5 liters of boiling water and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, filter. Rinse your hair with this decoction after washing your hair.

Growing chamomile

Chamomile is sown in late August - early September to a depth of 0.5 cm. The row spacing is 45-60 cm. The seeds germinate at a temperature of about five degrees. Since the seeds are very small, it is better to mix them with dry sand 1:50 and scatter them evenly. Approximately 1 g of seeds is consumed per 4-5 m². After sowing, mulch the beds with dry soil or humus.

Chamomile prefers to grow in well-lit places with soil rich in organic fertilizers.

Celandine

It's not hard to guess that we're talking about about celandine, because its name speaks for itself. Our ancestors also used this plant to cleanse the body both outside and inside. For the treatment of many skin and internal diseases It is still used today.

Indications for use

Celandine contains a large number of alkaloids, carotene, essential oils, vitamins A and C, malic, citric and succinic acids, sponins and other substances. Due to its composition, this plant has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, prevents the development of allergies and tumors. It also has an expectorant and diuretic effect, preventing sclerosis.

Celandine is recommended to be used for neuroses, paralysis, and diseases of the pancreas, since in small doses it slows down cardiac activity, lowers blood pressure, and has a calming effect on the nervous system.

But it is very dangerous to use celandine internally, since the entire plant is poisonous; strict dosage compliance is necessary. Celandine has the ability to burn and irritate the gastric mucosa. It should also not be used for people with low blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, pregnant and lactating women, children, people with epilepsy and mental disorders.

Therefore, its external use has become more popular in folk medicine.
The ability of celandine to remove warts, calluses and dark spots on the skin is well known. It also helps with complex skin diseases: skin tuberculosis, lupus, scabies. Promotes faster healing of wounds.

Collection rules

Celandine's grass and roots are used as medicinal raw materials. The above-ground part is harvested during the flowering period in dry weather, breaking off the branches at a height of 10-15 cm. The roots are harvested in autumn or early spring before the stems grow. When harvesting, remember that the plant can burn your hands, so protect them with gloves and put a damp gauze bandage on your face.

Dry the collected celandine under canopies in well-ventilated areas. The plant retains its medicinal properties for three years. It is recommended to store raw materials in boxes or paper bags in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area.

Treatment with celandine

At gastrointestinal diseases You can drink a salt infusion of celandine. To prepare it, take two tablespoons of dry herbs and pour 1 liter of boiling water over them, boil for several minutes, then cool, filter and add one tablespoon of salt. The prepared solution is diluted with 1 liter of cold boiled water. You should drink it for 1-2 months, half a glass twice a day.

A decoction of celandine and chamomile can be gargled for a sore throat, or passed through the nose for polyps. To prepare it, take one tablespoon each of chamomile and celandine raw materials and pour a glass of boiling water, boil for five minutes, cool and strain.

The same decoction can be used to make compresses, lotions, baths for paralysis, gout, rheumatism, arthritis, douching for cervical erosion, prostatitis.

To obtain celandine juice, pass the plant through a meat grinder, squeeze through cheesecloth and pour into a bottle with an airtight stopper. Within 10-15 days, you need to periodically release gas from the bottle; when the gas stops being released, the juice is ready for use. They apply it to various spots on the skin, scrofula, lichens, ulcers, warts from healthy tissue to diseased tissue, narrowing the circle.

Growing in the garden

Celandine seeds are collected in June - July and immediately sown in the right place. But the seedlings will bloom only after 2-3 years. Sow with a row spacing of 40-45 cm.
For celandine, damp or damp places should be allocated, which are practically not illuminated by the sun during the day. Young shoots of celandine need to be protected from weeds, as they can clog immature plants.

Coltsfoot

Due to the biologically active substances that make up coltsfoot, this plant has long been reliably included in the list of one of the most popular herbal remedies. Let's find out how it can help us.

Extensive list

This elegant plant relieves inflammation, has antibacterial and disinfecting properties, helps in the fight against coughs, removes phlegm, and relieves spasms.

That is why mother and stepmother have been used for centuries to treat the upper respiratory tract. Decoctions from this plant successfully cure bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, sore throat, pharyngitis, and alleviate bronchial asthma. Herbal preparations dilute mucus and remove it from the body, relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane, reduce swelling, and fight bacteria and infections.

In addition, the anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties of coltsfoot have been used to treat diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system. The plant also has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (accelerates the digestibility of food, relieves constipation, colitis, flatulence). Preparations based on coltsfoot lower blood pressure and are used for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

The tannins contained in the plant have hemostatic properties. And together, with anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties, they can heal wounds. Decoctions help with bleeding gums, stomatitis, sore throat.

