Around the world there is a huge number of garden and ornamental shrubs. Today we want to talk about an amazing plant - the Pontic needle, other names for which are prickly needles, prickly needles. People have known about the plant since time immemorial. Even in ancient times, the historians Pliny and Virgil mentioned it, talking about its miraculous properties that help to heal many ailments. By the way, they called her ruskus (ruskus). From the material presented, you will learn what this plant is, what medicinal properties it has, how to use the Pontic needle in the fight against ailments.
Plant description
The Latin name of this plant is ruscus aculeatus. Currently, the needle is a rare, endangered species. It is believed that this species originated in the Tertiary period. We bring to your attention a description of the Pontic needle and a photo of this unusually beautiful plant.
It refers to evergreen shrubs or shrubs. Prickly needle in natural conditions can grow up to half a meter, sometimes a little higher. The needle was received an original and unique name due to its appearance: it is all covered with small needles. The leaves of the plant are lanceolate scales, which are hardly noticeable. The part of the plant that everyone takes for leaves - cladodius - is not. These are leaflets or simply flat branches, in which the end is pointed in the form of a spine. The buds are formed on their lower part, have a greenish tint and purple stamens. Flowering of the plant lasts from February to April.
According to the description of the Pontic needle, it has both female and male flowers on the bush, which can be pollinated with dew or in the rain. After that, unusually beautiful fruits appear on the shrub - bright red balls, whose diameter is 8-10 mm. Inside they have 2-3 seeds. Ripening occurs in the period from August to September. Edible berries have a pleasant taste, before they were used to prepare coffee substitute.
Habitat
In the wild, the shrub can be found in Western Europe, where it grows in juniper and pine forests, near the rocks. In addition, the prickly needle loves to adjoin hornbeams and oaks. Some species of this plant grow on the territory of Asian and African states. The habitat of the needles of Pontic in our country is the woodlands of the Crimea and the Caucasus. It should be noted that this plant is listed in the Red Book and is under state protection.
Healing properties
Pontic needle has healing properties. It is widely used in folk medicine because of its rich chemical composition, which includes many medicinal and beneficial substances. The decoctions and tinctures prepared on its basis treat venous insufficiency, atherosclerosis, arthritis, varicose veins, bronchial asthma, and diseases associated with dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. The composition of the plant includes:
- proteins;
- saponins;
- plant fiber;
- sucrose;
- vitamins PP, C;
- fats
- trace elements (potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, aluminum, calcium, etc.).
And this is not the whole list of useful substances that make up the Pontic needle, the photo of which is presented in the review.
Healing functions
Prickly needle has a number of medicinal properties aimed at eliminating exacerbation of hemorrhoids, venous dysfunctions that occur with premenstrual syndrome, oral contraceptives, pregnancy. Consider the main therapeutic functions of the barbed needle, which all medicines prepared from this plant possess:
- reduction of capillary fragility;
- strengthening the walls of blood vessels and veins;
- reduced risk of thrombosis;
- increased tone.
The use of needles helps to eliminate toxins and toxins from muscle tissue, reduces the risk of inflammatory processes, significantly improves cell metabolism, restores water-salt metabolism, and stimulates the blood circulation. It should be noted that the needle has a beneficial effect in edema, heaviness in the legs, hemorrhoids. It is an indispensable tool to alleviate the condition of chronic venous insufficiency, helps to cope with convulsive leg cramps.
Features of exposure to the body
The plant is successfully used for gout, circulatory disorders, jaundice, thrombosis, and in violation of the gallbladder and kidneys. In addition, the Pontic needle has a slight diuretic and choleretic effect, which, in turn, promotes enhanced excretion of sand, salts from the ureters, kidneys, gall bladder, while not allowing their accumulation. In this regard, a plant-based medicine should be taken with extreme caution, because if there are calculi, it can induce them to move, resulting in a high risk of blockage of the excretory ducts. The structure of the plant includes ruscogenin, which has a vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory effect. Thanks to such qualities, the product is used to prepare rectal suppositories and ointments that help with hemorrhoids: relieve swelling, pain, and eliminate stagnation, which significantly improves the patient's condition.
