Healing properties of bergenia thick-leaved have long been known to traditional healers. Preparations based on it are used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, gynecological pathologies and a number of other ailments. The plant has been cultivated since 1927.
Badan thick-leaved has numerous folk names - chagir (Chigir), Mongolian tea, bergenia thick-leaved, salai, early flower, Siberian tea, saxifrage thick-leaved.
The famous botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1760 received from St. Petersburg a previously unknown Siberian plant, which he called saxifrage thick-leaved. This name stuck to the plant for a long time even after the botanist Konrad Mönch assigned it to a separate genus - bergenia, which received its name in honor of the botanist Karl von Bergen, who lived in the 18th century.
The name "saxifrage", according to one version, is associated with the places where the plant grows - stony substrates and stones. Often, thick-leaved badan grows in the crevices of rocks, as if breaking stones. Another explanation for the origin of this name is related to the fact thatpreparations made from this plant have long been used to treat kidney stones.
The healing properties of bergenia thick-leaved have been used by healers in Tibet, China, and Russia since ancient times. In Mongolia, these plants are used for nausea and vomiting. Medicinal properties and contraindications of bergenia thick-leaved today have been studied and confirmed by the results of numerous research scientists. In this article, we will present you with a botanical description of the plant, how to use it and recipes for the most effective preparations based on it.
Distribution
Under natural conditions, bergenia is distributed in the south of Siberia, in northern China, in the forest regions of the alpine belts. It grows on rocky slopes and feels very comfortable in rock crevices.
Badan thick-leaved: photo and description
This is an unpretentious culture that is often used in landscape design in European countries. Badan thick-leaved, the photo of which you can see in our review, has a creeping, thick, branched rhizome, painted in dark brown. If broken, the inner pinkish part instantly turns black in the open air.
Leaves
In winter and summer, leaves remain on the plant. In summer they are deep green. They are large, leathery, rather thick, oval in shape. On the underside of the plate, multi-pointed veins can be seen. Leaves turn fiery orange by autumn.
Interestingly, the winter leaves of the plant are considered more effectivemedicinal raw material. For a long time, the indigenous population of the Altai Mountains has been using them as a kind of surrogate for tea, which is considered a male drink there. Therefore, advice for summer residents who have thick-leaved badan growing on their plot: do not cut off brownish-brown, yellowed leaves and do not throw them away - they can be used to make he althy tea.
Flowers
Bell-shaped small flowers of bergenia broadleaf are bright pink. They are located on a leafless peduncle, forming an elegant inflorescence. The healing properties of bergenia thick-leaved, or rather, its flowers, are used to prepare skin rubs and lotions.
Fruits
These are boxes with two blades. They contain a huge number of small and wrinkled seeds. The plant badan thick-leaved begins to bloom from mid-June to July. During this period, a peduncle appears, reaching a height of 50 cm. It can be used for food, but after a long soak in water.
Composition
The rhizomes of the plant contain a lot of tannins (from 15 to 27%), their leaves are slightly less - from 14 to 23%. For the most part, they belong to the group of gallotannins, in which the tannin content reaches 10%. In addition, the roots contain isocoumarin bergenin, polyphenols, essential oils, resins, sugars, starch, dextrin.
The leaves of the plant contain the same substances as in the rhizomes, as well as arbutin (22%), which is found in addition to bergenia in bearberry, phenol glycoside. According to the content of arbutin, badan thick-leaved isone of the richest plant sources. Arbutin has a disinfectant property that has been successfully used in the treatment of the kidneys and urinary tract.
The leaves of this perennial contain hydroquinone (4%), gallic and ellagic acids. All raw materials of badan thick-leaved contain vitamins, carbohydrates, catechins, flavonoids, a lot of manganese, copper, iron.
Application
Badan thick-leaved, whose photos allow you to get an idea of its appearance, has many medicinal properties. Among them:
- hemostatic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- astringent;
- lowering blood pressure;
- antimicrobial and wound healing;
- strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
In addition, thoroughly washed and soaked in water (to remove excess tannins) rhizomes are used in cooking: they are added to first courses and used as a side dish for meat, and overwintered leaves, as we have already said, are used for making Mongolian tea, which can be drunk both cold and hot.
Aqueous extracts of leaves and rhizomes are used in the treatment of tuberculosis, colitis of non-dysenteric origin, acute and chronic pneumonia, pulmonary hemorrhages, whooping cough, acute influenza and respiratory diseases, dental and headaches, fevers, laryngitis, articular rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, hemorrhoids, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract.
