Content
- 1 Description and characteristics
- 2 Where Astragalus Grass Grows
- 3 Astragalus species
- 4 Chemical composition
- 5 Useful properties of astragalus
- 6 Methods of preparation and use
- 7 The use of astragalus herb in traditional medicine
- 8 Application in cosmetology
- 9 Contraindications
- 10 Growing astragalus from seeds at home
- 11 Collection and procurement
- 12 Conclusion
- 13 Reviews of doctors about the medicinal properties of Astragalus
The popular name of astragalus is the herb of immortality. Many legends are associated with the plant. Astragalus has been used since ancient times to treat various diseases. From the Greek language, the name can be translated as "dice" due to the specific shape of the bean-shaped seeds. It is noteworthy that the medicinal properties and uses of Astragalus are still under study.
Description and characteristics
Scientists classify grass as one of the oldest plants on the planet. Previously, the use of Astragalus was available only to the upper class. With the help of herbs, it was possible to heal serious ailments. In modern folk medicine, remedies based on a medicinal plant are used for the therapy and prevention of vascular and heart pathologies, acute respiratory viral infections, and diseases of the digestive system.
Astragalus is understood as a whole group of herbaceous and shrubby plants, which numbers approximately 1500 species. This fact determines the features of the chemical composition.
The herb is classified as a legume. The plant is both annual and perennial. Usually astragalus is a semi-shrub or small shrub, which are called:
- cat peas;
- Chinese ginseng;
- yellow root;
- royal grass.
All astragalus subspecies have similar characteristics:
- The roots are represented by a whole system, consisting of the main dense rhizome and branches extending into the ground.
- The leaves are small and oblong.
- The inflorescences are compared to acacia. Astragalus flowers are purple or white. In most cases, they are yellow and collected in a bud-inflorescence (bell). The flowering period usually begins in the second half of May.
- The fruit resembles a rounded pod. This is typical for most legumes. As the seeds ripen, the capsule opens to penetrate the soil. Fruiting begins in July.
Where Astragalus Grass Grows
The culture grows everywhere, but prefers a temperate climate and areas with manganese or uranium ores. About 900 types of grass grow on the territory of the CIS.
Astragalus species
11 types of grass are included in the Red Book. The medicinal plant astragalus is used for the production of medications. On the territory of Russia and some neighboring countries, the following varieties of Chinese ginseng can be found:
Sandy
The distribution area of the grass is the middle zone and countries with a temperate climate. Sandy Astragalus grows along rivers and roads. The culture is widely used in medicine.
Astragalus sandy is in the regional Red Data Books
Danish
A short perennial plant with bright purple flowers. It can be found in the Far East, the Caucasus and in the Krasnodar Territory, Belarus. The grass prefers steppes and rocky mountain slopes.
All parts of the Danish Astragalus are used in folk medicine.
Malt-leaved
The herb is found in the Caucasus. The yellow root prefers pine and oak forests. Astragalus is prized in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. Its medicinal properties can be compared to that of ginseng. The plant is distinguished by large leaves and oblong flowers. Raw materials are harvested during flowering, as well as the formation of the beans.
The height of the malt-leaved astragalus can reach 90 cm
Woolly-flowered
Wild perennial is in demand by medicine. The variety is characterized by an abundance of inflorescences. The grass can be found in the steppes of Russia.
Astragalus woolly is cultivated for medical purposes
Membranous
The subspecies is known as the "yellow prince", which is due to its powerful tonic effect on the body. The herb is quite popular in medicine.
Astragalus membranous prefers open and sunny areas for growth.
Swamp
The subspecies can be found in the Far East and Siberia. Astragalus, a close-up photo of which is located below, is a perennial. It reaches a height of 1 m or more. Grass inflorescences are represented by fluffy tassels.
Marsh Astragalus is used to treat the organs of the reproductive system and digestion.
Chickpea
The plant resembles chickpeas in appearance. The grass reaches a height of 1 m. Inflorescences of a pale yellow hue have up to 60 flowers that appear in the first summer months. Astragalus chickpea does not like acidic soil. It is often used for decorative purposes to decorate areas.
The medicinal properties of chickpea astragalus have not been scientifically proven.
Sickle (sickle)
Growing area - Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Armenia. The herb is classified as a poisonous specimen. Astragalus sickle is included in the Red Book in Altai. The grass prefers mountain birch forests, broad-leaved forests.
Medicinal properties of sickle astragalus are due to the content of flavonoids, alkaloids and coumarins
Horny (horned)
This is a semi-shrub, the height of which reaches 1 m. Astragalus hornbeam begins flowering in June. Fruits appear in July. Habitat - cold steppes of the Kolyma, Don.
Astragalus horned is a honey plant
Foxtail
Perennial grows in Western Siberia and Central Asia. Flowering is celebrated in June. Astragalus foxtail is a medicinal plant containing flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins. The raw materials for the potions are flowers, leaves and stems.
