Summer forbs delight not only with magnificent greenery, but also with a new harvest medicinal herbs. Back in Ancient Rus' healers and grandmothers treated the sick with miraculous decoctions and ointments. Now, in the age of industry and the latest medicine, treatment is often carried out with chemicals produced in factories.
The first treatise on the properties of various plants is the book of the Chinese emperor, written 8 thousand years BC. e. It contained descriptions, properties and methods of preparation. medicinal infusions, decoctions and collections of more than 900 plant species.
Ancient Greece was also famous for its healers. Research in medicine, anatomy and pharmacognosy can compete with many modern publications. Everyone is familiar with the name of Hippocrates, who wrote many useful works, known to his descendants to this day. Hippocrates wrote two volumes on medicinal plants, described about 200 which he himself used in medicinal purposes.
Paracelsus is an extraordinary personality and a talented doctor who managed to become the founder of many rules used in medicine today. He often used infusions to treat serious illnesses. Terminally ill people were ready to become “guinea pigs”, because no one could offer them other methods of treatment.
Several centuries later, treatment with herbal preparations is as popular as it was then. Chemicals that have replaced natural ingredients at the beginning of the 20th century, again fade into the background.
Homeopathy and reception herbal preparations are becoming more and more popular. People who have chronic forms diseases and those in need long-term use, this method of treatment is the most convenient.
Natural components guarantee a less toxic effect on the liver and kidneys - “filters” human body. And the slow accumulation active ingredients involves a soft and targeted impact.
"Herbal" is a list of plants that have different beneficial properties. In order to know when and what herb to use, we can recommend G. Timorev’s book. The author has collected the most common diseases and offers 2-3 plants for their treatment. "Herbalist. Medicinal plants and their use" is a manual that describes in great detail the main methods of treating many diseases. It will help you carry out treatment at home.
The list of plants allows you not only to choose the right the right drug, but also tells you how to prepare them and use them correctly.
Old fairy tales and legends tell about Baba Yaga, who lived in a dense forest. And if you remember the description of her hut, then in addition to the stove (in which she tried to cook Ivan), there were a lot of herbs, mushrooms, dried mice, etc.
The scary granny is actually a herbalist and healer who lives in the forest. The sorceress collected herbs, roots and other useful drugs. After all, it is in summer period herbalists, healers and healers “in charge” useful plants, began harvesting and drying the crop. Thanks to these supplies, they managed to save more than one life.
Any experienced herbalist will advise novice colleagues to study books about plants, the period of their flowering and fruit ripening. In order for the harvest to be beneficial, you need to know what exactly accumulates more active substances: leaves, grass, flowers or fruits.
"Herbalist. Medicinal plants and their use" is a book that can answer many questions. For those who have recently decided to take up pharmacognosy, it will become an indispensable guide to the world of the ancient culture of healing.
Each type of medicinal herb has a clear collection schedule (morning, lunch, evening or night), as well as drying methods depending on the substances that make up the herb ( essential oils, saponins, vitamins).
If the science of pharmacognosy is a completely unknown “beast”, it is worth familiarizing yourself with its basics. After all, the desire to stock up for the winter natural medicines It also requires knowledge of the appearance of each plant.
“Herbalist” will be an excellent assistant for this. Medicinal plants and their use”, which will not only tell you what they look like useful herbs, what needs to be prepared, but will also advise when they can be used.
IN modern world For the procurement of plant raw materials, there are specialized agricultural communities that grow various herbs in large quantities. Chamomile, sage, coltsfoot, and ginseng grow in flat beds. They are treated against pests, weeds are removed, and the organization’s workers collect them on time.
"Herbalist. Medicinal plants and their use" is one of many manuals describing the features medicinal plants. But the accuracy of the description, the clear selection medicinal fees facilitate the treatment of various diseases.
Herbal medicine is perhaps the oldest known to man way of healing from illness. For centuries, people have studied what disease this or that part of a medicinal plant helps with. During this time, invaluable important experience was gained. To date, this experience has turned into solid knowledge that has been used with great success to heal many people. In use medicinal herbs there are undeniable advantages - for example, taking them does not produce negative influence on the liver, has almost no contraindications and side effects. But do not forget that before you start using any remedy (even a remedy alternative medicine) – be sure to consult with your doctor.
Herbs have a very wide range healing properties. They cure both the simplest diseases (colds, allergies, runny nose, cough, minor abrasions and skin lesions), and complex ones - up to serious skin lesions, internal diseases: stomach ulcers, intestinal problems or gallbladder. Some herbs have a sedative effect and can cure insomnia or nervous disorder. Others are used to improve the appearance (skin, hair), while others help with bleeding of various origins...
Herbs will help with heart disease, joint problems, and also with sexual problems. In addition, with the help of herbs you can significantly increase your vitality and maintain it at the desired level.
