Medicine all times and peoples enjoy a variety of plants. Modern medicine also can not do without the herbal medicines. Because herbs are preparing high cardiac, pain, relieves muscle spasms and other drugs.

Spirea ivolistny

The word "spirea" in Greek means "curving" as branches of this plant are bent to form a beautiful lush bush. There are many kinds of spirits, most of which is used as an ornamental plant for landscaping and suburban areas as hedges. All spiraea is a good honey plant, they are often planted next to the apiaries. The Spiro contains many volatile production (volatile substances with a pronounced antimicrobial action), so it contributes to a healthier environment. In our country, spirea have another name - meadowsweet.

In medicine not used all kinds of spirit. Medicinal plants include, for example, purple loosestrife spirea or meadowsweet purple loosestrife.

Spirea (meadowsweet), purple loosestrife - is one of the members of the family Rosaceae, shrub with brown branches up to one and a half meters. The leaves of spiraea ivolistny large, sharp, lanceolate, with serrated edges, up to 10 cm. The flowers are pink, are located at the ends of shoots, collected in high panicles. The fruit is a bare whisk with turned-out column.

Flowering spirea purple loosestrife in May and July. It grows along the banks of reservoirs on forest edges, wet depressions in the terrain, in the swamps. Distributed spirea on purple loosestrife in Siberia, the Far East and North America. In folk medicine as a medicinal plant used the roots, young shoots with flowers at the ends of branches bark, leaves.

Flowering tops cut spirea (breaks off), connect to the dried suspended under the eaves.

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of purple loosestrife spiraea is not fully understood. It is known that in the flowering tops spirea ivolistny includes:

• Vitamins: ascorbic acid - it strengthens the walls of blood vessels and the immune system; carotenoids - of which the body is formed vitamin A, carotenoids are powerful antioxidants Antioxidants: the truth about the notorious benefits   (stops the aging process), strengthen the immune system, improve the condition of the skin and its appendages (hair and nails);
• essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses?   spirea - it contains salicylic acid and volatile, has antipyretic, analgesic, antibacterial and antifungal properties, relieves muscle spasm of the internal organs and blood vessels;
• flavonoids - bioactive substances that can affect the human enzyme, thereby enhancing metabolic processes;
• tannins - astringent, analgesic, antimicrobial action, reduce the secretion of mucus.

The use of traditional medicine

In folk medicine used decoctions and infusions of shoots with flowers, bark, branches. They have antibacterial and antifungal properties, used for diarrhea, goiter and fungal diseases of the bowel (eg, intestinal candidiasis).

In the East, decoctions and infusions spirea ivolistny also used for diarrhea, to get rid of worms, rheumatism, for the treatment of scurvy Scurvy: a rare but dangerous . Externally they are used for various gynecological diseases in the form of baths and douches Douching - a controversial procedure   and snake bites.

Young leaves and shoots spirea purple loosestrife in Siberia and the Far East used to prepare vitamin salads.

How to prepare medicine from spiraea ivolistny

Spirea ivolistny used in folk medicine as infusions and decoctions:

• decoction of the shoots with flowers: a teaspoon of minced raw pour a glass of water, bring to a boil, boil for 15 minutes, made up to the initial level, filter, and then again bring to a boil, cool and take a tablespoon three times a day for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract ;
• infusion of shoots with flowers: a teaspoon of minced raw pour a glass of boiled water, 20-30 minutes, filter and take a tablespoon three times a day for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Dried flowers and shoots spirea ivolistny also prepare teas and fresh shoots - salad, seasoning them with vegetable oil or sour cream.

Spirea - a very nice decorative plant that can brighten any garden. But as medicinal plants spirea poorly understood, in addition, not all species of this plant are used to treat, so do not use them to treat yourself, it is better to rely on the experience of herbalists, talking to your doctor.

Galina Romanenko

Hardly anyone does not know how useful currants. It is harvested in the winter, rubbing with sugar and trying to keep vitamins, make compotes, jams, jams, pies added to as a filling, and just eat fresh, enjoying the smell and taste. Currants always reminds of summer, sun, green, lifts the mood and relieves fatigue.

