Altai owes a variety of medicinal herbs to the extraordinary unique climate and natural relief. The rarest combination of natural conditions created excellent ground for the birth of not only the most talented people (Evdokimov, Zolotukhin, etc.), but also medicinal plants and mineral springs. Cedar trees, pines, tundra, rocks, meadows, all this is collected in a large area called Altai.
About 2000 species of plants grow in the Altai Territory, 660 of which are used by humans as food, sources of vitamins and medicines. The list of relict plant species includes 32 names, and 10 of them are listed in the Red Book. These are feather grass, Zalessky's feather grass, Siberian kandyk, Ludwig's iris, Altai onion, Altai gymnosperm, steppe peony.
Origanum vulgaris (Lamiaceae family)
A perennial herb growing up to one meter in height with erect tetrahedral stems. From July to September, it blooms with small purple-red flowers. The fruit is a small brown nut. It is famous not only for its surprisingly pleasant smell and taste, but also for a number of useful properties. A good remedy for coughs, colic and women's pains.
Golden root (radiola rosea)
An excellent stimulant that increases tone, improves memory and attention. This plant is also called Altai ginseng and is consumed as a tincture or simply brewed like tea.
Pine nuts
Rich in vitamins E, B, R. Linoleic acid improves heredity, cleanses the blood. A source of iodine and phosphatide phosphorus, which is simply necessary for the human body. Such deficient trace elements as zinc, manganese, cobalt and copper are also found in small, delicate nucleoli. And read more in our article published earlier.
Kopechnik South Siberian (red root, blistered, bear-root)
A plant with a red root, which sick bears eat with pleasure in the spring, is saturated with catechins, tannins and amino acids, treats infertility, impotence, urinary problems and prostatitis, improves immunity and strengthens the heart muscles. In terms of its beneficial properties, it exceeds the golden root and is equal to ginseng.
Sea buckthorn
An excellent refresher. Tea from its leaves is successfully drunk with diabetes, hypertension, dermatitis, atherosclerosis, pleurisy, coronary heart disease and pneumonia. A leaf compress is made on the joints for arthritis.
The nature of Altai is unique. An amazing combination of natural conditions has created a unique look of its landscapes. Here you can find juicy meadows full of herbs, and steppes dried up by the heat, dull mountain tundras and luxurious coniferous forests.
However, the true miracle of Altai is the zone of high mountain belts. These are alpine and subalpine meadows, playing with all the colors of the rainbow, like magical flower beds created by the hand of a sorcerer.
This is also the zone of the forest border, where mighty centuries-old cedars, like epic heroes, guard the secrets of majestic rocks. These are also wonderful springs, carrying their crystal jets from the eternal snows resting on the sky-high peaks of the mountains.
The main features of the vegetation cover of Altai are due to its geographic location, complex geological history, variety of climatic conditions.
Great length the territory of Altai, both from north to south and from west to east, predetermines the extraordinary diversity of its flora.
More than 2000 species of plants grow on the territory of Altai. There are about 660 species of useful plants directly used by man. Many types of plants can be both medicinal, food, vitamin-bearing, and poisonous at the same time.
Group medicinal plants is one of the largest. Widely used in official medicine golden root, bergenia thick-leaved, valerian officinalis, Ural licorice, azure cyanosis, peony, dandelion, highlander, safflower-like rapotnik.
food plants in the flora of the region 149 species. Edible and widely consumed stalks of hogweed, angelica, Siberian skerda, ranks of Gmelin, sorrel leaves, rhubarb, bracken, flask, berry plants, wild onion. The stocks of raw materials of some food plants are quite large, but some need protection - rhubarb, flask, fern.
The flora of Altai is unique - more than 100 plant species are found only in Altai and nowhere else in the world. This endemics, which arose here in the process of evolutionary development, among which, for the most part, are especially valuable medicinal plants e.g. red brush.
The flora of the Altai Territory contains 32 relict species. This Siberian linden, European hoof, fragrant bedstraw, giant fescue, Siberian brunner, salvinia floating, water chestnut and others.
The Red Book of Russia (1988) includes ten species of plants growing in the Altai Territory: Siberian kandyk, Ludwig's iris, Zalessky's feather grass, feather grass, feathery feather grass, Altai onion, steppe peony, Altai gymnosperm, Altai stellofopsis.
Altai is rightfully considered one of the most environmentally friendly places not only in Russia, but also in the world. There are eight sites on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in Russia. Five of them are located on the territory of Altai. These are the Katunsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve, the city of Belukha, the Altai State Natural Reserve, Teletskoye Lake and the Ukok Rest Zone.
Studies conducted on the initiative of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) within the framework of the Living Planet program have shown that there are about two hundred regions on planet Earth in which 95% of all species of living organisms are concentrated. They got the name coreregions (ecological regions).
By preserving these regions, mankind will be able to save more than 95% of the existing biological diversity of the planet. Altai is included in the list of 200 unique ecoregions of the world (Global 200). Protecting this truly unique corner of nature is important matter both the population of Altai and all mankind.
Preparation of medicinal herbs
Medicinal plants are our "green gold" and should be handled wisely. With a rational approach to the collection of medicinal plants, their stocks will be renewed. Today, the stocks of many medicinal herbs and plants are rapidly declining, some of them are about to disappear altogether.
There are certain rules for the collection of medicinal plants, which must be followed by both professional collectors and those who collect herbs for their own needs.
In ancient herbalists, they indicated the exact date of collection of a particular plant, when the plant has the greatest healing properties. Often this date was associated with church holidays - “on Peter’s fast for dew ...”, “gather on the eve of Ivan Kupala”, etc.
If there are few plants in the places of planned harvesting, it is necessary to find other places of mass growth. Annuals can be collected in the same place every two years. Re-harvesting of perennial plants in one area is recommended after 7-10 years, depending on the characteristics of growth. At least 50% of individuals should be left on the collection area to ensure the restoration of stocks.
Medicinal plants change their composition according to the seasons, and according to the days of the month, and even according to the hours of the day. The Sun and the Moon influence the biochemical composition of plants. Often in old recipes it is written that this or that plant must be collected on a full moon or “when the month is at a loss”, or even “on a moonless night”. According to astrological guidelines, during the waxing moon, juices and energy rush to the sky, filling the ground part of the vegetation; during the waning moon, they fill the earth and underground plant organs. The full moon is the most unfavorable period for collection.
In folk medicine, there is a strong belief about the especially healing properties of herbs collected on July 7, the day of Ivan Kupala, and herbs collected at dawn have the maximum effect. Some of the Russian herbalists were engaged in collecting herbs, attracting assistants, only on the specified day.
These instructions must be heeded.
In order to preserve as many useful substances as possible in plants, certain conditions must be observed when collecting and drying plants, which can be found in the special literature.
Every year interest in medicinal plants increases, they are harvested more and more, the number of adherents of herbal treatment is steadily increasing. In this regard, some endangered medicinal plants have already been included in the Red Book. We must help nature to maintain balance. To do this, you need to skillfully, carefully handle its wealth, in particular, with medicinal herbs.
The following are the most common herbs, plants, berries and mushrooms of Altai, which are used for food and medicinal purposes. This is a description of a small part of all plants suitable for food and treatment. The format of the site does not allow to include all medicinal herbs, plants, berries and mushrooms growing in Altai. But acquaintance with only a small part of them will give the reader an idea of the diversity of their medicinal and nutritional qualities.
Medicinal herbs
Bergenia crassifolia L.
Family saxifrage– Saxifragaceae Juss
Popular name: Mongolian or Chagir tea.
Badan thick-leaved is a perennial herbaceous plant of the saxifrage family.
It grows in Altai - on the slopes of the mountains, more often northern, on stony soils, blocks, rocks, as well as in dark coniferous (cedar, fir) and deciduous forests. Thanks to the branching of the rhizome, it forms crowded continuous thickets.
In medicine, an extract of leaves and rhizomes is used, it has astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and disinfecting properties. It is also used to treat colitis, enterocolitis, stomatitis, gingivitis, cervical erosion.
In folk medicine, infusions and decoctions of bergenia rhizomes are recommended as astringent, hemostatic, disinfectant and anti-febrile agent, with diseases of the oral cavity, nose, with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, women's diseases, headache, fever, for wound healing, with pneumonia.
Badan leaves are widely used for diarrhea, fever. Tea from the old leaves of the plant is used for diseases of the urinary tract, goiter, toothache. The rhizomes are eaten after soaking. Powder from dried bergenia roots is sprinkled on wounds and ulcers to speed up their healing.
Contraindications: hypotension, tachycardia, hemorrhoids, thrombophlebitis, bowel disease with a tendency to constipation.
Galega officinalis - Galega officinalis L.
legume family– Fabaceae
vernacular name: goat's rue officinalis.
Galega officinalis - Galega is found in wet places in meadows, along river banks, along beams, forest edges.
The aerial part of the plant in the form of decoctions and infusions is used for diabetes.
Leaves and flowers are included in antidiabetic fees. They have been used for a long time in folk medicine as diuretic, diaphoretic, lactogenic, anthelmintic.
The internal use of Galega officinalis requires great care, since the plant poisonous.
Elecampane high - Inula helenium L.
Compositae family– composites
Perennial herbaceous plant. Distributed in Altai in the forest and forest-steppe zones. It grows along the banks of rivers, lakes, in wet meadows, in places where groundwater comes out, among shrubs, in deciduous forests, along the outskirts of villages (like running wild). Elecampane tall refers to ancient medicinal plants, which were widely used in their time by doctors of the era of Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Pliny. This plant was used in the practice of Avicenna. Pliny wrote that elecampane grew out of the tears of Helen, the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction by Paris, according to legend, was the reason for the Trojan War.
Decoction elecampane is used
- with bronchitis,
- bronchial asthma,
- pneumonia,
- emphysema,
- pulmonary tuberculosis;
- diseases of the digestive tract (gastritis with increased secretion, enterocolitis, diarrhea of non-infectious origin, pancreatitis, in the absence of appetite);
- liver diseases,
- skin diseases (with eczema, neurodermatitis and other dermatosis and difficult to heal wounds),
- in folk medicine - with helminthic invasion,
- painful and irregular menstruation
- anemia,
- kidney disease,
- hemorrhoids,
- diabetes,
- dropsy,
- hypertension
Infusion of elecampane used for:
with inflammation of the lungs,
bronchitis,
tracheitis,
cold,
with high blood pressure,
hemorrhoids
as a blood purifier for various skin diseases.
