Medicinal plants and their use. Healing herbs and their properties and purpose Medicinal plant description

1) Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.)

Perennial herbaceous plant with a very developed rhizome. It grows like a weed in fields, especially on clay soils, in meadows, along river banks, in sparse forests.

Collect the aerial part - green summer shoots - in June - August. Dry in attics with good ventilation.

The drug is used as a diuretic for heart and other diseases accompanied by congestion.

2) Spring primrose (Primula veris L.)

Perennial herbaceous plant. Blooms in early spring. Grows in forests, among bushes, on slopes.

Collect leaves at the beginning of flowering, when they contain the greatest amount of vitamins, and immediately dry. The roots are dug up in autumn or early spring, dried in the attic or in the open air.

Tinctures from the leaves are used for beriberi, a decoction of the roots - as an expectorant.

3) Common hop (Humusuls lupulus L.)

Perennial herbaceous vine. It grows in damp places, along the banks of rivers, on the edges, among shrubs, sometimes in forests.

Harvest inflorescences ("cones") of hops in August - early September. Dry immediately - in the air or in attics. The infusion is used for neurosis, insomnia, gastritis, cystitis.

4) Lovage medicinal (Levisticum officinale Koch)

It also refers to perennial herbaceous plants with a straight cylindrical branched stem up to 2 m high. It grows mainly in Ukraine, cultivated as a medicinal, ornamental and spicy plant.

All parts of the plant smell good. Collected in September-October. The decoction is used for dropsy, nervous and heart diseases.

5) Common Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill)

Basically a biennial, sometimes perennial herbaceous plant, up to 2 m high. Distributed in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia, cultivated in Ukraine; runs wild in the Crimea.

Fennel fruits are harvested at the beginning of ripening, when they acquire a greenish-yellow color. Dry in the shade with good ventilation. The decoction is used as an appetite stimulant and digestive aid. It is used in the food industry and in perfumery.

6) Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.)

Shrub or low tree. Grows in pine forests, on the edges. Juniper cones are harvested in autumn (September - October), shaking them from the bush onto the litter.

Air dry or in attics. The drugs are used as a diuretic. Used in the food industry.

7) Common barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.)

Grows among bushes, on edges, in lowlands and foothills. The roots are harvested in early spring or late autumn (October). Collect no more than ¼ of the plant's root system further from the root. Dry in attics or under sheds.

The bark is harvested during the period of sap flow, the leaves - after flowering. The drugs are used as a choleretic agent, as well as for bleeding associated with inflammatory processes. An infusion of the leaves is used as a hemostatic agent.

8) Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill)

Evergreen, branched shrub, 30-70 cm high. It grows on poor soils, in forests, damp places, in the mountains, on the edges, mountain pastures. Found in Russia and Ukraine.

Collect the aerial part (grass) during the flowering period (July - September). Dry in the shade in the air, in the attic, indoors, laying out a thin layer. A decoction or infusion is used for cholelithiasis, colds, rheumatism, gout, and as a diuretic and diaphoretic.

9) Angelica medicinal (Archangelica officinalis (Moench.) Hoffm.)

It is a herbaceous biennial plant up to 2 m high. Grows in marshes, along river banks. Cultivated as a medicinal and spice plant.

Collect the root in spring and autumn. Dry in attics, indoors. The infusion is used as a diuretic and carminative, as well as to enhance intestinal motility.

10) Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.)

Perennial herbaceous plants, up to 1 m high. Grow in weedy places. Distributed in forest-steppe and steppe regions.

Harvest motherwort herb (tops of stems) during flowering. Dry in attics. The drugs are used as a cardiac sedative.

11) European hoof (Asarum europaeum L.)

A perennial herbaceous plant, overwintering with green leaves resembling the print of a horse's hoof. Grows in deciduous and mixed forests.

