Crow's eye - medicinal properties and use in medicine. Crow's eye

There are 20-30 species of raven eye, which are common in Eurasia. In Russia, the most common raven eye four leaf, found in forests and among shrubs in humid places in the European part, the Caucasus and Siberia. The plant is poisonous.

raven eye four-leafed (paris vulgaris) - perennial herbaceous plant 15-45 cm high with a creeping rhizome. This plant has a very characteristic appearance, it can be recognized immediately. Four wide oval leaves extending from one point of the stem are arranged in a horizontal plane like a cross. The leaves do not have petioles, they are sessile. Leaves are attached to the top of the stem, cylindrical, straight, rather high. A branch-pedicel rises above the leaves, which ends in a flower. This branch is much shorter and thinner than the stem. The raven eye always forms only one flower. This happens only in a few plants. Much more often we meet with such a case when there are several or many flowers and they are collected in inflorescences.

Crow's eye blooms in late spring. But its flowering usually goes unnoticed by anyone. The flowers of the plant, although not too small, do not stand out in any way, as they have an inconspicuous greenish color. They don't draw much attention to themselves.

The flower of the raven eye is such that it is difficult to tell how long it has blossomed. Its appearance at the beginning of flowering is almost the same as at the end. The tepals and stamens do not fall off after flowering and remain on the plant. These parts of the flower gradually dry out over time, and the pistil turns into a fruit - a small black berry. A dark berry is much more noticeable than a flower, it always attracts attention.

However, many stems bear only one leaf, arranged in a cross. Flowering is not always observed.

Aerial shoots of the crow's eye grow in the spring from the rhizome that overwintered in the soil. It is long, creeping, light brown, two or three matches thick. Such rhizomes can grow quickly to the sides. The end of the rhizome is sharp, it is easily introduced into loose forest soil. On the rhizome, in some places, peculiar, modified underground leaves are visible - dry brown scales the length of a fingernail. Thread-like roots are also visible, which supply the plant with water.

Do not be surprised if you meet raven eye plants in the forest, which have not four leaves, but five or even six. Such deviations sometimes occur. But most often, four leaves develop. It is because of this that the raven eye is called the four-leafed.

Each year, the crow's eye shoot increases by one segment, by the number of which you can determine the age of the plant. The black berry of this plant is very similar to the eye of a raven, hence the similar name. All parts of the plant, especially the berries, are poisonous; it contains saponins, paridin and paristipin.

In scientific medicine, the raven eye is not used. IN folk medicine for the treatment of mental illness is used in small doses alcohol tincture of this plant.

Healing properties: used in small doses (drops) for pulmonary tuberculosis, mental disorders ah, migraines, neuralgia, dizziness, drowsiness.

Crow's eye (Paris quadrifolia L.)

Description of appearance:
flowers: Flower solitary, on a ribbed pedicel emerging from a whorl of leaves. Perianth two-row, consisting of four outer green lanceolate leaves and four inner - linear, yellowish-green. In the flower, long stamens with linear anthers ending in spinous points stand out noticeably.
Leaves: A whorl of four leaves (rarely of 5-6) - obovate, pointed, up to 14 cm long with three clear veins.
Height: 15-30 cm.
Stem: With erect stem.
Root: with a long, slightly branched, scaly rhizome.
Fetus: Globular, bluish-black berry.
Flowering and fruiting time: Blooms in May; seeds ripen in July-August.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: It grows mainly in broad-leaved forests, usually in shaded places on loose, moderately moist (fresh) soil; also occurs in coniferous and mixed plantations, but does not reach good development there.
Prevalence: The raven eye is common in the forest zone of Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Mongolia. In Russia, it is found in the forest zone of the European part (except for the northern regions) and in Siberia. IN Central Russia almost everywhere.
Addition: Propagated by seeds and vegetatively - by the growth of rhizomes. IN optimal conditions forms normal populations covering an area of several square decimeters; never dominates in herbage. An extremely poisonous plant.

The raven eye is a small herbaceous plant, notable primarily for its blue-black berries, similar to blueberries or bilberries. It has been known since antiquity and is currently quite well studied - the raven eye is an object for genetic research. In the old days, it was believed that the berries of the crow's eye, sewn into clothes, could save a person from evil spells. During epidemics, they were worn on the body to protect against pestilence. However, despite its wide popularity, it was used extremely reluctantly and with great caution.

