Elecampane is a perennial plant that is part of the Asters family. Grass grows in meadows, near ponds and rivers. The healing properties and use of elecampane are known in traditional medicine. The roots and rhizomes of the plant are used. The use of elecampane is described in the article.
Description
The plant of elecampane is represented in several dozen species. But often high, loosestrife, British, mosquito, Altai. They have the most pronounced valuable properties. Grass grows on soils with high humidity: near rivers, swamps, lakes. But it is found in cottages and gardens.
Perennial is presented in the form of a large weed, although the flowers are similar to a yellow aster with large leaves up to 50 cm long. The upright stalk with hairs can reach 2.5 meters in height. Elecampane can be grown independently, with proper planting and care, a grass plantation will appear, which must be correctly harvested.
Beneficial features
The plant is rich in organic acids, vitamin E. The roots include over 45% of the polysaccharide inulin, mucus, gum, benzoic and acetic acid. Elecampane contains saponins, alkaloids and essential oils. Grass has antiseptic properties. She is also known for expectorant, antimicrobial, choleretic, analgesic effect.
Medicines with this plant slow down intestinal motility and restore its work, regulate digestive processes and metabolism, and reduce secretory activity. The use of elecampane improves appetite, which is necessary for patients with a lack of weight, increases the maturation of abscesses and the healing of wounds and ulcers.
Indications
The use of elecampane is known in the following cases:
- Inflammation of the digestive tract - colitis, gastritis.
- Diseases of the upper respiratory tract - tracheitis, bronchitis, tuberculosis.
- Pathology of the kidneys and liver.
Elecampane is considered the best treatment for skin diseases. Therapy is needed with weak immunity and lack of appetite. The grass has a diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory effect. It helps women to restore the menstrual cycle.
The use of elecampane herb helps externally and internally with:
- Hepatitis.
- Pancreatitis
- Hypertension.
- Bronchitis.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Radiculitis.
- Rheumatism
Roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, flowers are used. The use of elecampane in folk medicine is known for the treatment of gonorrhea, diseases of the oral cavity. Flower-based medicines are effective in eliminating angina pectoris, tachycardia, migraine, and paralysis. For men, remedies from the root are useful for increasing potency and in infertility.
Tincture
Everyone who wants to use this plant in treatment should know about the beneficial properties and use of elecampane. Tincture is prepared from grass. For this, chopped dry roots with rhizomes of a plant (15 g) are needed, which must be poured with boiling water (200 ml). Infusion lasts 7-9 hours, and then filtering is carried out. You need to consume 50-75 ml an hour before meals 4 times a day as a gastric and expectorant.
You can prepare a tincture for alcohol. Dry roots (15 g) are poured with vodka (500 ml). The product should be infused for 10-13 days in a dark place. Terms of use depend on the disease:
- With tachycardia, use 5 ml 3 times a day before meals.
- For the treatment of the stomach and intestines - 25-30 drops up to 3 times a day.
- With worms and parasites - 1 tbsp. l 3 times a day.
There is a special infusion for the treatment of tuberculosis. Vodka (500 ml) is mixed with crushed roots of elecampane (450-500 g). Infusion is performed within 9 days. It should be consumed before meals 15 ml. The duration of use of tincture of elecampane is 2-3 months.
Syrup
The medicinal properties and use of elecampane herb are known in official and traditional medicine. A pharmaceutical preparation in the form of syrup is used:
- For diseases of the respiratory tract - tonsillitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, tracheitis.
- With ulcers and erosion of the digestive tract.
The instructions for the syrup indicate that the medicine should be taken on the basis of age and disease 20 minutes before eating.
Decoction
To prepare such a product, you need dry crushed raw materials (15 g), which is poured with boiled water (200-220 ml). The broth is heated using a steam bath for 35 minutes. After that, it should cool for 30-40 minutes, and then it should be filtered.
In the treatment, 100 ml is used up to 3 times a day before eating for 1 hour. The broth should be taken with colds, flu, as an expectorant for the treatment of bronchitis and other ailments of the respiratory system.
The use of elecampane root is known in the preparation of a decoction for baths. You will need fresh chopped rhizomes and roots (100 g), which must be boiled for 10 minutes in 1 liter of water, and then insist for at least 4 hours, strain and pour into the bath. This recipe is effective for skin diseases.
