Crow's eye - medicinal properties and medicinal uses. Crow's eye

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

Crow's eye four-leaved (Paris vulgare) - perennial herbaceous plant 15-45 cm high with creeping rhizome. This plant has a very characteristic appearance and 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 have no petioles and are sessile. The leaves are attached to the top of the stem, which is cylindrical, straight, and rather tall. A branch-peduncle rises above the leaves, which ends in a flower. This branch is much shorter and thinner than the stem. Crow's eye always produces only one flower. This happens only in a few plants. Much more often we encounter this 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 attract much attention to themselves.

The crow's eye flower is such that it is difficult to say how long ago it bloomed. 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. The dark berry is much more noticeable than the flower; it always attracts attention.

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

Aboveground shoots of crow's eye grow in the spring from rhizomes that have overwintered in the soil. It is long, creeping, light brown, two or three matchsticks thick. Such rhizomes can quickly grow to the sides. The end of the rhizome is sharp, it easily penetrates into loose forest soil. Here and there on the rhizome one can see peculiar, modified underground leaves - dry brown scales the length of a fingernail. Thread-like roots are also visible, which supply the plant with water.

Don’t be surprised if you come across raven’s eye plants in the forest that 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's eye is called four-leaf.

Every year the shoot of the raven's eye increases by one segment, by the number of which the age of the plant can be determined. 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 To treat mental illness, an alcoholic tincture of this plant is used in small doses.

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

Crow's eye four-leaf (Paris quadrifolia L.)

Description of appearance:
Flowers: The flower is solitary, on a ribbed peduncle emerging from a whorl of leaves. The perianth is two-rowed, consisting of four outer green lanceolate leaves and four inner ones - linear, yellowish-green. The flower has long stamens with linear anthers ending in spinous points.
Leaves: Whorl of four leaves (less often 5-6) - obovate, pointed, up to 14 cm long with three clear veins.
Height: 15-30 cm.
Stem: With an erect stem.
Root: with a long, weakly branched, scaly rhizome.
Fetus: Globular, bluish-black berry.
Flowering and fruiting time: Blooms in May; the seeds ripen in July-August.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Habitat: Grows mainly in deciduous forests, usually in shaded places on loose, moderately moist (fresh) soil; It is also found in coniferous and mixed plantings, but does not achieve good development there.
Prevalence: Crow's eye is common in the forest zone of Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Mongolia. In Russia it is found in the forest belt 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 occupying an area of several square decimeters; never dominates in the grass stand. An extremely poisonous plant.

Crow's eye is a small herbaceous plant, notable primarily for its blue-black berries, similar to blueberries or blueberries. It has been known since ancient times and is now quite well studied - the raven eye is an object for genetic research. In the old days, it was believed that raven's eye berries, sewn into clothes, could rid a person of evil spells. During epidemics, they were worn on the body to protect against pestilence. At the same time, 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 raven eye dangerous for humans? First, let's look at its botanical characteristics.

Description of the raven eye plant

Due to its wide range, this plant has many popular names: bear berries, crow grass, cross-grass, crow berries, nail-eater, natyagach, wolf's eyes, rodimets-grass, cuckoo's tears, woodland grass, parid's grass. There are more than twenty species of raven's eye. The most widespread is the four-leaved crow's 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's 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 located crosswise - wide, ovate, with a pointed tip. There are usually four of them, but sometimes there is a crow's eye with 5 or 6 leaves. If you rub the leaves between your fingers, you can smell the unpleasant smell of the plant's sap. The raven's eye flower is inconspicuous and unremarkable. It is solitary, located at the top of a ribbed stem and has four outer green petals (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 spherical berry about one centimeter in diameter, ripens in August. The berry is black and shiny, with a bluish coating; inside it there are many seeds located in four nests.

It is easy for ignorant people or children to confuse crow's eye fruits with blueberries or blueberries. The berries have an unpleasant taste; for some people, even the smell of a raven'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 spring, it produces new above-ground shoots from its lateral buds.

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

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

Where is raven's eye used?

As noted above, this herb has been well studied. Crow's eye four-leaf contains flavonoids, organic acids (citric, malic), vitamin C, pectin substances, 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. The whole plant is used, using the green parts to prepare an alcohol tincture. The berries are collected after ripening and used fresh or dried to prepare infusions and decoctions.

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

Recipes for decoctions and infusions can still be found in various herbalists, but they all come with a caveat - to use only under the supervision of a doctor.

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

Crow's eye poisoning

poisoning

Crow's eye is a poisonous plant; all its parts are dangerous to humans. The juice of the plant causes severe irritation of the mucous membranes. The berries primarily affect the cardiovascular system, the rhizome causes vomiting, and the leaves affect the nervous system. In experiments conducted on dogs, when administered intra-arterially, an infusion of berries caused a disturbance in the heart rhythm - first a slowdown, then an increase in heart rate and arrhythmia. This action is similar to the glycosides of lily of the valley, a relative of which is the raven's eye.

