Content
Astragalus white-stemmed - a medicinal plant, which is also called the herb of life. People have known about the beneficial properties of culture for many centuries. Its rich chemical composition allows it to be used not only in herbal medicine, but also in cooking and cosmetology. By the way, astragalus is recognized by official medicine and is a constituent component of many drugs.
What does a plant look like
White-stemmed astragalus (Astragalus albicaulis) is a semi-shrub, small in height - up to 50 cm. Belonged to the legume family, perennial.
The plant has thin, slightly drooping and white stems, with a thick layer of hairs. At the base of each is a gray wood covering.
The leaves are characterized by a hairy coating. Length from 2 cm to 6, with small petioles. They are oblong and oval in shape, in pairs. Stipules are predominantly lanceolate, with white or black hairs.
The fruits of Astragalus are oblong, very similar to real beans. They can be up to 15 mm in length. Ripening begins in June-July, depending on the region of growth.
Astragalus of this species blooms from May to July. White-yellow or completely white flowers appear on the bush. They are collected in loose brushes, which reach 10-15 cm in length. The cups have white and fluffy hairs, with black pile in the form of stripes.
Astragalus allows you to get rid of diabetes
Where grows
The range of the dwarf shrub is very wide. It is found in Ukraine, Moldova, in the southwest of Western Siberia and in the European part of the Russian Federation. Prefers chalk pine forest.
The main place of growth of white-stemmed astragalus in the Belgorod region is the Veydelevsky district. We are talking about the village of Salovka, which is located on the Cretaceous Mountain.
White-stemmed astragalus is listed in the Red Book of most countries of the world and administrative units of Russia:
- Kursk region.
- Stavropol Territory.
- Belgorod region.
- Republic of Kalmykia.
- Lipetsk region.
Today it is on the verge of complete destruction.
White-stemmed astragalus is listed in the Red Book of the Belgorod Region
The use of astragalus white-stemmed
The main feature of the shrub is that it is able to accumulate gold. For this reason, it can often be found near the places of occurrence of uranium and manganese ores, near which there are always many deposits of this precious metal.
The chemical composition of Astragalus is rich in the elements of the periodic table, which are essential for the human body:
- magnesium;
- strontium;
- manganese;
- iron;
- aluminum.
Scientists also managed to find out that the plant contains a lot of silicon and phosphorus, alkaloids and tannins. It is the leader in the accumulation of asparagine and polysaccharides. Of the vitamins, the most are B and C.
Astragalus white-stemmed has a pronounced hypotensive and sedative effect on the human body. Therefore, it is widely used for coronary vessels. It has a diuretic and sedative effect.
Astragalus is recognized by official medicine, so it can be found in drugs from pharmacies. It is used in the manufacture of drugs for nephritis and hypertension. At the same time, there are no restrictions, therapy is prescribed for the chronic course of the pathology or during an exacerbation.
The presence of organic acids in the composition of Astragalus white-stemmed makes it possible to effectively cope with the problems of the digestive system. Oxalic acid improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.
Astragalus white-stemmed is often included in the composition of infusions and fees, as a monopreparation for the treatment of:
- angina pectoris;
- epilepsy;
- Raynaud's disease;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- tuberculosis.
The shrub is a natural immunomodulator, has antiviral and antibacterial effects. It has a wound healing and antitumor effect.
A drink is prepared from white-stemmed astragalus to quickly restore the body's strength, and it is also suitable for getting rid of low back pain, which appeared as a result of lifting weights. For cooking, you will need 2 tbsp. l. raw materials and 250 ml of boiled warm water. Infuse the mixture for 4 hours and take ¼ part 4 times throughout the day.
It is impossible to use infusions and other preparations based on Astragalus for the treatment of children under 2 years of age. It is also unacceptable to use during pregnancy, with severe overexcitation or stress, the presence of hypotension.
It is best to harvest the plant during active budding.
Collection and procurement
For medicinal purposes, all parts of Astragalus are subject to collection. Due to the fact that the shrub is on the verge of extinction, during harvesting, you should act carefully so as not to damage the root system, it is necessary to retreat from it at least 5-7 cm. You should also not collect it every year in the same place.
The best period for harvesting is the time of mass budding, that is, the beginning of flowering. It is best to harvest early in the morning, no later than 11:00. The weather must be dry.
Before drying, the raw material is cleaned of all impurities, but not washed. All material is laid out on a moisture-absorbing material no more than 7 cm high. You can use ordinary paper or any natural fabric as a bedding.
The room where the astragalus will be dried should be kept at room temperature. It must be well ventilated.
It is permissible to carry out the workpiece for the winter in drying cabinets, but at a temperature not exceeding +50 aboutC. Readiness can only be determined manually, by the degree of fragility of the stems and petioles.
It is permissible to store prepared white-stemmed astragalus in dried form for 2 years, during which time it will not lose its useful properties. It is best to lay it out in bags made of natural fabrics, in a dark glass container, or, if there is space, then in a suspended form.
Astragalus white-stemmed actively grows in the village of Salovka, Belgorod region
Conclusion
White-stemmed astragalus is a plant that has received a "new life". Interest in him has only been growing lately. Indeed, the healing properties of the shrub allow you to get rid of many diseases and activate the mental and physical strength of the body.
