Nature is rich in beautiful useful plants that delight the eye with their appearance and flowering, and also have important healing properties. They are used not only in traditional medicine, but also in modern cosmetology and pharmacology.
The sophora japonica is one of such valuable representatives of the fauna - a beautiful and unusual tree, somewhat reminiscent of the acacia familiar to our area.
Despite the fact that Korea and China are considered the birthplace of the plant, for several centuries it has been successfully growing in our homeland, for example, in the Caucasus and Crimea.
What are the medicinal properties and contraindications of Japanese Sophora? How is it used in medicine? What are the instructions for using Sophora? And is it possible to prepare medicinal potions based on it yourself? You will find answers to these questions in this article.
But first, let's briefly find out what the Japanese Sophora plant is, what its appearance and composition is.
Beautiful representative of the plant world
The Sophora plant is a species of the legume family, which includes numerous trees and shrubs.
If we talk about trees, then oftenthey reach a height of fifteen to twenty-five meters and have an extensive spreading crown. In November, the leaves of Sophora, which are distinguished by a rich green color in summer, fall off, and the tree appears before frost in all its glory: a gracefully curved trunk, intricately spreading branches, and abundant cold-resistant fruits.
It is noteworthy that the Sophora plant bears fruit once every two years. The process of appearance of these fruits is interesting and unusual.
In July and August, original fragrant panicles thirty-five centimeters long of yellowish, pinkish or even purple flowers appear on the tree. After a while, from these flowerings, fleshy fruits of a cylindrical shape ranging in size from three to eight centimeters are formed, in which the seeds are located.
Habitat
The tree is an unpretentious and hardy plant, it can freely grow on rocky and sandy soils, sun-drenched meadows and valleys. However, he does not like big frosts and strong drafts.
The following types of Sophora plants grow on our territory:
- Japanese;
- common (or foxtail);
- yellowing (or yellowish);
- thick-fruited.
Let's get to know each of these varieties better.
Sophora vulgaris
This is a herbaceous plant with a thin straight stem, about ten to twelve centimeters high. On the stems, crowned with a white inflorescence in the form of a brush, there are oval-shaped leaves.
The main useful substance,part of this type of sophora is the alkaloid pahikarpin, which increases the tone in muscle tissue and enhances the contraction of the uterine muscles.
Foxtail Sophora is also used for diseases such as eczema, diphtheria, rheumatism, diseases of the heart muscle and blood vessels.
Sophora yellowish
Yellowing Sophora is also a herbaceous plant more than half a meter high, contains such medicinal elements as alkaloids, flavonoids, organic acids and fatty oils.
Used to treat neurosis, tuberculosis, ascariasis, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, eczema, stomach ailments. It can also be used as an antipyretic, analgesic and hypnotic.
Sophora thick-fruited
Herbaceous plant, the height of which varies between thirty and sixty centimeters. Sophora stems are thin and branched, and spike-shaped inflorescences have a bright cream color.
Used in the treatment of all the diseases mentioned above.
Japanese Sophora
Tree ten to fifteen meters high, with dark gray bark, covered with deep cracks and gaps. Fragrant Sophora flowers (up to one centimeter in diameter) are collected in huge inflorescences.
Most often in folk medicine, the buds and fruits of this plant are used, which are considered very caustic and poisonous. Therefore, it is necessary to collect and store, and even more so to use Sophora, strictly according to the instructions and prescription of a doctor.
What is remarkable about the composition of this plant? Let's find out.
Healingsubstances and elements
The following are important and useful components of Sophora, as well as their areas of application:
- Flavonoids (rutin). Alleviates allergic manifestations, reduces swelling, increases bile secretion, lowers blood pressure, slows the heartbeat, improves adrenal function and prevents heart attack and stroke.
- Pachycarpine. Stops hypertensive crises and spasms of cardiac vessels, slows down nerve impulses, increases uterine contraction and improves muscle activity.
- Fatty oils. They relieve inflammation, restore damaged tissues and cells, regulate metabolism, and promote the speedy healing of wounds.
- Ash. Slows down blood clotting, eliminates inflammation, dissolves blood clots, heals wounds.
- Organic acids. They remove toxic and slag masses, promote bowel movements, calm the nerves, cleanse the blood vessels.