The rhizome (with roots) and leaves are harvested in spring (April - May). An infusion of herbs is used for cardiovascular diseases to normalize blood circulation.
12) White mistletoe (Viscum album L.) (damn pomelo)

Collect leaves and annual shoots in autumn and winter. Dry indoors or in an oven at a low temperature. The drugs are used as a means of lowering blood pressure (for atherosclerosis with high blood pressure and related phenomena).

13) Purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.)

Biennial plants with stem height up to 1.2 meters. Leaves are collected from plants of the second year of life, sometimes rosette leaves of the first year (from July to autumn).

Dry immediately after collection indoors at a temperature of 40-60 degrees. The drugs are used as a tonic and regulating the activity of the heart and blood vessels, in chronic insufficiency and other heart diseases.

14) Ephedra two-spike, conifer (Ephedra distachya L.) (ephedra, Kuzmicheva grass)

Shrub with yellow-greenish finely ribbed branches. Outwardly similar to horsetail. It grows on rocky places, sands, especially on seaside and steppe slopes. Ephedra is widespread in the forest-steppe and steppe parts of Ukraine.

Collect thin branches, called "grass", in August-September. Dry indoors or in the air. The drugs are used as tonic nervous and cardiovascular systems, with bronchial asthma, shock, bleeding.

15) Ruta odorous (Ruta hortensis Mill.)

Perennial shrub with a very strong smell. Lives in the wild in the Crimea.

Only the upper parts of the stems are harvested from the rue during flowering. Drying is done in the shade or in attics. The drugs are used as a stimulant, antiseptic, antispasmodic.

On this I have all the guys, the first selection is completed.

As mentioned, this is only a mini idea of ​​​​medicinal herbs. Posts are being prepared that will tell you the useful and medicinal properties of each plant, how to use it, in what doses and for what diseases.

See you in new posts. Good luck, happiness and health to you.

Medicinal plants and their use occupies an important niche in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals. Each medicinal plant has its own unique properties, indications and contraindications. For what purposes, and in what ways can medicinal plants be used?

The properties of medicinal plants are numerous and varied. Each plant element produces special substances that affect the immune, nervous, cardiovascular systems, and also restores the energy balance of a person.

Detailed properties and features of each medicinal plant are studied by such sciences as pharmacology, herbal medicine, and pharmaceuticals. Since ancient times, the effects of medicinal herbs have been studied and put into practice by herbalists, healers, and traditional medicine specialists.

When using medicinal plants in medicine and pharmaceuticals, experts divide them into several main groups, depending on the main active ingredients. Each group is characterized by the presence of certain therapeutic properties:

How useful are these plants?

The use of medicinal plants in the medical and pharmacological field is characterized by a number of undeniable advantages. Unlike most medications, herbal medicines are non-toxic, natural, bioavailable, have a minimum of contraindications and possible adverse reactions.

In addition, doctors point to such beneficial properties of medicinal plants:

Due to their mild effect and the absence of aggressive chemicals, most medicinal plants can be safely prescribed in the treatment of pregnant and lactating mothers, elderly patients, as well as young children.

What diseases are suitable for the treatment?

The range of use of medicinal plants is very wide. Experts actively use them to combat such diseases:

• violations in the functioning of the respiratory system;
• diseases of a chronic nature, with frequent relapses;
• dermatological diseases;
• disorders in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
• pathologies affecting the respiratory system;
• diseases of the urinary tract;
• nervous diseases;
• disturbances in the functioning of the neuroendocrine system.

In addition, many medicinal plants and medicines based on them are used to strengthen the human immune system.

Methods of using medicinal plants in medicine

Methods of using medicinal plants in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals are divided into two main categories: internal and external. Medicines based on medicinal plants are taken orally in the form of infusions, decoctions, herbal teas, syrups, extracts and powders.

For the implementation of local treatment by the external method, powders, compresses from infusions and decoctions, as well as ointments from medicinal plants are used.

How are infusions prepared?

Healing infusions from medicinal plants can be used for oral administration, as well as the preparation of compresses and lotions. In order to make an infusion, you will need a spoonful of crushed medicinal herbs (the plant is selected taking into account its properties, depending on the patient's diagnosis and functional purpose) and a glass of clean water.

