Medicinal black root is one of more than 80 representatives of the genus Blackroot, which is part of the Burachnikov family. As soon as they do not call it in the people: rat-rat, scrofulous grass, night blindness, burdock , lydeyke, bone breaker, live grass, etc. The appearance of the plant cannot be called attractive, therefore it is grown only to scare away rodents and insects. For centuries, the healing properties of this poisonous plant have been used in the treatment of many diseases.
Appearance
The scientific name of black root medicinal is translated from Greek as "pesy tongue." The lower leaves of the plant are similar to the dog’s tongue : they are also elongated (15-20 cm) and rough. The plant has a straight stem branching to the top, up to one meter high, but more often the plant has a height of about 50 cm. The color of the root is not reflected in the name of black root, it is brown.
From May to June, the top of the stem is decorated with dark purple or purple small flowers located on the pedicels. The fruit looks like four covered with small spines and connected by a nut. You can meet medicinal black root in the Caucasus, in Central Asia and in the European part of Siberia, in Ukraine and Belarus. It grows in hilly and rocky areas with infertile calcareous soil, as well as along roads.
Application in traditional medicine
In the past, traditional healers advised the use of medicinal black root for many diseases. Moreover, both leaves, and flowers, and fruits, and the root of the plant were used. For example, doctors believed that if you hang his root on the neck, you can get rid of a headache. A decoction of leaves, root and flowers of the plant was prescribed for abdominal and intestinal pain, diarrhea, convulsions, purulent processes, lung diseases. Lotions were made on ulcers, wounds, tumors and burns, as well as snake and dog bites.
Today, the use of medicinal black root for medical purposes is not so popular. This is partly due to the presence of toxic substances in it, and partly to the fact that more effective and safe methods of treating these diseases have been found. However, the medicine of some countries, for example, Tibetan, still often resorted to medicinal black root. It is mainly used externally for rheumatism, tumors, bone fractures, adipose tissue, abscesses and wounds.
Internal application
Excavation of the medicinal root is usually done either in late summer or early fall. All that needs to be done is to clean and dry it well with good circulation of air masses. From May to June, leaves and flowers of the plant are collected for further drying.
From pain in the stomach or intestines, convulsions and diarrhea and as a sedative, prepare an infusion or tincture for internal use according to such recipes:
- Infusion. It is necessary to grind 1 tsp. leaves or roots, pour a glass of boiling water and, wrapped, insist until it cools. Take 1 tbsp. l three times a day after meals.
- Tincture. Alcohol tincture is prepared in a proportion of 1:10. She is insisted for three weeks, filtered. Inside, take 20 drops at a time, and also used for external use.
There are also many other recipes. Do not exceed the dosage shown in them for years, or try to invent your own treatment methods based on medicinal black root. Do not forget that the plant is largely poisonous and if mistreated can cause serious harm to the body.
Outdoor application
For lotions and compresses use infusions prepared in such ways:
- Pour 4 tbsp. l finely chopped roots with a liter of water, boil for 5 minutes, insist 12 hours.
- Leaves or root are poured with boiling water, wrapped in gauze. Compress for arthritis and rheumatism is ready.
Those who treated various skin lesions on their bodies noticed that the dog’s tongue promotes the rapid healing of tissues. External use of medicinal black root is not a threat.
Mouse and insect repeller
Although the use of the plant in medicine today has lost its former relevance, now, as before, black root medicinal from mice and insects is used. Rodents do not tolerate its smell, therefore, do not approach the place of its localization. They say that ship rats rush into the sea, smelling the smell of this plant, and if there is nowhere for rodents to escape, they will die. Aphids and caterpillars also do not like this plant.
Numerous reviews confirm that in the fight against rodent pests, it is very practical to use medicinal black root. Growing this plant in the garden protects fruit trees from sabotage. You can also pour dry parts of the crushed plant into the basal zone before winter or pour it with infusion from it. In addition, the roots and grass of the plant are often used to protect against rodents cereal stocks and their own homes. Previously, for this purpose, small flat cakes made of black root powder mixed with lard and bread were made in the room.
In autumn, beekeepers often spread the roots and grass of the plant in Omshanik so that the mice cannot get into the hive. And if you plant medicinal black root near the apiary, you can achieve a double effect. Firstly, to protect it from the invasion of rodents, and, secondly, to improve honey collection.
Growing Features
By growing dog grass near valuable trees or near a house, they are saved from rodents and insects, and also satisfy their medical needs, but it is not suitable for decoration. The appearance of medicinal black root is not the most pleasant of all representatives of the genus Blackroot, many of which also scare away rodents. In order to grow medicinal black root in the right place next year, the seeds must be collected as soon as they ripen.
Planting seeds is carried out in early spring. Some gardeners recommend plant propagation not by seeds but by buds. They believe that it is better not to let the plant bear fruit. The rat-rat, as it is called by the people, loves calcareous soil and sunlight. It tolerates cold and drought well.
Mostly medicinal black root is used today to protect against rodents and insects. Treatment is still practiced with its help. Use the rat rat for medical purposes should be extremely careful, since it is poisonous. When you see a plant by the road or on some hill, it will be easy for you to identify it, paying attention to leaves that look like a dog’s tongue and small dark purple or violet flowers. In the autumn, in their place, you can see fruit covered in thorns in the form of nuts, collected in groups of four.