Baths with mother-and-stepmother infusion help in the treatment of ulcers, abscesses, acne, bedsores, calluses, dermatitis and other skin problems.

In folk medicine, there are known cases of using smoke from coltsfoot leaves to relieve toothache and asthma attacks.

Fresh leaves of the plant may also be beneficial. For example, a coltsfoot leaf applied to the forehead reduces the temperature, and crushed into a mushy state relieves itching from insect bites and helps get rid of calluses. The juice of the leaves can be dropped into the nose to treat a runny nose. By the way, these are the only cases when mother and stepmother can be taken by pregnant women; in other dosage forms it can harm the fetus and even provoke termination of pregnancy!

Preparations based on this herb are contraindicated for people with cirrhosis, as well as for chronic alcohol consumption. You cannot treat the mother and stepmother of children under 12 years of age.

Procurement of raw materials

In folk medicine medicinal purposes coltsfoot flowers and leaves are used. They are prepared and stored separately.

The shelf life of leaves is three years, flowers are two years. Store raw materials in closed containers.
Flowers should be collected at the very beginning of their flowering in the morning; it is important that they dry from dew. The collected raw materials are dried at a temperature of 50-60 degrees in the oven.

The harvesting of leaves begins at the end of May. At the same time, you should not collect the youngest leaves; you should also skip leaves with red spots. Leaves should be dried in a dry room with good ventilation.

Preparation of medicines

For a prolonged cough, hoarse voice, bronchitis, laryngitis and bronchial asthma traditional healers recommend cooking water infusion: Pour two tablespoons of crushed leaves with a glass of boiling water, close tightly and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes. Then let it brew in a warm place for about an hour, strain and bring the infusion to a full glass with boiled water. You need to take it before meals, one tablespoon every three hours, warm. The duration of treatment should not exceed two weeks.

The same decoction can be used externally as a lotion for inflammation of the veins, tumors, and ulcers. They also rinse the throat and mouth during inflammatory processes.

For diseases of the stomach, intestines, bladder and kidneys, I brew one tablespoon of coltsfoot flowers in 1 liter of boiling water, let it brew for several hours. The product is taken half a glass four times a day. It helps me very well,” Olga Kuznetsova, Belovo, Kemerovo region, shared in her letter.

For shingles, make a compress from the leaves of the plant: brew five tablespoons of the herb in a glass of boiling water, let it brew for 30 minutes, squeeze it out and put it on gauze. The compress is applied to the sore spot twice a day for two hours, and also overnight.

Freshly squeezed juice of coltsfoot leaves will help cope with spring vitamin deficiency. The collected leaves are washed well and doused with boiling water, then crushed in a meat grinder and the juice is squeezed through cheesecloth. The resulting juice must be diluted with water 1:1 and boiled for three minutes. It is recommended to take it one tablespoon three times a day after meals for a week.

Growing

Coltsfoot and stepmother outwardly give the impression of a fragile and delicate plant, however, it is very unpretentious and grows almost everywhere. But she still has preferences - good lighting and clay soil.

There is no particular need to grow it in the garden, and it is also unsafe, since the grass is capable of “seizing territory”; once you plant it in your garden, it will be very difficult to evict it from it.
But if you dare to grow this let him medicinal weed in your garden, you will have to sow it only once, then the plant will reproduce by self-sowing. The plant can be propagated by division at any time from spring to autumn.

Based on materials from the magazine “Country Daily”

More material on the topic of this section.

The section describes medicinal plants - their places of growth and healing properties, rules for collection and storage. You will learn about how to take care of these plants, what role they play in human life. Below is a list by name in alphabetical order of the main medicinal plants from the point of view of medicinal use with detailed descriptions, pictures and recommendations for use for the treatment of various diseases.

Medicinal plants are a wide group of plants used in medical and veterinary practice for various kinds diseases for therapeutic or preventive purposes. The medicinal properties of medicinal plants are due to the presence of certain chemical compounds in them - the so-called active substances.

Medicinal plants are used in the form of collections, or teas, powders, etc., or after processing (see, Dosage forms). Special groups medicines prepared from medicinal plants at chemical-pharmaceutical factories consist of products of their primary processing (fatty and essential oils, resins, etc.), pure (without admixture of ballast substances) amounts of active substances, individual chemical compounds and their combinations. The active substances are distributed unevenly in medicinal plants. Usually only those parts of the plant where it accumulates are used. maximum amount active substances. The composition and amount of active substances in medicinal plants changes throughout the year, with the age of the plant and depending on the conditions of its habitat, temperature, light, air, soil conditions, etc. Many medicinal plants are of only historical interest, since they are currently used in medicine are not used.