In gynecology, it is used for abundant uterinebleeding caused by inflammation of the appendages, with hemorrhagic metropathies, uterine fibroids, for the treatment of erosions. A decoction of bergenia is effective for rinsing with chronic inflammation of the larynx, oral cavity, tonsillitis, bleeding gums, inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.
The properties of the plant are widely used in cosmetology. Lotions from decoctions or infusions of the plant quickly and effectively treat sweating, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, narrow enlarged pores.
In studies, it turned out that the plant has a high level of anti-stress activity. Due to this, the use of bergenia preparations is considered promising for the treatment and prevention of various neoplasms, including malignant ones. On the basis of this plant, preparations "Berglycin" and "Bergaftol" are made.
Where else is bergenia used?
Bergenia thick-leaved is a honey plant. Its flowers attract florists as they keep well and are suitable for creating original dried flower arrangements. In addition, preparations based on bergenia are used in veterinary medicine.
Saxifrage thick-leaved is widely used as an ornamental plant for landscaping parks and squares. In landscape design, it is used for borders, independent plantings, looks great near pools and other bodies of water, near stones.
Badan is a recognized tanning agent: the content of tannins in it is twice as much as in the bark of willow or spruce, and four times more than they are contained in oak bark. Natural dyes are made from this plant:brown, black.
Use in traditional medicine
Traditional healers around the world keep many recipes for remedies based on different parts of this plant. We will introduce you to some of them.
Infusion of herbs
Mix 10 grams of dry flowers and bergenia leaves. The dry mixture must be poured with hot water (glass). For a quarter of an hour, insist the composition in a water bath. After that, it should be cooled at room temperature and filtered. For gynecological diseases, take 2 tablespoons (tablespoons) three times a day.
Infusion of rhizomes
Used for stomatitis and periodontal disease. Pour two tablespoons (tablespoons) of chopped rhizomes with a glass of boiling water. The remedy should be infused for at least forty minutes, after which it can be filtered. Use it as a rinse several times a day.
Decoction of rhizomes
An effective remedy that has astringent, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic properties. Can be used:
- for colitis;
- enterocolitis;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- tuberculosis;
- pulmonary bleeding;
- pneumonia;
- acute respiratory infections;
- flu;
- articular rheumatism;
- furunculosis;
- thyroid diseases.
To prepare it, you will need 10 grams of dry and well-chopped rhizomes, which should be poured with 250 ml of boiling water. The container must be closed with a lid and steamed in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then the composition is filtered, the raw materials are squeezed out and topped up with boiled water at room temperature to the original volume. Take this remedy three times a day, before meals.
For the treatment of hemorrhoids
Decoction of bergenia roots is used for sitz baths for hemorrhoids. For this, a decoction is prepared from equal parts of bergenia rhizomes and yarrow leaves. The temperature of the bath water must not exceed +38 °C. The procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes. The course of treatment is designed for 12-15 procedures.
For the treatment of gynecological diseases
In gynecological practice, a decoction of bergenia is recommended for oophoritis, salpingitis, endometritis, salpingoophoritis, heavy bleeding with fibroids or myomas. In these cases, traditional healers recommend mixing a decoction of bergenia roots with a decoction of a boron uterus.
Collection from the common cold
Mix a tablespoon (tablespoon) of bergenia leaves and elecampane, add St. John's wort (two spoons) to them. Pour one tablespoon (tablespoon) of the resulting mixture with a glass of hot boiled water, boil the composition over low heat for 20 minutes. An hour later, the composition is ready for use. Take the remedy in hot form, 60 ml three times a day, after meals.
Healing tea
This drink can be prepared by mixing your favorite black tea with overwintered dry bergenia leaves. This tea relieves fatigue, has a powerful tonic and immunomodulatory effect. It should be noted that thick-leaved badan is brewed longer than black tea, since its leaves are much thicker than tea leaves. Therefore, in orderso that the active substances more actively pass into the infusion, they can be brought to a boil and immediately turned off. Then mix the composition with traditionally brewed black tea.
Winter bergenia leaves can also be brewed separately. To do this, one spoon (tea) of dry leaves must be poured with 250 ml of boiling water. Let the composition brew and drink it like regular tea (you can also use it cold) for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, to reduce blood pressure, strengthen capillary walls.
Contraindications
- Decoction and tincture of bergenia should not be taken by patients with high blood clotting.
- Decoction is contraindicated for hypotension (low blood pressure).
- Badan preparations increase heart rate, so they should not be taken by patients suffering from tachycardia.
