We will talk about a small, unpretentious and very useful perennial plant - gentian pulmonary. The description and useful properties of this herb, which will be listed below, we hope will help you understand the features of its use and preparation. In the article you can also see a photo of the plant.
The scientific name of gentian is Gentiana pneumonanthe, but the people as soon as they don’t call it: razor, carp, starodubka, falcon flight, subalevka, infant grass, azure and razornitsa. Let's get to know her better.
Gentian pulmonary - description and photo
What can I say, gentian deserves many names, because in nature there are about 400 varieties of this wild-growing representative of the flora. Our description concerns the most common of them - that which pleases people in summer with its bright blue, blue or purple flowers in the form of bells.
Gentian has a straight stem, sometimes stretching up to 30 cm in height and narrow leaves, lanceolate, evenly spaced along the entire lengthstem. There are few flower corollas, and they are at the top. The rhizome is thick, with many branches. The plant's favorite habitat is meadows with moist soil, but it can also grow between bushes.
Gentiana pneumonanthe is favored by hobby gardeners for its vibrant ornamental flowers. In the photo of gentian pulmonary, located below, you can see what the plant looks like at the time of its flowering. This period lasts approximately from June to August.
Useful properties
Gentian pulmonaria is a plant with pronounced healing properties, and therefore it is widely used to treat various diseases. Most often, roots are involved, since they contain the largest amount of valuable biologically active substances that can have various beneficial therapeutic effects on the human body.
Gentian pulmonary contains specific bitter substances-glycosides (amaropanin and amarosverin), with which you can improve appetite and treat diseases of the stomach, as well as various parts of the intestine. The plant also contains the following valuable elements:
- gentianin;
- alkaloids;
- gentiopicrin;
- amarogentin;
- tannins and resinous substances;
- inulin;
- pectin;
- fatty oils;
- phenalcarboxylic acid;
- sugar;
- vitamin C (especially abundant in leaves).
The use of gentian in folk and traditional medicine
People from time immemorial have been making medicinal potions from gentian pulmonary, curing many diseases. It is known that in the Middle Ages this herb was used in the treatment of plague, tuberculosis, diarrhea, scurvy, jaundice and arthritis. Medieval healers used gentian to expel worms. They watered their patients with healing decoctions from its root to remove poison from their bodies after a snake bite.
In the Carpathians, weed was brewed for the use of patients suffering from congestion in the gallbladder and liver diseases. Chinese healers traditionally use the plant to help people suffering from such a complex disease as lupus erythematosus. In Japan, the medicinal bitterness of the plant is used for the preparation of cosmetic preparations. The centuries-old experience of traditional medicine says that gentian is a strong immunomodulator.
Today this magical herb is also widely used:
- The substance gentianin, contained in the roots of the plant in high concentration, allows the plant to be used to treat coughs, relieve spasms, and reduce high fever.
- This is an excellent sedative and anti-inflammatory agent.
- Phenolcarboxylic acid is famous for its properties to restore the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.
- People suffering from allergic diseases can use a decoction or infusion of this versatile plant as an antihistamine.
- Gentian pulmonary helps in the treatment of gout, relieves anemia, constipation andflatulence.
Traditional medicine also did not ignore such a valuable plant. Based on it, preparations are made for the treatment of anemia, chronic hepatitis C, hypotension, etc. Gentian extract is part of many herbal balms, for example, in the famous Bittner's balm.
Even the food industry has not bypassed gentian, in some countries it is used in brewing.
Contraindications
No matter how useful the weed in question is, it still needs some caution when using it. If you do not know the measure, using decoctions and infusions from the plant, then this can cause a severe headache, redness of the skin, dizziness and even fainting.
Especially dangerous is the thoughtless use of gentian-based remedies for people who have ulceration of the gastric mucosa and high blood pressure.
Pregnant women should not self-medicate with gentian, because it tends to increase the tone of the uterus. The period of breastfeeding is also a contraindication.
Infusion recipe
To prepare a healing infusion, you will need about 15 g of dried roots of a wild-growing plant of gentian pneumothorax (raw materials can be found in a pharmacy):
- Before you start preparing the drug, the roots must be thoroughly crushed. Grinding raw materials will help as many active nutrients as possiblefree yourself and give your strength to the brew.
- Prepared crushed roots are poured into an enameled or ceramic bowl and immediately poured with boiling water (1 glass).
- You need to insist about 1 hour. During this time, the drug will have time to infuse properly and cool down enough that it will be possible to start filtering.
- For filtering homemade medicine, you can use gauze folded in several layers or an ordinary strainer.
Ready infusion can be consumed 1 tbsp. spoon before meals. This remedy stimulates appetite, helps with constipation and heartburn, and has a tonic effect.
Conclusion
Our description of gentian pulmonary has come to an end. Despite the fact that this medicinal plant can bring many benefits, we urge our readers not to rush into self-medication. Every time before you start using any folk remedy, you need to consult a doctor.