The variety of medicinal herbs in Russia is enormous. There are many growing in our country medicinal plants, which can cure almost any disease. This marsh calamus, nettle, birch and pine, oak and bird cherry, mint and lemon balm, valerian and motherwort, lingonberry, hawthorn, St. John's wort, viburnum, celandine, clover and burdock, horseradish, rose hips, chicory... It is almost impossible to list everything. What is especially valuable is that these plants grow throughout Russia, they are quite common, and it will not be difficult for anyone to collect and prepare as many raw materials as needed, without resorting to buying herbs at a pharmacy.
So that herbal treatment has maximum effect, it is important to prepare the raw materials correctly, that is, to collect the grass at the right time, at the right stage of its growth. For each plant, this is usually determined individually. But the general criteria are as follows. Typically, raw materials (roots, leaves, branches, flowers) are collected during the period of greatest activity of the plant, that is, in the spring. The fruits are best harvested when fully ripe - usually in early autumn. All parts of the plant must be dried.
1. Valerian and motherwort
Valerian and motherwort are used to relieve nervousness and insomnia. To do this, prepare a decoction of herbs (20 grams of herbs per glass of boiling water), which should be drunk before going to bed.
2. Mint
Mint will not only help calm your nerves, but will also help with heartburn and bloating. Tea will help with this - brew 50 grams of raw materials in a teapot, drink 1 glass.
3. Chamomile
Pharmaceutical chamomile is an excellent multifaceted remedy. It is suitable for gargling with sore throat, suitable for lotions in cases where there are inflammatory diseases skin, will help with discomfort in the stomach area, and will also become sedative. Chamomile is best prepared with a strong decoction - about 20 grams per 100 milliliters of water.
4. Celandine
Celandine is a “borderline” plant. On the one hand, as the name implies, it is an excellent assistant for a wide variety of skin diseases– if you take celandine externally. On the other hand, its use in the wrong concentration or orally can be associated with a risk to life. To cure skin problems, make an infusion of celandine, moisten a bandage with it and apply it to the affected area.
5. St. John's wort
St. John's wort, on the other hand, is only effective if consumed exclusively as a drink. St. John's wort will help with digestive diseases, and it is also known as a remedy against inflammation in the mouth.
6. Licorice
Licorice is called "golden root" or "sweet root" due to its flavor. It can not only cure a cough, but also tone the body and saturate it with vitamins during the transition period of spring or autumn. For this, licorice root is finely chopped, infused in a water bath for about an hour, then the decoction is poured into a thermos.
7. Sage
Sage gargles are successfully used in the treatment of throat diseases. In addition, the benefits of sage will be appreciated by young mothers who stop breastfeeding - the fact is that consuming sage decoction helps reduce the amount breast milk. At the same time, it does not need to be brewed too strongly - about 2 tablespoons of dry herb per half liter of water.
8. Plantain
Plantain is used to treat various wounds and skin diseases. Medicines are not made from it; it is enough to tie a clean plantain leaf to the problem area and do not forget to change the bandage often.
9. Dandelion
Dandelion is the first assistant for problems with the digestive system. It cures gastritis and even stomach ulcers. The dried root (10 grams) is used as a medicine, which is infused for about an hour in a glass of hot water.
10. Sea buckthorn oil
Sea buckthorn oil is used for skin lesions; it accelerates healing and relieves inflammation. Sea buckthorn is also an excellent remedy for colds - to do this, you need to drink its juice, and also rinse your mouth and throat with the juice diluted half and half with water.
Experienced gardeners always have crystalline iron sulfate, or ferrous sulfate, in their garden medicine cabinet. Like many others chemicals, it has properties that protect horticultural crops from numerous diseases and insect pests. In this article we will talk about the features of using iron sulfate to treat garden plants against diseases and pests and about other options for its use on the site.
Retaining walls are the main tool for working with complex terrain on a site. With their help, they not only create terraces or play with planes and alignment, but also emphasize the beauty of the rockery landscape, the change in height, the style of the garden, its character. Retaining walls allow play with raised and lowered areas and hidden areas. Modern dry or more solid walls help turn the disadvantages of the garden into its main advantages.
There were times when the concepts of “garden tree”, “family tree”, “collection tree”, “multi tree” simply did not exist. And it was possible to see such a miracle only on the farm of the “Michurintsy” - people who were amazed by their neighbors, looking at their gardens. There, not just varieties ripened on one apple, pear or plum tree different terms ripening, but also in a variety of colors and sizes. Not many people despaired of such experiments, but only those who were not afraid of numerous trials and errors.
The front garden is the face of the garden and its owner. Therefore, for these flower beds it is customary to choose plants that are decorative throughout the season. AND special attention In my opinion, front garden perennials that bloom in spring deserve it. Like primroses, they bring us special joy, because after a dull winter, more than ever, we want bright colors and flowers. In this article, we suggest getting acquainted with the best ornamental perennials that bloom in spring and do not require special care.
