Elecampane is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. The grass grows in meadows, near ponds and rivers. The medicinal properties and use of elecampane are known in folk medicine. The roots and rhizomes of the plant are used. The use of elecampane is described in the article.
Description
The elecampane plant is presented in several dozen species. But often there is a tall, loose-leaved, British, sword-leaved, Altai. They have the most pronounced valuable properties. The grass grows on soils with high humidity: near rivers, swamps, lakes. But it is found in dachas and gardens.
A perennial is presented as a large weed, although the flowers are similar to a yellow aster with large leaves up to 50 cm long. An upright stem with hairs can reach a height of 2.5 meters. Elecampane can be grown independently, with proper planting and care, a plantation of grass will appear, which must be harvested correctly.
Useful properties
The plant is rich in organic acids, vitamin E. The roots include over 45%inulin polysaccharide, mucus, gum, benzoic and acetic acid. Elecampane contains saponins, alkaloids and essential oils. The herb has antiseptic properties. It is also known for its expectorant, antimicrobial, choleretic, and analgesic effects.
Drugs with this plant slow down intestinal motility and restore its work, regulate digestive processes and metabolism, reduce secretory activity. The use of elecampane improves appetite, which is necessary for patients with a lack of weight, increases the maturation of abscesses and the healing of wounds and ulcers.
Indications
The use of elecampane is known in the following cases:
- Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract - colitis, gastritis.
- Diseases of the upper respiratory tract - tracheitis, bronchitis, tuberculosis.
- Pathologies of the kidneys and liver.
Elecampane is considered the best treatment for skin diseases. Therapy is needed with weak immunity and lack of appetite. The herb has a diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory effect. For women, it helps to restore the menstrual cycle.
Using elecampane herb helps externally and internally with:
- Hepatitis.
- Pancreatitis.
- Hypertension.
- Bronchitis.
- Diabetes.
- Sciatica.
- Rheumatism.
Roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, flowers are used. The use of elecampane in folk medicine is known for the treatment of gonorrhea, diseases of the oral cavity. Flower-based medicines are effective in eliminatingangina pectoris, tachycardia, migraine, paralysis. For men, remedies from the root are useful for increasing potency and infertility.
Tincture
Everyone who wants to use this plant in treatment should know about the beneficial properties and use of elecampane. A tincture is made from the herb. To do this, you need chopped dry roots with plant rhizomes (15 g), which must be poured with boiling water (200 ml). Infusion lasts 7-9 hours, and then straining is carried out. You need to use 50-75 ml an hour before meals 4 times a day as a gastric and expectorant.
You can make a tincture of alcohol. Dry roots (15 g) are poured with vodka (500 ml). The remedy should be infused for 10-13 days in a dark place. Terms of use vary by disease:
- For tachycardia, take 5 ml 3 times a day before meals.
- For the treatment of the stomach and intestines - 25-30 drops up to 3 times a day.
- With worms and parasites - 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.
There is a special infusion for the treatment of tuberculosis. Vodka (500 ml) is mixed with crushed elecampane roots (450-500 g). Infusion is performed within 9 days. It should be consumed before meals, 15 ml. The duration of application of elecampane tincture is 2-3 months.
Syrup
The healing properties and use of elecampane grass are known in official and folk medicine. Pharmaceutical preparation in the form of syrup is used:
- For diseases of the respiratory tract - tonsillitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, tracheitis.
- For ulcers and erosions of the gastrointestinal tract.
In the instructions for the syrupindicated that the medicine should be taken based on age and disease 20 minutes before eating.
Decoction
To prepare such a product, you need dry crushed raw materials (15 g), which are poured with boiled water (200-220 ml). The broth is heated with a steam bath for 35 minutes. After that, it should cool for 30-40 minutes, and then it should be filtered.
In the treatment, 100 ml is used up to 3 times a day before eating for 1 hour. The decoction should be taken for colds, flu, as an expectorant for the treatment of bronchitis and other ailments of the respiratory system.
The use of elecampane root is known in the preparation of a decoction for baths. You will need fresh chopped rhizomes and roots (100 g), which must be boiled for 10 minutes in 1 liter of water, and then insisted for at least 4 hours, strained and poured into the bath. This recipe is effective for skin diseases.
