Small periwinkle belongs to the family vinca. In the people it can be known as ivy, burial ground, grave grass, noyushka, plow, Khreshchatyk. Thanks to the bright, beautiful blue flowers, this plant is sometimes planted in front gardens or in vegetable gardens. But what else may be of interest to a small periwinkle? The use, contraindications and recipes with this plant will be described in this article.
Plant description
Periwinkle is a perennial evergreen shrub. It can grow up to 35 cm high. The roots are thin up to 70 cm long. The stems of the plant are of two types: creeping and vertical. The first species is non-bearing, extends one and a half meters and takes root. Vertical stems grow up to 20 cm. The leaves are short-leaved and persist throughout the winter. In shape they are oblong-elliptical 3-5 cm long. On top of the dark, green color, below a little lighter, gray-green hue, shiny. Leaflets collected in whorls of 3 pcs.
Flowers are dark blue and navy blue, their diameter is 2-3 cm. On the pedicels are located one at a time. The fruit of the plant is two curved leaflets up to 8 cm with brown seeds. Vinca blooms in May-June. Ripening begins in June.
This plant attracted the attention of man in antiquity and was considered a medicine due to the fact that he was credited with magical power. But already in the 18th century they learned to use it as a sedative and antihypertensive drug. Although doctors at that time actively used periwinkle, the medicinal properties and contraindications were not yet fully understood.
Where grows
This plant loves steppe slopes, edges of deciduous forests, clearings and places between shrubs. Periwinkle is widespread in the European part of Russia, Ukraine, Crimea, Moldova, Belarus, the Baltic states, the Caucasus, and also in Asia Minor. It is distributed by roots, dividing the bush and seed method. The plant is unpretentious in care, normally tolerates the shadow. Today, periwinkle is often planted as an ornamental plant in flower beds, parks or in cemeteries. In cold winters it may freeze, but in summer it will surely recover. Although many saw how periwinkle blooms in the forest or beams, the beneficial properties and chemical composition of this plant are not known to many people.
Plant composition
In past times, this shrub was used only for certain diseases. Years later, additional studies were carried out, it turned out which areas of health can affect the periwinkle. The healing properties and contraindications depend on the chemical composition. The grass contains more than 20 alkaloids, among them there are those that have an oncolytic effect, these are Minorin, Devinkan, Isomaydin, Reserpine, Aimalitsin, Pubescin, Vinin and others. The composition is malic, acetic, ascorbic, succinic acid. It also contains rutin, carotene, flavonoids, mineral salts, pectin, triterpene saponins, glycosides, phytosteropes and tannins.
Healing properties
Given the rich chemical composition that has periwinkle, the medicinal properties and contraindications are in the following areas. The plant can be used as:
- wound healing;
- hemostatic (improves contractile function of the uterine muscles);
- hypotensive (dilates blood vessels and lowers vascular tone, thereby reducing pressure);
- sedative (vincamine alkaloid affects the nervous system, calming it);
- blood purifying;
- astringent (the plant has a depressing effect on the pathogenic flora);
- laxative (enhances the relaxation of muscle tissue of the small intestine;
- restorative (improves metabolic processes).
It is worth noting that pink periwinkle is rich in alkaloids, which have an antitumor effect, they have a destructive effect on cancer cells.
Application in traditional medicine
Traditional healers often use periwinkle in their recipes. The medicinal properties and contraindications of this plant allow it to be used for various ailments. So it has a beneficial effect on migraines, dizziness, fever, scurvy, toothache, bad breath, enteritis, stomach pains, diarrhea and colic. Periwinkle is also useful in cases of bronchitis, tuberculosis and colds. It can be taken by people who have hypertension. The plant is often used for female whites and sexual weakness in men.
Periwinkle is used externally if bleeding occurs from the nose, uterus, lungs or with hemorrhoids. If inflammation has formed in the oral cavity or toothache has occurred, rinses are prescribed. Lotions help if a rash, skin itching, weeping eczema or wounds occur.
How to cook a plant
You can independently collect and prepare for further treatment a small periwinkle. The healing properties, recipes of traditional medicine have been collected over the years. Below are some tips for making homemade vinca medicine:
- Hypertension. Boil a spoonful of crushed leaves in 200 ml of water for 20 minutes. Take filtered broth 4 times a day for ¼ cup.
- Colds, intestinal disorders, fever as hemostatic, wounds, rashes and mouth rinses. Shredded shoots and leaves 2 tbsp. spoons to lower in 300 ml of boiling water. Boil for another 15 minutes, then wait another hour for the product to brew. Take 100 ml daily three times. Compresses and rinses are made from this broth.
- With a decrease in sexual tone. Preparing tincture of vodka or alcohol (250 ml). 20 g of flowers and herbs are dipped in alcohol. Bring to a boil and set aside to cool. Take 8 drops in the morning and at night for 4 days. This is followed by a two day break. Repeat this scheme only three times.
- Dermatitis. Place a spoon of grass in a thermos and pour boiling water. With cooled, strained infusion, moisten gauze and do windings of affected areas.
- Headache, nosebleeds, cough, eczema and skin rash. Prepare tincture for alcohol and take.
- Allergic diathesis. Ten fresh leaves need to grind and mix with a spoonful of melted butter. Heat the mixture and set aside for 20 minutes. The strained mass rub problem areas of the skin.
- Internal bleeding. Suitable for pruritic dermatitis and lavage wounds. Lower the grass and flowers (30 g) in boiling water and put on steam with the lid closed for 10 minutes. Strain the already cooled broth. Drink half a glass three times a day.
- Headache. 20 grams of the plant (leaves) insist in 100 ml of alcohol. The drug is ready for use on the 10th day. Take three drops three times a day before meals. If the violations are caused by a narrowing of blood vessels in the brain, in this case it will not be superfluous to plant such a useful plant as a periwinkle in its area.
Medicinal properties and contraindications: reviews of people
Today, not everyone knows that a small periwinkle can be used in herbal medicine, but those who have already tried it on themselves testify to its beneficial effect. Some women prepare a decoction in order to more easily survive the menopause. Also, during sexual disorder, individual men support themselves with medicine from periwinkle leaves.
To maintain their immune system or normalize the nervous system, patients prepare a decoction, infusion or alcohol tincture. The effect will be noticeable in any cooking option.
Many with the help of periwinkle get rid of migraines. But it is worth noting that the medicine prepared on the basis of this plant is not a panacea for headaches, since a lot can depend on the causes of the disease state. As you can see, many actively use periwinkle in folk medicine. The healing properties of the plant are proven empirically, but despite this, it is important to carefully use this herb.
Warnings
Periwinkle is allowed to use only after talking with a family doctor. This indication is especially true if you apply the medicine inside. Periwinkle is a poisonous plant, any overdose is unacceptable, as this can inhibit the work of the heart, in some cases, such treatment can lead to cardiac arrest. Do not use for treatment of bradycardia, lactation and pregnancy.
Collection and Harvesting
This article drew attention to how periwinkle can help (the medicinal properties, uses and warnings have been considered). Therefore, you can prepare this plant yourself, so that this useful collection is always in the medicine cabinet. Flowers, leaves and stems are harvested in May and June, when the periwinkle blossoms. The roots can not be uprooted. Raw materials are laid out in a ventilated place and dried over a week. Since the plant is poisonous, it is dried in places where there is no person.