Botanical science introduces humanity to the plant world: the laws of their development, internal and external structure, as well as the healing and harmful properties of plants. The knowledge gained about flora helps people, makes it possible to use herbs for therapeutic purposes. It becomes clear why interest in the plant world has such ancient roots.
In all ages, people carefully studied, cultivated plants, looked after them, and in gratitude received medicinal raw materials. However, it must be understood that some plants can be life threatening. Therefore, before growing this or that flower on the windowsill, study all its features.
There is an amazing shrub in the world with evergreen leaves, the name of which is known to many - marsh ledum. When it blooms, it spreads a very strong scent that causes a person to have headaches and nervous disorders. From ancient times people composed interesting legends about it and sincerely believed that the plant, when used properly, relieves of spiritual and bodily troubles. The publication will acquaint readers with useful properties and contraindications to the use of evergreen shrubs.
Ledum botanical description
About ten species of plants of the genus heather are counted. Only four grow on the territory of Russia. The shrub has several names: rosemary, buggy, cinnamon. Often planted in personal plots as an ornamental plant. It grows to 125 cm in height, has branched branches with densely planted leaves. In the wild, forms entire plantations.
Has a rather long vegetation period (once every four years) rosemary. When the bush blooms (May-June), the landscape around it simply captivates the eye and envelops the whole area with a pleasant aroma. The branches are covered with white or light pink flowers with curled edges, which are covered with velvet brown hairs. The glands (pollen) of beautiful buds contain a huge amount of poisonous essential oils (emit a strong odor).
It is forbidden to bring a plant into the house. In the wild, reproduction is carried out with the help of seeds, at home - by cuttings and dividing the bush. Just note that it grows very slowly, regardless of conditions. The life span of the root bush is approximately 30 years, in the swampy areas somewhat less.
Where does marsh rosemary grow?
The shrub takes root on almost any soil, but grows better in wet areas. It adapts perfectly to frost, does not require special care and top dressing. The main habitat is in the Northern Hemisphere: in the Far East, in America, Greenland, Belarus. You can find Ledum on hills, peatlands, swamps, as well as in forest and tundra areas.
Harvesting and storage conditions
For medicinal purposes, folk healers begin to harvest shoots with stems and branches at the time of their active flowering. The fruits are picked in early July and August. You need to cut the plant very carefully, using special scissors, gloves and a gauze bandage, without damaging the root system.
After that, the harvested crop is dried in non-residential premises with good ventilation for about two weeks. Well-dried raw materials are transferred to fabric or paper bags and stored away from food for three years. This concludes the botanical description of Ledum and proceed to the study of healing properties and recipes.
Inbound components
The main and most important component is the essential oil, which is present in the ground parts (shoots, branches, leaves, fruits and flowers) of the shrub. Its concentration depends on where the rosemary grows - in what locality and geographical area. It should be noted that the essential oil is enriched with a toxic substance - ice. It has a greenish tint, a thick consistency and a burning taste.
Glacial ice is very poisonous, but at the same time it has an enveloping and antitussive effect if taken in scanty doses. Medications based on it have a bactericidal, sedative effect, are also prescribed to stabilize high blood pressure. I would like to add that the flowers of Ledum abound in ascorbic acid, a set of trace elements, volatile and flavonoids.
Pharmacological purpose
In alternative medical practice, the plant has been used for many centuries. On the territory of the Russian Federation, the healing properties of shrubs became known in the 17th century. A whole book with effective recipes called "All About the Benefits of Stinky Heather" was written by the folk Aesculapius. Interest in Ledum does not fade away; clinical studies have repeatedly been carried out that have proved the bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties of marsh grass.
Decoctions with infusions (confirmed by practice) help with bronchopulmonary diseases. They contribute to expectoration, liquefaction of sputum, removal of the inflammatory process. Ledum (photo clearly illustrates the shrub) can easily compete with many medicinal herbs in therapeutic strength. It is prescribed even for tuberculosis, whooping cough, gout and rheumatoid pathologies.