Ointment elecampane is used for eczema and itching of the skin.
Juice- with cough and bronchial asthma.
Tincture- with malaria.
Essence from fresh roots and rhizomes is used in homeopathy. In Bulgarian folk medicine, tincture is used for palpitations, headaches, epilepsy, whooping cough.
Rhizomes and roots of elecampane are part of expectorant, gastric, diuretic preparations.
Contraindications and possible side effects: elecampane is not recommended for use in severe diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, during pregnancy. It should be remembered that preparations of elecampane high can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. In case of an overdose, symptoms of poisoning may appear.
Oregano – Origanum vulgare L.
Labiaceae family– Lamiacea
Popular name: douche, mother.
Perennial herbaceous plant. Oregano is widespread in Altai. It usually grows in groups of several plants on sandy and loamy dry and fresh soils in coniferous and mixed forests, on their edges, glades and clearings, on upland and floodplain meadows.
The medicinal properties of the plant are mentioned in the works of Dioscorides, Aristotle, Aristophanes. According to Avicenna, oregano was used in ancient times for diseases of the joints, treatment of the liver and stomach. It was recommended to chew grass for toothache and to cleanse teeth from stones.
Oregano is part of a sedative collection for the treatment of neuroses, chest and diaphoretic fees, it is prescribed for intestinal atony.
In obstetric and gynecological practice, infusion - with amenorrhea, baths - with gynecological diseases.
In homeopathy, the essence is used for hysteria, erotomania, nymphomania.
In folk medicine infusion of oregano used for:
- acute respiratory diseases,
- whooping cough
- gastritis,
- stomach colic,
- hepatitis,
- diarrhea
- dyspepsia,
- asthenia,
- bronchial asthma,
- rheumatism,
- neuralgia,
infusion, decoction (locally) –
- with itchy eczema,
- other skin diseases (as a wound healing).
Juice oregano is used for:
- with rheumatism,
- paralysis,
- convulsions
- epilepsy,
- pain in the intestines,
- menstrual disorders,
- with reduced secretion of gastric juice,
- atony and bloating of the intestine,
- with constipation,
- to stimulate appetite
- improve digestion,
- from a cold
- with various gynecological diseases;
- provides pain relief
- tranquilizing,
- hemostatic and
- deodorizing action;
outwardly- with skin rashes, furunculosis, abscesses, headaches.
In folk medicine, it is part of balms and ointments - for neuralgia, rheumatism, paralysis, paresis, toothache and earache.
Contraindications to the use of oregano preparations are severe diseases of the cardiovascular system, pregnancy.
St. John's wort - Hepericum perforatum L.
St. John's wort family– Hypericaceae
Perennial herbaceous plant.
Distributed almost throughout the Altai.
It grows on fresh sandy and loamy soils in pine and mixed forests, clearings, clearings, fallow lands, along roads.
Rarely forms large thickets (usually on fallows), more often grows in narrow strips along the edges of the forest.
In the old days, St. John's wort was considered a magical plant. In the countryside, when stuffing mattresses for children, Bogorodsk grass (thyme) was necessarily added to the straw so that the child had sweet dreams, and St. John's wort, so that the smell of this plant protected the child from fear in a dream.
And adult boys and girls guessed on the stems of St. John's wort. They twist it in their hands and see what juice will appear: if it is red, it means they love it, if it is colorless, they don’t like it. The old people believed that St. John's wort drives away evil spirits, diseases and protects a person from the attack of wild animals. The Germans called him the hall, because they believed that St. John's wort drives out devils and brownies.
St. John's wort has been considered a medicinal plant since Ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder, Avicenna wrote about him. The people call it a herb for 99 diseases, and there was practically no collection that would not include St. John's wort as the main or auxiliary medicine.
St. John's wort herb (Herba Hyperici) is used as a medicinal raw material, that is, the tops of the stems with flowers, leaves, buds and partially unripe fruits. St. John's wort is harvested in the flowering phase of the plant, before the appearance of immature fruits.
In folk medicine apply a decoction of St. John's wort at:
- stomach ulcer,
- increased acidity of gastric juice,
- gout,
- sciatica,
- rheumatism,
- scrofula,
- hemorrhoids,
- with nocturnal enuresis in children,
- diarrhea
- nervous diseases,
- in diseases of the oral cavity.
In folk medicine St. John's wort juice I'm at:
- bronchial asthma,
- colds,
- hypotension,
- scurvy,
- colitis,
- stomatitis,
- gingivitis,
- gallstone disease,
- kidney disease,
- cystitis,
- urinary incontinence in children
- gastritis,
- bloody diarrhea,
- liver diseases,
- jaundice,
- nervous diseases,
- headache,
- anemia,
- uterine bleeding,
- hemorrhoids,
- cough,
- with reduced appetite
- rheumatism.
Essential oil- for the treatment of burns, leg ulcers, stomach ulcers and duodenum. St. John's wort oil (externally) - as a wound healing agent, orally - on the recommendation of a doctor for gastric and duodenal ulcers.
St. John's wort seeds have a strong laxative effect and have antibacterial activity.
Contraindications: St. John's wort can cause discomfort in the liver and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, constipation, loss of appetite. Since St. John's wort increases blood pressure, it is advisable to prescribe it to people suffering from hypertension, only as part of the collection.
“Just as bread cannot be baked without flour, so many diseases of people and animals cannot be treated without St. John's wort,” people say.
Ivan - narrow-leaved tea - Chamaenerion angustifolium L.
fireweed family– Onagraceae
Popular name: fireweed, Kapor tea.
Perennial herbaceous plant.
Distributed almost throughout the Altai. It grows on fresh sandy and loamy soils in clearings, clearings in coniferous and mixed forests, near ditches, on drained peat bogs, along railway embankments.
Ivan-chai is also called Kaporsky tea after the name of the village of Kapory in the Leningrad Region, where for the first time in Russia they began to use it instead of Chinese tea.
For medicinal purposes, grass, leaves, flowers of plants are used, which are harvested during flowering.
In folk medicine Ivan tea is used at:
- constipation
- whites,
- headache,
- and also as astringent, emollient, enveloping and wound healing;
decoction (in the form of rinses)
- with angina;
inside
- with gastritis,
- colitis,
- bleeding
- anemia,
- acute respiratory diseases.
Decoction and infusion of Ivan-tea
- anti-inflammatory,
- astringent,
- emollient,
- diaphoretic,
- sedative,
- anticonvulsant,
- with gastrointestinal diseases,
- gastritis,
- colitis,
- ulcers of the stomach and intestines,
- metabolic disorders,
- anemia,
- headache,
- scrofula,
- insomnia
- scurvy,
- gonorrhea,
- syphilis
- as a cardiac stimulant.
Outwardly- for washing wounds, ulcers; poultices- as an analgesic for otitis, bruises, arthralgia; powder- for the treatment of infected wounds.
Side effects: With prolonged use of fireweed tea, gastrointestinal disorders may occur.
Kopeck tea, red root - Hedysarum thenium L.
legume family– Fabaceae
Kopeck tea is a perennial herbaceous plant with a thick, long woody, powerful root (up to 5 m). There is a kopeechnik tea in subalpine meadows, banks of rivers, streams, in the subalpine zone.
Kopechnik is used as:
- anti-inflammatory
- immunomodulatory agent,
- with inflammation of the prostate gland
- women's diseases
- with tuberculosis,
- bronchitis,
- inflammation of the lungs.
As an expectorant, it is used in diseases of the respiratory system, in acute gastrointestinal diseases.
Elm-leaved meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim
Rosaceae family– Rosaceae
Elm-leaved meadowsweet is a large perennial herbaceous plant. Elm-leaved meadowsweet is found almost throughout the entire territory of Altai, growing in wet meadows, swamps, along the banks of reservoirs, in damp forests and shrubs, along edges, clearings, clearings and burnt areas. 
Decoctions of roots, herbs, meadowsweet flowers are used for:
- gastrointestinal diseases,
- epilepsy,
- rheumatism,
- gout,
- diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract,
- hemorrhoids,
- in the form of enemas with whites;
- bites from snakes and rabid animals,
- nervous diseases,
- hypertension,
- as an anthelmintic.
Tincture of herbs in alcohol is used to treat trophic ulcers, wounds and burn surfaces.
A decoction, infusion of herbs, flowers is used for fever and colds as a diaphoretic and diuretic.
Flowers and grass are used instead of tea, young leaves - for soups, borscht and salads.
Leuzea safflower-like (maral root) - Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.)
Compositae family– composites
Leuzea is a perennial plant. It usually occurs in alpine and subalpine tall grass meadows, sometimes enters the alpine tundra, is common in the Altai mountains.
Leuzea liquid extract is used for:
- functional disorders of the nervous system,
- reduced performance,
- mental fatigue and loss of strength,
- chronic alcoholism,
- impotence,
- to regulate blood pressure.
In folk medicine, rhizomes, roots (sometimes grass) are used in the form of infusions, decoctions, vodka tinctures as a stimulant in case of loss of strength, insomnia, overwork, after suffering serious illnesses, with impotence, excessive irritability.
Contraindications: pregnancy, age up to 15 years. Long-term use of Leuzea preparations can cause a persistent increase in blood pressure, a slowing of the rhythm and an increase in the amplitude of heart contractions,
Great burdock - Arctium lappa L.
Aster family– Asteracea
Large biennial herbaceous plant. Distributed almost throughout the Altai.
In medicine, burdock is used in the form of infusions.
Burdock infusion is drunk with:
- gastritis treatment,
- stomach ulcers,
- rickets,
- constipation
- fever,
- with delays in menstruation,
- to normalize metabolism,
- activity of the liver and pancreas,
- diabetes,
- kidney disease,
- gallstone disease,
- salt deposits in the joints, etc.
In folk medicine, burdock root is known as a strong diuretic, diaphoretic and blood purifier. Burdock seeds also have a strong diuretic effect, but are rarely used, as their collection is laborious.
IN traditional medicine burdock is used both externally as an ointment and internally. Traditional medicine recommends using all parts of the plant fresh, in the form of extracts, as well as in the form of decoctions and infusions. An infusion of burdock roots is used for inflammatory diseases of the digestive system, kidney stones and gallstones, rheumatism and gout.
An infusion or decoction of burdock root is prescribed as a diuretic and choleretic agent, as well as an anti-fever, in diabetes mellitus, pulmonary tuberculosis, and in violation of salt metabolism.
