Why is a mother and stepmother useful for the body and what is the secret of its value
Wildflowers, which appear in early spring, are especially popular among medicinal plants. Therefore, let's try to figure out how a mother-and-stepmother is useful for human health, and when it is appropriate to use it. Unfortunately, this cute plant is often considered a common weed and overlooked. However, even in ancient times, its healing properties were discovered.
Attractive appearance of valuable culture
Before discovering the secret of how a mother-and-stepmother is useful for human health, let's look at her from the outside. The perennial plant belongs to the "Astrovye" family. It is branched and grows up to 25 cm in height.
In the natural environment occurs:
- off country roads;
- near rivers and lakes;
- in the gardens;
- near wastelands and dumps;
- on the hills;
- in forests.
It seems that coltsfoot easily adapts to any soil and growing conditions. The way it is. After all, she opens her buds in early spring, when the rest of the plants are still "sleeping". Bright fiery yellow flowers are located on shoots covered with delicate villi. The buds form miniature tubular petals. They are gracefully collected in compact baskets that attract the attention of insects. Over time, the flowers turn into an oblong achene. If it gets into the soil, it can germinate after a few hours.
Flowering begins in April, and the first fruits crown the flower in mid-May.
Leaf plates appear when the flowering process ends. They have an oblong-ovoid shape with jagged edges. They grow from the root area, and keep on dense petioles. The face of the plate is cold and hard, which symbolizes the stepmother. The dorsum is covered with white pubescence and reminds of maternal love.
Competent collection of raw materials
For a plant to really benefit the body, it is important to properly prepare it. Therefore, let's figure it out when a mother-and-stepmother is collected for the treatment of various diseases. Since the foliage of the plant has beneficial properties, you need to wait until it is fully "ripe". The right moment comes in June and lasts until mid-July. A more accurate period is determined by the state of the buds. After the formation of fruits, at least 2 weeks should pass.
In addition, plants are harvested away from motorways, factories and factories. It is undesirable to harvest raw materials in places where cattle are grazed or dogs are walked. It is best to look for flowers in meadows or near reservoirs. And how is mother-and-stepmother harvested to get quality raw materials?
Experts advise plucking foliage with clean hands. In this case, it is necessary to capture a part of the stem, about 5 cm. The ideal period for collecting raw materials is after the morning dew has evaporated and the heat has not come.
Yellowed, damaged and young foliage with pubescence is not suitable for harvesting.
The collected grass is dried most often in attics or under a canopy. It is spread on a wooden surface in a thin layer. During the process, the foliage is periodically turned over. This will make the ideal raw material for combating ailments. If desired, the mother-and-stepmother is dried in the oven or in a special dryer. The foliage or flowers are laid out on a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 60 ° C. The plant is dried for several hours with the oven door open. Raw materials are stored in paper bags for no more than 3 years.
The buds are harvested in the spring when they begin to bloom. Plucked by hand, removing the peduncle. This usually happens in late March or early April. It all depends on the region where the medicinal herb grows. Dry in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
Flowers do not lose their properties for 2 years.
The roots are harvested in late autumn, before the onset of frost. They are carefully removed from the soil using a shovel. Remove soil residues and rinse under a tap. Cut into small pieces. Dried in the attic, where the temperature is high. Useful properties in finished raw materials are preserved for 1 year.
The invisible "beauty" of the plant
A well-known proverb says: "All that glitters is not gold." However, even nondescript flowers can be equated with precious metal. When scientists examined the chemical composition of the mother and stepmother, they realized that they had found a real treasure.
It contains:
- an abundance of vitamin C;
- organic acids (malic, tartaric, acetic, gallic);
- tannins;
- ash;
- essential oils;
- minerals (iron, sodium, copper, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine);
- mucus;
- photoosterones;
- saponites;
- polysaccharides;
- flavonoids.