Infusions are prepared, both cold and hot methods. In the first case, the herbs are poured with cool water, and then infused for 8 hours and filtered with gauze.

With a hot cooking method, vegetable raw materials must be poured with boiling water and boiled for about 15 minutes over low heat. After that, the tincture is cooled and filtered using the same gauze cloth.

Preparation of herbal powders

Herbal powders are suitable for both oral and topical use. To prepare such a powder, first of all, you will need to prepare raw materials - dry the medicinal plant thoroughly.

The method of preparation itself is extremely simple: the plant is carefully ground to a powdery state (this can be done using an ordinary coffee grinder or a special mortar, like real herbalists). The resulting medicine is stored in a dark place, in any container with a tight-fitting lid.

Alcohol tinctures from medicinal plants

Herbal tinctures based on medical alcohol are characterized by a particularly strong effect, and therefore are taken in minimal concentrations agreed with the attending physician. Be sure to dilute alcohol herbal tinctures in clean water!

Raw materials insist on medical alcohol for a period of time from 10 days to 2-3 months. The resulting medicine is stored in a glass bottle, which is recommended to be tightly closed with a lid and placed in a dark place, protected from sunlight. With proper storage, an alcoholic tincture based on medicinal herbs retains its amazing healing properties for several years.

Herbal ointments

Based on medicinal herbs, you can also prepare a healing ointment, which is subsequently used for compresses and therapeutic applications. Experts use both raw and dried herbs as raw materials for ointments.

In order to obtain an ointment, the applied phytoelement is necessarily combined with a substance that has an astringent effect. For these purposes, you can use butter or vegetable oils, lard, petroleum jelly or lanolin.

Note that the shelf life of ointments made on the basis of animal fats is short and can be no more than a few weeks.

Preparation of decoctions

Herbal decoctions are considered one of the most common methods of using medicinal plants. Such funds are absorbed by the body a little longer than infusions, but they have a longer and more pronounced effect.

In addition, herbal decoctions are extremely simple to prepare. You just need to pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a small amount of water, boil, filter and dilute with clean water to the desired volume.

However, phytotherapy experts still do not advise abusing herbal decoctions, since when boiled, some of the active substances of plants are destroyed. The maximum duration of storage of herbal decoctions is two days.

Possible adverse reactions

Despite the fact that herbal medicines are usually very well tolerated by patients, without side effects, in some cases there is still a possibility of the following adverse reactions:

It is worth noting that the above unpleasant symptoms usually manifest themselves when using medicinal plants that have a toxic effect, with their long-term use and non-compliance with the recommended dosage.

How to use medicinal plants correctly?

Experts identify the following rules for the use of medicinal plants, which must be followed in the treatment:

When are medicinal plants contraindicated?

The main contraindication to the use of medicinal plants is the patient's increased tendency to allergic reactions, as well as individual intolerance to certain plant substances. Each individual plant has its own limitations for use.

Contraindications to the use of the most common medicinal plants are as follows:

A preliminary consultation with the attending physician will help to establish the presence or absence of contraindications to the use of a particular medicinal plant, making the therapeutic course extremely effective, and most importantly, completely safe!

The use of medicinal plants in the field of modern medicine and pharmaceutics provides effective treatment for a number of diseases. The advantages of using drugs based on medicinal plants are their safety, mildness of action, almost no contraindications and adverse reactions, along with high rates of effectiveness.

However, with prolonged and uncontrolled use, even natural remedies can cause significant harm to health. Therefore, before the very beginning of treatment with medicinal plants, it is necessary to consult with a specialist and strictly follow his recommendations in the future!

Since ancient times, people have known about the healing power of medicinal plants and in the treatment of patients, they were used everywhere. In Kievan Rus, from the first half of the 11th century, the names of medicinal plants began to be written down in letters and form herbalists. By decree of Peter I, at the beginning of the 18th century, “pharmaceutical gardens” were formed in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Lubny, where the necessary plants were actually grown.

