Northern bedstraw: description, use in folk medicine

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

Many plants are a harmonious combination of he alth and beauty. One of these is the northern bedstraw. A tall perennial plant belonging to the Rubiaceae family, it blooms profusely almost all summer, enveloping everything around with a rich and dense aroma. For this quality, the people called him honey grass. In addition, the plant has long been used in alternative medicine.

Northern bedstraw: botanical description

The plant is tall, strong, erect stems grow up to 80 cm. They have a simple structure, most often smooth, less often stiff-haired, branched or simple. Narrow-lanceolate leaves are collected in whorls of four, saturated green. The flowers form a paniculate inflorescence, have a fragrant white corolla. There are five possible variations of the plant according to the type of leaves and spiny hairs. Rhizome thin, creeping type. This is a Eurasian plant species, in ourThe country is widely distributed throughout the European part and in Siberia. Northern bedstraw prefers to grow in meadows, in bushes, along roads, on the edge of the forest.

Chemical composition

The use of the plant in folk medicine in many countries is due to the high content of various useful substances in it. Thus, the creeping rhizome is rich in saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, coumarins and tannins. The stem and leaves contain glycosides that affect the heart muscle, iridoids, essential oils, anthraquinones, alkaloids, vitamin C. In addition, the flowers are rich in specific rennet, which causes milk to turn sour. Earlier, for this purpose, the northern bedstraw (of the Rubiaceae family) was used in the manufacture of cheeses in Holland.

For the purpose of further use in folk medicine, the grass is harvested in July - early August, that is, during its mass flowering. To do this, the stem is cut at a level of 15 cm from the soil surface. Tie into strong bundles and dry in a shady, well-ventilated place.

Northern bedstraw: medicinal properties

Official medicine and pharmacology found that the plant has pronounced sedative (sedative) properties. It has long been used in Tibetan therapy (rhizomes), as well as in Belarus, Yakutia, Altai, Western Siberia. Bedstraw is valued mainly for its diuretic effect. Its use is allowed by medicine, but not in its pure form, but as part of herbal preparations. Among his peopleused for kidney diseases, in particular, they relieve swelling that occurs with various pathologies of the organ.

In addition, northern bedstraw is known to have a regenerating, astringent, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effect.

Using the plant

Healing rhizomes of the plant are used in the treatment of pneumonia, kidney disease, endometritis. As one of the components, it is part of a variety of herbal preparations recommended for use in infectious diseases.

Infusion of honey grass and decoctions are recommended by experts in the field of traditional medicine and for external use. In particular, if there are purulent wounds, bruises, cuts, burns. Northern bedstraw can be used as a dry powder in the case of ulcers, sprinkling it on wounds. An ointment made from fresh grass juice quickly relieves inflammation in abscesses and suppurations. In gynecology, a decoction is often used for douching with cervical erosion.

Preparing the infusion

In order to prepare a healing infusion, you only need two components: boiling water and the herb itself. It is necessary to fill the dry bedstraw with water in a ratio of 4 tbsp. l. for 0.4 l and infuse the mixture for about 4-5 hours, covering it with a towel so that the heat lasts longer. At the end, strain the infusion through several layers of gauze and boldly use it in the form of baths, lotions on damaged areas of the skin.

A drinking course is prescribed for the treatment of impotence. It is recommended to use an infusion of 2 tablespoonsspoon three times a day. For the treatment of angina pectoris, the ratio of herbs and water for cooking is changed. It is necessary to take 0.5 l of boiling water and only 20 g of dry grass of the bedstraw.

Contraindications

As noted above, northern bedstraw (of the Rubiaceae family) has a pronounced diuretic effect. It is for this reason that diabetics should use infusions and decoctions of its herbs or rhizomes with extreme caution. It is not recommended to use the bedstraw in its pure form or as a part of fees for women during pregnancy, as well as for children.

The plant has a strong astringent effect, so its intake is prescribed in courses with an interval of one or two weeks. In addition, it is known that the bedstraw is poisonous, so the dosage should be strictly observed so that the treatment is beneficial and not harmful. However, like any other homeopathic remedy. Before starting treatment with folk remedies, you should always consult a doctor, and not rely blindly on intuition and the advice of herbalists.