Chemeritsa has long been known as a folk remedy for alcoholism. But experts believe that such glory is assigned to this perennial undeservedly. In addition, the plant hellebore is very poisonous. But at the same time, an indisputable fact is its widespread use in various fields of human life.
Today we want to tell you what this herb is, how to prepare a medicine from it, what diseases it can cure. And also find out about whom such therapy can be contraindicated. You can learn about the amazing properties of this plant from the material presented below.
Description hello
The plant belongs to perennial herbs, one of the most common names is puppeteer. Chemeritsa has a high stem and a short underground rhizome. She has numerous folded leaves and white-greenish or dark red panicle inflorescences that are located at the tips of the stems. Today, there are about 25 different plant species. Some of them (Lobel’s hellebore, white hellebore) are widely used in folk medicine.
Chemical composition
All species of this plant are poisonous, but some of them are used to treat ailments. It was established that toxic substances are contained in each part of the perennial. These are 8 steroidal alkaloids, in the spring their number is rapidly increasing. These include:
- rubyervin;
- germidine;
- jervin;
- term;
- veratridine;
- protoverin;
- veratrine;
- protoveratrin (the most dangerous for animals and humans).
It is known that in the foliage of the plant contains up to 0.55% alkaloids, in the stems - up to 1.5%, in the roots - up to 2.5%. In the perennial, isorubervine, pseudojervin, and veratrosin (glycoalkaloids) were found. Of the safest substances it contains:
- gum;
- tannins and dyes;
- amino acids;
- resins;
- organic acids;
- sugar;
- mineral salts;
- fixed oils;
- tannins;
- vitamins;
- glycosides;
- triterpenes;
- starch.
Why is it used?
The beneficial properties of hellebore have been known since the time of the Roman Empire. At that time, it was used to control insects, rodents, and rid animals of parasites. Later, people discovered the healing properties of the herb and began to use it in folk medicine to cure head lice, scabies and other diseases. Doctors recommended chemeritsa for diseases of typhoid and pneumonia.
The puppeteer has 5 steroidal alkaloids in its composition, which for the most part are contained in the roots of the plant. Their concentration depends on the time of year. In addition, amino acids and vitamins, tannins, glycosides, fatty oils, mineral salts, micro and macro elements are present in various parts of the plant. It should be noted that due to the high toxicity of this plant is excluded from the official pharmacopoeia, however, hellebore continues to be used in folk medicine, albeit with caution.
Application
In alternative medicine, it is believed that white hellebore (and its other species) has a beneficial effect in the fight against alcoholism. If you add a plant that does not have a taste or smell in the drink, it will cause nausea and weakness in the drinker, the pulse will slow down, and the pressure will decrease. Traditional healers believe that, frightened a couple of times, the alcoholic will stop drinking. This is due to the toxic effects of hellebore root.
For many years, official medicine has been struggling with this misconception, indicating that patients with alcoholism who take hellebore come every year. Unfortunately, not everyone can be saved; some die from heart failure.
Other alternative methods of treatment with hellebore are less dangerous. Basically, all such drugs are used externally. They stimulate hair growth, treat lice and scabies (hellebore). The root of the plant, infused with cream, helps with lichen and eczema. Preparations from hellebore are used as an irritating and analgesic for myositis, arthritis, muscle pain, neuralgia, radiculitis, inflammation of the sciatic nerve, diseases of the musculoskeletal system that occur with age.
The plant is widely used in homeopathy. Hellebore water, diluted hundreds and thousands of times, treat bronchitis, flatulence and belching, neuralgia and general weakness, migraines, asthma, fatigue, some heart diseases.
Side effects and contraindications
Before using medicines from white hellebore (like other species), a competent, highly qualified specialist should be consulted. In the event that you have problems with the cardiovascular system, such therapy should be abandoned. It is forbidden to use any drugs based on hellebore to children, pregnant and lactating mothers. When working with this perennial plant, extreme caution should be observed, because even a tiny drop of its juice can cause a loss of sensitivity.
Preparation of a medicinal product from hellebore with violation of the rules can cause severe intoxication. When taken within an hour, the following symptoms of poisoning appear:
- nausea;
- headache;
- vomiting
- spasmodic abdominal pain;
- skeletal muscle rigidity;
- dizziness;
- visual impairment;
- cramps
- discomfort in the limbs.
When the first signs appear, you should immediately call a doctor and provide first aid to the victim as soon as possible. First of all, it is necessary to do a gastric lavage, ensure the intake of saline solutions and enterosorbents, otherwise respiratory and cardiovascular failure may occur. In severe cases, even death is possible.
This perennial plant has a number of unique properties. But in the event that you do not have the necessary knowledge and skills to apply it, do not tempt fate and better go around this perennial.
White hellebore
The description begins with the fact that this species is a perennial plant that reaches a height of more than 1 m. It has a short fleshy rhizome with multiple processes up to 20 cm long and 3 mm wide. Leaves hellebore alternate, with solid edges, sessile, up to 30 cm in length. The flowers are small, their size does not exceed one centimeter, in the inflorescence form a long multi-flowered panicle. White chemeritsa can be found in the highlands, in alpine meadows.
