Surely many have seen the beautiful blue flowers of Veronica oak. It grows in forest clearings, meadows, near shrubs. But you can observe the beauty of this delicate plant only on a sunny day, because in cloudy weather the blue flowers hide. It is important to note that oak veronica (see photo in the article) is used for medical purposes.
Botanical description
This plant species belongs to the genus Veronica from the Plantain family and is a herbaceous perennial. Depending on the place of growth, the creeping stems of the flower stretch from 10 to 45 cm. Small soft hairs can be seen on the stems. The leaves of the plant have a slightly elongated ovoid shape with an incised-blunt-toothed border. They grow on short cuttings. The length of the leaves is 1.5-3 cm, and their width is 1-2 cm. Thanks to the hairs, they have a slight fluffiness.
Pigeon axillary flowers collected in small brushes. The flower cup is formed from four orfive fused leaves. Sometimes the flowers may have a white border and dark veins. The diameter of the rim is 10-15 mm. After flowering, fruits appear on the plant, resembling small boxes about 3x4 cm in size. Inside are numerous flat seeds. Veronica oak has a thin branched rhizome.
Flower Spread
This plant can be found in Russia and Ukraine in all areas. Veronica chooses dry places in meadows and clearings. It is also often planted in gardens near shrubs, as an ornament. Some people like that oak veronica grows on their plots. The cultivation process is described below.
Variety of names
Given such a wide distribution, oak veronica in different parts of the country can be called differently. Here are some of its names: wild forget-me-not, core, heart grass, cogwheel, oak tree, consumable, sheep grass, hernia grass, cichony, eyebright, anpirka, konotopets. The variety of her names does not end there, but in botanical encyclopedias this plant is called Veronica chamaedrys.
Collecting and harvesting plants
The flower Veronica oak is used in folk treatment. Many herbalists harvest plants during their flowering period, since it is at this moment that the maximum amount of useful substances is collected in them. In Veronica oakwood, this period falls on the months from May to July.
In medicine, flowering shoots are used, which must be cut with sharp scissors. If theredamaged or yellowed parts, they must be removed. After collecting, the raw materials are laid out on a prepared pallet in a thin layer. The layer should not exceed five centimeters. You need to dry the raw materials in a room where there is air access, for example, an attic or a veranda is suitable for this. Here you can store already dried grass, packaged in paper bags. After two years, this medicinal raw material loses its power and becomes unusable.
It can be seen that under natural conditions, the Veronica oak plant has no smell, but after it has been dried, an unobtrusive aroma appears. Feels slightly bitter when consumed.
Growing a flower
Often, oak veronica is bred in front gardens and garden plots. The growing process is quite simple, because the plant is unpretentious and quickly takes root. For planting, the division method is used, but the flower can also grow from seeds. Growth requires access to sunlight and moderately fertile land. When planting Veronica, you need to remember that it does not tolerate damp and heavy soil well. Planting can be done in autumn or spring. After the flowering has passed, the dried branches are cut off. The plant is not covered for the winter.
Oak Veronica: use in medicine for healing
Like many other herbs, veronica was widely used by healers during World War II. It could be collected in the forest in a clearing, and decoctions and infusions were prepared from it. Suchdrugs were given to drink in diseases of the liver and kidneys.
It has now been revealed that the herb contains some vitamins, tannins, saponins, aucubins, essential oils and other components. But unlike Veronica officinalis, the chemical composition of this plant is not fully understood. Despite this, it was noted that drugs from this herb help with gynecological disorders, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, gout, diabetes, oncological pathologies, and during common colds.
So, oak veronica has wound healing, antifungal, expectorant, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic properties. It is also recommended by herbalists for gastritis with low acidity, during diarrhea or with poor appetite. A prepared herbal infusion can also help if there are wounds, skin diseases, boils, burns. For these purposes, external use is advisable.
Possible recipes
You can prepare a medicinal decoction so that the medicine is always at hand. For this, dried, chopped oak veronica is taken and poured into hot water (2 tablespoons of raw materials per 400 ml of liquid). For further preparation, a water bath is made, and the potion is left for 15 minutes. After cooling, the infusion is filtered through a strainer or gauze. The finished product is stored in the refrigerator, in the freezer. At room temperature, the medicine sours in a couple of days and loses its healing properties. For internal use or treatment of skin diseases, it is betterprepare a fresh herbal preparation daily.
There are also recipes for making an infusion for internal use. Pour two cups of boiling water into a thermos and add two spoons of Veronica (dry and chop it beforehand). Wrap the container tightly and leave overnight. In the morning, the infusion is filtered into a container. This tool can be used not only inside, but also externally.
Another infusion recipe. For cooking, ten grams of ground raw materials are measured and lowered into a glass or cup. The container is filled to the top with boiling water and covered with a saucer. Two hours later, the infusion is filtered through gauze, the cake is well squeezed out and discarded. Fluid is used for healing.
Recommendations for use
The prepared infusion is usually taken orally half an hour before meals three or four times a day. Drink 1/3 or 1/2 cup at a time. But it is worth noting that although Veronica oak is a good helper for some diseases, it is important to consult a specialist before using it, since some treatments may be incompatible and produce not the expected, but the opposite effect.