What does this plant look like, what benefits does it bring and why is the crow's eye dangerous for humans? First, consider its botanical characteristics.

Description of the raven eye plant

Due to its wide range, this plant has many popular names: bear berries, raven, cross-grass, crow berries, nail-eater, tensioner, wolf eyes, native-grass, cuckoo's tears, forest white, parid grass. In total, there are more than twenty types of raven eye. The most widespread is the four-leaved raven eye (Latin name Pāris quadrifōlia). All species are small herbaceous perennials. In winter, the green part of the crow's eye dies off, leaving a rhizome from which a new shoot develops the next year.

What does a raven eye look like? Its stem is erect, ribbed, without pubescence, the height of the stem ranges from 10 to 40 cm. At the bottom of the stem, the leaves are crosswise - wide, ovate, with a pointed tip. There are usually four of them, but sometimes there is a raven eye with 5 or 6 leaves. If you rub the leaves between your fingers, you can catch the unpleasant smell of the plant's juice. The flower at the crow's eye is inconspicuous and unremarkable. It is solitary, located at the top of a ribbed stem and has four outer green (sepals) and four inner yellow-green petals. By appearance the flower resembles a small four-pointed star. Crow's eye blooms in May-July, flowering lasts a long time. The fruit is a globular berry about one centimeter in diameter, ripening in August. The berry is black and shiny, with a bluish bloom, inside it there are many seeds located in four nests.

It is easy for ignorant people or children to confuse the fruits of the crow's eye with blueberries or blueberries. The taste of the berries is unpleasant, in some people even the smell of a crow's eye can cause nausea or headache. For the same reason, animals do not eat them, so poisoning in livestock is extremely rare. Interesting feature- birds eat berries in large quantities without any harm to themselves.

The root system of the plant is a long creeping rhizome. In the spring, from the lateral buds, it gives new above-ground shoots.

The plant is distributed almost throughout the European part of the mainland, in Western Siberia, the Caucasus, the Crimea, the Mediterranean. And on Far East- in Kamchatka and Sakhalin, in Primorye, Amur region - there are other types of this grass (Manchurian and six-leaved crow's eye). Biotopes where the raven eye grows are shaded wet places - ravines, thickets of bushes, damp rocky slopes. The raven eye loves fertile soil, so it is found in deciduous and mixed forests, less often in coniferous forests or in the forest-steppe.

Usually located singly, but sometimes you can see about a dozen plants growing nearby.

Where is the raven eye used?

As noted above, this herb is well studied. Crow's eye contains flavonoids, organic acids (citric, malic), vitamin C, pectin, coumarin, paridin glycoside. The plant is classified as poisonous - its rhizomes, leaves and fruits contain the poisonous saponin paristifin. The rhizomes also contain steroidal saponins and alkaloids.

crow's eye decoction

Raw materials for medical purposes are harvested during the flowering period. Use the whole plant as a whole, using the green parts to prepare an alcohol tincture. Berries are harvested after ripening, used fresh or dried for the preparation of infusions and decoctions.

Due to the toxicity of the crow's eye, its use in official medicine forbidden. Traditional medicine uses the raven eye also very carefully. Berries and leaves have an emetic and laxative effect. In the old days, it was believed that decoctions of the crow's eye relieve spasms that are caused by nervous disorders, help with fever and dropsy. Alcoholic tinctures from berries are used to treat inflammation of the larynx, migraine, increased drowsiness, various heart diseases with an increase in heart rate. The people believed that with the help of the berries of the crow's eye, you can get rid of a hernia. Juice from fresh berries cures boils, heals skin ulcers and is used for the bites of rabid dogs. In Tibetan medicine, preparations from the crow's eye are used for the speedy fusion of bones in case of fractures.

To this day, recipes for decoctions and infusions can be found in various herbalists, but they all come with a caveat - use only under the supervision of a doctor.

Crow's eye preparations are more widely used in homeopathy. From fresh aerial parts, a homeopathic remedy Paris quadrifolia is prepared, which is used for neuralgic pains of the head, face, and often recurring inflammation of the larynx. The drug is effective in conjunctivitis, accompanied by twitching of the eyelids.