List of the most important wild and cultivated medicinal plants

The nomenclature of medicinal plants approved for use in medical practice contains about 160 names. Preparations or raw materials of 103 of these plants are described in the tenth edition of the State USSR (GPC). Requests for raw materials of medicinal plants are approximately half in terms of tonnage and about 75% in terms of nomenclature are satisfied through the collection of wild plants, and the rest - through cultivated medicinal plants.

A morphological description of annual medicinal plants introduced into the Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Kirghiz SSR is also given, the content of biologically active substances in them is given, the viability of plants in new conditions is described and some issues of agricultural cultivation technology are considered.

IN Lately interest in herbal medicine increased, which in turn increased the number of collectors. However, using medicinal plants without knowing their properties and chemical composition, it is forbidden. Many medicinal plants, their distribution and use are described in popular publications. The chemical composition and methods of obtaining certain biologically active substances from plants are discussed in scientific works. Despite the seemingly abundance of well-known medicinal herbs, new ones are being discovered that are undergoing initial testing in botanical gardens and experimental stations. Botanical gardens located in different climatic zones globe, have collections of certain medicinal plants for study biological features, medicinal properties and methods of growing these herbs. Thanks to this, more and more new types of medicinal plants are being introduced into the industry. Seeds are the main material for exchange with other botanical gardens and other organizations. Similar work is being carried out in the Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Kirghiz SSR.

The section provides some information about annual medicinal plants grown in the experimental plot, and provides data on some long-known plants, but for some reason forgotten. Most plants synthesize useful substances in the above-ground mass - in the grass (chamomile, string, snakehead, fumes), in many species the seeds are valuable (coriander, anise, datura, flax, poppy, large plantain, etc.). In some plants medicinal properties flowers have (calendula officinalis, blue cornflower, etc.).

Our long-term research shows that many introduced plants do not change their chemical composition, and often the quantitative content of active substances is not inferior to that of wild plants. The study of the chemical composition of medicinal plants was carried out jointly with the laboratory of the Institute of Physiology and Experimental Pathology of the High Mountains and the laboratory of natural compounds of the Organic Institute.

All plants are divided into two groups: 1) introduced into scientific medicine and included in the pharmacopoeias of the Soviet Union; 2) used in folk medicine.

Medicinal plants - types plant organisms, used for the manufacture of medicinal and prophylactic drugs, which are used in medical and veterinary practice. Herbal medicines account for over 30% of all medicines trading on the world market. In the USSR, about 40% of used medical supplies made from plants.

About 2,500 plant species from the flora of the USSR, including those used in folk medicine, have medicinal value.

The diversity of soil and climatic conditions of the USSR allows the introduction on its territory of numerous species of foreign medicinal plants of the cold, temperate and subtropical zones.

More than 600 plant species can be used as raw materials for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, in the pharmacy chain and for export. Of this amount, not counting minor medicinal plants, only about 200 species belonging to 70 families are practically used in medicine (mainly the families Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Legumes, Lamiaceae, Umbelliferae, Solanaceae, Buckwheat, Cruciferous, Ranunculaceae). About 70% of the medicinal plants used are used in herbal production, the remaining types are used in pharmacies, homeopathy and are exported.

When procuring wild and cultivated medicinal plants, they are usually collected individual organs or parts of a plant.

The collection of medicinal plant materials is carried out at certain times - during periods of maximum accumulation of active substances. The collected raw materials are usually dried.

In the USSR, a comprehensive study of medicinal plants already known in medicine is being carried out (identifying their reserves, introducing them into cultivation, increasing productivity and finding ways to reduce the cost of raw materials, establishing best timing collection, drying and storage conditions for raw materials, preparation of new drugs and dosage forms).

A search is underway for new and cheaper sources of plant raw materials to replace already known imported or scarce medicinal drugs, as well as medicinal plants with new pharmacological and therapeutic effect(study of their chemical composition, pharmacological activity And therapeutic value, development of technology for the production of drugs and their manufacture).

New medicinal plants and physiologically active substances of plant origin are identified through a complete or selective chemical and pharmacological study of the flora of certain regions of the USSR. At the same time, information about the use of certain medicinal plants in folk medicine is taken into account.

In targeted searches for a specific compound, species and genera that are phylogenetically close to the plant from which this compound was previously isolated are studied first.

Thus, to date, over 6,000 plant species have been previously studied for the content of alkaloids, over 4,000 for the presence of essential oils, about 2,000 have been studied for the presence of cardiac glycosides, about 3,000 saponins, about 1,000 flavonoids, and about 1,000 species of coumarins.

As a result, a large number of individual chemical substances have been isolated and many new therapeutic drugs have been created on their basis.