Traditional medicine also recommends inside the seeds and the whole fresh plant as a diuretic and diaphoretic, a remedy for colds and fevers, swelling, hemorrhage and intoxication from insect bites and poisonous snakes.
Common cuff–Alchemilla vulgaris L.
Rosaceae family– Rosaceae Popular name: chest, sick grass.
Perennial herbaceous creeping plant of the Rosaceae family.
Even in the Middle Ages, alchemists used the dew that collects on the leaves of the cuff as "heavenly dew", with the help of which they tried to look for the "philosopher's stone" - hence the origin of the Latin name of the plant "alchemilla". In Western Europe in the Middle Ages, the cuff was known as witch grass.
Since ancient times, it was believed that if you wash your face in the morning with dew collected from the leaves of the cuff, then its former beauty returns to the person. Until now, in some countries, and especially in Switzerland, women rub their faces with leaves covered with dew to reduce freckles and remove acne.
Distributed throughout Altai, grows in forests, on wet soils, in dry and wet meadows, river banks, near houses.
For medicinal purposes, the stem, leaves, flowers and rhizome of the common cuff are used. The leaves are harvested from spring to July and air-dried in the shade. They should be collected when the morning dew or drops of water, actively secreted by the plant on wet nights, dry up.
Used in folk medicine cuff infusion (inside) at:
- kidney disease,
- Bladder,
- colitis with diarrhea
- gastritis,
- peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum,
- bronchitis,
- cold,
- atherosclerosis;
- ulcers
- wounds,
- eye inflammation,
- nosebleeds,
- to kill acne
- furunculosis;
as poultice- at dislocations.
Juice, infusion externally (in the form of lotions)- with tumors, wounds, eye diseases; in the form of douching - with whites, bleeding; in the form of compresses - with dislocations.
Lungwort officinalis – Pulmonaria officinalis L.
Borage family– Boraginaceae
Popular name: water springs, spotted grass, lung root.
Widely distributed in Altai, grows in thickets, among shrubs, in deciduous forests.
In folk medicine apply lungwort:
- to compensate for iodine deficiency in the body,
- with diseases of the upper respiratory tract,
- pneumonia,
- pulmonary tuberculosis,
- bronchial asthma,
- as a means of regulating the activity of the endocrine glands,
- improves hematopoiesis,
- as an analgesic and diuretic.
Crushed leaves are applied to purulent wounds for healing or washed with a strong solution. Powder from dried leaves also fall asleep wounds.
Juice, infusion externally - for tumors, wounds, eye diseases; in the form of douching - with whites, bleeding; in the form of compresses - with dislocations.
Lungwort greens can be used for spring vitamin salads and soups.
Contraindications: individual intolerance to iodine preparations.
Common bracken–Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn.
Centipede family– Polypodiaceae
Large fern with dissected leaves. Distributed almost everywhere in the world.
Young shoots and leaves of bracken are edible. In the spring, young leaves are harvested, when the leaf blade has not yet unfolded, they are immediately processed and salted.
Salads, seasonings and independent dishes are prepared from them.
In folk medicine, a decoction of bracken roots was taken as anthelmintic, laxative, diuretic, antipyretic and analgesic.
Externally, the rhizomes were used for skin diseases.
Ortilia lopsided - Orthilia secunda L.
Wintergreen family– Pyrolaceae
vernacular name: upland uterus, ramishia lopsided, upland grass, borovinka, wine grass, vinca, pear, hare salt, zimosol, forest pear.
It occurs in Altai mainly in the middle and southern taiga and subtaiga, as well as in deciduous and mixed forests, sometimes in forest meadows with shrubs and light forests. It is found mainly in areas with a humid climate.
Ortilia lopsided is widely used in medicine for the treatment of:
- gynecological diseases of an inflammatory nature,
- uterine fibroids,
- infertility,
- uterine bleeding,
- toxicosis,
- menstrual irregularities,
- adhesive processes,
- obstruction and inflammation of the tubes,
- as a disinfectant for inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder,
- with cystitis,
- pyelonephritis,
- with inflammation of the prostate gland,
- hemorrhoids,
- urinary incontinence in adults and children,
- acute inflammation of the ear (purulent).
Contraindications: individual intolerance, pregnancy.
Common tansy - Tanacetum vulgare L.
Compositae family– composites
Popular name: immortal grass, wild rowan, nine, nine brother.
Perennial herbaceous plant with a strong camphor smell. Distributed throughout the Altai. It grows on dry and fresh sandy, loamy and clay soils in light, mixed, broad-leaved forests, along edges, glades, along road shoulders. Plant poisonously, especially inflorescences!
Tansy preparations have choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihelminthic, astringent and anti-febrile action.
They contraindicated pregnant women and children younger age.
Tansy is prescribed for diseases:
- liver and gallbladder,
- with inflammatory processes in the small and large intestines,
- bladder,
- as well as malaria.
Its infusion has an antiseptic and diaphoretic effect, improves digestion and appetite.
In folk medicine infusion of tansy is used for:
- for the expulsion of roundworms and pinworms,
- with gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, enterocolitis),
- diseases of the liver and gallbladder (hepatitis, cholecystitis),
- nervous disorders,
- headache,
- women's diseases
- fever
- arterial hypotension;
Powder(with honey or sugar syrup) - with ascariasis, enterobiasis.
Tansy juice is used for:
- intoxication caused by pulmonary tuberculosis,
- fever
- peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum,
- gout,
- rheumatism,
- nervous diseases,
- epilepsy,
- migraine,
- headache,
- ache in the joints,
- low acidity,
- infectious and acute respiratory diseases,
- inflammation of the small and large intestines, bladder, kidneys;
- with urolithiasis,
- violation of the menstrual cycle and heavy menstruation;
- has a hypnotic effect;
externally (in the form of baths and compresses):
- for the treatment of sluggish wounds and ulcers,
- with scabies,
- gout,
- inflammation of the joints;
in the form of microclysters- for the expulsion of roundworms and pinworms.
In France, tansy flowers are used as an antihelminthic, antifebrile, antiseptic, gastrointestinal remedy.
Contraindications and side effects: treatment with common tansy should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, since the plant is poisonous. Pregnant women and young children should not be given tansy preparations. In case of an overdose, indigestion, vomiting occurs, and with large doses, convulsions occur.
Evasive peony–Paeonia anomala L.+
peony family– Paeoniaceae
Popular name: peony unusual, Maryin root.
Perennial herbaceous plant. A rare endangered species included in the Red Book. Grows in sparse coniferous and deciduous forests, tall grass and taiga meadows, forest edges and clearings, birch copses. In the mountains, it is most abundant in light forests near the upper limit of woody vegetation. The plant is very poisonous!
The name of the genus Paeonia is found in Theophrastus and comes from Greek word paionis healing, healing, healing. Greek legend connects this flower with the name of the doctor Paeon, who healed the god of the underworld Pluto from the wounds inflicted on him by Hercules. Paeon's teacher Aesculapius, envious of his student, decided to poison him. But the gods saved Peon by turning him into a flower.
According to another legend, the plant got its name from the Thracian region of Paeonia, where it grew in large numbers.
Peony in ancient Greece and in the Middle Ages in Europe was attributed to miraculous medicinal plants helping with suffocation, gout. Peony roots have long been used in China (1st century AD) and are part of anti-cancer funds.
In traditional medicine, a tincture of a mixture of roots and herbs is used as sedative for insomnia, vegetative-vascular disorders. Under the action of the drug, sleep improves, headaches caused by stress and overwork decrease, and efficiency increases.
In folk medicine, especially in Tibetan and among the local population of Siberia, the evading peony is used more widely. peony seeds and alcohol tincture rhizomes use with impotence due to diabetes.
Water infusion and alcohol tincture are used for:
- urolithiasis,
- liver diseases,
- pulmonary tuberculosis,
- whooping cough
- bronchitis.
Plantain large – Plantago major L.
plantain family– Plantaginaceae
Popular name: companion, wounded, seven-timer.
Perennial herbaceous plant.
The plantain is distinguished by its extraordinary fertility and during the season it produces several tens of thousands of seeds, which in autumn bad weather stick together with mud to the shoes of pedestrians, the hooves of horses and cows, the wheels of cars and quickly capture new spaces. Thus our weed swam across the ocean, and the Indians began to call it "the white man's footprint."
Plantain large grows throughout Siberia, does not form large thickets. It grows like a weed along roads, near habitation, in water meadows, vegetable gardens, and gardens.
Infusion from the leaves of the plantain expectorant action and is used as an aid in bronchitis, whooping cough, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis.
Juice from fresh plantain leaves is effective for:
- chronic gastritis,
- peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum with normal or low acidity of gastric juice.
Patients note the reduction or disappearance of pain and dyspeptic symptoms during treatment with juice from plantain leaves, and an improvement in appetite. By the end of the course of treatment, muscle tension and soreness of the abdominal wall during palpation, spastic phenomena in the large intestine disappear, and the acidity of gastric juice increases.
The presence of phytoncides in the plant causes antimicrobial action drugs.
Water infusion and fresh juice from the leaves of the plant promotes rapid cleansing and wound healing. These drugs are used in the form of lotions and washes for bruises, fresh cuts and wounds, for chronic ulcers, fistulas, abscesses, boils.
Shrub cinquefoil–Pentaphylloides fruticosa (L.) O. Sehwarz.
Rosaceae family - Rosaceae
Popular name: Kuril tea.
Kuril tea is an upright or sprawling shrub of the Rosaceae family, 20–150 cm high. Kuril tea grows along mountain river valleys, along the pebbly-sandy banks of these rivers and mountain slopes in Altai and in the East Kazakhstan region.
Kuril tea is close to real tea in composition, content of biologically active substances and mineral elements. However, Kuril tea is still more beneficial for human health.
It has been established that the plant exhibits bactericidal, antiallergic, hepatoprotective, antiviral, immunostimulating and antidiabetic properties.
IN gynecological practice Kuril tea is used for:
- erosion of the cervix,
- heavy periods,
- uterine bleeding.
A thick decoction of Kuril tea is used as a rinse for sore throats, stomatitis and other diseases of the oral cavity.
A decoction of the leaves and flowers of Kuril tea in folk medicine is prescribed for inflammatory liver diseases as cholagogue and with fever diaphoretic.
Infusion of Kuril tea is used for bloody diarrhea as hemostatic and an appetite-improving remedy, as well as for various neuropsychiatric diseases and blood diseases.