Crow's eye poisoning

poisoning

The raven eye is a poisonous plant, all its parts are dangerous to humans. The juice of the plant causes severe irritation of the mucous membranes. Berries affect mainly the cardiovascular system, the rhizome causes vomiting, and the leaves affect the nervous system. In experiments conducted on dogs, with intra-arterial administration, an infusion of berries caused a violation of the heart rhythm - first slowing down, then increasing it and arrhythmia. This action is similar to the glycosides of lily of the valley, a relative of which is the crow's eye.

The plant is considered slightly poisonous - they do not know of fatal cases of poisoning. Children often suffer from the consequences of eating berries, because the beautiful fruits are attractive and look appetizing. Luckily, they don't taste good, and one or two berries can be eaten without any serious consequences. When 7–10 berries are ingested, poisoning with the crow's eye occurs.

Also, symptoms of poisoning can occur with an overdose of drugs from the crow's eye during treatment. It should be noted that for them there is a wide range of contraindications - childhood, pregnancy and lactation, disorders of the liver and kidneys.

Symptoms of poisoning

What are the signs of crow's eye poisoning? Symptoms will be as follows:

nausea;
burning in the mouth, throat, stomach;
liquid stool;
pain in the abdomen, colic;
headaches and dizziness.

In severe cases, dilated pupils, dry mouth and nasal cavity, fear of light are noted. In the future, speech is disturbed, swallowing is difficult. There may be convulsions and disruption of the heart until it stops.

First aid

First aid for poisoning with berries of the crow's eye is to free the stomach from the poison and remove its remnants from the intestines.

Attention! Taking laxatives for poisoning with a crow's eye is contraindicated.

The victim can be given strong tea, which contains substances that precipitate poison (tannins). If a lot of time has passed after eating the berries and toxins have entered the intestines, then a cleansing enema is done.

Treatment of poisoning

After providing first aid for poisoning with a crow's eye berry, you must definitely consult a doctor!

You may need to administer heart medications. Depending on the indications, forced diuresis is performed. To enhance the work of the liver, which neutralizes toxins, as well as to maintain the heart muscle, it is indicated intravenous administration glucose.

So, the raven eye is a widespread plant, all parts of which are poisonous when ingested. You can get poisoned by them by taking preparations prepared from the plant, or by eating unknowingly the berries of the crow's eye, which in appearance look like blueberries or blueberries. The first signs of poisoning are nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea, vomiting and cardiac dysfunction are possible. First aid measures for poisoning with a crow's eye come down to removing the poison from the body - gastric lavage, giving adsorbents and enveloping substances. Applying for a qualified medical care necessarily - you may need intravenous infusions of antitoxic and cardiac drugs.

The poisonous raven eye plant is found throughout middle lane, has not only poisonous, but also medicinal properties, and the symptoms of poisoning are tolerated by the human body quite difficult.

What is this plant?

What a raven eye looks like, every villager knows, but the townspeople have a very vague idea about this plant, since it practically does not occur in the city.

The raven eye blooms from mid-May to the end of June, a single flower blooms on the stem of a beautiful and unusual shade of petals - from rich green to sunny yellow. By the end of July or the beginning of August, a single large smooth berry, blue-black, dark blue or blue with a purple tint, ripens in place of the flower, shiny and reminiscent of a bird's eye, which is why the plant got its name.

What is dangerous?

Description of the raven eye poisonous plant in any encyclopedia, as a rule, begins with a mention of the toxins contained in it - paristifin and paradin. These substances reach the highest concentration in ripe berries and in the root, but are contained in all parts of the flower in small quantities.

When eating berries of a crow's eye, poisoning is accompanied by such symptoms:

Diarrhea, beginning earlier than nausea and vomiting.
Dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Colic in the abdomen, variable localization, that is, they alternately appear in the stomach, liver, kidneys, in the lower abdomen.
Spontaneous muscle cramps, muscles most often reduce on the legs, but can reduce on the arms, on the face, on the back, and so on.
Disturbances in the work of the heart - failure of the rhythm, delay in contractions. Sometimes quite long - more than a minute.

