Elecampane looks attractive due to its bright and large yellow-orange flowers. This plant is also medicinal along with horsetail, chamomile and oregano. Its name perfectly speaks about the medicinal properties of elecampane.
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What is elecampane: photo and description
Blooming elecampane outwardly looks like a chamomile, only the flowers are not white-yellow, but yellow-orange
Elecampane is a perennial herb up to 2.5 m high, growing in bushes. The leaves are large, bright green. The roots are thick, with slight branching. Central Asia is considered its homeland, but it can often be found in Russia. Elecampane grows in meadows, forests, near water bodies, preferring wet and shady places. The plant is loved by summer residents mainly for its beautiful flowers, so it grows in the front gardens.
The plant received its most common name (elecampane) from Russian herbal medicine men, who attributed to it the properties of nine healing powers.
Elecampane has other names:
- yellow grass;
- nine-force.
The raw materials from it are used for the preparation of medicines by people who know about its healing properties. The plant is included in the State Register of Medicines of the Russian Federation.
Types of plants with photos
Elecampane has only about 200 species, the plant is quite common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Russia, along with elecampane tall, you can find British and willow.
Elecampane British
Elecampane British has smaller flowers and much shorter stems than elecampane tall
The plant is up to 60 cm high. Elecampane British is valued for its flowers, which are harvested during their most intense flowering. The flowers contain a beneficial essential oil that is essential to fight liver diseases, nervous system, colds, diabetes and alcoholism.
Elecampane willow
Elecampaneus willow has very large flowers
Elecampaneus willow has larger and tougher leaves than elecampane tall, but its stem is shorter, about 50 cm. For medicinal purposes, people use all parts: flowers, roots, stems.
Means made from this type are used for diseases of the digestive and circulatory systems, skin lesions, colds, snake bites, epilepsy, venereal diseases.
Useful properties of elecampane for the human body
The plant has the following beneficial properties for humans:
- expectorant;
- improves metabolism;
- bactericidal;
- pain reliever;
- diaphoretic;
- diuretic.
Based on these properties, elecampane remedies can be used:
- with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- with colds;
- with a decrease in immunity;
- for problems with male health;
- women with menstrual irregularities.
Elecampane is the most common in Russia, and only the roots of the plant are endowed with useful properties.People do not use flowers and leaves of this type of plant for the preparation of medicinal potions.
Contraindications for use
Preparations containing elecampane should not be used:
- children under 2 years old;
- pregnant women;
- nursing mothers;
- with chronic diseases of the digestive and excretory systems;
- with individual intolerance.
Excessive doses of elecampane drugs can cause side effects:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- heaviness in the stomach;
- diarrhea.
Elecampane is not poisonous, but before using it, you need to consult a doctor.
Herbal medicines
Everyone can easily prepare elecampane-based medicines on their own, you just need to follow the instructions for preparing long-proven folk remedies.
Water infusion
An aqueous infusion of elecampane root helps with colds, even old ones.
Elecampane water infusion gives ordinary tea a very pleasant taste.
Preparation:
- Pour 20 g of dried root into 125 ml of boiling water.
- Leave to infuse in a thermos for 6-8 hours.
Take before bed, adding 3-4 drops to hot tea.
Alcohol infusion
An alcoholic tincture of elecampane can be bought at the pharmacy
Alcoholic infusion is useful for a number of different ailments, but it must be used carefully, as it contains alcohol. It should not be given to children!
Preparation:
- 5 tbsp. l. Pour the dried elecampane root into a liter dark glass container, then pour vodka into it so as to completely cover all the raw materials.
- Close the container tightly, put in a cool dark place for 2 weeks.
- The product must be shaken every day.
- After 2 weeks, strain the finished product through 2 layers of gauze and store in the refrigerator.
Instead of vodka, you can use red or white wine for the recipe.
With a general weakness of the body, the tincture should be taken in 1 tbsp l. 2 times a day in courses of 2 weeks, taking a break for a week. With intestinal catarrh and with low acidity of gastric juice, the infusion is taken 50 g 3 times a day after meals. Men with sexual impotence should take a tincture of 1 tsp. 2 times a day after meals.
Decoction
A decoction of elecampane roots is multifunctional
There are many options for preparing a decoction, each is useful in a certain case.
To recuperate
A decoction from such a herbal collection is used when the body is weakened after serious illness and with delayed physical development in children.
Application:
- Take dried herbs of gentian, yarrow and elecampane root, 10 g of each ingredient.