- Potassium. Normalizes blood pressure, strengthens the heart muscle, blocks spasms, reduces swelling, regulates metabolism and prevents the formation of atherosclerosis.
- Calcium. Helps strengthen teeth, bones and heart vessels, improves immunity, normalizes the activity of the nervous system.
- Magnesium. Removes toxins, strengthens bone tissue, heart and blood vessels, improves digestion, eliminates inflammation.
- Iron. Stimulates the formation of red blood cells, increases hemoglobin, improves the functioning of the thyroid gland.
- Zinc. Reduces allergic reactions, strengthens the immune system, improves skin condition (eliminates inflammation,heals wounds and cracks, prevents aging, promotes cellular renewal).
- Iodine. Regulates the processes occurring in the cardiovascular system, reproductive, digestive and musculoskeletal systems. Favorably affects the growth and development of children mentally, mentally and physically.
- Bor. Increases immunity and reproductive capacity, normalizes hormonal disruptions, prevents the reproduction of cancer cells.
As you can see, the spectrum of action of the Japanese Sophora plant is truly extensive and unique.
Indications for use of Japanese Sophora
This plant has medicinal properties such as immunostimulating, analgesic, soothing, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antihelminthic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiallergic, diuretic and even anticancer.
These important healing qualities are highly appreciated by traditional medicine. Japanese Sophora is used for such complex and serious diseases as tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stomatitis, abscess, psoriasis, mastitis, hemorrhoids, eczema, atherosclerosis, sepsis, furunculosis, dysentery, sinusitis, burns, ulcers, scarlet fever and many, many others..
However, despite such an impressive list of beneficial properties, the Sophora plant has some contraindications.
Contraindications to the use of Sophora
Although in general the components of the Sophora plant are favorably perceived by the human body, they can still provoke a number of allergic reactions that manifest themselves in a strongburning, as well as in rashes and redness of the skin. Therefore, allergy sufferers should be very careful when using preparations based on Japanese Sophora.
Also, the plant is not recommended for people suffering from certain liver diseases, children under three years old, pregnant and lactating.
Furthermore, according to the instructions for use of Sophora, when using it, it is important to take into account some side effects caused by the main components.
First of all, this:
- bloating;
- diarrhea;
- vomit;
- pain in the abdomen;
- nausea.
Use during pregnancy
Pregnant women are not recommended to use the substances and elements that make up Sophora for treatment, as they can stimulate muscle tone and provoke a miscarriage. On the other hand, precisely because of the increase in the tone of the uterus, some components of this plant can be used during childbirth, when contractions are mild and quickly passing.
So, we got acquainted with the medicinal properties and contraindications of Japanese Sophora. And now let's find out the features of collecting and storing the plant, as well as some healing recipes for Japanese Sophora.
The process of collecting medicinal raw materials
When is the best time to stock up on medicinal plants? It all depends on what exactly you want to use. For example, if you need Sophora fruits, then it is best to collect them at the end of September, when they are not fully ripe, light green in color.
If we are talking about flowers, then the collection of this raw material is best done during the flowering period (from July to August).
The collection process is recommended to be done in dry sunny weather, when the dew and other moisture finally disappear. Inflorescences can be plucked by hand, but the fruits (usually bean-shaped) are best carefully cut with secateurs.
It is important to dry healing raw materials not in direct sunlight, but indoors (in attics or sheds), observing the regular ventilation of home dryers and their air temperature (the most optimal indicators are from forty to forty-five degrees Celsius).
During the drying process, the raw materials should be periodically stirred and turned over. When they reach the required condition, it is recommended to transfer them to storage in paper envelopes or cardboard boxes.
The optimal storage period for this raw material is no more than twelve months.
Now let's talk about medicines prepared on the basis of Japanese Sophora.
All kinds of tinctures
There are several recipes for Sophora tincture (using vodka, alcohol and even vinegar). Here are some of them:
- One tablespoon of crushed dry flowers pour one hundred milliliters of vodka and leave for ten days in a dark place. Strain and take thirty-five drops three times a day after meals for a month. Use for diarrhea, high blood pressure, gastritis, ulcers, insomnia, internal bleeding.