However, the negative effect of berries on the human body depends on many nuances - the amount eaten, weight and age, the state of the cardiovascular system. For example, if an adult with a healthy heart and weighing at least 60 kg eats 4-6 berries, then the maximum that he will feel is a laxative effect, and even then it is rather weak.

Also, nothing terrible will happen if a child over 6 years old and weighing normally for his age eats 2-3 berries. But, if a healthy adult eats a glass of these berries, poisoning is inevitable, and for a baby under 3 years old, 1-2 berries will be enough to start intoxication.

The biggest danger of poisoning with a crow's eye is that the toxins contained in it slow down the heart rate and, with a sufficient degree of susceptibility to them, or with a very large volume of berries eaten, can provoke its complete stop.

Help with intoxication with the poison of the crow's eye also implies actions that are standard for all types of poisoning, that is, and reception, but, in addition, it is recommended that the victim take anticonvulsants and drugs that normalize the heart rhythm, for example, "Strophanthin".

In no case should you use fixative drugs, any drugs against diarrhea and diarrhea with this type of poisoning.

Consequences of poisoning

The poisonous power of this plant does not cause irreparable damage to health, unless, of course, a very large number of berries are eaten or there are no heart pathologies, such as arrhythmia or hypertension.

The worst thing that can happen in case of poisoning is cardiac arrest, but this is a current symptom, and not a consequence of the berries entering the body.

After the stomach is washed and the necessary drugs are taken, the person will be bothered by diarrhea for some time, usually weak stools last from 2 to 5 days. This moment also depends on the number of berries that have entered the stomach and the state of health, namely the intestines.

Pain in the heart, in large numbers toxin or the presence of cardiac pathologies will last from a week to a month after the poisoning has already been cured. During the first week after intoxication, seizures may occur, especially during sleep and with localization in the calf muscles.

It is much harder for health to intoxicate not with flowers or berries of the crow's eye, but with healing infusions prepared from the root and other parts of this plant. With an incorrect treatment regimen for them, exceeding the dosage and frequency of consumption, they almost always develop:

heart disease taking chronic form;
neuro-somatic pathologies;
insomnia, mania, depression.

In people prone to schizophrenia, with systematic abuse medicines made from berries and the root of the crow's eye, this disease will inevitably manifest itself and begin to progress very quickly, literally before our eyes.

What useful properties does it have?

The raven eye is a flower, although poisonous, but possessing incomparable healing properties used by healers for more than one or two centuries. Moreover, extracts from various parts of this plant are components of many modern medicines and are part of some dietary supplements.

In folk medicine, absolutely all parts of this plant are used, each of which helps with certain ailments.

Grass, that is, the leaves and stem of the crow's eye, cures such diseases:

Migraines of unknown origin.
Neuralgias of all types.
Ascites.
Tuberculosis of the lungs in the initial stage.
Metabolic disorders.
Muscle spasms and convulsions are of nervous origin, meaning this herb actually helps with epilepsy and pseudoepilepsy.

The berries and rhizome of the plant, more precisely, an infusion of them, are used to treat:

Cardiovascular diseases, characterized by excessively fast, "superficial" heartbeat.
Problems with the functionality of the intestines, such as constipation.
Health problems caused by slagging of the intestines, intestinal obstruction, "clogging" of the caecum, and so on.
Sluggish, inhibited nervous activity, including chronic fatigue syndrome and excessive sleepiness.

Also, infusions of berries and roots are used to normalize metabolic processes and accelerate metabolic processes in the body, increase appetite and maximize food absorption, that is, with good appetite a person not only does not gain kilograms, but also loses excess weight.

The crow's eye flower is not used by healers or pharmacists, since it contains practically no active substances that can affect human health. However, the flower of this plant is not at all useless, for example, a bouquet of it left in the room contributes to good rest, getting rid of headaches and repels insects.

Video: raven eye.

Are there any contraindications to treatment with this plant extract?

Description healing properties The Crow's Eye would be incomplete without mentioning the contraindications to treatment with infusions and preparations made from this plant.

In addition to relative contraindications, for example, nervous overexcitation caused by stress, atrial fibrillation, or a hereditary tendency to certain mental pathologies, such as schizophrenia, there are also complete contraindications, in the presence of which it is by no means possible to treat products with a crow's eye in the composition, as and use dietary supplements with it.