- Pour raw materials with 2 liters of water.
- Boil the mixture for 10 minutes.
- Allow to cool.
Take 2 tbsp. broth during the day.
For painful periods
This option is used for painful and scanty periods.
Preparation:
- Pour 30 g of dried elecampane root with 1 liter of water.
- Boil for 15 minutes, after boiling, reduce heat to low.
- Cool down.
Take 1 tbsp. l. 2 times a day after meals.
Composition for a successful conception
For women who aspire to become mothers, the following recipe will help:
- Pour 40 g of dried root into a thermos.
- Pour 2 liters of boiling water.
- Allow to cool.
The infusion should be taken according to the scheme: 2 days for 1 tbsp., Dividing it into 4 doses. You should refrain from sex these days. In the next 2 days, you should drink the infusion and try to conceive a baby. The course of treatment should be carried out for 2 weeks, then take a break for 15 days.
To improve immunity
Preparation:
- Cut 50 g of root into small pieces, pour 1 liter of water.
- Cook for half an hour on low heat.
- Strain the broth through cheesecloth or a fine sieve.
- Mix 100 g of apple juice and 120 g of sugar with decoction.
- Insist the mixture for 5 minutes.
Take 3 times a day before meals, 1 tbsp. l.
Scabies ointment
Elecampane root ointment helps with skin diseases
Preparation:
- Melt 40-50 g of unsalted lard.
- Pour a handful of fresh, finely chopped roots of elecampane into lard, cook for 15 minutes.
- Strain into a glass jar.
- Add 2 tbsp. l. pure birch tar and the same amount of sulfur powder.
Rub this composition overnight for 3-4 days. Store the ointment in the refrigerator.
Powder for digestive problems and colds
Elecampane powder is useful for various diseases.
Preparation:
- Grind the dried root into powder.
- Mix the resulting powder with honey in a 1: 1 ratio, stir until smooth.
- Roll the mixture into balls.
It turned out to be an appetizing dragee with a pleasant taste, which children will especially like. Dragee is taken before meals in 2 pieces, it is useful for colds, constipation, stomach disorders.
How to properly prepare and store plant materials
Collection rules:
- Do not collect the roots of young plants, the best age is 2-3 years.
- Collecting is necessary in spring or autumn.
- It is worth paying attention to the quality of the plant root: good raw materials should not be damaged by insects, have blackened areas, and should also be free of plaque and mold.
It is better to collect raw materials in dry cloudy weather.
Procurement rules:
- Carefully dig out the roots with a shovel, taking care not to damage.
- Shake off the ground.
- Remove the rhizome and stem with scissors or a garden knife.
- Rinse the root in cool water.
Storage rules:
- The roots are stored in linen bags, glass or wooden containers.
- Shelf life: 3 years.
- The storage room should not be damp or cold or stuffy.
The quality of the future raw materials depends on the correct collection and storage conditions.
Reviews
Elecampane is good for relieving fatigue. He will help against colds, and will give strength. And with honey, of course! And with naked licorice and anise (dill) and old cough will cure. And ordinary large-leaf tea with currant leaves (buds, raw jam) will be beneficial.
I took elecampane at the pharmacy, it was a long time ago, they advised me in the hospital for kidney stones. I brewed and drank it as expected, as stated in the instructions. Only I don’t know whether elecampane really helped me or something else, just stones since then I no longer had. Elecampane has a lot of useful properties, and even for prevention, I think it is worth drinking.
This school year, my son gets sick especially often, and any infection turns into a cough. And this time the pediatrician did not prescribe any strong syrups and preparations, but recommended to drink tincture of rhizomes and roots of the medicinal plant elecampane. I brewed boiling water in a thermo mug and let it brew for half an hour, and then tried it myself before giving the child a drink. And what a bitter and unbearable muck it was. Of course, I understand that the pediatrician acted with the best intentions, but it is very difficult to give this to a child. So I added a couple of spoons of honey and mixed the whole thing. We noticed the effect of using elecampane rather quickly, although at first the cough intensified, but then very soon subsided. I don't know how about strengthening the immune system, let's see if something sticks in the near future, but at least it helps with a prolonged cough.
It must be remembered that miraculous remedies do not exist, they have not yet been invented by people, they are not given by the forces of nature. Therefore, any herbal preparations, including those based on elecampane root, must be used in combination with other medicines and medical procedures. This is the only way to achieve a tangible effect.