Rhodiola rosea (golden root) - Rhodiola rosea L.
Crassulaceae family– Crassulaceae Rhodiola rosea is a perennial herbaceous medicinal plant.“The one who finds the golden root will be lucky and healthy until the end of his days, he will live for two centuries,” says an old Altai belief.
For several centuries, Chinese emperors sent out expeditions in search of Rhodiola rosea, and smugglers smuggled it across the border.
Rhodiola rosea is common in Altai. It grows in rocky river valleys, on the northern slopes of ridges with abundant flowing moisture, the presence of a large amount of fine earth and silt particles. 
The people fell in love with tea from the golden root with the addition of blackberry leaves, raspberries, strawberries, black currants, thyme herbs, St. John's wort flowers, shrub cinquefoil. Such a drink, usually prescribed for hard physical or mental work, restores metabolism, has a tonic property. It is prescribed for disorders of the function of the stomach and intestines, colds and oncology.
Contraindications: individual intolerance to the components of the product, pregnancy and lactation, diabetes, increased nervous irritability, insomnia, high blood pressure, cardiac dysfunction, severe atherosclerosis, taking in the evening. Before use, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Creeping thyme (thyme) - Thymus serpillum L.
Lamiaceae family - LamiaceaeThe popular name is thyme, bonnet, Bogorodskaya grass, zhadobnik, muhopal, lemon scent.
A perennial, strongly branched semishrub creeping along the ground, forming dense sods. It grows mainly in the steppe zone. Inhabits southern slopes, rocks, rocky and sandy steppes, steppe meadows, edges and clearings of pine forests, rocky and gravelly, slightly soddy slopes. An infusion of flowering thyme herb or dried herb is used for pulmonary diseases as expectorant, disinfectant means.
Infusion of thyme herb for inhalation is used for inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity.
In diseases of the kidneys, thyme infusion is used orally as diuretic and disinfectant.
A decoction of thyme is used in the treatment of:
- alcoholism,
- as an antiseptic for oral disinfection,
- as a vermifuge.
Thyme is used as a spice and as a seasoning for various dishes.
thyme preparations contraindicated during pregnancy, cardiac decompensation, decreased thyroid function, acute inflammatory diseases of the kidneys.
Yarrow - Achillea millefolium L.
Compositae family - Asteraceae
Perennial herbaceous plant, grows in dry meadows, on steppe slopes and in sparse forests, along roadsides, edges of fields and garden plots.
It has a diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, bactericidal and hemostatic effect; enhances bile secretion.
It is part of gastric and appetizing teas - yarrow preparations improve digestion, especially with secretory insufficiency of the stomach glands, yarrow with nettles are prescribed as a hemostatic agent for internal and external bleeding.
Yarrow is used as:
- hemostatic agent for local bleeding - nasal, dental, from small wounds, abrasions, scratches,
- with pulmonary and uterine bleeding, fibromyomas, inflammatory processes, hemorrhoidal bleeding;
- with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - colitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer;
- colds of the respiratory tract;
- also recommended for inflammation of the biliary and urinary tract,
- nighttime urinary incontinence.
Contraindications for use. Some people develop a severe skin rash when in contact with yarrow, not only when using it for baths, lotions and compresses as an external remedy, but also when simply touching the plant. If such rashes appear during treatment with yarrow, it should be canceled immediately.
Archaeological excavations convincingly prove that medicinal plants have been known in the Altai Mountains for more than 5 thousand years. The remains of dried medicinal plants (wormwood, Kuril tea, hemp, thyme, peony roots) and special utensils for their boiling and rubbing are found in the mounds of leaders and military leaders.
Books on medicinal herbs appeared in Rus' already in 1306 - "Zeleinik or Herbalist". In 1588, the first official Russian "Travnik" was published - a prototype of future pharmacopoeias. Siberian herbs in Rus' were especially valued. Voivode Romodanovsky had a decree "to collect St. John's wort growing in Siberia, dry it, grind it and send it to Moscow by a pood every year."
In 1719, by order of Peter I, including “to search for all sorts of rarities and pharmaceutical items: herbs, flowers, roots, seeds, and other articles belonging to medicinal formulations,” Daniil Gottlieb Messerschmidt, a German physician and botanist, was sent to Siberia, leader of the first Siberian scientific expedition, founder of Russian archeology, who discovered. For 8 years he conducted this work, and the result was a description of more than 380 species of Siberian plants.
An extensive five-volume Flora of Siberia, which describes 1,178 species of Siberian plants, 500 of which were previously unknown, was compiled by Johann Georg Gmelin, a German naturalist in the Russian service, a doctor, botanist, ethnographer, traveler, explorer of Siberia and the Urals.
Lomonosov was interested in studying the natural resources of Siberia. All expeditions of the second half of the 17th century were carried out on the basis of his ideas and instructions.
The Decembrists, who lived in Siberia after serving hard labor, made their contribution to the study of medicinal plants. So, Alexander von Humboldt, the founder of the geography of vegetation, a German scientist - an encyclopedist, was accompanied to Altai by the Decembrist Stepan Mikhailovich Semenov. Ivan Dmitrievich Yakushkin participated in the collection of materials on medicinal plants for the expedition of Alexander Fedorovich Middendorf, a Russian traveler, geographer, botanist, founder of permafrost. Ippolit Irinarkhovich Zavalishin wrote a book about the nature of Western Siberia, in which he included information about Siberian folk medicine.
The works of Porfiry Nikitich Krylov had a great influence on the study of medicinal plants in Siberia; he wrote the seven-volume Flora of Altai and the Tomsk province and the twenty-volume Flora of Western Siberia, completed after his death by his students, in which 1,800 plant species were described.
Studies conducted on the initiative of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) within the framework of the Living Planet program have identified about two hundred regions of the world in which 95% of all species of living organisms of the Earth are concentrated, by preserving them, mankind will be able to preserve the biological diversity of our planet. Altai is included in these unique regions of the world (Global 200).
Almost all are represented in Altai climatic zones: tundra, steppes, meadows, coniferous and deciduous forests, and, of course, a special, completely unique zone of the high mountain belts of the Altai Mountains - alpine meadows. The unique features of the vegetation of the Altai Mountains are formed by its geographical location, complex geological structure and variety of climatic conditions.
More than 2,000 plant species grow on the territory of Altai, 660 species are used by humans, more than 100 species of endemic plants are found only in Altai and nowhere else in the world. There are 32 relict plant species in Altai - unique living monuments of past geological epochs.
The most famous medicinal plants of the Altai Mountains are:
Golden root - Rhodiola rosea- an adaptogen that is practically not inferior to ginseng, increases mental and physical performance, improves memory, increases the body's resistance to adverse effects, slows down the aging process, normalizes metabolic processes, positively affects the functions of the gonads and reproductive organs, accelerates the healing of wounds, injuries, bone fractures, effective for overwork, stress, depression.
Maral root - Leuzea safflower- adaptogen, increases efficiency during physical and mental overwork, has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, effective for low blood pressure, physical and mental fatigue, reduced performance, decreased potency, functional disorder of the nervous system, as well as in the treatment of chronic alcoholism.
In spring, deer - marals dig up the roots with their hooves and eat them, which is why the plant got its name - “maral root” or “maral grass”.
Red brush - Rhodiola four-part- adaptogen, increases vitality organism, contributes to its rejuvenation. Effective in cancer. For men, it is effective for prostate adenoma, prostatitis, weakening of potency. For women, it is effective for hormonal disorders, menstrual disorders, infertility.
Upland uterus - Ortilia lopsided- adaptogen, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, resolving, analgesic and diuretic effects, helps maintain immunity, increases the functional activity of the uterus and appendages, improves the functioning of the woman's reproductive system as a whole. Effective in the treatment of infertility.
Of course, we have not presented all the medicinal plants of the Altai Mountains, and have not described all the healing and healing properties of these plants. We are just getting started with this. wonderful world- the world of medicinal plants, a unique living pharmacy of the Altai Mountains, given to us by Nature itself for health and active longevity!
Gorny Altai is not only sacred, unique land, but also a natural, nature reserve. Everything's there. Glaciers and mountains, fast rivers and azure lakes, alpine steppes, forests, taiga.
And because of this diversity natural areas very rich flora and fauna. That is why so many medicinal plants grow there.
And many herbalists regularly travel to Altai on expeditions to study and collect medicinal plants.
Ekaterina Snegireva, a phytotherapist, aromatherapist, psychologist, teacher of Kundalini Yoga, talks about some of them.
One of the plants without which I do not return from Altai is Badan thick-leaved.
It usually grows on the shores of alpine lakes, on passes, in rock crevices and in general on any rocky rock.
Badan is otherwise called Mongolian tea or Chigir tea. After all, it is one of the oldest medicinal plants, the healing properties of which have long been used in folk medicine by Mongolian, Chinese and Tibetan healers.
In these countries, bergenia tea has long been a traditional drink, it resembles black tea, but with a more tart and astringent taste and aroma.
They harvest last year's dry, inconspicuous-looking, black leaves, which have already undergone natural fermentation and have lost most of their alkaloids.
Badan tea is also called Chaban tea or shepherds tea. Wandering through the high-mountain steppes, the pastoral tribes of Altai and Mongolia have been drinking this healing and rejuvenating drink since ancient times.
Badan has a pronounced antimicrobial activity, is considered a natural antibiotic, tones well without raising blood pressure, gives strength and strengthens the immune system, has hemostatic and vascular-strengthening properties, and is an excellent uroseptic.
"Khan-Altai" - the Altaians call their land with respect. And this is indeed a sacred, unique land. She is alive.
It's as if the magic is still there. Altaians believe that every river, every tree or every mountain has its own spirit - eezi. They worship them and treat all living things with great respect.
Already from the first minutes of your stay in Altai, you seem to be saturated with such an attitude, feeling and begin to perceive everything a little differently.
It's like you become part of something bigger. Here you merge with nature, return to your essence.
Potentilla shrub
Another medicinal plant common in Altai is Potentilla shrub or Kuril tea.
Whole thickets of this shrub with bright yellow flowers can be found there almost everywhere. This plant has been used since ancient times also in China and Mongolia.
Kuril tea is mentioned in the ancient Tibetan medical treatise "Chzhud-Shi". In oriental medicine, a healing drink is used to treat diseases of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.
Kuril tea is also used for hypertension, to strengthen the immune system, for various diseases of the liver, blood vessels and genitourinary system.