But even today, the popularity of medicinal plants is great and they occupy a significant niche in human life. They help in the treatment of certain diseases, increase efficiency, improve the quality of our lives.

Among the 500,000 plant species known today, only a small part of them are actively used in modern medicine. There is a list of the main medicinal plants and herbs suitable for use in medical practice.

Particularly popular are such medicinal plants as: wild rose, St.

The use of medicinal herbs and plants

Medicinal plants should be used with caution, only after consulting with your doctor. Otherwise, it is realistic to cause irreparable harm to the body, since some plants may turn out to be poisonous, or they may not carry healing properties at all.

Everything is explained by the types of plants and herbs collected, the timing of collection, periods of accumulation of medicinal substances in them, which occurs unevenly. In some species, they are concentrated in the leaves, in others in the buds, stems, flowers and fruits, in others - in the bark or roots. Of particular importance is the time of collection, since the amount of medicinal substances accumulated in them depends on this factor.

Roots, tubers and rhizomes are harvested, as a rule, in early spring or autumn, when the aerial part fades.

Buds of birch, pine, poplar are harvested during their swelling, before the appearance of green leaves.

During the increased spring sap flow, the bark is removed. It was at this time that it is most rich in healing substances and is quite easily separated from the trunk.

The leaves are harvested when the buds are formed and during the flowering period of plants, only in dry weather. Flowers must be plucked with a pedicel, freed before drying from leaves, long peduncles, fruits.

Herbs are harvested exclusively in dry weather, after the dew has fallen. It is impossible to pull out herbs from the soil with a root system, this can lead to clogging of the necessary raw materials.

Fruits and seeds begin to be collected as they fully ripen, juicy fruits and berries are best picked in the morning or evening.

It is necessary to collect medicinal herbs and plants in places that are environmentally friendly. There is a whole science of phytotherapy - very ancient and meaning treatment with medicinal herbs.

With their help, a huge number of different diseases are treated: insomnia, atherosclerosis, bronchitis, eczema, gout, diseases of the stomach and duodenum, rheumatism, pustular inflammation of the skin, hypertension, cardiac and vascular systems, and others.

There is a classification in which a list of medicinal plants is indicated with a brief indication of their use.

To be treated with herbs seems to many at first glance as simple as shelling pears, but still, certain rules should be followed, namely:

• a doctor should prescribe and control the process of treatment with medicinal herbs and plants;
• all medicinal herbs should be purchased exclusively at the pharmacy;
• do not forget to read the instructions, where the therapeutic dose, and possible side effects, and the method of administration are indicated in detail:
• properly stored in optimal conditions for them.

Particular care should be taken when giving medicinal herbs to children. Their fragile body is quite sensitive to the slightest change in dosage.

Of course, our life without the use of medicinal plants and herbs is impossible, but in order not to cause irreparable harm to your body instead of the intended benefit, firstly, do not self-medicate, and secondly, be serious and careful in treatment.

Probably, medicinal plants began to enter into the everyday life of a person as soon as he at least slightly satisfied his hunger. Immediately there was a desire to live longer and not suffer from diseases. Having learned to recognize useful plants for themselves, gaining knowledge by observing animals and neighboring tribes, as well as experience - by trial and error, part of the population, who knows what winter is firsthand, became concerned with the problem of how to save not only food, but also medicinal plants . This is how the first medicines appeared - at first just powders from dry plants, then ointments based on animal fat and vegetable oils. Well, when alcohol appeared (the honor of this discovery is attributed to Arab doctors, in particular Avicenna), then the storage of medicines became even better and, as practice has shown, many active substances began to be extracted more efficiently.

