The healing properties of frankincense have long been known to traditional healers. Preparations based on it are used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, gynecological pathologies and a number of other ailments. The plant has been cultivated since 1927.
The thick-leaved badan has numerous national names - Chagirsky (Chigirsky), Mongolian tea, thick-leaved bergenia, salay, ranoletok, Siberian tea, and saxifrage.
The famous botanist Karl Linney in 1760 received from St. Petersburg a previously unknown Siberian plant, which he called the saxifrage thick-leaved. This name was attached to the plant for a long time even after the botanist Konrad Mench attributed it to a separate genus - bergenia, which got its name in honor of the botanist Karl von Bergen, who lived in the XVIII century.
The name "saxifrage", according to one version, is associated with the places where the plant grows - stony substrates and stones. Often thick-leaved incense grows in crevices of rocks, as if breaking stones. Another explanation for the origin of this name is due to the fact that drugs made from this plant have long been used to get rid of kidney stones.
The healing properties of the frankincense from ancient times are used by the healers of Tibet, China, and Russia. In Mongolia, these plants are used for nausea and vomiting. The medicinal properties and contraindications of frankincense today are studied and confirmed by the results of numerous researchers of scientists. In this article, we will present you with a botanical description of a plant, methods of its use and recipes for the most effective drugs based on it.
Spread
In vivo, frankincense is common in southern Siberia, in northern China, in forest regions of alpine zones. It grows on rocky slopes and feels very comfortable in crevices of rocks.
Badan thick-leaved: photo and description
This is an unpretentious culture that is often used in landscape design in European countries. The frangipani, whose photo you can see in our review, has a creeping, thick, branched rhizome, painted in dark brown. If it is broken, the inner pinkish part instantly blackens in the open air.
Leaves
In winter and summer, leaves remain on the plant. In the summer they are deep green. They are large, leathery, rather thick, oval in shape. Multiple veins can be seen on the underside of the plate. By autumn, the leaves turn fiery orange.
Interestingly, the winter leaves of the plant are considered more effective healing raw materials. Since ancient times, the indigenous population of the Altai Mountains uses them as a kind of surrogate for tea, which is considered there as a male drink. Therefore, advice for summer residents, in which the frangipani grows on the plot: brownish-brown, yellowed leaves do not pick and discard - they can be used to make healthy tea.
Flowers
The bell-shaped small flowers of broad-leaved incense are painted in bright pink color. They are located on a leafless peduncle, forming an elegant inflorescence. The medicinal properties of frankincense, or rather, its flowers, are used to prepare funds for wiping the skin and lotions.
Fruit
These are boxes with two blades. They contain a huge number of small and wrinkled seeds. The plant of frangipani begins to bloom from mid-June to July. During this period, a peduncle appears, reaching a height of 50 cm. It can be used as food, but after a long soaking in water.
Composition
Rhizomes of the plant contain a lot of tannins (from 15 to 27%), in their leaves a little less - from 14 to 23%. For the most part, they belong to the group of gallotannins, in which the tannin content reaches 10%. In addition, the roots contain isocumarin bergenin, polyphenols, essential oils, resins, sugars, starch, dextrin.
The leaves of the plant contain the same substances as in the rhizomes, as well as arbutin (22%), which is found in addition to frankincense in bearberry, phenological glycoside. According to the content of arbutin, frankincense is one of the richest plant sources. Arbutin has a disinfecting property, which has been successfully used in the treatment of kidneys and urinary tract.
The leaves of this perennial contain hydroquinone (4%), gallic and ellagic acids. All raw materials of frankincense contain vitamins, carbohydrates, catechins, flavonoids, a lot of manganese, copper, iron.
Application
The thick-leaf badan, whose photo allows you to get an idea of its appearance, has many medicinal properties. Among them:
- hemostatic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- astringent;
- lowering blood pressure;
- antimicrobial and wound healing;
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
In addition, rhizomes thoroughly washed and soaked in water (to remove excess tannins) are used in cooking: they are added to the first dishes and used as a side dish for meat, and overwintered leaves, as we have already said, are used to make Mongolian tea, which You can drink both cold and hot.
Water extracts of leaves and rhizomes are used in the treatment of tuberculosis, colitis of non-dysenteric origin, acute and chronic pneumonia, pulmonary hemorrhage, whooping cough, acute flu and respiratory diseases, toothaches and headaches, fevers, laryngitis, articular rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, hemorrhoid disease, hemorrhoid disease urinary tract.