- Fifty grams of a mixture of fruits and flowersSophora pour a half-liter bottle of vodka, set for one month. Take three to four months, one teaspoon three times a day. This product cleanses the vessels of organic s alt.
- Mix together fresh fruits and alcohol (56%) at a rate of one to one, let it brew for three weeks, then strain and squeeze. Ready liquid take one teaspoon four times a day to prevent bleeding. Also used as a compress for burns and other skin lesions.
- Twenty grams of flowers insist in one hundred milliliters of alcohol (70%) for seven days. Then take twenty-five to thirty drops three times a day for three weeks. Helps with hypertension.
- One hundred and fifty grams of fresh, carefully chopped fruits, pour vodka (700 ml) and set for a week. Take one teaspoon twice a day for cancer and diabetes.
- Pour one hundred grams of ground dry fruit with a liter of real apple cider vinegar and leave for a month, shaking thoroughly from time to time. Take three to four times a day after meals, diluting one teaspoon of tincture in one hundred grams of cold water. The course of treatment is fourteen to twenty days. Good for atherosclerosis, migraine, diarrhea.
Reviews on the treatment of Sophora tincture
According to reviews, Sophora tincture does have important medicinal properties.
It can eliminate or alleviate the symptoms of many serious diseases. Furthermore,using this medicine in combination with other drugs, as well as strictly following the instructions and recommendations of doctors, you can permanently get rid of such complex and serious ailments as hypertension, ulcers, cardiovascular diseases and even oncology.
Other types of medicinal preparations
- Infusion. Pour fifteen grams of dry fruits with water (three hundred milliliters), insist for an hour, strain and add water to the required volume of 300 ml. Use as washes, compresses and dressings for skin conditions such as eczema, ulcers and more.
- Decoction. Mix one tablespoon of flowers and fruits, pour a half-liter jar of boiling water and cook for five minutes. Let it brew for about an hour, strain and drink one hundred and fifty milligrams three times a day. It has a tonic effect, it is also used to normalize blood pressure, stop bleeding, purify the blood and relieve inflammation. Rubbing the decoction into the scalp helps strengthen and grow hair.
- Oil. Pour boiling water over dry fruits in a ratio of one to one, wait an hour and grind the steamed raw materials into gruel. Then add any oil (ratio one to three) and infuse in the sun for three weeks. Strain. The oil prepared in this way can be used for instillation of the nose with a runny nose and sinusitis (three times a day), as well as for healing wounds.
- Powder. Ground dry flowers take half a gram three times a day. Help with all the above ailments.
Use in traditional medicine
On the basis of Japanese Sophora, independent preparations are produced, such as:
- “Pachycarpine”. It is used in the form of tablets for inflammation of the nerve nodes, myopathy and endarteritis, in the form of injections - to stimulate labor and relieve spasms of peripheral vessels.
- Sophora tincture (or extract of Sophora) obtained from freshly picked fruits soaked in ethyl alcohol (48%).
- “Ascorutin” is produced in the form of tablets for preventive and therapeutic purposes of such ailments as viral infections, rheumatism, hypertension, beriberi, hypovitaminosis and others.
Applied externally for abscesses, wounds, burns and ulcers. Internally - for other previously mentioned diseases.
Also, in many cases, doctors may prescribe drugs such as:
- Sophora honey. Reduces blood sugar, normalizes blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, lowers cholesterol, improves eyesight, cleanses blood vessels, improves metabolism. Pleasant in taste and smell, has useful vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
- Ointment. It is used to treat skin diseases and atherosclerosis of the extremities, and is used for various thyroid disorders.
- Dietary supplements. Used for diabetes, skin diseases, male sexual failure, bleeding, baldness, vein diseases. Increase immunity.
Instead of a conclusion
As you can see, Japanese Sophora has many useful and medicinal properties. She isapplicable in the treatment of serious disorders of the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, nervous system, oncology, skin diseases, and so on.
However, Sophora, like many other drugs of plant or synthetic origin, has its own warnings and side effects, which must be taken into account when prescribing treatment. In such cases, the positive effect of using Sophora should be several times greater than the harm done to the body.
Of course, it is important to use Japanese Sophora only after consulting with your doctor, strictly following the dosage and other recommendations.
If all the rules are followed, this remedy will definitely benefit you and your body.