100% contraindications include:

Pregnancy.
Lactation.
A number of nervous diseases that are accompanied by hyperactive behavior and overexcitation nervous system.
Stroke, even if several years have passed after it.
A number of cardiac pathologies characterized by a slow heart rate and lethargy of its contractions, as well as underdevelopment of the valves and ventricles.
Age under 12 years old.
All violations of the integrity of sleep.
Tumors of the brain.
Internal intestinal bleeding.

There are no other 100% contraindications to treatment with the Crow's Eye or the use of dietary supplements with it in the composition. But before you start taking infusions from this flower or active supplements with it, you should consult your doctor.

It is especially important to discuss the dosage regimen and dosage, taking into account individual health indicators, because, despite the obvious benefits, the raven eye is still a very poisonous plant and can be harmful if taken incorrectly.

Crow's eye is a genus of annual herbs belonging to the lily family. Represents green plant, consisting of four sepals, four ovate leaves with mesh veining, sometimes three leaves, five, and six are found in the whorl, but such specimens are an infrequent occurrence. From the very center of the plant on a low pedicel (about 40 cm), a single nondescript four-membered flower departs, from which a fruit is formed in August - a bluish-black berry. The raven eye is poisonous, especially its rhizome and berry.

Crow's eye - types and places of growth

In the world flora, there are about 40 species of crow's eye. It is a plant of moist soils and shady forests. It grows in beech forests, among many flowers, at the foot of slopes and in shrubby thickets. It occurs throughout the range of Siberia, the European part of the Russian Federation, the Caucasus, Central Europe, Asia, the Himalayas.

In folk medicine and homeopathy, the raven eye plays a huge role. The three main types most commonly used are:

- four-leafed raven eye;
- the raven eye is incomplete;
- the raven eye is multi-leaved.

Crow's eye - healing properties

As we noted above, the plant is very poisonous, but dried fruits and leaves are widely used in folk medicine in small doses. Crow's eye contains glycosides, steroids, saponins, flavonoids and various vitamins. The rhizome also contains alkaloids.

Due to a certain number of biologically active substances, the raven eye has a calming, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and diuretic effect on the body.

Helps to fight such diseases and troubles as neuralgia, migraine, tuberculosis, ascites, laryngitis, metabolic disorders. It is also used as a means of improving appetite, enhancing bowel function and eliminating tachycardia. Good results have been achieved in the treatment of seizures, heart failure (as an adjuvant therapy), tremors and concussions.

Crow's eye - dosage forms

As a medicinal raw material, the green part of the plant is used, less often berries. Fresh grass must be collected during flowering. In the vast majority of cases, for the treatment of a disease, a tincture is made based on fresh or dried herbs.

Berries rub difficult-to-heal wounds, sores, pimples and boils. And fresh juice in homeopathy is used to treat migraine (rubbing of the temples), headache, eye diseases, drowsiness, bronchitis, concussion. Internal use of poisonous crow's eye requires special care.

Crow's eye - recipe and use of tincture

For tuberculosis, neurosis, convulsions and constipation: for half a liter of good vodka we prepare 50 g of crushed dry, and preferably fresh crow's eye grass, fill it and put it in a dark isolated place for a couple of weeks. Then we filter, add two teaspoons of tincture to a glass of water and take it on the table. spoon every 2-3 hours, regardless of the meal.

With concussion: tincture can be prepared on the basis of dry grass. Four table. spoons of dry extract, pour 500 ml of vodka, put it in a dark place, insist for 7-9 days and use only five drops, diluted in a glass of water, three r. per day for a week or two.

With heart failure (with edema): pour a dozen fresh berries into the floor with liters of good vodka, leave for two weeks in a dry, dark place. Next, do not forget to strain and take twenty drops, diluted in a small amount of water, three r. in a day. The course is three weeks, then you need to take a ten-day break and spend at least 2 more courses.

Crow's eye - contraindications

- pregnancy (all trimesters) and breastfeeding;
- age up to 12 years;
- individual intolerance.

Before using drugs based on the crow's eye, you should consult with a specialist. It is also impossible to exceed the permissible doses, since poisoning toxic substances causes vomiting, diarrhea, bradycardia, decline in respiratory and cardiac activity, intestinal colic, dizziness up to loss of consciousness. With the development side effects self-medication is not allowed!