Leaves are collected - cinquefoils and flowers. People with low blood pressure should be taken with caution, because cinquefoil can lower it even more.
No less common is another unique plant - Scutellaria vulgaris.
The first mentions of useful properties Skullcap found in the treatise of Tibetan medicine "Chzhud-Shi", written more than 25 centuries ago.
Currently, treatment with drugs based on this plant is practiced in Chinese medicine.
The skullcap is also called the Blue Hypericum. It has absolutely no contraindications and has antioxidant and antitumor activity.
During the period of strong physical and mental stress, the plant protects the nervous system from damage and has a mild tonic effect.
In addition, Scutellaria promotes improved oxygen supply to brain cells and muscles, increasing their performance. By expanding the vessels and increasing their elasticity, the plant helps to lower blood pressure and alleviate the course of hypertension. The same property of the herb makes it an excellent tool for the prevention of strokes.
One of my favorite Altai plants is Shizonepeta multicut. Especially a lot of it grows in the valley of the Chulyshman River.
She can't help but get attention. Blue-violet corollas with a strong spicy smell are visible and felt from afar.
It contains a lot of essential oils, which cause its strong smell, in particular, thymol and carvacrol, the same ones that are also found in Thyme.
And it needs to be added to tea quite a bit, otherwise it will kill the aroma and taste of other herbs.
In the cedar forests, one can often find lichen, which is very similar to long patlaty algae hanging for some reason from trees. This is Usnea bearded.
Usnea has been used in medical practice since ancient times. The main active ingredient of Usnea bearded are usnic acid and bitterness.
Usnic acid is a strong natural antibiotic with antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
Usnee also contains a lot of iodine, ascorbic acid and other useful substances, so in folk medicine it is used in the treatment of various diseases.
Licorice or Licorice is another medicinal plant often found in Altai.
The roots of the plant are usually used, which have a sweetish taste and characteristic aroma. The famous sweet Liquorice is made from it.
Licorice is widely used in medical practice as an expectorant, enveloping, cough softening agent for diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Licorice preparations have immunomodulatory, antiviral, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory properties, exhibit hypotensive, capillary-strengthening, antibacterial, antitumor effects. Licorice also stimulates the adrenal cortex.
High in the mountains and on the passes you can find delicate, very beautiful pale yellow and bright blue flowers. This is Gentian.
For the first time, infusions and decoctions of gentian began to be used back in Ancient Egypt as effective remedy for the treatment of gastric diseases and in ancient Rome for convulsions, severe bruises, bites from poisonous animals, and also as a remedy for the plague.
In the Middle Ages, gentian was used to treat tuberculosis, plague, fever, diarrhea, and also as an effective antihelminthic.
In mountainous countries, bitter alcoholic drinks were made from the roots of gentian.
The pharmacological properties of this plant are primarily determined by the presence of bitter substances - glycosides, which have a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and stimulate appetite.
Another alpine plant is Saussurea or Gorkusha. Saussurea is known in Tibetan folk medicine, as well as the peoples of Siberia and Transbaikalia.
The plant is most often used for epilepsy, fever, diarrhea, tuberculosis, neoplasms, bleeding of various types.
Protected and shrouded in legends, Edelweiss grows on the high plateaus of Altai. For many nations, it is a symbol of love and happiness.
Bringing a flower to your beloved girl was the height of courage and courage, as it grows high in the mountains, on the very edge of eternal snow, and only the most courageous can get to it to give it to their beloved later.
Edelweiss improves immunity, has an anti-inflammatory effect, but there are more effective plants for these purposes. There are so few edelweiss in the world and they are so magical that the hand will not rise to collect them for medicinal purposes.
Peony evasive
In the forests of Altai, in glades or forest edges, you can find a mass-blooming Peony deviating or Maryin root.
This is a variety of peony, which is grown in our flower beds, gardens, only the wild peony root has a characteristic strong smell and has strong soothing properties.
In China, peony is used as part of antitumor preparations. In Mongolian medicine - for diseases of the kidneys and liver.
Tibetan medicine widely uses the healing properties of peony: it is used in the treatment of nervous diseases, colds, gastrointestinal diseases, malaria, fever, metabolic disorders, diseases of the kidneys, respiratory tract and lungs.
Rhodiola Rosea, Forgotten kopeechnik, Levzeya soflorovidnaya
The hallmark of Altai is medicinal plants that belong to the group of adaptogens - with regular use, they are able to adapt the body to the harmful effects of the environment.
They have a strong immunomodulatory property, increase mental and physical performance, tone up (therefore, they are contraindicated for people with high blood pressure).
An alcoholic tincture or decoction is made from the roots of these plants. Unfortunately, they all belong to endangered species and are listed in the Red Book.
Their extraction is prohibited, but everywhere at the Altai fairs you can meet merchants with these healing roots.
Here are some of these plants - Rhodiola Rosea or Golden Root, Forgotten Kopeck or Red Root, Leuzea Soflorovidnaya or Maral Root.
Rhodiola four-part
Rhodiola four-part or Red brush also belongs to the same group of adaptogens. But it is considered more of a female plant, since it also has a hormonal effect, it should be used with caution.
There are many more medicinal Altai plants and herbs, it’s impossible to list them all. Yes, and it is better to see it all with your own eyes. Touch them, say hello, brew fragrant tea.
The season there usually lasts from May to September, and every month different herbs bloom. So go ahead, you won't regret it!
Among medicinal plants there are many poisonous and potent ones, which must be handled with great care. At home, you can use only commonly used non-poisonous plants and fees sold in pharmacies, and even then after consulting a doctor. The doses of medicinal plants given in the book are calculated for an adult.
For a complete description of all medicinal plants of the Altai Territory listed in the book, see the medicinal plants category or through block-search by name.
INDEX OF MEDICINAL PLANTS BY THEIR PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC ACTION AND APPLICATION.
Cardiac.
Hawthorn blood red. Spring adonis. Jaundice gray. lilac
Vasodilators used in hypertension.
Hawthorn blood red. Valerian officinalis. Elecampane is high, Melilot officinalis. Kalina (juice from berries). The cup is yellow. Mordovnik ordinary.
Shepherd's bag. Patrinia medium. Tansy ordinary. Motherwort five-lobed. Sushenitsa marsh. Dill pharmacy. Hellebore Lobel. Three-part series
Increasing blood pressure.
Sandy immortelle. Leuzea safflower. Rhodiola rosea. Field steel. Thermopsis lanceolate
Hemostatic.
Badan thick-leaved. Sandy immortelle. Highlander snake. Highlander pepper. Hypericum perforatum. Kalina (bark). Horse sorrel. Stinging nettle. Hemorrhagic drug. The cinquefoil is upright. Larch sponge. Shepherd's bag. Tansy ordinary. The plantain is big. Siberian rowan. Field steel. Yarrow. Horsetail. Blueberry.
Expectorants.
Air marsh. Altea officinalis. Marsh ledum. Elecampane is high. Oregano is ordinary. Siberian source. Mullein bear ear. Coltsfoot. Dandelion officinalis. Primrose large. The plantain is big. The cyanosis is blue. Ural licorice. Pine (buds). Thermopsis lanceolate. Creeping thyme. Cumin ordinary.
Exciting nervous system.
Hypericum perforatum. Leuzea safflower. Mordovnik ordinary.Plaun-ram. Rhodiola rosea. Thermopsis lanceolate.
Soothing.
Air marsh. Hawthorn blood red. Belen scooping. Valerian officinalis. Highlander pepper. Oregano ordinary. Kalina (bark). Mullein bear ear. Patrinia medium. Peony evasive. Wormwood. Motherwort five-lobed. Pharmaceutical camomile. The cyanosis is blue. Sushenitsa marsh. Large celandine
Stimulating appetite.
Air marsh. Three-leaf watch. Gentian large-leaved. Hypericum perforatum. Dandelion officinalis. Wormwood. Yarrow.
Astringents (antidiarrheal).
Badan thick-leaved. Cowberry. Highlander snake. Highlander pepper. Hypericum perforatum. Hemorrhagic drug. The cinquefoil is upright. Altai rhubarb. Pharmaceutical camomile. Yarrow. Blueberry. Rosehip cinnamon. Horse sorrel. Orchid spotted.
Laxatives.
Three-leaf watch. Joster laxative. Buckthorn is brittle. Larch sponge. Dandelion officinalis. The plantain is big. Altai rhubarb. Pharmaceutical camomile. Rowan (fruits). Ural licorice. Field steel. Cumin ordinary. Horse sorrel.
With peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
Air marsh. Birch (buds). Altea officinalis. The cyanosis is blue. Hypericum perforatum. The cinquefoil is upright. Sea buckthorn. Peony evasive. The plantain is big. Pharmaceutical camomile. Ural licorice. Sushenitsa marsh. Yarrow. Chaga mushroom. Rosehip cinnamon.
With diseases of the liver and biliary tract.
Air marsh. Birch (leaves). Sandy immortelle. Three-leaf watch. Volodushka golden. Elecampane is high. Hypericum perforatum. Stinging nettle. Buckthorn is brittle. Dandelion officinalis. Shepherd's bag. Tansy ordinary. Wormwood. Altai rhubarb. Pharmaceutical camomile. Cumin ordinary. Pine (buds). Rosehip cinnamon. Horse sorrel. The celandine is big. The sequence is tripartite.
With diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.
Air marsh. Badan thick-leaved (leaves). Birch (liegya and buds). Cowberry. Spring adonis. Elecampane is high. Hypericum perforatum. Mullein bear's ear (flowers leaves). Stinging nettle. The cup is yellow. Burdock. Dandelion officinalis. Primrose kruppochashechny. Wormwood. Pharmaceutical camomile. Siberian rowan. Scotch pine. Field steel. Creeping thyme. Horsetail. The sequence is tripartite. The celandine is big. Rosehip cinnamon (seeds). horse sorrel
Royal.
Carnation multi-colored. Highlander pepper. Elecampane is high. Viburnum ordinary (bark). Shepherd's bag. Stinging nettle. Yarrow.
Antihelminthic.
Marsh ledum. Valerian officinalis. Three-leaf watch. Elecampane is high. Hypericum perforatum. Male fern. Tansy ordinary. Wormwood. Pine (turpentine). Creeping thyme.
For skin diseases.
