Goldenrod grass. Properties and application
Traditional medicine is very popular today. People use different herbs to help treat certain diseases. One of these medicinal herbs that has many positive properties is goldenrod.
Content:
Description
Goldenrod or common goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) is a well-known herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family. The name itself translated from Latin into Russian means “golden rod”. Popularly, this plant has many other names: flea beetle, distiller, raven, rake, hare's down, goldenrod, golden feather, scrofula, deciduous, boar's down, guesser, etc.
Goldenrod owes its origin to Canada. After all, this is where Canadian goldenrod grows. The plant was brought to Europe by travelers. The North American version of Goldenrod is less toxic than its European cousin and is large, reaching up to two meters in length.
In biology, Goldenrod has the following description:
- Short woody rhizome
- Stems are straight, up to 100 centimeters high, red-yellow color
- The leaves are elliptical in shape with serrated edges and uniform veins.
- Yellow flowers up to 15 mm in diameter in the form of baskets at the top of the stems
- The fruits are cylindrical in shape
- Blooms from late spring to early autumn
Goldenrod grows in the forests of the Caucasus, Western Siberia, Scandinavia, Central and Atlantic Europe and the Far East. According to the chemical composition, this plant contains organic acids (quinic, caffeic, chorogenic, hydroxycinnamic), flavonoids, coumarins, phenolic and polyacetylene compounds.
Properties and application
The herb Goldenrod is of great importance as a remedy folk and traditional medicine, veterinary medicine and homeopathy. This plant is also used as a tanning and dyeing agent for red, yellow and brown colors. In places where Goldenrod grows, it is not recommended to graze livestock, since poisoning due to the presence of strong toxic properties, increased excitability, or death is possible.
In ancient times, Goldenrod was used as a hallucinogenic drug for ritual processions and establishing contact with the other world through trance. From a pharmacological point of view, Goldenrod is of great value because it is a raw material for the production of medicines.
Goldenrod assigned a special role ethnoscience. Decoctions and infusions based on Golden Feather from the upper part of the plant were used as:
- Diuretic
- Cough remedies
- Disinfectant
- Anti-inflammatory drug
- Healing agent
- Means for the treatment of venereological diseases
- Remedies for removing kidney stones
- For the treatment of asthma, diabetes, tuberculosis, acute respiratory infections
- To reduce brain swelling
The root part of Goldenrod is used for:
- Means to accelerate wound healing
- Treatment of skin diseases
- Treatment of burns
- Reducing the effects of ulcers and hepatitis
- Increases male libido and sexual activity
- Removing intoxication after poisoning
- Relieving menstrual irregularities
- Treatment of urological diseases
- Relieving diarrhea in pets
In addition to the positive properties of Goldenrod, you need to know that any medicine or component of its preparation is poisonous. In this regard, it is recommended to take precautions and not use it yourself without special knowledge. The use of the plant by pregnant women is strictly prohibited.
Application in pharmacology
From a pharmacological point of view, goldenrod is very valuable plant. A large number of drugs are made from it to treat many diseases. Thanks to its activity, Goldenrod helps in the manufacture of medicines:
- Cystium solidago. Used in the treatment of urinary tract and kidney stones.
- Essential oil. Used in the treatment of respiratory tract organs.
- Gildrolata. Used to relieve acute skin irritation and the effects of burns.
- Immunomodulators. It is used to treat the consequences of acute infectious diseases.
In addition to the manufacture of medicines in pharmacology, Goldenrod is used in folk medicine as a decoction for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It must be remembered that its use is contraindicated for pregnant women, as it can lead to termination of pregnancy with possible complications.
For preparing a decoction you will need one tablespoon of finely chopped goldenrod and five hundred milliliters of boiled water. The medicine is infused for two days and taken two hundred milliliters four times a day half an hour before meals.
Thus, it can be stated that Goldenrod is one of the most important medicinal plants, the role of which is invaluable in current conditions, since all its possible properties have not yet been studied. Therefore, use in everyday life should be the most careful and only if you have the appropriate experience.
Educational video about goldenrod:
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