Early spring on the slopes of hills, ravines, forest clearings appear yellow flowers mother and stepmother. In folk medicine - it's one of the main tools for the treatment of diseases of bronchopulmonary system. Apply mother and stepmother also in various diseases of the skin, for hair regrowth.

The botanical characteristics of mother and stepmother

A perennial herb of the family Compositae height of 20-25 cm. It has branched rhizome, with threadlike roots. In the spring (March-April), the first of the erect flowering shoots flowers appear (before the advent of permanent leaves). Flowering shoots are covered with scaly leaves first. The flowers are yellow, collected in the baskets. In May, the plant fades, and there are fruit - achene with a tuft, and new dense basal leaves on long, sturdy stalks. The leaves are round and heart-shaped form, they are on top of smooth, hard green (stepmother), bottom - soft, warm, covered with long white hairs (the mother). Propagated plant seeds and using rhizomes which can produce self shoots (vegetative).

Mother and stepmother grows in the European part of Russia, in the North Caucasus, Siberia, the Far East, on the banks of rivers, ravines, on clay soils.

As a medicinal plant use flowers with stems (collected in March - April) and persistent leaves (harvested in June - July). Young scaly brown leaves are not collected. Flowers dried in special kilns at a temperature of about 50 ° C, the leaves - outdoors in the shade, stirring constantly.

The chemical composition of flowers and leaves his mother and stepmother

Leaves mother and stepmother contain bitter glycosides (organic substances of plant origin, which have medicinal properties), saponins (they determine the main medicinal properties of mother and stepmother), carotene (in the human body it is converted into vitamin A), organic acids (malic, tartaric, ascorbic acid, gallic - they improve the metabolism), phytosterols (fat-like substances), mucus (have shielding and emollient properties), essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? Tannins. In the flowers found steroids, tannins and flavonoids (eg, rutin - it gives flowers of yellow color).

Medicinal properties of mother and stepmother

Flowers and leaves his mother and stepmother have anti-inflammatory, expectorant, phlegm effect, which is widely used in the treatment of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis). Moreover, infusions and decoctions mother and stepmother used to rinse the throat and mouth in angina, pharyngitis, stomatitis. Use mother and stepmother for colds, acute respiratory viral diseases, including the flu, as it has also some diaphoretic (and, hence, reduces the temperature) effects.

In addition, the flowers and leaves his mother and stepmother used as an antispasmodic (relieves spasms of the muscles of internal organs and blood vessels) in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcers, colitis), liver and biliary tract (cholecystitis , cholangitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver), kidney and urinary tract infection (pyelonephritis, cystitis). At the initial stages of hypertension Hypertensive heart disease - the prognosis is poor   mother and stepmother used as a light lowers blood pressure Blood pressure - dangerous if his swing?   means. As an antispasmodic herb helps with severe headaches caused by spasms of the blood vessels of the brain.

It is believed that the mother and stepmother has anti-sclerotic effect, so it is used in atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis - a chronic disease of the arteries Including coronary heart disease, as a means to improve metabolism and prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels.

Applies mother and stepmother, and externally for various skin lesions. For example, for burns to the skin lesion apply a cloth soaked decoctions and infusions of this plant. Assist such infusions with festering wounds, boils, pustular rash.

How to make drugs from mother and stepmother at home

In the home of the mother and stepmother can be cooked:

• juice from fresh leaves mother and stepmother: wash the leaves, pour over boiling water, mince, squeeze; juice of half-diluted with water, bring to a boil, cool and take on a tablespoon 3 times daily after meals; It can be used for instillation of the nose with a cold;
• fresh squeezed juice can be applied undiluted topically applying to purulent wounds and boils;
• infusion oral: tablespoon dried minced raw pour a glass of boiled water, 15-20 minutes, cool, filter and take a tablespoon 5-6 times a day as an expectorant.

Mother-and-stepmother - tested folk remedy to treat a variety of diseases.

Galina Romanenko

The healing properties of sage

Since ancient times, people wanted to know how Sage affects the body, what miraculous power of this plant. Empirically it has been found that sage is effective in the treatment of nervous diseases, dermatological diseases, angina, and many other ailments. Traditional healers could not explain the mechanism of action of sage on health, so the plant was declared sacred, miraculous. Over time, scientists were able to figure out what is the basis of the effectiveness of sage.

All parts of this plant comprise the essential oil, the amount of the leaves which can vary from 1 to 2 3, 5 percent. Contained in the essential oil substance widely used in pharmacology. For example, cineole has expectorant and antiseptic properties, and borneol lowers blood pressure.

Many in the essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses?   sage and camphor, which gives the plant a specific scent. Camphor - recognized means to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Camphor helps blood circulation, beneficial effect on the heart muscle and improves heart function, helps phlegm and has antipruritic action.

The properties of sage for the sick and healthy

Salvia officinalis possesses anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, hemostatic, astringent, emollient, diuretic. Infusion of sage is used to reduce the activity of the sweat glands, as a cooling and soothing agents. A decoction of the plant reduces toothache Toothache - itself does not take place   and is used for the treatment of stomatitis, and baths with Sage soothe, relieve itching and aid in the treatment of many dermatological diseases.

The medicinal properties of sage are manifold, and a decoction or infusion of the plant can be used to treat a variety of disease at any age. Sage and used for preventing a variety of inflammatory diseases.

The healing properties of sage are used in cosmetology. With the help of this plant can be permanently preserve youthfulness of skin and beauty of hair. Sage rid of dandruff Dandruff: where it comes from, and what to do   and help in the fight against infectious diseases of the skin. Moreover, it is believed that regular rinsing the hair infusion of sage can help return color graying strands.

Brewing sage correctly

Sales can be found dried sage leaves in bundles and bags, like tea. For infusion of sage tea bags are most convenient.

In inflammatory diseases of the throat and mouth, such as stomatitis, periodontal disease and angina Periodontal disease: deep problem   Sage herb brewed at the rate of two tablespoons to two cups of boiling water. Infuse the mixture should be about a half hour, then drain and rinse.

Skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis, as well as frostbite, burns, excessive sweating need to make six tablespoons of dried sage in two cups of boiling water, then infuse for three hours. It is advisable to use an infusion flask or well wrap up the capacity to extract it to cool down as slowly as possible. The thus-obtained infusion is filtered and used for lotions and washing the affected skin or added to the bath.

Sage tea for headaches or to stop lactation prepared as follows: a tablespoon of sage, pour a glass of boiling water and infused for half an hour. Take the infusion should be gradually, no more than one-third cup at a time. Before treatment, it is imperative to consult a doctor for advice, so as not to harm health.