Hanging birch. Highlander snake. Morison's maid. Elecampane is high. Melilot medicinal. Oregano ordinary. Burdock. Sea buckthorn (oil). Dandelion officinalis. Patrinia medium. The plantain is big. Wormwood. Pharmaceutical camomile. Sushenitsa marsh. Horsetail. Hellebore Lobel. The sequence is tripartite. The celandine is big.
Antiseptic.
Air marsh. Badan thick-leaved. Hanging birch. Sandy immortelle. Cowberry. Oregano ordinary. Hypericum perforatum. Hemorrhagic drug. The cinquefoil is upright. Coltsfoot. Tansy ordinary. The plantain is big. Wormwood. Pharmaceutical camomile. Scotch pine. Creeping thyme. Yarrow. The celandine is big. Horse sorrel.
insecticidal.
Air marsh. Marsh ledum. Liveliness is high. The cup is yellow. Tansy ordinary. Wormwood. Thermopsis lanceolate. Hellebore Lobel. The celandine is big.
With alcoholism.
Plaun ram. Creeping thyme.
Strengthening hair.
Burdock. Stinging nettle. Coltsfoot. Hellebore Lobel. Hops ordinary.
With reduced sexual function.
Leuzea safflower. Rhodiola rosea. Orchid spotted.
Collection calendar of medicinal plants.
| plant names | Harvested parts | Collection per month |
| calamus marsh | rhizomes | 10, 11, 12 |
| Marshmallow officinalis | roots | 7, 10, 11, 12 |
| Ledum marsh | young shoots | 8, 9, 10 |
| Badan thick-leaved | leaves | 9, 10 |
| rhizomes | 10, 11, 12 | |
| Henbane black | leaves | 8, 9, 10 |
| drooping birch | leaves | 7, 8 |
| kidneys | 4, 5, 6 | |
| Sandy immortelle | inflorescences | 8. 9, 10 |
| hawthorn blood red | flowers | 7, 8 |
| fruit | 11, 12 | |
| Cowberry | leaves | 6, 7, 11, 12 |
| Valerian officinalis | rhizomes with roots | 10, 11, 12 |
| Three-leaf watch | leaves | 7, 8 |
| Volodushka golden | grass | 8, 9, 10 |
| Highlander snake | rhizomes | 6, 10, 11, 12 |
| Highlander pepper | grass | 9, 10 |
| Morison's maid | roots | 8, 11, 12 |
| spring adonis | grass | 8, 9 |
| Elecampane high | rhizomes with roots | 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 |
| Melilot officinalis | grass | 8, 9, 10 |
| Oregano | grass | 8, 9, 10 |
| Jaundice gray | grass | 8, 9 |
| Jaundice levkoy | grass | 8, 9 |
| Larkspur high | grass | 9, 10 |
| Larkspur reticulate-fetal | grass | 9, 10 |
| Joster laxative | fruit | 11, 12 |
| St. John's wort | grass | 6, 7, 8 |
| Siberian origin | rhizomes with roots | 8, 9 |
| Istod thin-leaved | 8, 9 | |
| Viburnum ordinary | bark | 4. 5 |
| fruit | 9. 10 | |
| mullein bear ear | flowers | 7, 8 |
| leaves | 6, 7, 8 | |
| Stinging nettle | leaves | 5, 6. 7 |
| Burnet officinalis | rhizomes with roots | 8, 9, 10 |
| Buckthorn brittle | bark | 5, 6 |
| Yellow capsule | rhizomes | 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| Potentilla erectus | rhizomes | 5. 9, 10 |
| Leuzea safronovidnaya | rhizomes with roots | 8, 9, 10 |
| larch sponge | fruiting body | 4, 5, 6 |
| Burdock felt | roots | 4, 5, 9, 10 |
| Burdock | roots | 4, 5, 9, 10 |
| Lyubka bifolia | root tubers | 7, 8 |
| Coltsfoot | leaves | 6, 7 |
| flowers | 4, 5 | |
| Mordovnik ordinary | seeds | 8, 9 |
| Mordovnik ball-headed | seeds | 8, 9 |
| Sea buckthorn | fruit | 8, 9, 10 |
| Dandelion officinalis | roots | 8, 9, 10 |
| male fern | rhizomes | 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 |
| Shepherd's bag | grass | 6, 7 |
| Patrinia medium | roots | 8, 9, 10 |
| Primrose large-cup | leaves and flowers | 5, 6 |
| rhizomes with roots | 4, 5, 8, 9 | |
| Common tansy | inflorescences | 7, 8 |
| Peony evasive | roots | 8, 9, 10 |
| club moss | disputes | 7, 8 |
| Club moss | grass | 7, 8 |
| Plantain large | leaves | 6, 7, 8 |
| Wormwood | grass | 6, 7, 8 |
| Motherwort five-lobed | grass | 6, 7, 8 |
| Altai rhubarb | roots with rhizomes | 5, 8. 9 |
| Rhodiola rosea (golden root) | rhizomes with roots | 8, 9 |
| pharmaceutical camomile | inflorescences | 6. 7 |
| Chamomile fragrant | inflorescences | 6, 7, 8 |
| Siberian rowan | fruit | 9, 10, 11 |
| cyanosis blue | roots with rhizomes | 8, 9 |
| lilac | grass | 7 |
| Ural licorice | rhizomes with roots | 4, 5, 9, 10 |
| Scotch pine | needles | 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 |
| kidneys | 4 | |
| Field stalk | roots | 8, 9, 10 |
| marsh cudweed | grass | 7, 8, 9 |
| Thermopsis lamellar | grass | 6, 7 |
| creeping thyme | grass | 6, 7, 8 |
| Thyme Marshall | grass | 6, 7, 8 |
| Cumin ordinary | fruit | 7, 8 |
| Yarrow | grass | 6, 7, 8 |
| Horsetail | grass | 6, 7, 8 |
| Chaga mushroom | fruiting body | 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12 |
| Cheremitsa Lobel | rhizomes with roots | 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 |
| Three-part series | grass | 7, 8 |
| blueberry | leaves | 5, 6 |
| fruit | 7, 8 | |
| Large celandine | grass | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Rose hip | fruit | 8, 9, 10 |
| horse sorrel | roots | 9. 10 |
| fruit | 8, 9 | |
| Orchis | root tubers | 7, 8 |
NATURAL GEOGRAPHICAL ZONES OF THE ALTAI TERRITORY.
I. Steppe zone
Burlinsky, Khabarsk, Slavgorodsky, Tabunsky, Blagoveshchensky, Kulundinsky, Klyuchevsky, Rodinsky, Mikhailovsky, Volchikhinsky, Uglovsky, Loktevsky, Egorevsky. Rubtsovsky, Novichikhinsky, Pospeli-Khinsky, Shipunovsky, Aleisky, Romanovsky districts.
II. forest-steppe zone
A) left bank Obi
Pankrushikhinsky, Kamensky, Pavlovsky, Topchikhinsky, Tyumentsevsky, Rebrikhinsky, Mamoitovsky, Zavyalovsky *, Baevsky *, Kalmansky, Ust-Pristaisky districts.
B) the right bank of the river. Obi
Talmensky, Pervomaisky, Kosikhinsky, Troitsky, Ust-Pristaisky, Biysk, Tselinny, Sorokinsky *, Kytmanovsky districts.
III. Salair
(Foothills and mountains of Salair),
Zalesovsky, Sorokinsky *, Togulsky, Eltsovsky, Soltonsky districts.
IV. Foothills of Altai
Tretyakovsky, Zmeinogorsky, Kurinsky, Krasioshchekovsky, Ust-Kalmansky, Petropavlovsky, Bystroistoksky, Smolensky, Sovetsky, Krasnogorsky districts.
V. Altai Mountains
Charyshsky*, Soloneshensky*, Altaisky* districts.
VI. Mountain Altai
Turochaksky, Maiminsky *, Shebalinsky, Ongudaysky, Ust-Koksinsky, Ust-Kansky, Ulagansky and Kosh-Agachsky districts.
* The territory of the marked areas is located in two zones.
Recipe and application fees.
The collection recipes approved by the Pharmacological Committee of the Ministry of Health of the USSR, as well as recipes from the books of S. S. Stankov and N. V. Kovalevsky "Our medicinal plants and their medical use" and D. Yordanov, P. Nikolov, A. Boychinov "Phytotherapy" are given. ". The numbers indicate the weight ratio of plant parts, which should be taken when compiling the collection. The recipe of the fees mainly includes plants growing in the Altai Territory.I. Gastrointestinal diseases.
II. Respiratory diseases.
III. Diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.
VI. Diseases of the liver and biliary tract.
V. Vitamin fees.
VI. Fees used in nervous and cardiovascular diseases.
VII. Other fees.
General information about the preparation and use of herbal medicinal raw materials.
Active ingredients of medicinal plants.
In ancient times, when people did not know the composition of medicinal plants, they were used in the form of powders, decoctions, sometimes in the form of ointments. From the time of the ancient Roman physician Galen, complex extracts and tinctures began to be prepared, which are still called galenic preparations.
By studying chemical composition plants began to be dealt with only from the end of the 17th century. However, due to the imperfection of the study methods, the results were insignificant. Only at the end of the 19th century, in connection with the rapid development of phytochemistry, were the main groups of active substances of medicinal plants discovered. Initially, alkaloids (morphine, cocaine, nicotine, etc.) were isolated in pure form, then glycosides, tannins, saponins, vitamins, phytoncides, and others. In recent decades, thanks to the isolation of active substances in their pure form and the study of their chemical structure, many of them have been synthesized. And yet, despite the great work done in this area, as A.F. Hammerman writes, “... small islands of our knowledge still float in the ocean of the unknown. There is still something for us and our children to work on ... »
As already mentioned, the most common active substances in plants are alkaloids. These are complex organic nitrogen-containing compounds of alkaline properties. They are found mainly in flowering plants and very rarely in fungi, mosses, algae in small quantities, from traces to 2-8 percent.
Most alkaloids are crystalline substances, and only a few that do not contain oxygen in their composition are liquid (nicotine, anabazine). They do not dissolve in water. With organic and mineral acids, they form salts that are readily soluble in water. Alkaloids are quite stable compounds, bitter in taste. In plants, they are found in the form of salts of organic acids or in combination with tannins. The poisonousness of many plants is more often just due to the presence of alkaloids in them.
To date, about 400 species of alkaloid-bearing plants are known in the USSR (around 800 worldwide), of which about 2,000 different alkaloids have been isolated. However, on the whole, the flora of the USSR has been studied for alkaloid content by approximately only 20 percent. Alkaloids contain only about 10 percent of all surveyed plants. Alkaloids are unevenly distributed throughout the plant: in some they are in the seeds, in others - in the roots, in others - in the leaves. Their content in a plant depends on many factors: vegetation phase, season, climate, growing zone, soil and other conditions.
