This plant is popularly nicknamed the golden root in gratitude for the indispensable healing properties revered by magic. Officially, science calls it Rhodiola rosea, but to this day the “correct” name is less known than the national one. The most healing of this herb is its root. That is why in ancient times the root was given the amount of gold how much it weighed. Maybe this is one of the reasons that people have the name of the plant.
Myths, legends and beliefs
In folk medicine, at all times, the golden root was valued , the healing properties of which caused awe. The Chinese story about a rich merchant who laid a path from coins and silk to the place of growth of Rhodiola rosea is widely known.
In Altai, they still believe that those who find the golden root will find happiness, health and good fortune, and their life century will continue for two centuries. However, there they also consider this plant a symbol of justice and selflessness. If you dig a magic root for profit or purchase it from a greedy, greedy seller, luck will leave you, money will leave your family, and no measures will help to avoid poverty.
Altaians at the wedding gave the groom, along with maral antlers, a golden root, the healing properties of which not only strengthened health, but also guaranteed that the marriage would not be fruitless.
The main directions of use
There are several areas where the golden root is applied. Its healing properties are mainly aimed at strengthening immunity, relieving fatigue and nervous tension. The latter is especially relevant in our time, when not a single day is complete without stress. The ability of Rhodiola to increase, increase both mental and physical performance has also been noticed.
If earlier this plant was considered exclusively a folk remedy, then since the sixties of the last century it has been recognized by traditional medicine as a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It is prescribed for neurosis, vegetovascular dystonia, neurasthenia. With nervous exhaustion, the golden root will also help - its healing properties are very similar to the effects of ginseng.
Rhodiola rosea is no less valuable as a kind of antidote: it increases the body's resistance in case of chronic poisoning. This is very useful for those associated with insecticides used in agriculture.
Apply the golden root (medical properties allow this) and for heart problems - it strengthens the heart muscle. With it, uterine and internal bleeding is treated. Rhodiola rosea is also good for getting rid of some diseases of the intestines and stomach.
Cautions for use: diseases
In principle, the plant is useful not only for diseased, but also for completely healthy people. In Altai they drink it in the form of tea for general health purposes. But, like any drug, it can become poison.
So, having some kind of constant illness behind you or being an elderly person, before starting treatment with a golden root, you should consult your doctor so as not to exacerbate the underlying disease. Age-related characteristics of the body also impose their limitations. They may conflict with the effect that gives the golden root. The instruction, of course, will warn you about this, but the doctor will better understand how safe and useful rhodiola preparations are for you.
You should also not drink the tincture of this plant for hypertension (or even a random, one-time increase in pressure) or if you are temperature-conscious. It is also necessary to avoid it during emotional overstrain: Rhodiola will only increase excitement, but will not bring relief. It is better to sleep, to bounce back naturally, calm down and only in the morning drink a seagull with a magic root.
Cautions for use: do not overdo it
But even if you have no contraindications to the use of this medicinal plant, remember that you can’t continuously drink teas and tinctures from it. The energy of a living organism is not infinite. If you constantly use even such “benevolent” stimulants as the golden root, you can quietly bring yourself to complete exhaustion. So after five days during which the tincture of the golden root is taken (for example, on vodka), a week break is required.
Tea Features
In terms of overall health promotion, improvement of well-being and stimulation of working capacity, Altai people recommend tea. Its preparation is significantly different from the usual one: if you just need to insist, then you will have to boil a drink from Rhodiola. Moreover, raw materials need very little: a teaspoon is enough per liter of boiling water. The "elixir of health" will boil from 7 to 10 minutes, and then half an hour it needs to be insisted, and it is better to wrap it up. It will turn out a very tasty liquid with a light pink aroma. The color of this tea is also unusual. Depending on the quantity and quality of the root, it can be reddish-brown or (with the transition through all the accompanying shades) dark crimson. You can drink it without any additives, but you can also sweeten it. In the latter case, it is better to put honey.
Warning
Despite the outward harmlessness, golden root tea is a very, very strong stimulant! Its effect is superior to ordinary teas, and even coffee. This drink is not suitable for daily use! But in the case of exams, annual reports or other urgent, but not frequent work will become an indispensable assistant.
However, even in such extreme situations it is not recommended to drink "gulls" more than two or three glasses a day. Otherwise, you can completely deplete your nervous system.
The combination of rhodiola with other plants
For colds or flu, upset stomach, weakness during recovery, another drink that also contains a golden root is good. Alternative medicine recipes recommend combining rhodiola with the leaves of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants (black) and incense. Plus, the same collection should include the flowers of cinquefoil and St. John's wort, as well as thyme grass. All components are taken in equal parts by weight. Two large spoons per hour are infused in a liter of boiling water. The drink is not very tasty, so when you drink it, you can’t do without honey or sugar. Stimulation in this case is very mild, in addition, the metabolism is restored. And you can drink this tea for a long time, until the general condition is normalized.
Purpose of tincture
Such a drug from Rhodiola has, in principle, the same main purpose as tea, however, in those cases where a faster effect is required, the remedy is still quite concentrated. For the same reason, it is better to consult a doctor. How is the golden root (tincture) usually taken? The instruction recommends 20 drops half an hour before meals three times a day. However, in the presence of hypertension, you need to start with five drops, carefully observing your health and tracking pressure fluctuations. In the case of a normal course of treatment, the dose is gradually increasing.
Unlike tea, tincture is applied externally. She treats wounds and skin diseases, abscesses, rashes and conjunctivitis. In this case, poultices or lotions are made. Tincture is also used for dental purposes - for the treatment of wounds on the gums, palate and tongue. In this case, either moxibustion is done, or rinses are prescribed.
DIY tincture
After the recognition of Rhodiola rosea by traditional doctors, the Golden Root tincture began to be freely sold in the pharmacy. However, it is not difficult to prepare it yourself - so you will be sure of the quality of the medicine used. Moreover, to get raw materials, now you don’t have to travel to the taiga and look for treasured places: this plant has long taken root in summer gardens and is not difficult to grow. The main thing in this matter is to properly prepare the roots, that is, to observe some rules. The first of them is to dig out for plants only those plants that are more than 3 years old. Second: you can start digging in July, but finish - no later than September. Third: peeled, whole and not rotten roots are first dried in a shade and only then they are cut into pieces of 10 centimeters and dried at 50 degrees.
The preparation of the tincture itself is extremely simple: the raw materials (50 g) are finely chopped, put into a bottle and poured with a half liter of alcohol (40 degrees, not more). It is necessary to insist in warmth and darkness for two weeks. As can be seen from the strength of alcohol, the tincture of the golden root on vodka will turn out no worse, just take it of good quality and without any extra additives. Actually, pharmacy alcohol is therefore recommended for the preparation of medicines because it does not contain impurities.
Even if nothing bothers you and you are relatively healthy (absolute health in our world, unfortunately, is unattainable), you should drink tea or tincture of golden root once a year. Immunity will become stronger, the remnants of vitamin deficiency, which you did not suspect, will go away, your sleep will be calmer and your nerves stronger. Health and well-being!