The four-leafed raven plant belongs to the subfamily Melantium, one of the most primitive in the order of the Liliaceae. This subfamily combines 39 genera and approximately 350 different species, most of which grow in the northern hemisphere and South Africa. The plant is poisonous, but despite this, berries, stems and leaves in fresh and dried form are used in homeopathy and traditional healers. Classical medicine does not confirm the healing properties of this herb.
Habitat
The four-leafed raven eye is a wild plant that grows extensively among forests and shrubs throughout Russia, not excluding the territory of the Caucasus, the Far East and Siberia. In addition, it can be found in Europe, Asia and America. The plant prefers humus-rich moist soil and shady places, especially in broad-leaved forests. In coniferous and mixed stands does not receive sufficient development. Reproduction occurs by seeds and vegetatively with the growth of rhizomes. More often single individuals prevail, but under optimal conditions populations consisting of a dozen plants grow. For the winter, only the rhizome remains.
Different plant names
The four-leafed crow's eye (photo below) is a fairly common plant that got its name for the specific color and shape of the berry. Its other name is the black eye.
And the people call it differently: cross-grass, raven berries, whitewashed forest, rodent, paridov grass, wolf eyes, bear berries, wounds, Voronets, fingernail. The raven eye cannot be confused with other berry crops, because it is very different from blueberries and even more so from blueberries.
Four-leafed raven eye: description
Voronets is a grassy undersized perennial plant, not more than 40 cm high. It has a long, creeping, horizontally located rhizome of a brownish tone, from which numerous thin subordinate roots, supplying it with food and water, leave. The main root is covered with dry brown-colored scales and consists of links. Each year, the rhizome increases by one link, the age of the plant is determined by their number. The buds are located between the scales; in spring, fresh shoots grow from them. The stem is simple, erect and bare, only at the top there is an original leaf arrangement. The four-leafed crow's eye has a whorl, which consists of four wedge-shaped sessile leaves located crosswise, for which he received an addition to the four-leafed name, and among the people - the cross-grass. There are plants with three, five and six leaves.
At the top of the stem is a flower. It is surrounded by a double nimbus, with 8-10 leaves. The outer one consists of lanceolate, green leaves, and the inner one is yellowish, small, narrow, linear in shape. At the inflorescence of the raven eye of the four-leafed 8 stamens located at the base of the leaves, and 4 pistils, fused together. It blooms in the temperate climate of Russia from May to June. In the central part of the flower is a dark purple ball of ovary. A flower, like the entire poisonous plant, is not used in folk medicine.
The fruit is a spherical polyspermous berry of black color with a bluish coating, the diameter of which is about 10 mm. Ripens in August.
The chemical composition of the plant
Raven berries are rich in vitamin C, they contain flavonoids, coumarin and pectin, as well as malic and citric organic acids.
The plant is poisonous, and each part of the four-leafed crow's eye forms certain substances: the root — alkaloids, the fruit and foliage — paristifin saponin and paridin glycoside. When using all parts of the cross-grass, poisoning is possible, the symptoms of which are as follows:
- pain in the abdomen;
- loose stools;
- vomiting
- dizziness;
- cramps
- malfunctions of the heart.
Healing properties
The four-leafed wild plant of the raven eye is not used in official medicine, but it is used in homeopathy. Thanks to biologically active substances contained in the plant, it has the following effect:
- wound healing;
- anti-inflammatory;
- sedative;
- antispasmodic;
- diuretic.
In addition, it helps with migraines, neuralgia, ascites, laryngitis, tuberculosis, metabolic disorders. It is used to stimulate the intestines, improve appetite. In addition, medications from the raven eye are taken for heart failure, tachycardia and seizures.
Dosage forms of the plant
The four-leafed grass of the black eye has been well studied, knowing the healing properties, healers and herbalists prepare decoctions and infusions from it, as well as alcohol tinctures, and berries are also used fresh. From ancient times it was believed that fresh berry juice helps to heal boils, heals ulcers in the dermis. It was even used to bite rabid dogs. Alcohol tinctures from fruits are prepared for the treatment of inflammatory processes in the larynx, they relieve headaches with migraines, normalize heart rate and treat tuberculosis. Decoctions of leaves and stems are used to relieve spasms caused by nervous disorders, and are used for metabolic failure.
It was found that rhizomes and leaves have a laxative and emetic effect. It is believed that the raven eye has an excellent effect on bone splicing in various fractures. A decoction of dried berries was sometimes used to treat horses for foot and mouth disease. In addition, fresh leaves of the plant were used to dye fabrics and threads in yellow. It is necessary to remind once again that all products containing Voronets raw materials are poisonous.
Contraindications
Preparations from the plant should not be taken for children under the age of twelve, pregnant and lactating women, with diseases of the kidneys, liver and individual intolerance. In case of poisoning, cardiac arrest and paralysis are possible. The medicine based on the raven eye has a limited period of use, no more than two weeks. After this period, a half-week break is needed, then treatment is continued. Before you start using folk remedies, you must definitely consult a doctor.
Collection and harvesting of raw materials from the raven eye
Despite the fact that the plant is poisonous, traditional healers use it to prepare various potions. Voronets gather grass during the flowering period. Applied in fresh and dried form for tinctures and decoctions. Berries are harvested after they are fully ripened.
Often, medicinal decoctions and tinctures are prepared from the fruits. As a precaution, raw materials are collected in rubber gloves, carefully cutting off the ground part of the grass or picking berries. Then it is dried in suspension or laid out in a thin layer on a tin pallet in a room under a canopy, purged with air, turning over daily. Finished raw materials are laid out in cloth bags made of natural fabric, stored for no more than two years.
Cross grass poisoning
As noted above, the four-leafed raven eye is a poisonous plant. But it should be noted that fatal cases of plant poisoning have not been identified. Everything is explained by an unpleasant taste and smell, and no one will voluntarily eat berries and leaves. When two berries are consumed, nothing will happen, but if you eat a dozen of them, poisoning will occur. The same effect can occur from taking dosage forms made according to the wrong recipes, or when taking an increased dosage. Therefore, before using a poisonous plant for treatment, you should consult your doctor.
First aid for cross-grass poisoning
If symptoms of intoxication are detected after consuming medications prepared on the basis of the raven eye, or consuming fresh berries, it is urgent to seek medical help. Before receiving it, perform the following steps:
- To clear the stomach of toxic substances: activated charcoal, soda solution or drink a few glasses of water and induce vomiting.
- To drink, using the instructions, one of the sorbents: Enterosgel, Smectu, Polyphepan or Polysorb.
- To reduce the absorption of poison in the stomach and intestines, use a decoction of starch, vegetable oil, egg white, milk.
- With vomiting, resorption of ice will help.
- To restore the water balance, drink Hydrovit and Regidron.
Drink the victim with strong tea and make an enema to cleanse the intestines. Be sure to seek qualified help from a health professional.
Interesting Facts
In the Middle Ages, people believed that with the help of the four-leafed raven eye, one could protect oneself from serious ailments. They wore berries on their bodies and sutured them in clothes so as not to get the plague and other deadly diseases. To do this, they were collected at a certain time - from mid-August to the first third of September. Clairvoyants and magicians used the raven eye to remove damage. There were also those who were afraid to eat berries, since it was believed that they could not be awakened.