The three-leaf watch is a plant of the Rotational family. The dried herb is used in alternative medicine for the manufacture of medicinal products, as well as in dermatology, as it has a number of medicinal properties. Medicines prepared on the basis of the herb do not cause side effects, but they have a number of contraindications, which should be consulted before using them.
What a three-leaf watch looks like: photo and description
The watch is a herbaceous perennial with a creeping rhizome, thick stems and trifoliate bright green leaves. Snow-white or white-pink flowers, collected in racemose inflorescences, appear in the plant in early summer. The fruits ripen in July or August and are a round box filled with seeds.
The three-leafed watch is also called tripoli, water trefoil, female toad, fever, river lapush, consumptive grass, bean and three-leafed.
The herb is not included in the State Register of Medicines of the Russian Federation, but its leaves are used in folk medicine. On the basis of plant raw materials, medicinal decoctions, tinctures and other means for internal and external use are prepared. Dried herbs for self-medication can be purchased at pharmacies.
The watch is added to sedatives, choleretic and diuretic charges. The extract of this plant is also found in the Bittner balm.
Healing properties
Triphol has the following healing properties:
- diuretic;
- choleretic;
- antipyretic;
- anticonvulsant;
- laxative;
- tonic;
- pain reliever;
- sedative;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antiseptic;
- wound healing.
The chemical composition of the three-leaf watch contains bitterness that irritate the taste buds, thereby increasing the secretion of gastric juice. Tripoli-based products also increase appetite and improve digestion.
Indications for use
Medicines made on the basis of water trefoil are recommended for the following diseases:
- malaria;
- liver and gallbladder diseases;
- tuberculosis;
- atherosclerosis;
- gastritis with low acidity;
- helminthiasis;
- angina;
- ARI and ARVI;
- anorexia;
- skin diseases.
Decoctions and tinctures made from dried trefoil leaves are also indicated for chronic insomnia, hemorrhoidal bleeding, and toxicosis.
Contraindications and precautions
List of contraindications to the use of watch-based products:
- ulcer of the duodenum and stomach;
- gastritis with high acidity;
- individual intolerance;
- period of breastfeeding;
- children's age up to 14 years.
With caution and only after a preliminary consultation with a doctor, the three-leaf watch should be used for medicinal purposes during pregnancy. There are no side effects with the correct use of tripoli-based products.
Popular drug recipes
Trefoil leaves act as the main ingredient in the following medicines:
- alcohol tincture;
- broth;
- powder;
- infusion;
- solution for external use.
Tincture
Ingredient List:
- 50 g of three-leaf watch leaves;
- 200 ml of vodka.
Step-by-step instructions for making and using the tincture:
- Place the ingredients in a dark glass container.
- Remove the product in a dry place for 7 days.
- Filter out the tincture.
- Drink the composition of 10 drops 3 times a day.
Tincture is recommended for gastritis and gallbladder diseases.
Decoction
Ingredient List:
- 1 tbsp. l. dried leaves;
- 300 ml of water.
Step-by-step instructions for making a decoction:
- Fill the consumptive grass with water.
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Boil the broth over low heat for 15 minutes.
- Strain.
Such a decoction is recommended for anorexia, half a glass 3 times a day.
Means for external use
Ingredient List:
- 2 tbsp. l. vegetable raw materials;
- 250 ml boiling water.
Step-by-step instructions for preparing a solution:
- Boil raw materials with boiling water.
- Let it brew for 40 minutes.
- Strain the liquid.
The finished product is used for rinsing with angina and lotions for skin diseases.
Infusion
Ingredient List:
- 20 g of crushed dried leaves;
- 200 ml of boiling water.
Step-by-step instructions for making a strengthening infusion:
- Place the leaves in a thermos.
- Fill the raw material with water.
- Filter the product after an hour.
It is recommended to use this fortifying agent 100 ml 2 times a day (in the morning and before bedtime).
Powder
Three-leaf watch powder is used for toxicosis. It is prepared and accepted as follows:
- The dried leaves are crushed to a powdery state.
- The resulting powder is taken 1 g 2 times a day.
Rules for the collection and storage of plant materials
Trefoil leaves are recommended to be harvested after the end of the flowering period. Well-developed leaf plates should be cut off. After collection, they must be dried in a dry, ventilated area. The leaves must be turned over periodically. Dried raw materials should be packaged in paper bags and stored in a dry place. The shelf life of the leaves of the three-leaf watch is 2 years.
It should be remembered that you cannot pull out the water trefoil along with the rhizome, as this will lead to the destruction of its thickets. Re-harvesting at the same place can be carried out no more than once every 2 years.
The main features of high-quality plant materials:
- pale green leaves;
- brownish shade of petioles;
- unexpressed aroma;
- characteristic bitter taste;
- no signs of mold.
Reviews on the results of using herbal products
Bittner's balm literally saved me in case of noticeable manifestations of hypotension - weakness, low blood pressure, etc. In general, if there is no allergy, I would advise healthy people to take it in the autumn-winter period, when the cold season comes, for general strengthening.
I add Bittner's balm to tea to maintain health. And I will say that the balm really boosts the immune system for this and last year I never got sick with the flu. It also calms the nerves very much. I usually take it with tea before bed. I fall asleep like a baby.
On the basis of the leaves of the three-leafed watch at home, you can easily prepare a variety of therapeutic and prophylactic agents. But using them without first consulting a doctor is highly undesirable.