Every spring, beautiful and delicate flowers bloom - lilies of the valley. Are they poisonous or not? In fact, lilies of the valley are used not only to decorate flower beds or landscapes, they are actively used in everyday life and traditional medicine. The flower has useful and dangerous properties at the same time, so you need to handle it very carefully.
Description
Lilies of the valley are poisonous flowering plants that are widespread in the northern hemisphere of the globe. The family is represented by only one species - May lily of the valley, which is popularly called the culprit or rejuvenator. It has an underground and creeping rhizome. The plant has large leaves and fibrous roots.
A raceme with white bell flowers develops between two large lanceolate leaves. On one branch there can be from six to twenty most delicate flowers. During flowering (May-June), it exudes a strong and pleasant aroma, after which red or orange berries ripen in place of the flowers. Lily of the valley is a perennial. It reaches a height of thirty centimeters.
Features
Why are lilies of the valley poisonous? Their leaves, flowers and fruits contain special substances, tooactive for the human body. In large doses, they are incredibly dangerous. On the other hand, medicines based on lily of the valley help with epilepsy, heart failure, fluid retention in the body, are effective for glaucoma, hypertension, problems with the endocrine system, pain in the abdomen, head, and nervousness. It is best to use lily of the valley not in its pure form, as traditional medicine suggests, but in processed form.
With frequent pains in the heart, use the folk recipe, but only after consulting a doctor. Separate the bells from the stem of the lily of the valley, place them in even layers in a glass bowl, sprinkle with sugar or pour honey. The composition can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time. During an attack of pain, take a few flowers, they will relieve discomfort. Remember that folk remedies should be used only after consultation with your doctor.
Useful properties and composition
Despite the fact that lilies of the valley are poisonous, they are used in the treatment of many diseases.
- The plant contains about twenty glycosides, including steroid, convallatoxin, convalloside and many others. The composition contains flavonoids, polysaccharides, coumarins and other substances.
- Essential oil is extracted from the lily of the valley, which has a rich delicate smell. This fragrance calms, relieves irritability, fights insomnia.
- Glycosides contained in the plant are used for the production of cardiac drugs. Substances found in lily of the valley strengthen the heart muscle,restore lipid and energy metabolism in case of impaired blood circulation.
Tinctures and medicines made from this plant are used to reduce or relieve edema, with functional disorders of the central nervous system, and various eye diseases. It is necessary to use products that contain this flower only after consulting a doctor. Remember that lilies of the valley are poisonous and can do great harm instead of good.
Do flowers contain poison?
Many are interested in whether lilies of the valley are poisonous. The plant contains a high concentration of active substances in the composition, so it is poisonous. It is impossible to use drugs and medicinal fees without the need. It is dangerous for he alth and life to use them uncontrollably for people who suffer from myocarditis, endocarditis, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and impaired blood flow. Do not use the flowers and berries of the plant for food. This leads to severe poisoning, vomiting, ringing in the ears, increased heart rate and other unpleasant consequences.
Where they grow
Despite the beauty and tenderness of flowers, the refinement of light green leaves, lilies of the valley are poisonous to humans. These plants grow in temperate climates. They can often be found in coniferous and deciduous forests, in glades illuminated by sunlight. Lilies of the valley also tolerate shade well. They reproduce quickly, thanks to strong rhizomes and branched roots. Grow in Siberia, the Far East, the Crimea, the Caucasus. Also found inother regions of the country. Flowers are protected, listed in the Red Book.
How to use
The article answers the question of whether lilies of the valley are poisonous or not. Another thing is how to apply them correctly. In finished form, they are sold in medicinal preparations, medical preparations, but there is an alternative way to use them. If the lily of the valley grows at home, you can collect bluebells during flowering and make a tincture from them.
- Take a glass jar, ¾ fill it with flowers, fill it with 90% alcohol to the top. Close with a tight lid and leave to infuse for two weeks. After that, strain the composition, leave only the liquid without flowers. Take five drops three times a day for cramps, fever or heart pain.
- If you're worried about glaucoma, try making your own infusion. Take a teaspoon of lily of the valley flowers, mix the bluebells with a tablespoon of chopped nettle leaves (they must be fresh). Add twenty grams of pure water to the mixture and leave to infuse for ten hours. Next, add another five grams of water. In the resulting infusion, it is recommended to moisten cotton pads and apply to the eyes.
Lily of the valley tinctures have a beneficial effect on the blood. They clean it and improve its properties. In small doses, they have a hypotensive effect, reduce the pulse and increase the strength of strokes, relieve headaches and irritability.