Astragalus foxtail is used to treat malaria
There are other types of grass as well. For example, prickly astragalus can be found in the Caucasus.
Chemical composition
Official medicine has recognized the healing properties of only two types of astragalus:
- membranous;
- woolly flowered.
Among the useful substances contained in astragalus are called:
- ascorbic and folic acid;
- vitamin E;
- retinol;
- manganese;
- barium;
- iron;
- molybdenum;
- phosphorus;
- silicon;
- selenium.
The content of flavonoids, which have pronounced anti-cancer properties, is essential. The organic acids included in the herb are involved in almost all processes in the body.
Astragalus is rich in polysaccharides. They are considered the main source of energy, which is necessary for the implementation of metabolic processes. The healing herb includes tannins.High molecular weight compounds of natural origin provide cleansing from pathogenic flora and toxins.
Astragalus is a source of essential oils. They relieve inflammation and also have a calming effect on the nervous system. Essential oils soften the skin and have antiseptic properties.
The substances that make up Astragalus also include alkaloids. The components have analgesic and sedative properties. Astragalus synthesizes phytosterols. They regulate the concentration of cholesterol and normalize the immune system. The plant is used for the treatment and prevention of diseases due to the presence of carbohydrates and fiber.
Useful properties of astragalus
The medicinal plant is a storehouse of useful substances. Some types of cat peas are successfully used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes due to their unique properties.
The medicinal herb Astragalus has the following beneficial effects:
- antineoplastic;
- hemostatic;
- sedative;
- hypotensive;
- antibacterial;
- antidiabetic;
- wound healing;
- immunostimulating;
- antioxidant;
- diuretic;
- vasoconstrictor;
- antiviral;
- anti-aging.
Astragalus is beneficial for the heart and brain due to hepatoprotective effects. The herb is used as an antidote for poisoning. The use of cat pea potions helps prevent the development of malignant tumors.
Useful properties of astragalus for men
The use of remedies based on medicinal herbs is justified in diseases of the organs of the reproductive system. Chinese ginseng improves the potency and quality of the semen, having a beneficial effect on hormones. The use of medicinal drugs based on cat peas helps to reduce the severity of inflammatory processes.
Medicinal properties for women
Chinese ginseng helps with infertility. In case of reproductive disorders, infusions with astragalus should be used. Outwardly, the agent is used to smooth out wrinkles and eliminate rashes.
What is useful for children
The use of the astragalus plant for medicinal purposes has not been studied enough. Children are given herbal remedies with great care to boost immunity and treat ARVI. The ingredients in Chinese ginseng can cause allergic reactions.
Methods of preparation and use
In folk medicine, liquid formulations are more often used. They are highly efficient and easy to prepare.
How to brew astragalus (tea)
For the manufacture of a healthy drink, dry roots are used. Take half a liter of water for a tablespoon of raw materials.
Royal herb tea has a beneficial effect on the immune system
Tincture
It is a versatile product that insists on vodka. It is designed for outdoor and indoor use. To prepare a tincture, you need to pour 40 g of roots with vodka (0.5 l). The bottle is sealed tightly and placed in a dry and dark place. Within ten days, the product is periodically shaken. Filter the composition before use.
Chinese ginseng tincture is taken on an empty stomach, 30 drops
Infusion
The tool can be prepared according to different schemes, depending on the indications for use. Usually, a tablespoon of raw materials is taken for 100 ml of water. The required amount of the vegetable part is poured with boiling water.
The infusion of the yellow root is drunk after it cools down as a preventive and restorative drug.
Decoction
The remedy is prepared from the roots of Chinese ginseng. They must first be crushed. A tablespoon of raw materials is poured with a glass of boiling water and simmered in a water bath for half an hour. The composition is filtered off after cooling.
A decoction of cat peas is drunk in two tablespoons
Ointment
The invention provides anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound healing effects. The dosage form includes glycerin, astragalus extract (sainfoin) and purified water. The tool is used to treat skin pathologies and abrasions.
Royal herb ointment is highly penetrating
Astragalus root extract
The dosage form cannot be prepared on your own. The grass is grown under special conditions using fertilizers with selenium. The extract can be purchased at the pharmacy and used to treat and prevent various pathologies. Adults drink 15 drops of the drug at a time.
Children can be given Chinese ginseng root extract from the age of three
The use of astragalus herb in traditional medicine
The medicinal properties of the plant have been proven through scientific research. Means from the healing shrub are used to treat and prevent the organs of the digestive and reproductive systems.
Cat peas for erectile dysfunction
With sexual impotence, they drink a drink that is prepared from the ground part or dried roots (a tablespoon). The product is insisted for two hours and filtered before use. The dosage is a quarter of a glass. The drink is drunk four times a day.
To improve potency, the infusion of Chinese ginseng is taken for a month.
Yellow root from female infertility
To prepare the infusion, you need to pour a handful of chopped roots or dried herbs with a glass of water. The mixture is simmered over the fire until the initial volume is halved.