Despite the fact that alkaloids have been discovered for a long time, their role for the plant is still unclear.
Glycosides are a large group of substances of a nitrogen-free nature, the molecule of which consists of a sugary part - glycone and a non-sugar part - aglycone (genin). The action of glycosides is mainly determined by their non-sugar part. Their role in plants has been studied better than the role of alkaloids. It is believed that they regulate many chemical processes of the transformation of substances. Unlike alkaloids, glycosides are rapidly destroyed during storage by the enzymes of the plants themselves, as well as under the influence of various physical factors. It is difficult to obtain glycosides in their pure form due to their instability. Therefore, in medical practice, not pure active substances are often used, but the plants themselves or total extracts from them. Glycosides are highly soluble in water. There are several groups of them: cardiac glycosides, laxatives, saponins, bitterness, etc. The first of them are most important for medical practice.
Until now, among all cardiac remedies, herbal preparations account for more than half. Cardiac glycosides have a stronger effect on the body than other types of glycosides. Their therapeutic doses for a person are tens, hundreds of times less and are calculated in tenths of a milligram. Cardiac glycosides have a steroid structure. In this respect, they are close to hormones and other body substances. Quite widely used in practice are glycosides that have a laxative effect, the so-called anthraglycosides contained in buckthorn, rhubarb, aloe, senna and other plants. Unlike cardiac glycosides, they are low toxic, stable during storage, most of them are colored red-orange.
Plants containing bitterness - glycosides, slightly toxic to the body, having a bitter taste (wormwood, gentian, dandelion, centaury, water shamrock and others) have found wide application in practice.
Many plants contain saponins, compounds that are a type of glycosides. They are found in representatives of more than 70 families, especially among cloves and primroses. Saponins, like all glycosides, have a strong irritant effect. With water, they form a persistent foam, like soap. Hence the name. Sapo is Latin for "soap". Easily dissolve red blood cells (hemolysis). When ingested, hemolysis does not occur, since the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract is impermeable to most of them. Saponno-containing plants are used in medical practice for a variety of purposes: as expectorant, diuretic, choleretic, stimulant, emetic, lowering blood pressure. IN last years such valuable properties of a number of saponins as anti-sclerotic, anti-ulcer, and hormonal have been discovered. Saponins are also used in the food industry.
Flavonoids are a whole group of active substances (biflavonoids, flavones, flavonols, flavans, catechins, etc.). Contained in plants more often in the form of glycosides. They got their name from yellow(flavum in Latin means "yellow"), In its pure form - crystalline yellow substances, soluble in alcohol and water. In recent years, much attention has been paid to their study. A number of them have P-vitamin activity, bactericidal, choleretic action and promote the removal of radioactive substances from the body, that is, they can be used to treat radiation sickness.
Kumarins and furokumarins are found in plants in pure form or in compounds with sugar in the form of glycosides. By chemical nature, they are unsaturated lactones. Insoluble in water, sensitive to light. More often, coumarins are found in plants from the families Umbelliferae, legumes, rue, mainly in roots and fruits. In some representatives of these families, the content of coumarins can reach 5-10 percent. To date, more than 150 coumarin derivatives have been isolated and studied. Substances of this group have found application in medical practice as photosensitizing (psoralen, xanthotoxin), as vasodilators and antispasmodics (atamantin, ostchol), as estrogens (coumestrol) and antitumor agents (peucedanin). Some antibiotics also have a coumarin nature (novobiocin, umbelliferon and others).
Essential oils are volatile, oily liquids that are insoluble in water, causing a specific smell inherent in many types of plants (mint, dill, wormwood, thyme, etc.). Currently, about 2500 species of fragrant plants are known. By chemical nature essential oils are a mixture of various organic substances: terpenes, ketones, esters, aldehydes and others.
In plants, essential oils play a protective role or attract insects, promoting pollination. Their content in plants ranges from traces to 20 percent (usually 0.5-3 percent). Plants containing essential oils and pure preparations from them are widely used in the perfumery and food industries (rose, lavender, geranium, bergamot, mint, clove and other oils). A number of plants are used in medical practice as sedatives, expectorants, analgesics, antimicrobials and antihelminths.
Resins and balms are close to essential oils in chemical structure, often contained in plants simultaneously with them. They have an antiseptic effect, accelerate regenerative processes in tissues.
Tannins (tannins) got their name for their ability to tan leather and make it waterproof due to the coagulation of a protein - skin collagen.
Tanides are nitrogen-free non-toxic compounds, esters of polyhydric phenols. The ability of fruits, bark, roots of plants to darken at a break or cut is precisely due to the presence of tannins in them, which are quickly oxidized by atmospheric oxygen and acquire a yellow or brown color (formation of flobaphenes). Tanides are widely distributed in the plant world, found in almost all plants from traces to 35 percent. Plant tannins are involved in metabolism and protect them from harmful fungi and bacteria due to their antiseptic action.
In its pure form, tannins are amorphous powders of yellow or brown color, readily soluble in water and alcohol. There are two types of tannins - pyrogallol derivatives (hydrolysing tannins), stained black-blue with iron salts, and pyrocatechol derivatives (condensed tannins), stained black-green with iron salts. Widely used in the leather and food industries.
In medical medicine and veterinary practice, they have found application as anti-inflammatory, astringent, antiseptic, hemostatic agents. All listed properties tannins are associated with their ability to coagulate the protein with the formation of a protective film on the mucous membranes. Tanides precipitate not only proteins, but also alkaloids, glycosides and heavy metals. In this regard, they are widely used in practice for poisoning with these substances.
Vitamins, being part of enzyme systems, regulate various aspects of metabolism in the body. Without vitamins, the normal life of the animal and human body is impossible. Although some vitamins are synthesized in the body of humans and animals, most of them are obtained from plants (carotene, vitamins C, K, D, E, and others).
In addition to the above groups of active substances of medicinal plants, their medicinal properties may be due to the presence of other types of chemical compounds, such as organic acids, mucus and gums, fatty oils, phytoncides, naphthoquinones, pigments, enzymes, mineral salts, trace elements, etc.
It should be noted that therapeutic effect plants in some cases is associated not with any one substance, but with the whole natural complex of substances included in it. In this case, the use of a pure active substance does not therapeutic effect, which gives the use of the plant itself or the total extract from it (for example, valerian, wild rose, foxglove, leuzea, etc.)
Forms of application of medicinal plants.
Medicinal plants are used for therapeutic purposes in the form of various dosage forms. The choice of form depends on many conditions: the nature of the disease, the part of the plant from which the dosage form is prepared, and the ways in which the drug is used.The simplest dosage form are powders, which are finely crushed parts of plants (leaves, fruits, roots, rhizomes). At home, from the roots and rhizomes, powders can be prepared on coffee mills. In general, powders from medicinal plants are rarely used in medical practice.
Most often, herbal medicinal raw materials are used in the form of infusions and decoctions. Methods of their preparation are given by us in accordance with the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR.
Infusions and decoctions are aqueous extracts from medicinal plant materials. Infusions are usually prepared from the soft parts of the plant: Leaves, flowers, stems (grass); decoctions - from the coarse parts: roots, bark, rhizomes. Plant materials are crushed: leaves, flowers - to particles no larger than 5 mm, stems, bark, roots, rhizomes - no more than 3 mm, fruits and seeds - no more than 0.5 mm. The crushed raw materials are weighed, poured into an enameled or porcelain vessel, poured over with water at room temperature, closed with a lid and placed in a boiling water bath. The infusion is heated for 15 minutes, decoctions - 30 minutes. with frequent stirring. After heating, the vessel is cooled at room temperature (decoctions - 10 minutes, infusions - at least 45 minutes), after which it is filtered and the residue is squeezed out. Finished hoods are adjusted with water to the desired volume. If the decoctions are prepared from vegetable raw materials containing tannins (rhizomes of the serpentine, bergenia, burnet), then filter immediately after removing the vessel from the water bath. From most plants, infusions and decoctions are prepared in a ratio of 1:10, that is, ten parts of infusion or decoction are prepared from one weight part of crushed raw materials. From plants containing potent substances, infusions and decoctions are prepared in a ratio of 1:30 (Adonis grass, istod root, rhizome and valerian root, lily of the valley grass, ergot), from poisonous plants- in a ratio of 1:400 (herb of thermopsis, larkspur, mordovnik seeds, hellebore rhizome). If it is necessary to combine infusions with other drugs (tinctures, extracts and powdered medicinal substances), they are added to ready-made chilled and filtered decoctions and infusions. Since infusions and decoctions quickly deteriorate, they are prepared for no more than 3-4 days and stored in a cool place. Ready-made infusions and decoctions are taken orally with tea, dessert or tablespoons, glasses.
In folk medicine, at home, infusions and decoctions are often prepared without boiling. To do this, medicinal raw materials are poured with boiling water, tightly closed and infused for 4-8 hours, after which they are filtered, the residue is squeezed out and the resulting extract is filtered. It is believed that without boiling, the active substances of plants are better preserved. You can store such infusions for no more than one day.
For various skin diseases, lesions of the mucous membranes, infusions and decoctions are used externally in the form of washings, baths, lotions, compresses, and sometimes in the form of enemas. In this case, they can be cooked more concentrated (1:5). Infusions and decoctions, in addition to the active ones, contain a significant amount of ballast substances extracted by water from plant materials.
From medicinal plants in pharmaceutical factories and in specially equipped laboratories, tinctures and extracts related to herbal preparations are prepared.
As a rule, tinctures are alcoholic extracts from plants (most often in 70-degree alcohol). The crushed raw material is poured into a tightly closed vessel with alcohol and infused at room temperature for 7 days, stirring occasionally. After the specified period, the liquid is drained, the residue is squeezed out, washed with alcohol of the same strength and the amount of filtrate is adjusted to the desired volume. From most plants, tinctures are prepared in a ratio of 1:5, from raw materials containing potent substances - 1:10. Tinctures - persistent drugs, stored long time(up to several years) at room temperature in a dark place in a tightly closed glass container. They contain a large number of active ingredients, so they are dosed in drops (usually 10-30 drops, rarely less or more). At home, tinctures are often prepared with vodka.