From ancient times, plant broth has been treating heart failure, diseases of internal organs (kidneys, liver), hypertensive crisis. He established himself as an antihistamine. Infusions soldered children and adults suffering from helminthic invasion. The tool is widely used by homeopaths during the period of a cold epidemic to strengthen the defenses.
The ground parts exhibit a mild sedative, disinfectant, wound healing and sleeping pill. Brewed leaves are used to wash the sinuses, apply compresses for skin lesions. Used for frostbite, swelling, dermatological diseases, to improve blood flow in the limbs (baths, lotions).
How to use in other areas?
Pink Ledum found application in veterinary medicine. They still treat livestock (horses, pigs, cows, goats) during various diseases. This must be done with extreme caution, having certain knowledge and experience. The plant is an excellent tool for protection against insects (flies, mosquitoes, ants, bugs). Gardens are watered with infusions to destroy pests.
Ground parts are ground into powder and put in a cabinet - helps from moths. Even the textile and perfumery industries use shrubs for good purposes: to soak the skin, the production of soap, toilet water. However, despite the abundance of positive qualities, the plant can be harmful if used improperly. This is more detailed.
Precautionary measures
As mentioned above, the evergreen shrub rosemary contains toxic substances. When it blooms, it is especially dangerous because it releases a huge amount of essential oils. Its aroma provokes a person's severe dizziness, nausea, vomiting, migraine, paralysis of the arms and legs. Based on the above statements, you should not take funds based on it without knowledge of the dosage.
In large quantities, it causes terrible intoxication, spastic conditions (paralysis of the heart, respiratory muscles), negatively affects the gastrointestinal mucosa. The treatment of people with hypotension (low blood pressure), autonomic disorders, kidney pathology (glomerulonephritis), and hepatitis is clearly prohibited. You can not even be close to a flowering shrub for pregnant and lactating women. We can offer everyone else effective folk recipes based on marsh grass.
Drink for bronchopulmonary diseases
For cooking, shoots or flowers of rosemary of the current year are taken. For several servings, take a large spoonful of dry raw materials, mix with boiling water (500 ml), cover and leave for 10-15 minutes. Take half a glass once a day. Relieves the condition with pneumonia, bronchi, liquefies sputum and helps to eliminate it.
Healing broth with ischemia of the heart
It is prepared as follows: take dried rosemary (a photo of the decoction is shown in the material) in the amount of six grams and a glass of boiling water. We put the pan with the mixture on the fire and cook for 15 minutes. We wait for cooling, filter with a strainer, dilute with purified water (bring to the original volume). We drink 15 ml three times a day. You can use it for laryngitis - use it every two hours to relieve clinical symptoms.
We remove calculi, clean the kidneys
Boil 250 ml of water, pour a teaspoon of dry shoots. Insist under a closed lid for half an hour. Consume orally 20 grams three times a day.
Therapeutic infusion from physical adversity
Ledum is used as a bactericidal drug. When blooming, carefully collect raw materials. Better buy already dried. From its shoots you can prepare an infusion that effectively helps with inflammation of the small and large intestines (enterocolitis). Insist in a glass of water three tablespoons of dry raw materials. Use in strained form 5-6 times a day for 15 ml.
Drops for rhinitis and polysinusitis
Prepare a product of 25 grams of chopped shoots and a liter of hot water. The liquid is infused for ten hours in an oven or oven. Filter the medicine and instill three drops in the nasal passages. It is not forbidden to take with gout - five times a day, 125 ml.
Oily liquid from acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, skin diseases
For 15 grams of grass, you need 125 ml of sunflower or olive oil. The mixture must be brought to a boil, covered and left untouched for 24 hours. They bury her nose with a runny nose, rub painful joints, treat skin lesions, lichen, dermatitis, acne by applying a compress.
We introduced you to the marsh rosemary, and you have a choice - whether to use it in therapy or not. In general, we recommend that you carefully study all medicinal plants and their properties in order to avoid undesirable consequences.