For many, the delicate and fragrant lily of the valley flower is associated with spring, purity, warmth and tenderness. He is very fragile and extremely attractive. But not everyone knows that lily of the valley is a therapeutic agent officially recognized by traditional medicine. Its useful properties have found application in the treatment of heart disease, and not only. We will talk about the benefits and harms of this fragrant plant, its use and contraindications in this article.
Plant description
May lily of the valley is a monotypic herbaceous flowering plant. True, within this genus, three independent species are sometimes distinguished - Keiske, mountain and Transcaucasian. Lily of the valley has dark green large oval-shaped leaves. Their length is more than 10 cm, and the width does not exceed 5 cm. The leaves of the plant go from creeping and thin rhizomes, the color of which can be from light brown to light gray.
Lily of the valley flowers are collected in a one-sided neat brush. After ripening, spherical shiny red berries grow from the flowers. Their diameter is about 8 mm.
Properties of Lily of the Valley
They are quite diverse. The following should be highlighted:
- choleretic;
- antispasmodic;
- anti-febrile;
- diuretic;
- soothing;
- cardiotonic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- vasodilator.
Useful properties of tincture
Today, in pharmacies without a prescription, lily of the valley tincture is sold. Its use without consulting a physician is unacceptable.
Lily of the valley petals contain glucose, saponin, flavonoids and organic acids. The flowers of the plant are rich in essential oils. All these substances normalize and increase the tone of the heart system, have a sedative and calming effect on the nervous system.
Sugar strengthens blood vessels, walls of the heart muscle, and boosts immunity. Starch is an easily digestible carbohydrate, which, when converted to glucose, helps the human body generate the energy necessary for the operation of all systems and organs.
Coumarins reduce blood coagulability, increase urine excretion, and prevent blood clots. Alkaloids soothe the nervous system, reduce pain, lower blood pressure.
Medical forms
Lily of the valley flowers are used to make preparations for paralysis, headache, and nervous diseases.
Lily of the valley flowers dried and crushed into powder are used as a snuff for migraine and runny nose.
The inflorescence of the plant is included in the Zdrenko collection, which is considered to be a very effective antitumor agent in herbal medicine.
The infusion of flowers is used as an anti-inflammatory, which is taken orally, lotions are also made from it.
Soothing preparation for oral administration and wound healing preparations for external use are prepared from lily of the valley leaves.
Tincture in traditional medicine
Folk healers in ancient times studied the beneficial properties of this plant. Most often they use lily of the valley tincture. They recommend its use in diseases of the genitourinary organs, cardiac system, gastrointestinal tract, with dropsy of cardiac origin, paralysis and paroxysmal tachycardia.
According to folk doctors, alcohol tincture is especially effective, which should be diluted with water according to the instructions in a ratio of 1:10. Often lily of the valley infusions are prepared using valerian, motherwort, hawthorn and lemon balm. The combination of the beneficial properties of these medicinal plants effectively affects human health in the treatment of thyroid diseases, hypertension, atherosclerosis, insomnia and nervous disorders.
How to make tincture of lily of the valley
This is a unique medicinal plant. Lily of the valley, the tincture of which belongs to potent remedies, does not tolerate amateur performances. This is primarily true for patients who like to prescribe treatment for themselves. Lily of the valley is poisonous, so self-medication can harm your health. Consult your doctor! In addition, lily of the valley tincture should be used very carefully. The instruction for use of this tool states that the daily intake should not exceed 90 drops.
Water tincture
Today it is widely used in traditional and traditional medicine, cosmetology lily of the valley. Tincture from this wonderful plant is sold in pharmacies. But many prefer to cook it at home, on their own. To do this, you need 1 teaspoon of dried flowers. They are poured with one glass of boiling water, insisted for about an hour. Drink 3 times a day, one tablespoon.
Alcohol tincture of lily of the valley
At home, it is easy to cook and alcohol tincture. Prepare a 0.5 liter glass jar. 1/3 fill it with lily of the valley flowers (fresh). Fill the can to the top with seventy-degree alcohol. Close it tightly and clean it in a dark place for 15 days. Periodically, the jar should be shaken. Remember that you can take this composition no more than 15 drops three times a day. Tincture is diluted in 1/3 cup of cool water.
Tincture for glaucoma
For this composition you will need one teaspoon (slide) of lily of the valley flowers and half a glass of fresh nettle leaves. Herbs are chopped, after which they should be poured with 20 ml of hot water. In this form, the remedy is infused for 10 hours. Then another 10 ml of water is added to it. The resulting slurry is applied to sore eyes.
Tincture of convulsions
The pharmacy tincture of lily of the valley, the instructions for use with which is attached, should be used strictly in accordance with the indicated dosage. The same applies to preparations that are prepared at home. All proportions should be strictly observed in the manufacture of a medicinal product, so as not to harm health.
You will need a glass container (preferably with a narrow neck). Fill it with lily of the valley flowers at 2/3. Then fill it to the top with 70 degree alcohol. Close the bottle tightly and put in a dark place for 15 days. After this, the tincture of lily of the valley (the instruction recommends this) is filtered. You will no longer need pressed raw materials.
Take this tincture should be 15 drops three times a day. As traditional healers say, this remedy is effective not only for cramps, but also for heart weakness.
Tincture for insomnia
It is no secret that today many people suffer from insomnia. The reason for this is the environmental situation, problems at work or in the family. In this case, lily of the valley can also help. The tincture is very simple to prepare. Take dry flowers of lily of the valley (1 tbsp.spoon), fill them with 250 ml of boiling water and leave to insist in a thermos for at least 10 hours. Strained infusion is taken four times a day before meals, two tablespoons.
Diuretic broth
You will need 15 g of dried flowers, which should be filled with 200 ml of hot boiled water (but not boiling water) and put in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then the broth should be cooled and filtered. Take it recommended twice a day for 2 teaspoons.
Contraindications
Everyone who believes that lily of the valley (including tincture of it) is just harmless weed, are very mistaken. This medicine has quite a few contraindications. Check out the main ones:
- it is strictly forbidden to take tincture of lily of the valley with infectious acute myocarditis;
- it should be abandoned in patients with thyrotoxicosis or hypoglycemia;
- preparations based on lily of the valley are not prescribed for people with pronounced atherosclerosis;
- a prohibitive factor for taking lily of the valley preparations is infectious endocarditis, changes in the heart muscle (especially of an organic nature);
- the use of lily of the valley preparations is not recommended for gastrointestinal catarrh, some diseases of the liver and kidneys;
- special care when using tinctures of lily of the valley should be allergic.