Extracts are condensed extracts from medicinal plant materials. More often, like tinctures, they are alcoholic, less often ethereal or water. Depending on the consistency, liquid, thick and dry extracts are distinguished. Liquid ones are prepared in a ratio of 1: 1, thick ones are a viscous mass containing no more than 25% water, dry ones are a loose mass. The preparation of extracts is more difficult than tinctures, so they are made only in factories. Their doses are even less than tinctures. They are dosed in drops or by weight.
In addition to galenic, plants are often prepared at factories for new galenic preparations, which are water extracts that are maximally purified from ballast substances, less often alcohol extracts. They can be used not only inside, but also for injections. Novogalenic preparations for injection are produced in ampoules, for internal use - in vials.
In recent years, in connection with the successes of phytochemistry, pure active substances of plants obtained in factories (individual alkaloids, glycosides, etc.) are increasingly used in medical practice. Widely used in medical practice are boron or h and and - a mixture of dried and crushed medicinal plants, sometimes with the addition of mineral medicinal substances. Fees are intended for the preparation of them at home infusions and decoctions, rinses and poultices, therapeutic baths.
Due to the difficulty of the exact dosage in the collections, poisonous and potent medicinal plants are usually not prescribed. A significant number of fees are issued, approved by the Pharmacological Committee of the Ministry of Health of the USSR and received by pharmacies. On the packaging they always indicate in what proportions to cook them. Outwardly, medicinal plants, in addition to infusions, can be used in the form of ointments, fresh juice and leaves.
Ointments are prepared from plant powders, extracts, tinctures and fresh juice. Vaseline, lanolin, unsalted lard and cow butter are taken as the basis for the manufacture of ointments. Ointments prepared with lard and oil easily penetrate the skin and have a deeper effect than vaseline ointments. However, you need to remember that they quickly deteriorate. Quite often, for therapeutic purposes, fresh plant juice is used both externally and internally. To preserve it for the future, at least 20 percent alcohol is added.
Collection, drying and storage of herbal medicinal raw materials.
Rules for the collection of raw materials.
Medicinal plants are harvested during those periods of their vegetation when they contain maximum amount biologically active active substances. It is known that various plants they accumulate differently; in some, they are localized in the roots and rhizomes, in the second - in the stems and leaves, in the third - in the seeds, and only in some plants are distributed evenly in all its parts. Therefore, when harvesting, you need to know in which part the medicinal substance accumulates. The content of active substances in the same organ is not the same depending on the phase of vegetation of plants, the season. Therefore, the value of medicinal raw materials depends on the timing of its collection.At the end of the book is given a calendar of collection of all medicinal plants described in it. However, the collection time given in it should be considered indicative, since it can vary quite significantly depending on the edge zone. In the steppe zone, the vegetation of plants in the spring begins 7-14 days earlier than in the foothill and mountain zones, and ends earlier as well. So, in hellebore, the above-ground part in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the Altai Territory dies off in early August, and in the mountain zone - only in September. Significant fluctuations in the timing of the vegetation of plants can be from year to year depending on weather conditions (early or late spring, rainy or dry summer, etc.). That is why, on the basis of phenological observations, it is necessary to make appropriate adjustments to the above calendar for each zone of the region.
The aerial parts of plants (leaves, flowers, fruits) are collected only in good weather, as plants moistened with dew or rain do not dry well, deteriorate during drying, and the content of active substances in them decreases. Underground parts of plants (roots, rhizomes and tubers) can be collected in any weather, as they are washed after digging. After harvesting, they should be quickly delivered to the place of drying.
When harvesting medicinal raw materials, in order to preserve the raw material base, only a part of its operational reserves is collected. Otherwise, depletion or even complete disappearance of individual plant species may occur, especially those whose raw material is the entire plant or underground parts. As already mentioned, the annual volume of preparations for the above-ground parts of medicinal plants should not exceed 60-80% of their operational stock, and for underground parts - 20-30% (Ivashin, 1966).
Kidneys and plants are harvested in early spring (usually in March - April), when they are swollen, but have not yet started to grow. At this time they are richest in balsamic and resinous substances. The period of bud break lasts a fairly short period of time, calculated in days. During swelling, the kidneys increase in volume, the kidney scales move apart, on which light stripes and borders appear. The collection of buds ends when they burst, that is, the bud top begins to turn green. Large buds, for example, pines, are cut with a knife, and small ones (birches) are cut along with branches, after which they are dried and threshed.
The bark of plants is harvested during the spring sap flow (April-May). At this time, it is easily separated from the wood. Only smooth bark is collected from young branches and trunks, since the old, cracking bark with a thick dead cork layer contains few active substances. Bark covered with fruticose lichens is also not collected, in last resort it is cleaned with a knife. To remove the bark, circular cuts are made on the branches and trunks with a sharp knife at a distance of 20-50 cm from one another, connected with one or two longitudinal cuts, and then removed in the form of grooves or tubes. To prevent the tree from dying, unremoved strips of bark are left on the trunks and branches.
L and s t I begin to collect when they reach normal size. Their collection can continue throughout the summer until the plant wilts, but the best time is the beginning of flowering. The leaves are torn off by hand, less often cut with knives, scissors, secateurs. Thick juicy petioles of leaves (watch, coltsfoot), which make it difficult to dry raw materials, are removed during collection. Nettle leaves are harvested from a previously mowed and dried plant when they lose their pungency. In lingonberries, which have small leathery leaves, the branches of the plant are cut off, after drying they are threshed, discarding the stems. Leaves that are faded, covered with rust, damaged by insects should not be collected.
Flowers and inflorescences are harvested at the beginning of flowering, when they contain the largest amount of active substances, crumble less when dried and retain their color better. They are usually harvested by hand. Flowers are the most delicate parts of a plant. They must not be compacted in baskets to avoid self-heating and subsequent darkening of the raw material during drying. Dry them immediately after collection and protect from direct sunlight.
Grass is called the entire above-ground part herbaceous plants. It is collected from most plants at the beginning of flowering, cut with knives, sickles, secateurs without coarse ground parts. In some plants, grass is harvested during full bloom(St. John's wort, sundew). With continuous thickets, they mow with a scythe and choose desired plants. In some plants (wormwood, St. John's wort, motherwort, succession), only flowering tops and side flowering branches are cut off. In semi-shrubs, the aerial part is cut off, the leaves and flowers are dried, cut off or threshed, after which the leafless stems are thrown away (thyme). In annual plants, thin roots, when they are pulled out, are left along with the grass (drying swamp).
Fruits and seeds are harvested when they are fully ripe, after which the seeds are dried and aired, removing impurities.
In plants with non-simultaneously blooming inflorescences, fruit ripening is extended over time. They cut off the tops of the plants when half of the fruits are ripe, after which they are tied in bunches and hung to ripen, and then threshed (cumin). Juicy fruits (berries) are harvested at the beginning of ripening, as overripe ones easily crumple and then deteriorate. Rose hips are best harvested a few days before full ripening, when they have acquired a red-orange color, but the wall is still elastic and does not wrinkle during transportation. Harvested fruits must be quickly delivered to the place of drying.
Roots and rhizomes, tubers and bulbs are usually harvested at the end of summer - in autumn, during the period of death of the aerial parts, when the plant passes into the stage rest. At this time, they are larger, fleshier and contain more active ingredients. When harvested very late, it is difficult to find plants. However, at this time they contain a maximum of active substances. It is possible to harvest roots with rhizomes in early spring, before the growth of above-ground parts begins. But this period is very short. In addition, in the absence of the aerial part, it is difficult to find the place where the plant grows, and when young shoots with leaves appear, the roots become flabby and the content of active substances in them is low. Korin with rhizomes is dug up with shovels, special diggers, pitchforks, shaken off the ground, cut off the entire above-ground part, dead and damaged parts are removed and washed in cold running water. It is convenient to wash small roots and rhizomes in baskets, immersing them in water. Thick rhizomes and roots are cut lengthwise so that it is convenient to wash and dry them later. The washed raw material is dried, laying it out on a bedding, and then sent to the place of drying. In cases where medicinal plants grow in large areas, they can be dug up with plows and then harvested by hand (licorice).
Rules for drying raw materials.
The collected raw materials after primary processing should be quickly dried. In case of untimely drying, leaving the raw materials overnight due to the continuation of the vital activity of cells and the activity of enzymes, the active substances contained in plants (glycosides, alkaloids) are destroyed, microorganisms and fungi multiply, which leads to rotting and molding of raw materials. Therefore, the faster the drying is carried out, the higher the quality of the raw material.The nature of drying depends on the type of raw material, on the active substances contained in it. Raw materials containing essential oils are dried slowly, at a temperature not exceeding 30-35 ° C, since the oil evaporates at a higher temperature (thyme, oregano). The alkaloid- and glycoside-containing raw materials are dried at a temperature of 50–60°C, at which the activity of enzymes in plants that destroy glycosides (Adonis, jaundice, etc.) ceases. Raw materials containing vitamin C ( ascorbic acid), dried at a temperature of 80-90 ° C to avoid its oxidation (rose hips, primrose leaves). Depending on the weather, they are dried using natural and artificial heat. Dry in good weather outdoors, in the sun, under awnings, in well-ventilated rooms, in bad weather - in dryers, ovens and ovens. Plants dry quickly in attics under an iron roof, especially if there are opening windows for ventilation.
Above-ground parts (leaves, flowers, stems) and underground parts of the plant containing essential oils and glycosides are dried, protecting them from sunlight. Rhizomes with roots of other plants, as well as fruits and seeds, can be dried in the sun. When drying, the raw materials must be periodically mixed. Drying is considered complete when the roots, rhizomes and bark do not bend when bent, but break with a crack, the leaves and flowers are ground into powder, and the juicy fruits in the hand do not stick together into lumps and do not smear.
Ready dried raw materials are packed in appropriate containers (bags, boxes, bales, bales), to which tags are attached indicating the name of the raw material, its weight, time, preparation. Store it in dry, dark, clean rooms. Poisonous and potent plants must be stored separately from others.
The quality of medicinal raw materials procured in our country through Lekarstrest, Centrosoyuz and the Main Pharmacy Department is regulated by State Standards (GOST), All-Union Standards (OST), inter-republican specifications(MRTU) and articles of the State Pharmacopoeia (GF). The requirements they impose on various types of plant materials are given in the description of individual plants. To determine the quality of medicinal raw materials and their compliance with the standards at the collection points and pharmacies, an appropriate commodity analysis is carried out.