Extract
Such a useful tool is used for the treatment and prevention of:
- Pneumonia.
- Gastritis.
- Ulcer.
- Climax.
- Enuresis.
- Pyoderma.
In case of gynecological inflammations, you need to take the extract 5-10 drops per 200 ml of water. It is required to do this three times a day for half an hour before eating.
Ointment
Instructions for using elecampane are in every preparation based on this herb. An ointment is made from the plant. To do this, you need a powder from the roots and rhizomes (50 g), melted butteroil (50 g) and lard. The components must be ground into a homogeneous mass.
Ointment can also be prepared on the basis of a decoction. The prepared remedy is used to treat painful areas for skin diseases in which itching appears. It is effective for healing wounds and eczema.
Powder
It is created from the roots. The powder should be mixed with pork fat, placed in a linen material and applied to a tumor or wound, which will allow you to heal faster.
Crushed roots and rhizomes are taken orally in a small amount - at the end of the knife. This should be done no more than 2 times a day with water. Inside the powder is shown in the presence of heartburn, gastritis, ulcers.
Elixir
You need dry small roots and rhizomes (12 g), which are poured with wine (500-550 ml). Everything should be cooked for 10-12 minutes. It is necessary to use 2-3 times a day, 50 ml before meals, as a strengthening and tonic agent for a weakened body.
Tea
The drink is useful in the treatment of cough, whooping cough, asthma. To make tea, you need crushed rhizomes (1 tablespoon) and boiling water (250 ml). The drink should be infused for 15 minutes. You need to use it no more than 4 times a day, 250 ml at a time.
Slimming
Since the plant has a diuretic effect, it is used to lose weight. The bitterness present in elecampane restores bowel function and leads to rapid emptying. With regularthe use will restore metabolism and acid-base balance, as well as reduce cravings for sweet and s alty foods. The gum, which is in the composition, reduces appetite.
To prepare a decoction, you need dry rhizomes and roots (1 tablespoon), water (200 ml). It is boiled for 2 minutes. After insisting, within half an hour, you need to strain the remedy. You should take 3 tbsp. l. 4 times a day before meals.
In cosmetology
The plant is used to combat aging skin, which becomes elastic. Until the age of 30, it is used to prevent wrinkles. Inula-based products are effective in cleansing the skin from acne, pimples.
To prepare a rejuvenating lotion, dry roots (50 g), dry white wine (500 ml) are needed. You need to boil for 10 minutes. The face should be wiped with cold lotion 2 times a day. Keep it in the refrigerator.
Contraindications
The use of elecampane is prohibited in the following cases:
- Acute kidney failure.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Intolerance.
Elecampane drugs should be used with caution in the presence of gastritis and low acidity. In the presence of abundant discharge during menstruation in women, such a plant will increase these symptoms. During an overdose of grass, the appearance is likely to:
- Nausea.
- General weakness.
- Decrease in heart rate.
- Profuse salivation.
- Allergies.
Medicines based on elecampane cannot beuse during pregnancy and lactation. If the dose of cough medicine is accurately measured, then there are no contraindications for children from 4-5 years old. The doctor can determine the exact norms of medicines for children. The syrup can be taken from 2 years old.
Collecting and harvesting
Most of all medicinal properties are found in grass 2-3 years old, when the stem is wide and straight. Young plants have few valuable components, so they have little medicinal value. The underground part of the plant, collected in August-September or in the spring when the leaves appear, is more in demand.
The root system must be carefully dug up in a radius of at least 20 cm from the stem and to a depth of 30 cm. You need to take the stem near the base, pull the rhizome out of the soil. Raw materials must be cleaned from the ground, washed in water and cut off the stems. Thin roots should also be removed. The roots are cut lengthwise into equal pieces.
Then drying is carried out in a warm and dry room or in a dryer at 40 degrees. Raw materials should be placed in a thin layer on clean paper or a dryer. It is ready when the spine breaks easily. Dried roots have a gray-brown color with shiny dots. Store raw materials in paper bags or glass jars. It can be used for 3 years.
Thus, elecampane grass has a healing effect in many diseases. It is only important to consider contraindications and dosages in each case.