The plant is considered mildly poisonous - there are no known cases of fatal poisoning. Children often suffer from the consequences of eating berries, since the beautiful fruits are attractive and look appetizing. Fortunately, they don't taste bad, and one or two berries can be eaten without any serious consequences. When 7–10 berries enter the body, raven's eye poisoning occurs.

Symptoms of poisoning can also occur with an overdose of raven eye preparations during treatment. It should be noted that there are a wide range of contraindications for them - childhood, pregnancy and lactation, liver and kidney dysfunction.

Symptoms of poisoning

What are the signs of raven eye poisoning? The symptoms will be as follows:

nausea;
burning in the mouth, throat, stomach;
loose stools;
abdominal pain, colic;
headaches and dizziness.

In severe cases, dilated pupils, dry mouth and nasal cavity, and fear of light are noted. Subsequently, speech is impaired and swallowing is difficult. Convulsions and disturbances in the functioning of the heart are possible, even to the point of cardiac arrest.

First aid

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

Attention! Taking laxatives for raven eye poisoning is contraindicated.

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

Treatment of poisoning

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

Cardiac medications may be needed. Depending on the indications, forced diuresis is performed. It is indicated to enhance the work of the liver, which neutralizes toxins, and also to maintain the heart muscle. intravenous administration glucose.

So, crow's eye is a widespread plant, all parts of which are poisonous if ingested. You can become poisoned by taking medications prepared from the plant, or by unknowingly eating raven's eye berries, which are similar in appearance to blueberries. The first signs of poisoning are nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea, possible vomiting and cardiac dysfunction. First aid measures for raven eye poisoning boil down to removing the poison from the body - washing the stomach, giving adsorbents and coating substances. Applying for a qualified medical care definitely - you may need intravenous infusions of antitoxic and cardiac drugs.

The poisonous crow's eye plant is found everywhere in middle lane, has not only poisonous, but also medicinal properties, and the symptoms of poisoning are quite difficult for the human body to tolerate.

What kind of plant is this?

Every villager knows what a raven's eye looks like, but city dwellers have a very vague idea about this plant, since it is practically never found in urban areas.

The raven's eye blooms from mid-May to the end of June; a single flower blooms on the stem with 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 violet tint, ripens in place of the flower, shiny and reminiscent of a bird's eye, which is why the plant got its name.

Why is it dangerous?

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

When eating crow's eye berries, poisoning is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Diarrhea that begins before nausea and vomiting.
Dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Colic in the abdomen, variable localization, that is, they alternately appear in the stomach, liver, kidneys, and lower abdomen.
Spontaneous muscle cramps, muscles most often cramp in the legs, but can also cramp in the arms, face, back, and so on.
Disturbances in the functioning of the heart - rhythm failure, delay in contractions. Sometimes it is quite long – over a minute.

However, the negative effect of berries on the human body depends on many nuances - the amount eaten, weight and age, and 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 quite weak.

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

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

Help with intoxication with raven eye poison also involves actions that are standard for all types of poisoning, that is, taking , but in addition, the victim is recommended to take anticonvulsants and medications that normalize heart rhythm, for example, Strophanthin.

Under no circumstances should you use fixing medications or any anti-diarrhea or diarrhea medications for 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, for example, 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 has been rinsed and the necessary medications have been taken, the person will continue to experience diarrhea for some time; usually, weak stools last from 2 to 5 days. This point also depends on the amount of berries that have entered the stomach and the state of health, namely the intestines.

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

Intoxication caused by intoxication not from flowers or berries of the crow's eye, but from medicinal infusions prepared from the root and other parts of this plant, is much more serious for health. If the treatment regimen is incorrect, the dosage and frequency of consumption are exceeded, the following almost always develops:

heart disease taking chronic form;
neurosomatic pathologies;
insomnia, mania, depression.

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

What beneficial properties does it have?

The raven's eye is a flower, although it is poisonous, but has 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 included in some dietary supplements.

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

The grass, that is, the leaves and stem of the crow's eye, cures the following diseases:

Migraines of unknown origin.
Neuralgia of all types.
Ascites.
Pulmonary tuberculosis in the initial stage.
Metabolic disorders.
Muscle spasms and convulsions of nervous origin, that is, this herb actually helps with epilepsy and pseudoepilepsy.

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

Cardiovascular diseases, characterized by an excessively fast, “shallow” heartbeat.
Problems with bowel function, such as constipation.
Health problems caused by intestinal slagging, intestinal obstruction, “clogged” cecum, and so on.
Sluggish, inhibited nervous activity, including chronic fatigue syndrome and excessive drowsiness.