Extract
Such a useful tool is used for the treatment and prevention of:
- Pneumonia.
- Gastritis.
- Ulcer.
- Menopause.
- Enurese.
- Pyoderma.
In case of inflammation of a gynecological nature, it is necessary to take an extract of 5-10 drops per 200 ml of water. It is required to do this three times a day half an hour before eating food.
Ointment
Instructions for use of elecampane are in every drug based on this herb. An ointment is made from the plant. To do this, you need a powder of roots and rhizomes (50 g), melted butter (50 g) and lard. The components must be ground into a homogeneous mass.
Ointment can be prepared on the basis of a decoction. The prepared product is used to treat painful areas with skin diseases in which itching appears. It is effective for healing wounds and eczema.
Powder
It is created from the roots. The powder should be mixed with pork fat, put the mass in flaxseed material and attach to the tumor or wound, which will allow faster healing.
Shredded roots and rhizomes are consumed orally in a small amount - at the end of a knife. This should be done no more than 2 times a day, washed down with water. Inside the powder is indicated in the presence of heartburn, gastritis, ulcers.
Elixir
Dry small roots and rhizomes (12 g) are needed, which are poured with wine (500-550 ml). Cook everything should be 10-12 minutes. It should be consumed 2-3 times a day, 50 ml before meals as a firming and tonic with a weakened body.
Tea
The drink is useful in the treatment of cough, whooping cough, asthma. To make tea, chopped rhizomes (1 tbsp.) And boiling water (250 ml) are needed. The drink should be infused for 15 minutes. You need to use it no more than 4 times a day, 250 ml per 1 time.
For weight loss
Since the plant has a diuretic effect, it is used to lose weight. The bitterness present in elecampane restores bowel function and leads to rapid emptying. With regular use, it will be possible to restore metabolism and acid-base balance, as well as reduce cravings for sweet and salty foods. Gum, which is in the composition, reduces appetite.
To prepare a decoction, you need dry rhizomes and roots (1 tbsp. L.), Water (200 ml). It is boiled for 2 minutes. After insisting, for half an hour, you need to strain the product. Take should be 3 tbsp. l 4 times a day before meals.
In cosmetology
The plant is used to combat aging skin that becomes elastic. Up to 30 years old, it is used to prevent wrinkles. Elecampane-based products are effective in cleansing the skin of acne and acne.
To prepare anti-aging lotion you need dry roots (50 g), dry white wine (500 ml). Boil for 10 minutes. The face must be wiped with cold lotion 2 times a day. You need to store it in the refrigerator.
Contraindications
The use of elecampane is prohibited in the following cases:
- Acute renal failure.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Intolerance.
Elecampane medicines should be used carefully in the presence of gastritis and low acidity. In the presence of abundant discharge during menstruation in women, such a plant will enhance these symptoms. During an overdose of grass, the appearance of:
- Nausea
- General weakness.
- Reduce heart rate.
- Profuse salivation.
- Allergies.
Elecampane-based medicines should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. If the dose of a cough medicine is accurately measured, then for children from 4-5 years old there are no contraindications. The doctor can determine the exact norms of medicines for children. Syrup can be taken from 2 years.
Collection and Harvesting
Most of the healing properties are in the grass for 2-3 years, when the stem is wide and straight. Young plants have few valuable components, so they have little medicinal value. The underground part of the plant, collected in August-September or in spring when leaves appear, is more in demand.
The root system must be carefully dug in a radius of at least 20 cm from the stem and to a depth of 30 cm. You need to take the stem near the base, pull the rhizome from the soil. Raw materials must be cleaned of the earth, washed in water and cut the stems. Thin roots should be removed. The roots are cut lengthwise into equal pieces.
Then drying is carried out in a warm and dry room or in a dryer at 40 degrees. The raw materials should be placed in a thin layer on a clean paper or dryer. It is ready when the spine breaks easily. Dried roots have a gray-brown color with shiny dots. Raw materials should be stored in paper bags or glass jars. It can be used for 3 years.
Thus, the herb elecampane has a therapeutic effect in many diseases. It is only important to consider contraindications and dosages in each case.