Coniferous tree Siberian larch (Pine family) has a pyramidal crown and reaches a height of forty or more meters. In the course of the development of the tree, the type of its crown changes from pyramidal to round-oval. The smooth young bark of larch thickens and thickens over time and acquires a deeply furrowed surface structure.
Elongated purple cones turn to light yellow shades by autumn, and small seeds ripen already in the first year of plant development. Rounded scales of seeds fall out of the cones, and the cones themselves continue to hang on the branches for several more years.
Distribution
Siberian larch grows in the same areas as cedar and pine, preferring sod-podzolic soils in coniferous forests. It forms deciduous forests much less frequently in Eastern and Western Siberia, in the European part of the Russian Federation, in Altai and the Urals. Larch is common from Altai to Sayan. The lifespan of a tree ranges from 500 to 700 years, but there are often majesticcentenarians over 900 years old.
Using larch
The wood of this tree is widely used in industry due to its high technical characteristics: it is hard, very durable, resistant to fungus, does not rot for a long time in a humid environment and in the ground. Moreover, larch trunks that have lain in water for a long time harden and become even more resistant to decay.
Larch wood is considered by specialists to be one of the highest quality building materials. Siberian larch bark contains tannins, so its extracts are excellent leather tanners. They are used as dyes for wool and cotton, giving the material yellow, brown and pink tones.
Healing properties of Siberian larch bark: composition
The healing properties of the bark are due to its rich chemical composition, which includes:
- Glycosides.
- Tannins.
- Gum.
- Flavonols.
- Anthocyanins.
- Catechins.
- Organic acids.
- Lipids.
Indications for use
Preparations made from larch bark are used not only externally, but also internally for the treatment of many diseases and pathological conditions:
- Intestinal disorders.
- Painful periods.
- Ulcer
- Cough.
- Skin cancer.
- Abscesses.
- Hemorrhoids and other pathologies.
Use of the bark in medicine
Scientists were able to identify a large amount of arabinogalactan in the bark of larch, which helps to increase the body's defenses.
Skin diseases. With purulent, long-term healing wounds, skin ulcers and other dermatological ailments, which are characterized by inflammation and abscesses, lotions with a decoction of the bark are very effective. It contains tannins (astringents) that promote faster healing and scarring
Diarrhea, adenoma, prostatitis. To combat diarrhea, prostate adenoma and chronic prostatitis, an infusion of the bark is used. To prepare it, you will need: 5 tablespoons (tablespoons) of crushed raw materials, water - a liter
Bring water to a boil and immediately pour it over the bark placed in the thermos. Leave to infuse for 10 hours, after which the composition should be filtered and taken four times during the day.
Gynecological problems. The use of larch bark is justified in the treatment of gynecological diseases. Those suffering from heavy and painful menstruation are advised to take 100-200 ml of decoction of the bark three times a day
Other uses
Indigenous people of Yakutia collect small knots of larch with bark, boil them over low heat for two days until a precipitate appears, which is then used as a medicine for headaches, pain in the joints, heart, liver, kidneys.
Contraindications
It should be understood that with a fairly wide range of useful properties, there arecontraindications for larch bark, including:
- Stomach ulcer.
- Individual intolerance.
- Has had a heart attack or stroke.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- CNS pathologies.
Blank
Today, larch bark can be bought in almost any city pharmacy, however, many herbalists and traditional healers prefer to procure raw materials on their own. To do this, recently cut down young trees are used, from which the bark is carefully removed with a sharp knife.
Then it must be steamed for some time in a water bath. This is required to get rid of insects and microorganisms that live in the bark. This procedure will allow you to store raw materials for a long time. Then it is dried at room temperature and stored in linen or paper bags.
