Since ancient times, in Russia they have known and actively used for many purposes such perennial grass as ivan tea. The benefits and harms of it were tested not by one generation of Russians, and the recipes of healing broths and drinks from it were inherited.
This article will tell about what kind of grass it is, how it looks and why it can be used in modern life.
Appearance
Before we talk about the botanical characteristics of this plant, let's recall how it looks. Each of us has seen the grass more than once, but we could not have guessed what it is called ivan-tea. In the clearings and along the roads, in deforestation and burned-out areas, starting from the end of spring, you can see this grass. The plant is quite tall and under favorable conditions can reach up to two meters. Its leaves are long and narrow, and the top is decorated with an inflorescence in the form of a pyramid of lilac-pink color. This is Chamerion angustifolium, better known to us as narrow-leaved Ivan tea.
Botanical Description
This perennial grass belongs to the family Cypriot and is widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Today, about 50 different types of willow tea are known to grow on Earth. On the European territory of our country, you can find 17 species of this plant.
The stem of the Ivan tea is erect and solitary, can grow up to 2 meters in height. The root is creeping and powerful, its average length is about 1 m. The leaves are pointed oval in shape, with short petioles. Large, brightly colored in lilac pink or purple shades of flowers are collected in a conical brush on top of the plant. The fireweed blooms in mid-June and continues to bloom for about a month and a half. After that, fruits are formed - elongated capsules up to 8 cm long, filled with many small seeds with tufts. Thanks to this adaptation, the seeds can be propagated by the wind over considerable distances. Thanks to the many additional buds developing at the base of the root system, Ivan-tea is easily susceptible to vegetative propagation. The benefit and harm of such a rapid and active spread is that this representative of the flora can quickly fill in a place of forest fires, thereby contributing to the faster growth of shrubs and trees. On the other hand, if you come across a summer cottage overgrown with this grass, then it will be very difficult to overcome it.
The left small piece of rhizome with a bud next spring will turn into a full-fledged plant, and if you miss the moment of seed ripening, the wind will be able to bring them even to the place where there was no ivan tea before.
How to call it right?
For centuries, people have differently called ivan-tea. The properties and external characteristics of the plant gave rise to such names as:
- fireweed;
- snooze;
- secretary;
- mother liquor;
- fireman;
- miller;
- fire grass;
- Koporye tea ;
- clover;
- down jacket;
- stand up grass;
- violinist;
- bread box.
They began to call Ivan-tea breadbox because in former times its dried and ground root was added to flour when bread was kneaded and baked.
And what is in it?
Such a simple and everywhere-encountered plant as fireweed, as scientists have found, contains many minerals, vitamins and other necessary and useful substances for humans. First of all, it is worth saying that the leaves of this plant are several times superior to any citrus in terms of vitamin C content, so they can be used in the preparation of various spring vegetable mixtures and vitamin salads.
As a result of research, it was found that ivan tea has antioxidant properties, helps to slow down cell aging and the development of cancer.
In addition, the composition of Ivan tea contains flavonoids such as quercetin and camferol, pyrogallic tannins and pectins, coumarins and organic acids are present . This medicinal herb contains minerals and trace elements such as iron and calcium, potassium and copper, magnesium and manganese, phosphorus and molybdenum, nickel and selenium, zinc and titanium, boron and sodium.
What helps?
The Russian people already knew about the healing properties of Ivan tea in the 12th century; both the poor and the rich used it. In what cases does it help?
- As a sedative, relaxing and sleeping pill.
- It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and mild diaphoretic effect.
- Relieves headache and effectively helps with migraine attacks.
- Promotes an increase in the synthesis of T-lymphocytes in the body, acting as an immunostimulant.
- Effectively fights pathogens.
- It speeds up the metabolism, which allows it to be used to treat diseases of the digestive system and fight against excess weight.
- Used for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the prostate and prostate gland.
How to make tea?
It should be remembered that from a plant such as medicinal Ivan-tea, it is possible to prepare several types of medicinal tea drinks, as well as various decoctions and infusions. The easiest way to get a cup of such a drink is to buy in a pharmacy a pack of already prepared and dried herbs, packaged in bags.
Pour boiling water, insist a few minutes - and you can drink. However, it is better to buy a fireweed not in bags, but in the form of dry grass. The question arises: "How to brew willow-tea?" For one person you need to take about 2-3 g of dry grass, fill it with 200 ml of boiling water and cover it with a saucer. Tea is brewed, after 10-15 minutes it can be drunk. It is worth remembering that you can use it only before meals and no more than two cups per day.
We prepare a decoction and infusion
Having learned about how to brew ivan tea correctly, let's find out how to make a medicinal decoction from it: you need to take 3 tablespoons of dried flowers and leaves, and then pour them with a glass of boiling water in an enameled container. We hold the dishes with grass and water in a slightly boiling water bath for 10-15 minutes. Then we cool the broth at room temperature and squeeze the thick with gauze. It must be taken before or during meals for a couple of tablespoons. You can store the resulting broth for no more than five days in the refrigerator.
To prepare an infusion from fireweed take 20 g of dry collection of willow-tea, pour 200 ml of boiling water and insist for two hours at room temperature. Then it is filtered and taken 3 times a day for 1 tablespoon before eating.
Do not overdo it!
There are no particular restrictions on the use of herbs such as ivan tea. The benefits and harms depend only on whether the recommended dosage is respected. Since the fireweed has quite strong antipyretic and sedative properties, doctors do not recommend taking drinks from it along with pharmaceutical preparations of a similar effect. In addition, tea from this plant should not be consumed daily, since with frequent use, coumarins begin to accumulate in the liver and have a toxic effect on it.
There are a number of painful conditions and diseases in which Ivan-tea should be used with caution. The benefits and harms of it should be especially carefully monitored by doctors when taking the drug by patients with:
- varicose veins;
- glomerulonephritis;
- thrombophlebitis;
- arrhythmia.
Do not use ivan tea for children under 6 years old, and after that it should be used as carefully as possible. Pregnant and lactating women, in order not to harm the child, it is necessary to get the advice of the attending physician before starting to take herbal teas or infusions from the fireweed.
How much does it cost?
In the pharmacy you can buy Ivan tea, the price of which can vary from 55 rubles and above for 50 g. The cost of the herb depends on the manufacturer and the place of collection of the fireweed. Of course, it is better to find, collect and dry it yourself, but there are few ecologically clean places where this plant grows. And with free time, modern people are quite problematic. In stores, you can also find Ivan tea, the price will only be several times higher than in a pharmacy. For the same 50 g will have to pay from 130 rubles or more. The assortment there, of course, is richer: there are mixtures of fireweed with various healing herbs and medicinal flowers.
Where and how much to buy ivan tea is up to you to decide, but remember that before you start taking this natural remedy, you need to consult your doctor in order not to harm your own health.