The second problem that a person took care of, by the way, much earlier than design (not to fat, I would live) is the cultivation of medicinal plants near the dwelling. Discovering new countries and continents, travelers brought familiar plants with them, and those who returned took with them many useful plants of overseas flora and planted them in their gardens. This is how a whole industry was born - medicinal plant growing, taking various forms - monastery gardens, university botanical gardens, apothecary gardens, and, finally, state farms. Well, everything that did not grow in the garden continued and continues to be collected in nature.

So very briefly you can list the main stages of the neighborly relationship of medicinal plants and humans.

But in recent years, these relationships have intensified. It would seem that the pharmaceutical industry, especially of foreign countries, works perfectly, export-import does not fail and you can join the products of almost all countries, the pharmacy chain cannot be denser, almost like grocery stores. Yes, and teas with medicinal plants appeared in them, proudly bearing the title of “functional products”. But no! Everyone enthusiastically studies books and articles in specialized magazines, how to grow medicinal plants on their own and what can be prepared from them and for what diseases all this can be taken.

What is the reason for this interest? There are probably several reasons. Firstly, not all plants can already be bought at the pharmacy. Many of them, as a result of active harvesting, simply passed into the category of rare and endangered, for example, many araliaceae, Rhodiola rosea, and red root. Industrial cultivation of these species is very problematic. It is, of course, possible, but in this case, the cost of medicines from them will be very expensive. But growing a few plants in the garden is not a problem at all.

Secondly, many simply do not trust what they are being sold. Even if the medicinal raw material looks great, it may contain radionuclides, mycotoxins and heavy metals invisible to the eye (and this is very common). Therefore, the modern consumer wants to be sure that everything that he absorbs himself, and what he enthusiastically stuffs at home, is absolutely safe and “environmentally friendly”.

Thirdly, it is simply excitingly interesting - to grow some rare species on your site, about which it is written everywhere that it doesn’t want to grow in culture, and to independently prepare a medicine from it according to all the rules. Here is the same sea buckthorn oil for sale. But many people prefer to cook it themselves. True, when reading recipes in various publications, there are a lot of contradictions. Unfortunately, many publications sin by rewriting old mistakes from each other. But science does not stand still. Some recommendations are confirmed, some are debunked as myths, for many plants "new pages of biography" are opened, that is, directions for their use.

Health care is gradually becoming a way of life. That is, it is not only treatment with drugs and preferably natural, but also proper nutrition with healthy products. Nutritionists broadcast from all TV channels and newspaper pages. But most fruits and vegetables, without which the diet is simply unthinkable, are medicinal plants. For example, celery, dill, fennel, anise are included in the pharmacopoeias of various countries, that is, they are official medicinal plants that are presented on pharmacy shelves. There are a lot of medicinal, and not culinary recipes with garlic and potatoes, carrots and beets. And some are used to prepare medicines - for example, artichoke - a delicacy and raw material for many choleretic drugs.

On the other hand, some habitual medicinal plants are promoted as food, such as calendula. Have you tried a salad or casserole with petals (scientifically, reed flowers)?

And, finally, one more aspect - many medicinal plants are simply very beautiful, and some ornamental plants are medicinal. Therefore, they can be placed on the site so that they become not a necessity, but an ornament: echinacea, nasturtium, daisy, bergenia, evasive peony and many others can be stars in flower beds, and not Cinderella in the backyards.

Therefore, the main task of our new section "Medicinal Plants" is to help grow the desired plant, prepare it correctly and warn against possible troubles. After all, many medicinal plants should be used in small doses and, like any medicine, have contraindications. And, of course, to help purchase seeds, planting material, get expert advice and exchange experiences.

doctor of agricultural sciences

Photo: Rita Brilliantova, Maxim Minin

To facilitate the search, we provide this list: Disease - Plant. , which are marked with an asterisk are poisonous in their own way, so be careful! Read more about contraindications

2. Plants that increase blood pressure - Eleutherococcus, lowers -.

3. Expectorant and emollient - calamus, budra, larch, dandelion, primrose (primrose), chamomile, hops, yasnotka.

5. Astringents (antidiarrheal) -, blackberry, St. John's wort, golden rod, willow, viburnum (berry juice), nettle, mint, white water lily *, dandelion, (bark), wormwood, *, couch grass, mountain ash.