In gynecology, it is used for heavy uterine bleeding caused by inflammation of the appendages, for hemorrhagic metropathies, uterine fibroids, and for the treatment of erosion. A concoction of incense is effective for rinsing with chronic inflammation of the larynx, oral cavity, sore throat, bleeding gums, inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.
Widely used properties of plants in cosmetology. Lotions of decoctions or infusions of the plant quickly and effectively treat sweating, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, narrow enlarged pores.
The studies revealed that the plant has a high level of anti-stress activity. Thanks to this, the use of badan drugs is considered promising for the treatment and prevention of various neoplasms, including malignant ones. On the basis of this plant the preparations “Berglycin” and “Bergaftol” are made.
Where else is incense used?
Leafy Bergenia is a honey plant. Her flowers attract florists as they are well preserved and suitable for creating original compositions of dried flowers. In addition, drugs based on frankincense are used in veterinary medicine.
Widely used saxifrage thick-leaved as an ornamental plant for landscaping parks and squares. In landscape design it is used for decoration of borders, independent landings, looks great near pools and other reservoirs, near stones.
Badan is a recognized tanning agent: the content of tannins in it is two times higher than in willow or spruce bark, and four times more than they are in oak bark. Natural dyes are made from this plant: brown, black.
Application in traditional medicine
Traditional healers all over the world store many prescriptions for medicinal products based on different parts of this plant. We will introduce you to some of them.
Infusion of herbs
Mix 10 grams of dried flowers and leaves of frankincense. The dry mixture must be poured with hot water (a glass). For a quarter of an hour, infuse the composition in a water bath. After that, it should be cooled at room temperature and filtered. For gynecological diseases, take 2 tablespoons (tablespoons) three times a day.
Rhizome infusion
Used for stomatitis and periodontal disease. Two tablespoons of chopped rhizomes pour a glass of boiling water. The product should be infused for at least forty minutes, after which it can be filtered. Use it for rinsing several times a day.
Rhizome Broth
An effective tool that has an astringent, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic property. Can be used:
- with colitis;
- enterocolitis;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- tuberculosis
- pulmonary hemorrhage;
- pneumonia;
- acute respiratory infections;
- flu
- articular rheumatism;
- furunculosis;
- thyroid disease.
To prepare it, you will need 10 grams of dry and well-chopped rhizomes, which should be poured with 250 ml of boiling water. The container must be closed with a lid and steamed in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then the composition is filtered, the raw materials are squeezed out and added with boiled water at room temperature to the original volume. Take this tool three times a day, before meals.
For the treatment of hemorrhoids
A decoction of the roots of a frankincense is used to take sitz baths with hemorrhoids. To do this, prepare a decoction of equal parts of the rhizomes of incense and yarrow leaves. The temperature of the water in the bath should not exceed +38 ° C. The procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes. The course of treatment is designed for 12-15 procedures.
For the treatment of gynecological diseases
In gynecological practice, a decoction of badan is recommended for oophoritis, salpingitis, endometritis, salpingo-oophoritis, heavy bleeding with fibroma or myoma. In these cases, traditional healers recommend mixing a decoction of the roots of the incense with a decoction of the uterus.
Colds
Mix on a spoon (tablespoon) the leaves of incense and elecampane, add St. John's wort (two tablespoons) to them. Pour one spoon (tablespoon) of the mixture into a glass of hot boiled water, boil the composition over low heat for 20 minutes. After an hour, the composition is ready for use. Take a hot remedy 60 ml three times a day, after meals.
Healing tea
Such a drink can be prepared by mixing your favorite black tea with overwintered dry leaves of incense. Such tea relieves fatigue, has a powerful tonic and immunomodulatory effect. It is necessary to take into account that thick-leaved incense is brewed longer than black tea, since its leaves are much thicker than tea. Therefore, in order for the active substances to more actively pass into the infusion, they can be brought to a boil and immediately turned off. Then mix the composition with traditionally brewed black tea.
Winter leaves of canoe can be brewed separately. To do this, one spoon (teaspoon) of dried leaves must be filled with 250 ml of boiling water. Let the composition brew and drink it like regular tea (it can also be cold) for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, to lower blood pressure, strengthen the walls of the capillaries.
Contraindications
- Decoction and tincture of frankincense should not be taken in patients with high blood coagulation.
- A decoction for hypotension (low blood pressure) is contraindicated.
- Badgen preparations increase heart rate, therefore, they should not be taken by patients suffering from tachycardia.