The climatic conditions of our country, unfortunately, are not suitable for growing many crops without seedlings. Healthy and strong seedlings are the key to a high-quality harvest, in turn, the quality of seedlings depends on several factors: Even healthy-looking seeds can be infected with pathogens that long time remain on the surface of the seed, and after sowing, when exposed to favorable conditions, they are activated and infect young and fragile plants
Our family loves tomatoes very much, so most of the garden beds at the dacha are devoted to this particular crop. Every year we try to try new interesting varieties, and some of them take root and become favorites. At the same time, over many years of gardening, we have already developed a set of favorite varieties that are required to be planted every season. We jokingly call such tomatoes “special purpose” varieties - for fresh salads, juice, pickling and storage.
Coconut pie with cream - “kuchen”, or German coconut pie (Butter milch shnitten - soaked in milk). Without exaggeration I will say that this is incredible delicious pie- sweet, juicy and tender. It can be stored in the refrigerator for quite a long time; cakes with cream are prepared on the basis of this sponge cake in Germany. The recipe is from the “Guests on the doorstep!” category, since usually all the ingredients are in the refrigerator, and it takes less than an hour to prepare the dough and bake.
The snow has not yet completely melted, but restless owners of suburban areas are already rushing to assess the scope of work in the garden. And there really is something to do here. And, perhaps, the most important thing you need to think about in early spring is how to protect your garden from diseases and pests. Experienced gardeners know that these processes cannot be left to chance, and procrastination and postponing processing can significantly reduce the yield and quality of the fruit.
If you prepare your own soil mixtures for growing indoor plants, then it’s worth taking a closer look at a relatively new, interesting and, in my opinion, necessary component - coconut substrate. Everyone has probably seen at least once in their life a coconut and its “shaggy” shell covered with long fibers. Many delicious products are made from coconuts (actually a drupe), but the shells and fibers used to be just industrial waste.
Fish and cheese pie is a simple lunch or dinner idea for your daily or Sunday menu. The pie is designed for a small family of 4-5 people with a moderate appetite. This pastry has everything at once - fish, potatoes, cheese, and a crispy dough crust, in general, almost like a closed pizza calzone, only tastier and simpler. Canned fish can be anything - mackerel, saury, pink salmon or sardines, choose according to your taste. This pie is also prepared with boiled fish.
Fig, fig, fig tree - these are all names of the same plant, which we strongly associate with Mediterranean life. Anyone who has ever tasted fig fruits knows how delicious they are. But, in addition to their delicate sweet taste, they are also very beneficial for health. And here’s an interesting detail: it turns out that figs are a completely unpretentious plant. In addition, it can be successfully grown on a plot in the middle zone or in a house - in a container.
This delicious creamy seafood soup takes just under an hour to prepare and turns out tender and creamy. Choose seafood according to your taste and budget; it can be a seafood cocktail, king prawns, or squid. I made soup with large shrimp and mussels in their shells. Firstly, it is very tasty, and secondly, it is beautiful. If you are preparing it for a holiday dinner or lunch, then mussels in their shells and large unpeeled shrimp look appetizing and pretty on the plate.
Quite often, difficulties in growing tomato seedlings arise even among experienced summer residents. For some, all the seedlings turn out to be elongated and weak, for others, they suddenly begin to fall and die. The thing is that it is difficult to maintain ideal conditions for growing seedlings in an apartment. Seedlings of any plants need to be provided with plenty of light, sufficient humidity and optimal temperature. What else do you need to know and observe when growing tomato seedlings in an apartment?
The Altai series tomato varieties are very popular among gardeners due to their sweet, delicate taste, more reminiscent of the taste of a fruit than a vegetable. These are large tomatoes, the weight of each fruit is on average 300 grams. But this is not the limit, there are larger tomatoes. The pulp of these tomatoes is characterized by juiciness and fleshiness with a slight pleasant oiliness. You can grow excellent tomatoes from the “Altai” series from “Agrosuccess” seeds.
1) Horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.)
Perennial herbaceous plant with a very developed rhizome. It grows as a weed in fields, especially on clay soils, in meadows, along river banks, and in thinned forests.
The above-ground part - green summer shoots - is collected in June - August. Dry in attics with good ventilation.
The drug is used as a diuretic for heart and other diseases accompanied by congestion.
2) Spring primrose (Primula veris L.)
Perennial herbaceous plant. Blooms in early spring. Grows in forests, among bushes, on slopes.
Leaves are collected at the beginning of flowering, when they contain greatest number vitamins, and immediately dry. The roots are dug up in autumn or early spring and dried in the attic or open air.
Tinctures from the leaves are used for vitamin deficiencies, and a decoction of the roots is used as an expectorant.