6. Laxative medicinal herbs and plants - (berry), knotweed, bearberry, yarrow, chicory, thyme, succession, horse sorrel (roots), lamb.

7. Bitter herbs that stimulate appetite - dandelion, plantain, wormwood, chicory.

8. Enveloping and adsorbing plants - mullein, larch, love, wormwood, yarrow, chicory.

9. Metabolic disorders - blueberries, oregano, strawberries, fireweed, cranberries, nettles, fireweed, nettles, agrimony, licorice, succession, bird cherry, blueberries (leaves).

10. Plants for lowering the acidity of gastric juice - barberry (roots), (leaf), volodushka.

11. Cholagogue - calendula, viburnum, nettle, white water lily *, juniper, mint, tansy, plantain, wormwood, agrimony, knotweed, yarrow, hops, celandine *, horse sorrel.

12. Gallstone and kidney stones -, geranium, strawberries, cranberries, nettles, cloudberries, agrimony, pine, knotweed, yarrow, horsetail, blueberries, wild rose.

13. Anthelmintic and antigiardiasis - valerian, hoof *, tansy, pine, chicory.

14. Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum - calamus, St. John's wort, calendula, viburnum, fireweed, white water lily *, burdock, coltsfoot, sea buckthorn (oil), tansy, plantain, chamomile, licorice, marsh cudweed *.

15. Gastrointestinal digestion-improving - calamus, marshmallow, bergenia *, birch, lingonberry, budra.

16. With bronchial asthma - viburnum (juice of berries), coltsfoot, lemon balm, wormwood,.

17. Soothing the central nervous system - calamus, hawthorn, valerian, veronica, blackberry, willow, viburnum (bark), fireweed, mullein, meadowsweet, linden, lemon balm, mint, primrose, chamomile, pine, hops, thyme, lamb.

18. Diaphoretic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory - birch, oregano, blackberry, strawberry, St. , string, bird cherry.

19. Diuretic - bergenia *, birch (buds), lingonberry, cedar, clover, cranberry, flaxseed, raspberry, juniper, cloudberry, dandelion, nightshade, primrose, bearberry, succession, celandine *, lamb.

20. Hemostatic medicinal plants - bergenia *, barberry, blackberry, St.

21. Anti-tuberculosis - calamus, birch (buds), budra *, nettle, buttercup *, coltsfoot, plantain, knotweed, bearberry, rank, celandine *, Icelandic moss.

22. For rheumatism, gout and radiculitis - birch, lingonberry, oregano, (needles), willow (bark), cedar, nettle, lily of the valley *, linden, larch (needles and resin), burdock, buttercup *, juniper, mint, aspen , nightshade, chamomile, pine, bearberry, hops, thyme, succession, blueberries.

23. Against burns - burnet, meadowsweet, sea buckthorn (oil from berries), rose hips (oil from fruits).

24. Anti-alcohol - hoof *.

25. for eye diseases - chamomile, bird cherry, blueberries.

26. Wound-healing and antiseptic - bergenia *, birch (tar), raven eye *, oregano, blackberry, chickweed, St. John's wort, calendula, cedar, fireweed, clover, nettle, linden, burdock, buttercup, juniper, mint, linden, fir plantain, marsh cudweed*, yarrow, chicory, celandine*, wild rose, yasnotka.

27. Antihemorrhoid medicinal herbs and plants - barberry, stellate, St.

28. Medicinal plants and herbs for skin diseases - birch (tar), oregano, viburnum (berry juice), clover, hoof *, yellow capsule *, white water lily *, burdock, buttercup *, raspberry (leaves), aspen, fir, plantain, chamomile, licorice, knotweed, poplar, yarrow, horsetail, hops, succession, celandine *, wild rose, yasnotka.

29. Plants against insects - white water lily *, tansy, celandine *.