Where it grows and looks like currants

In Russia it grows mainly black and red currants, which are from the family of gooseberry bushes.

Black currant - bush height of 1-2 meters, with alternate heart-shaped, mostly lobed leaves, seated below oily glands, very fragrant. Flowers are white, with five petals, arranged in loose hanging racemes. Fruit - a medium-sized black berry scented. It grows in moist open sunny places, but can grow in partial shade (blossoms and bears fruit in such cases less), in the woods and mountain-forest belt, among the bushes. It is grown in gardens as a cultivated plant. Blooms in June-July, bears fruit - in July and August.

Red currant bush also has a height of 1-2 m, leaves 3-5 cm long and wide, with serrated edges, almost odorless. The flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green, collected in the brush. Fruit - a small bright red berry also has a strong odor.

Chemical composition

Black currant contain much ascorbic acid (which is not destroyed by a long time is retained even in a frozen form), vitamins K, E, D, B, carotene (precursor of vitamin A), trace elements (potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron), vegetable proteins, carbohydrates (glucose, fructose), cellulose, organic acids (citric, malic, succinic, phosphoric, etc.), pectic substances and tannin. Black currant leaves contain essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? , Volatile, ascorbic acid (to a lesser extent than the berries).

The red currant berries contain less ascorbic acid, but more vitamin P (rutin), which, together with ascorbic acid strengthens the walls of blood vessels, vitamin A, vitamin E, B complex, more carbohydrates in the form of simple sugars, organic acids (succinic, malic , citric acid), minerals (especially rich in iron, potassium, iodine, selenium), pectin and tannins, coumarins.

Influence of currants on the human body

Currants has on the human body multilateral action:

• carotene, found in berries black and red currants, plays an important role in enhancing immunity, enhance metabolism Metabolism: The basis of life of all living things It prevents premature aging, the formation of tumors, protects against various harmful substances (industrial poisons, gasoline vapors, tobacco and so on);
• Vitamin E (tocopherol) also contributes to slowing down the aging process, normalize hormones, prevents the appearance of atherosclerosis;
• B vitamins - a source of energy, without which it is impossible, no biochemical process in the body; They are also required to strengthen the nervous system, improve memory;
• a large amount of minerals contained in the currants, helps to activate the metabolic processes;
• pectins, which are especially numerous in the red currants, excrete toxins and waste products, including "harmful" cholesterol.
• coumarin, contained in a red currant, reduces blood clotting, which is the prevention of thrombosis, myocardial infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases;
• currant organic acids are a source of energy, they are particularly useful in the elderly, with fatigue; organic acids also have antimicrobial and antiviral activity.

Black currant has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, antidiabetic, protivoateroskleroticheskim, astringent, antipyretic and tonic effect. They improve appetite, increases motor activity of the intestine. Black currant juice normalizes the intestinal microflora, creating in him a favorable acidic environment. Black currant leaves have diaphoretic, diuretic, choleretic and antimicrobial action, help cleanse the skin, lowers blood pressure.

The red currant berries also contain substances with anti-tumor, analgesic, warning thrombosis (coumarin) and other useful medical properties. Red currant berries contain many antioxidants Antioxidants: the truth about the notorious benefits Able to withstand the cancer cells.

What diseases can be treated with currants

Berries currant useful for colds, some infectious diseases accompanied by fever, and decreased immunity. They are taken for constipation, dysbiosis, hemorrhoids, various diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Infusions and decoctions of leaves of black currants are taking for kidney and urinary tract: a tablespoon of crushed dried leaves of currant pour a glass of boiled water, in a water bath Sauna and health: the benefits and harms of bath procedures , Filter and take a quarter cup 3 times a day.

Red currant berries are especially appreciated because of the large amount of pectin, which bind and remove harmful substances from the body. They recommend taking in atherosclerosis, varicose veins, after a stroke, and myocardial infarction. They are taken as an antipyretic, diaphoretic, choleretic and mild laxative.

Currants - a true Russian and very useful berry.

Galina Romanenko