3) Common hop (Humusuls lupulus L.)
Perennial herbaceous liana. It grows in damp places, along river banks, on forest edges, among bushes, and sometimes in forests.
Hop inflorescences (“cones”) are harvested in August – early September. Dry immediately - in the air or in attics. The infusion is used for neuroses, insomnia, gastritis, and cystitis.
4) Lovage (Levisticum officinale Koch)
Also refers to perennial herbaceous plants with a straight cylindrical branched stem up to 2 m high. It grows mainly in Ukraine, cultivated as a medicinal, ornamental and spicy plant.
All parts of the plant smell pleasant. Collected in September - October. The decoction is used for dropsy, nervous and heart diseases.
5) Common fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill)
Mainly biennial, sometimes perennial herbaceous plant, up to 2 m high. Distributed in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia, cultivated in Ukraine; is running wild in Crimea.
Fennel fruits are harvested at the beginning of ripening, when they acquire a greenish-yellow color. Dry in the shade with good ventilation. The decoction is used as an appetite stimulant and digestive improver. Used in food industry and in perfumery.
6) Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.)
Shrub or low tree. Grows in pine forests, on the edges. Juniper cones are collected in the fall (September - October), shaking them from the bush onto the litter.
Dry in air or in attics. The drugs are used as a diuretic. Used in the food industry.
7) Common barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.)
It grows among bushes, on the edges, in lowlands and in the foothills. The roots are harvested in early spring or late autumn (October). Collect no more than ¼ of the plant’s root system further from the root. Dry in attics or under sheds.
The bark is collected during the period of sap flow, the leaves - after flowering. The drugs are used as choleretic agent, as well as for bleeding associated with inflammatory processes. An infusion of leaves is used as a hemostatic agent.
8) Common heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill)
An evergreen, branched shrub, 30-70 cm high. Grows on poor soils, in forests, damp places, in the mountains, on forest edges, and mountain pastures. Found in Russia and Ukraine.
The above-ground part (grass) is collected during the flowering period (July - September). Dry in the shade in the air, in the attic, indoors, laying out thin layer. A decoction or infusion is used for cholelithiasis, colds, rheumatism, gout and as a diuretic and diaphoretic.
9) Angelica (Archangelica officinalis (Moench.) Hoffm.)
This is a herbaceous biennial plant up to 2 m high. Grows in swamps and along river banks. Cultivated as a medicinal and spicy plant.
The roots are collected in spring and autumn. Dry in attics, indoors. The infusion is used as a diuretic and carminative, as well as to enhance intestinal motility.
10) Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.)
Perennial herbaceous plants, up to 1 m high. They grow in weedy places. Distributed in forest-steppe and steppe areas.
Motherwort grass (the upper parts of the stems) is collected during flowering. They dry in attics. The drugs are used as a cardiac sedative.
11) European hoofweed (Asarum europaeum L.) (varagusha, hairweed)
A perennial herbaceous plant that overwinters with green leaves resembling the imprint of a horse's hoof. Grows in deciduous and mixed forests.
The rhizome (with roots) and leaves are collected in the spring (April - May). Herbal infusion is used for cardiovascular diseases to normalize blood circulation.
12) Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) (devil's broom)
Leaves and annual shoots are collected in autumn and winter. Dry indoors or in an oven at low temperature. The drugs are used as a means of reducing blood pressure(with atherosclerosis with high blood pressure and related phenomena).
13) Digitalis purpurea L.
Biennial plants with a stem height of up to 1.2 meters. Leaves are collected from plants of the second year of life, sometimes also rosette leaves of the first year (from July to autumn).
Dry immediately after collection indoors at a temperature of 40-60 degrees. The drugs are used as a tonic and regulating agent for the heart and blood vessels, chronic failure and other heart diseases.
14) Ephedra two-spikelet, ephedra (Ephedra distachya L.) (ephedra, kuzmichev grass)
Shrub with yellow-greenish thin-ribbed branches. Externally similar to horsetail. Grows on rocky places, sand, especially on coastal and steppe slopes. Ephedra is widespread in the forest-steppe and steppe parts of Ukraine.
Thin branches called “grass” are collected in August-September. Dry indoors or outdoors. The drugs are used as nervous tonics and cardiovascular system, at bronchial asthma, shock, bleeding.
15) Ruta hortensis Mill.
Perennial shrub with very strong odor. It lives in the wild in Crimea.
Only the upper parts of the stems are collected from the rue during flowering. Drying is done in the shade or in attics. The drugs are used as a stimulant, antiseptic, and antispasmodic.
That's all for me guys, the first selection is complete.
As stated, this is just a mini introduction to medicinal herbs. Posts are being prepared that will tell you useful and medicinal properties each plant, how to use it, in what doses and for what diseases.
See you in new posts. I wish you success, happiness and health.