Filtered cat pea infusion is drunk before intimacy
Chinese ginseng for diabetes
A remedy made from yellow root can reduce the concentration of sugar. To prepare a healing infusion, you need to pour a tablespoon of chopped roots with a glass of boiling water. The solution is infused for four hours and drunk on an empty stomach, 50 ml three times a day.
The duration of therapy with cat pea infusion is three months
Royal herb for hypertension
High blood pressure worries about 75% of the elderly. An infusion of Chinese ginseng helps to relieve manifestations of hypertension, for example, pain in the occipital region. Dry grass (20 g) is poured with boiling water (200 ml). The product is ready for use in two hours. The course of therapy is three weeks. You need to take the drug a tablespoon per day (five times).
After a short break, cat pea therapy can be resumed in the absence of the desired effect.
Astragalus for oncology
The medicinal plant is used in the complex therapy of malignant tumors. Usually, medicinal drugs are used after irradiation and taking medications. Chinese ginseng (root or herb) is infused and taken in the form of tea.
A remedy made from a yellow root from oncology is drunk on an empty stomach on a tablespoon five times a day
Astragalus for the treatment of borreliosis
The herb improves the functioning of the immune system, which is necessary after a tick bite. The use of formulations based on Chinese ginseng can prevent the development of the disease or make it easier.
Cat pea drugs are not used for chronic progression of Lyme disease
Astragalus for multiple sclerosis
Experts recommend taking an infusion prepared in a standard way. For 20 g of dry grass (root powder), you need to take 200 ml of boiling water. The tool is insisted for two hours. The drug is drunk in half a glass for two weeks one hour before meals.
Infusion of royal herb is good for the cardiovascular system
Astragalus with fibroids
The causes of a benign tumor in the muscular layer of the uterus are poorly understood. With a significant size, fibroids can significantly worsen a woman's quality of life, provoking pain and bleeding.
For the treatment of nodes in the myometrium, infusions of Chinese ginseng are used. Dry grass (tablespoon) is poured with a glass of boiling water. The remedy is insisted for an hour.
It is recommended to drink five cups of the drug from the yellow root per day to eliminate fibroids
Application in cosmetology
The astragalus plant, the photo of which is located above, is a well-known culture in folk medicine. The herb is also called the source of beauty and youth. Astragalus can not only be brewed and drunk. It is used in home cosmetology for facial skin care.
For rejuvenation, the roots or infusion of cat peas are mixed with cottage cheese and honey. The duration of the mask is 15 minutes. A decoction of Chinese ginseng is also applied to the face as a compress. To eliminate cellulite, a mixture of honey and an infusion of royal herb is applied to problem areas, and the top is insulated with polyethylene. After half an hour, the composition for wrapping must be washed off.
Contraindications
Astragalus is not recommended in some cases. Contraindications include periods of pregnancy and lactation, children under three years of age. Do not ingest a remedy based on royal herb for hypersensitivity reactions.
Growing astragalus from seeds at home
For planting herbs, choose a sunny place. It should be slightly darkened. Astragalus is not demanding on the soil. It is only important to avoid stagnant moisture. It is advisable to give preference to loose and fertile soils.
Astragalus easily tolerates periods of drought. Mature plants do not need constant watering. Organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable for feeding the grass. They must be applied at planting and in the fall.
In the cold season, the ground part gradually dies off, and the rhizome remains overwintering in open ground conditions. Astragalus can grow in the same place for up to five years, then the planting area needs to be renewed.
Sowing seeds is carried out in autumn or early spring in open ground (three cm deep, keeping a distance of 40 cm). Astragalus seedlings can withstand spring frosts.
Collection and procurement
Astragalus is called the herb of life of the Kremlin leaders. For the collection and subsequent procurement of raw materials for medicinal purposes, both the ground part of the plant and the roots are suitable. It is necessary to collect specimens only in ecologically clean areas during the period of active flowering. The grass is cut carefully so as not to damage the roots. They are harvested in the second half of autumn. The roots are carefully removed with a shovel, cleaned from the ground, cut off the rotten parts, washed. The material is dried in a ventilated room.
It is important to clean raw materials from debris. Plants with signs of infestation by various pests should not be collected. High-quality material (grass) must be dried in the open air. The use of a dryer is possible. The temperature must be set to 55 ° C.
Dried herb or astragalus root is stored in cloth bags or tightly closed glass containers. The raw materials can be used throughout the year.
Conclusion
The healing properties and uses of Astragalus are under study. Traditional medicine has recognized the medicinal properties of two subspecies of the plant. The herb has several names and has a hemostatic, hypotensive, wound healing effect.
Reviews of doctors about the medicinal properties of Astragalus
The plant has been compared to Chinese ginseng because of its beneficial effects on the human body. The doctors' reviews contain information on the possibility of using Astragalus for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.