This plant contains a large amount of alkaloids and other beneficial substances. Due to its properties, it is often used in folk medicine and in veterinary medicine. Chemeritsa is used in the form of ointments, decoctions, alcohol tinctures. Please note: all medicinal products based on this plant are used only externally!
Another popular look
Lobel's hellebore is a perennial herb, not exceeding two meters in height. It has nondescript greenish flowers, a powerful stem and large leaves. Fruits - boxes with small seeds. All parts are very poisonous. It grows in Siberia, the Caucasus, the Far East and throughout Europe. Lobel’s hellebore contains amino acids, vitamins, mineral salts, macro- and microelements.
The medicinal part of the plant
Hellebore root is the main medicinal part of the plant. Harvesting of raw materials should be done in the fall. Carefully dig out the roots along with the rhizomes and clean them from the ground. Particular care should be taken when grinding raw materials: it is imperative to wear a gauze bandage or use other protective equipment. After work, wash your hands, always with soap. White hellebore, like other species, is an extremely poisonous plant and, if it gets into the nose or eyes, causes severe irritation and can provoke unpredictable reactions.
After the raw material has been collected and processed, it is laid for drying. To do this, you can use a dryer or a well-ventilated room. Use white hellebore and Lobel for the preparation of ointments, tinctures, decoctions.
Hellebore tincture
Effective medicines against rheumatic, neuralgic, local pains are alcohol tinctures based on this perennial. In addition, they can be successfully used for lichens, arthritis, eczema, dandruff and pediculosis.
Hellebore tincture has a sedative, diuretic, antifungal effect, and also exhibits bactericidal activity. If you add Vaseline to the product, you will get an excellent ointment for external rubbing, which will ease the painful sensations with rheumatism.
We offer one of the recipes for tincture of white hellebore. Take one gram of pre-ground plant roots along with rhizomes, fill them with 120 ml of 40% alcohol or vodka and insist for 14 days. Please note: the resulting product is used only externally!
Getting rid of parasites
An effective and fairly budgetary tool is the helical water from nits lice. According to reviews, this drug quickly helps get rid of these parasites. Before starting treatment, you must carefully read the instructions and strictly observe the dosage.
A very important factor in the treatment is the concentration and amount of the drug from hellebore. Consider what you should first pay attention to and how to use the helical water from insects:
- wet hair with water;
- shake vial vigorously before use;
- apply the product on the head with a brush;
- liquid should not be in excess, it should not drain;
- the drug is carefully applied to the parotid region and the occipital part of the head;
- we put a plastic bag on our heads;
- remove the package after 20-30 minutes;
- comb with frequent teeth comb out lice and nits;
- rinse hair under running water.
According to reviews, the helical water from nits and lice has the following characteristics:
- very effective remedy;
- low price;
- ease of use;
- easily washed off.
In addition, dandruff disappears, and the hair becomes voluminous and silky.
For hair growth
All products prepared on the basis of white hellebore and used for medicinal or cosmetic purposes should be taken with extreme caution. Despite the fact that this plant is useful, it is particularly toxic. When treating hair, do not allow hellebore to get into your ears, eyes or mouth. Otherwise, it may cause poisoning.
Hellebore water has the ability to dry the scalp and hair. For this reason, this tool should be used with caution for dry curls.
How to use hellebore water for hair growth? Do not wash your hair before the procedure. We warm the tincture slightly in warm water, pour a cotton swab abundantly, moisten the scalp and gradually, very gently, rub the product. We pay due attention to each individual strand of hair. In this way we process the whole head. For ease of application, you can use the spray gun.
Please note: in the first minutes you can feel a strong burning sensation, but this should not be scared. After some time, the tool will begin to have anesthetic effect and the unpleasant symptoms will disappear.
After the procedure, it is necessary to wrap the hair with a plastic bag or film, wrap it with a bath towel for 30-40 minutes. Then wash your hair with a suitable shampoo. After hellebore water, it is advisable to use a rinse conditioner or hair conditioner. To obtain the desired result, a course should be taken for 3 consecutive days every month.
Veterinary use
One of the most popular medicines in veterinary medicine is tincture of hellebore for animals. The instructions for use in this case should also be strictly observed. The plant is used to treat various wounds, provoke burping and vomiting in ruminants, fight parasites. For these purposes, alcohol tincture is most often used.
It is prepared as follows: 1 part of the dry powder of the root of the puppeteer is combined with 10 parts of 70% alcohol and insisted for 10 days. Tincture is diluted with 50-500 ml of water (depending on the weight of the animal): the higher the body weight, the more fluid is needed.
Instructions for use tincture hellebore for animals:
- cows, horses and other cattle per 1 kg of live weight - 0.01-0.024 ml of tincture;
- pigs - 0.014-0.028 ml;
- sheep, goats and other small livestock - 0.04-0.08 ml;
- dogs - 0.05-0.2 ml.
To combat parasites, animals are sprayed with hellebore tincture (alcohol). The proportions are the same. Some owners sprinkle the backs of animals with powder from the root of the plant.