Pontic needle is very popular as a venotonic agent, it helps to eliminate stagnation in the blood vessels of the lower extremities, and inhibits the progression of the disease. Especially good results are shown in combination with horse chestnut preparations.
Application methods
Pontic needles extracts are used at the rate of 7-11 mg of ruscogenin per day.
- Infusion: we take a large handful of dry raw materials per 1 liter of water, we insist and drink throughout the day.
- Broth: per liter of water 60 g of the collection, drink 2-3 tbsp. per day.
- Capsules: up to 3-6 per day.
Please note: extracts should be taken before meals, capsules and tablets should be washed down with water. During exacerbations, it is recommended to take them on an empty stomach. Available in the form of capsules, fresh plant extract, dry collection, tablets, powder, cream, tinctures.
What parts of the plant do they use?
In medicine, the rhizome and roots of the needle are prickly. After collection, they should be thoroughly washed and dried. After that, you can prepare a powder from them. It is part of many medicines: tablets, gelatin capsules, solutions for drinking, ointments, etc. In folk medicine, both cultivated and wild varieties are used.
Application in traditional medicine
On the basis of the needle, tinctures, decoctions, extracts are prepared, various ointments are made. Healers successfully use such folk remedies for the treatment of the following diseases:
- headache;
- atherosclerosis;
- gout;
- jaundice;
- cramping
- renal failure;
- gangrene;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- Raynaud's syndrome;
- Meniere's disease.
Preparation of medicinal mixtures
At home, ruscus-based rhizomes can be used to prepare various mixtures that have a beneficial effect.
Diuretic infusion. It should be taken for pain relief with PMS or varicose veins. It is prepared as follows: one large spoon of crushed dry roots of the Pontic needles is poured with one liter of boiling water, insisted for three hours and filtered.
Decoction. Indications for use: treatment of seizures, swelling of the legs, lymphatic congestion, problems in women during menopause. To prepare it, we need 60 g of rhizomes and a liter of water, the components should be combined, let them boil and boil on minimum heat for twenty minutes.
Needle needle in cosmetology: application
The extract of this plant is widely used not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. This is due to the healing properties of ruskus, he:
- relieves edema of various localization;
- has anti-inflammatory effect;
- has a vasoconstrictor effect;
- activates blood circulation;
- removes bruises and bags under the eyes.
In cosmetology, the Pontic needle is used for external use. The herbal remedy gives a positive effect when caring for the skin around the eyes. To do this, it is recommended to combine a certain combination of plants to enhance the effect. For example, you can prepare a cream based on needle extract with funds from ivy, chamomile and other plants. Thanks to these procedures, it will be possible to remove excess fluid, improve drainage, and remove toxins from tissues.
The drug based on plant materials from the needle has a positive effect in the treatment of rosacea. This is the name of the disease, which is caused by the appearance on the skin of dilated capillaries and asterisks resulting from circulatory disorders. The positive effect is due to the fact that the plant has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties. When using drugs, it is possible to achieve not only the disappearance of visible manifestations, but also completely get rid of the causes of this condition.
It should be noted that the fight against cellulite and stretch marks will be much more successful if the prickly needle is included in the list of cosmetic care products. Due to the fact that when using such drugs, blood circulation and metabolic processes are activated, harmful substances are eliminated, and cell regeneration is stimulated. All this helps to get rid of stretch marks and successfully resist cellulite.
Needle Pontic: benefits and contraindications
The plant is successfully used in medicine - official and folk. Needle-based products have a very wide range of medicinal properties. However, there are contraindications for use, among which we can distinguish the following:
- high blood pressure;
- pregnancy period;
- inflammatory processes of the genitourinary tract.
Please note: if you have high blood pressure and symptoms of venous stasis, you should consult a doctor before using medications. It should also be noted that if the dosage of needle-based drugs is not followed, side effects are possible: nausea, stomach upsets.