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 raven'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, promotes good rest, gets 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 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 under no circumstances possible to be treated with products containing crow's eye, as and use dietary supplements with it.

One hundred percent contraindications include:

Pregnancy.
Lactation.
A number of nervous diseases that are accompanied by hyperactive behavior and overexcitation nervous system.
A stroke, even if several years have passed since it.
A number of cardiac pathologies characterized by a slow heart rhythm and sluggish contractions, as well as underdeveloped valves and ventricles.
Age under 12 years.
All sleep disturbances.
Brain tumors.
Internal intestinal bleeding.

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

It is especially important to discuss the dosage regimen and dosage, taking into account individual health indicators, since, despite the obvious benefits, crow's eye is still a very poisonous plant and can cause harm 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 reticulate venation, sometimes three, five, or six leaves are found in a whorl, but such specimens are uncommon. From the very center of the plant, on a low peduncle (about 40 cm), comes a single inconspicuous four-membered flower, from which a fruit is formed in August - a bluish-black berry. Crow's eye is poisonous, especially its rhizome and berries.

Crow's eye - types and places of growth

There are about 40 species of raven's eye in the world flora. It is a plant of moist soils and shady forests. It grows in beech forests, among a variety of flowers, at the foot of slopes and in bushes. It is found throughout the range of Siberia, the European part of the Russian Federation, the Caucasus, Central Europe, Asia, and the Himalayas.

In folk medicine and homeopathy, the raven's eye plays a huge role. There are three main types most often used:

- four-leaf raven eye;
— the raven eye is incomplete;
- Crow's eye multi-leaved.

Raven'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, saponin, flavonoids and various vitamins. The rhizome also contains alkaloids.

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

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

Crow's eye - dosage forms

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

Rub the berries on hard-to-heal wounds, ulcers, pimples and boils. And in homeopathy, fresh juice is used to treat migraines (rubbing the temples), headaches, eye diseases, drowsiness, bronchitis, and concussions. Internal use of poisonous crow's eye requires special caution.

Crow's eye - recipe and use of tincture

For tuberculosis, neuroses, convulsions and constipation: for half a liter of good vodka, prepare 50 g of crushed dry, or preferably fresh, crow's eye grass, pour it in 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 at the table. spoon every 2-3 hours, regardless of meals.

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

For heart failure (with edema): pour a dozen fresh berries into half a liter 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 take 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 crow's eye, you should consult a specialist. You should also not 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. During development side effects Self-medication is not acceptable!

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

In Central and Eastern European countries that speak Slavic languages, Paris quadrifolia is called the raven's eye. But it should not be confused with the more poisonous “crow’s eye”, as in Western Europe, particularly in Germany (Krehenaugen) is called tropical tree Strychnos nux-vomica L., the seeds of which contain 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

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

The fruit is a multi-seeded spherical berry with a diameter of up to 12 mm. During the period of fruit ripening, it looks very original: the plant seems to present its fruit on a rectangular 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 may be the following: 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, but different unpleasant smell, so if you inhale for a long time, your head starts to hurt. Contact of juice in the eyes or on the mucous membrane of the mouth leads to inflammation.

Spreading

Grows mainly in deciduous forests, usually in shaded places on loose, moderately moist (fresh) soil; It is also found in coniferous and mixed plantings, but does not achieve good development there.

Crow's eye is common in the forest zone of Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Mongolia. In Russia it is found in the forest belt 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 occupying an area of several square decimeters; never dominates in the grass stand. An extremely poisonous plant.

Chemical composition

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

Application

It is not used at all by traditional medicine. Traditional medicine uses crow's head herb in the form of decoctions for dropsy and fever. It also relieves spasms in case of nervous disorders.

To treat neuralgia, dizziness, migraines, mental disorders, as well as metabolic disorders with edema, an alcohol tincture of freshly collected raven's eye is used.

Long-lasting wounds are treated with berry juice. The berries of the plant are also used for rabid dog bites and furunculosis.

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

Crow's eye. Photo: Ulrika

Crow's eye. Photo: retemirabile

Kinds

There are about 40 species of raven's eye in the world flora. It is a plant of moist soils and shady forests. It grows in beech forests, among a variety of flowers, at the foot of slopes and in bushes. In folk medicine and homeopathy, the raven's eye plays a huge role. There are three main types most often used:
- four-leaf raven eye;
- the raven eye is incomplete;
- Crow's eye multileaf.

Signs of poisoning

Crow's 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), difficulty breathing, paralysis, then there is a fact of poisoning by the crow plant.
In case of poisoning, it is necessary to rinse the stomach to remove any poisons present. Namely, give the poisoned person pieces of ice and let him hold them in his mouth (this is like an antidote). Anesthesin and some drug that will restore heart function, for example, strophanthin, must be administered inside.