The raven eye plant has different names among the people: rannik, bear berries, crow grass, crow berries, raven, cross-grass. It attracts attention with its shiny black berries, which can cause severe poisoning and at the same time have healing properties.

In Slavic-speaking countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Paris quadrifolia is called the crow's eye. But it should not be confused with the more poisonous "crow's eye", as in Western Europe, in particular in Germany (Krehenaugen) they call tropical tree Strychnos nux-vomica L., the seeds of which contain the very poisonous strychnine. Paris quadrifolia in Western Europe is called uva lupina, uva vulpina ( wolfberry, foxberry): Raisin de renard (in French), Wolfsbeere (in German) or also "monoberry" (Unifraga, Mono-fragie, Einbeere). And the four-leaf whorl gave rise to the name Crux Christi - Christ's cross.

Description of the raven eye plant

The crow's eye is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family, 15-45 cm high. The crow's eye stem is erect, simple, grows from the axils of the vaginal leaves of the rhizome. At the top of the stem of the four-leafed crow's eye is a whorl of 4 oval leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow, solitary, with separate petals, with a two-row perianth of 8 leaflets.

The fruit is a multi-seeded spherical berry up to 12 mm in diameter. During the period of fruit ripening, it looks very original: the plant seems to present its fruit on a quadrangular plate. But do not be tempted, do not expose yourself to the threat of poisoning - after all, this plant is poisonous, it contains saponins - pyridine and paristipine. Symptoms of poisoning can be as follows: sore throat, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain. In case of poisoning, you should quickly drink milk and take a laxative.

Blooms in May - June.
It grows in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus and Siberia. The plant can be found in mixed and deciduous forests on moist soils.
The raven eye is quite beautiful, however it is different bad smell, therefore, with prolonged inhalation, the head begins to hurt. Contact with the juice in the eyes or on the mucous membrane of the mouth leads to inflammation.

Spreading

It grows mainly in broad-leaved forests, usually in shaded places on loose, moderately moist (fresh) soil; also occurs in coniferous and mixed plantations, but does not reach good development there.

The raven eye is common in the forest zone of Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Mongolia. In Russia, it is found in the forest zone of the European part (except for the northern regions) and in Siberia. In Central Russia, almost everywhere.

Propagated by seeds and vegetatively - by the growth of rhizomes. Under optimal conditions, it forms normal populations covering an area of several square decimeters; never dominates in herbage. An extremely poisonous plant.

Chemical composition

The plant contains saponins and alkaloids. The plant is highly poisonous.

Application

Traditional medicine is not used at all. Folk medicine uses crow's head herb as a decoction for dropsy and fever. They also relieve spasms in case of nervous disorders.

For the treatment of neuralgia, dizziness, migraines, mental disorders, as well as metabolic disorders with edema, alcohol tincture is used from a freshly harvested crow's eye.

Wounds that do not heal for a long time are treated with berry juice. The berries of the plant are also used for rabid dog bites and furunculosis.

The four leaf crow's eye is used in homeopathy. Its fresh juice helps in the treatment of migraines, eye diseases, nervous excitement, and headaches.

Crow's eye plant. Photo

Raven eye. Photo: Ulrika

Raven eye. Photo: retemirabile

Kinds

In the world flora, there are about 40 species of crow's eye. It is a plant of moist soils and shady forests. It grows in beech forests, among many flowers, at the foot of slopes and in shrubby thickets. In folk medicine and homeopathy, the raven eye plays a huge role. The three main types most commonly used are:
- four-leafed raven eye;
- raven eye is incomplete;
- the raven eye is multi-leaved.

Signs of poisoning

The raven eye affects the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. If symptoms such as nausea, pain in the form of colic, convulsions appear, the heart works differently (worse than before), it is difficult to breathe, paralysis, then there is a fact of poisoning by a crow plant.
In case of poisoning, it is necessary to wash the stomach from the poisons present. Namely, to give a poisoned person pieces of ice, let him hold it in his mouth (this is, as it were, an antidote). Inside you need to enter anesthesin and some drug that will restore the work of the heart, for example, strophanthin.