We will talk about a small, unpretentious and very useful perennial plant - pulmonary gentian. The description and useful properties of this herb, which will be listed below, we hope will help you understand the features of its application and preparation. In the article you can see a photo of the plant.
The scientific name of the gentian is Gentiana pneumonanthe, and the people as soon as it is not called: Uraznik, common carp, old-arboretum, falconry flight, subalevka, infant grass, azure and Urazitsa. Let's get to know her better.
Gentian pulmonary - description and photo
What can I say, gentian deserves a lot of names, because in nature there are about 400 varieties of this wild representative of the flora. Our description concerns the most common of them - that in the summer pleases people with its bright blue, blue or purple flowers in the shape of bells.
The gentian has a straight stem, sometimes stretching up to 30 cm in height and narrow leaves, lanceolate, evenly spaced along the entire length of the stem. There are few floral corollas, and they are at the top. The rhizome is thick, with a large number of branches. Favorite places of plant growth are meadows with moist soil, but it can also grow between bushes.
Gentiana pneumonanthe is loved by amateur gardeners because of its vibrant decorative colors. In the photo of pulmonary gentian, posted below, you can see how the plant looks at the time of its flowering. This period lasts approximately from June to August.
Beneficial features
Pulmonary gentian is a plant that has pronounced healing properties, and therefore it is widely used to treat various diseases. Most often, the roots go into business, since they contain the largest number of valuable biologically active substances that can have various beneficial therapeutic effects on the human body.
Pulmonary gentian contains specific bitter glycosides (amaropanin and amarosverin), with which you can improve appetite and treat stomach diseases, as well as various parts of the intestine. The plant also contains the following valuable elements:
- gentian;
- alkaloids;
- gentiopicrin;
- amarogentin;
- tanning and resinous substances;
- inulin;
- pectin;
- fixed oils;
- phenylcarboxylic acid;
- Sahara;
- Vitamin C (it is especially abundant in the leaves).
The use of gentian in folk and traditional medicine
From time immemorial, people have made pulmonary gentian medicinal drugs that cure many diseases. It is known that in the Middle Ages this herb was used in the treatment of plague, tuberculosis, diarrhea, scurvy, jaundice and arthritis. Medieval healers using gentian drove out worms. They watered their patients with medicinal decoctions from its root in order to remove poison from their body after a snakebite.
In the Carpathians, weed was brewed for use by patients suffering from congestion in the gallbladder and liver diseases. Chinese healers have traditionally used the plant to help people suffering from a complex condition such as lupus erythematosus. In Japan, medicinal bitterness plants are used for the preparation of cosmetic preparations. The centuries-old experience of traditional medicine says that gentian is a strong immunomodulator.
Today this magic weed is also widely used:
- The substance of gentianin, which is contained in the roots of the plant in high concentration, allows the plant to be used to treat cough, relieve spasms, and reduce fever.
- It is an excellent sedative and anti-inflammatory.
- Phenolcarboxylic acid is known for its ability to restore the function of the gastrointestinal tract.
- People suffering from allergic diseases can use a decoction or infusion from this universal plant as an antihistamine.
- Pulmonary gentian helps in the treatment of gout, relieves of anemia, constipation and flatulence.
Traditional medicine, too, did not ignore such a valuable plant. Based on it, preparations are made for the treatment of anemia, chronic hepatitis C, hypotension, etc. Gentian extract is a part of many plant balms, for example, the famous Bittner balm.
Even the food industry has not bypassed the gentian side, in some countries it is used in brewing.
Contraindications
No matter how useful the herb in question is, nevertheless, some caution is needed when using it. If you do not know the measures, using decoctions and infusions from the plant, then this can cause severe headache, redness of the skin, dizziness and even fainting.
A mindless gentian-based remedy is especially dangerous for people who have ulcerated gastric mucosa and high blood pressure.
It is better for pregnant women not to resort to self-medication with gentian, because it has the ability to increase the tone of the uterus. The period of breastfeeding is also a contraindication.
Infusion Recipe
To prepare a healing infusion, you will need about 15 g of dried roots of a wild plant gentian pulmonary (raw materials can be found in a pharmacy):
- Before starting to prepare the drug, the roots must be thoroughly crushed. Grinding raw materials will help as many active nutrients as possible to be released and give their strength to the infusion.
- Prepared ground roots are poured into an enameled or ceramic bowl and immediately poured with boiling water (1 cup).
- You need to insist for about 1 hour. During this time, the drug will have time to insist and properly and cool so much that it will be possible to start filtering.
- To filter home remedies, you can use folded in several layers of gauze or an ordinary strainer.
Ready infusion can be consumed in 1 tbsp. spoon before eating. This tool stimulates appetite, helps with constipation and heartburn, has a general strengthening effect.
Conclusion
Our description of pulmonary gentian has come to an end. Despite the fact that this medicinal plant can bring many benefits, we encourage our readers not to rush to self-medication. Each time, before you start using any folk remedy, you need to consult a doctor.