It is these substances that determine the beneficial properties of the plant. For example, the essential oil of coltsfoot has antimicrobial action. Mucus promotes wound healing of internal organs. Photosterones are involved in the formation of muscle mass. Organic acids strengthen the immune system. Tannins relieve pain and stop external and internal bleeding. To fully benefit from a medicinal culture, let's get acquainted with its scope.
Why is a mother and stepmother useful for adults and children?
In the cold season, many suffer from colds that cause coughing. Thanks to its unique chemical composition, the plant is able to defeat this annoying enemy. Foliage, buds and even rhizome are suitable for treatment. Decoctions or tinctures promote the removal of sputum from the bronchi, which speeds up the healing process.
The foliage of coltsfoot contains an abundance of trace elements and plant mucus. Therefore, it is used by women in the treatment of gynecological diseases. During pregnancy, medicinal decoctions strengthen the immune system. However, they are used under the strict supervision of a doctor to avoid problems.
And from what does the mother-and-stepmother "save" men? It turns out that nothing human is alien to them. For example, smokers, with the help of medicinal decoctions, relieve attacks of dry cough. Those who suffer from hemorrhoids use the tincture of the mother and stepmother as a pain reliever.
In addition, flowers are used to treat:
- prostatitis;
- early baldness;
- anemia;
- internal bleeding.
For this, decoctions or tinctures are prepared, which are taken under the supervision of the attending physician. The dosage is prescribed taking into account the degree of the disease.
Healing decoctions of mother-and-stepmothers are actively used to treat children and adolescents. They, like no other, need special protection from viruses and microbes.
Pediatricians prescribe a plant for such problems:
- dry cough;
- increased body temperature;
- tonsillitis;
- diathesis.
The drugs are prepared at home, according to generally accepted instructions. The dose is determined by the attending physician.
It is advisable for infants to arrange herbal baths in order to relieve them of urticaria and diathesis.
Proven recipes for medicinal drugs
The use of foliage and flowers of coltsfoot in folk medicine has won universal recognition. There are a huge number of recipes that are used to treat and prevent various diseases. Let's consider the most popular options.
Cold
Dry foliage is first crushed to make a tablespoon. Then the raw material is poured with boiling water (250 ml) and simmered over moderate heat for about 15 minutes. When the liquid has cooled, filter it through cheesecloth. Drink a tablespoon 5 times a day.
In a similar way, a rich infusion of mother-and-stepmother is prepared for the treatment of bronchitis. Dry inflorescences are ground into a fine powder. Pour boiling water over. Insist for an hour. Pass through 2 layers of gauze. Take 2 tablespoons before meals.
In the summertime, the fresh foliage is used to make juice in the traditional way. Used to treat the common cold.
A powerful remedy for colds is a tincture of coltsfoot with honey, which is prepared according to this recipe. Crushed flowers and leaf plates are poured into an enamel container. Pour in hot water and place in a water bath. Boil for 15 minutes over high heat. Cool naturally. Then the infusion is filtered and added honey... For 200 ml of liquid, 1 tablespoon is enough. Take the drug 30 minutes before meals, 2 times a day.
Dental problems
Simple recipes for mother and stepmother are applicable in the treatment of toothache. For business, you will need dry plant foliage, boiling water and a thermos. 2-3 tablespoons of raw materials are poured into a container and poured with hot water. Close the lid tightly. Wrap up with a towel. Insist 3 hours. For severe toothache, use for rinsing. Enough 2 procedures per day.
Healing tea for immunity
As you know, hot drinks bring great benefits to the body. They are relevant especially in the cold season. Therefore, it is important to know how to brew a mother and stepmother in a cup to get a medicinal tea. First of all, the container is poured over with boiling water so that it heats up. Then they put chopped grass in it. Pour water, cover with a lid. Sugar is added before use. As a preventive measure, tea is drunk for 3 weeks.
The considered arguments of how the mother-and-stepmother is useful for the body indicate the true value of the herb. It contains unique chemical compounds that strengthen the immune system. Medicinal drugs are prepared according to simple recipes. Let's hurry to get the valuable herb in the home medicine cabinet.