Content
- 1 Description of the species
- 2 The composition and value of the plant
- 3 The healing properties of the city gravilat
- 4 What helps
- 5 Urban gravitational use
- 6 Breeding features
- 7 Planting and care rules
- 8 Collection, procurement and storage of raw materials
- 9 Interesting facts about the city gravilat
- 10 Conclusion
Urban gravilat is a medicinal plant with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing effects. Differs in unpretentiousness and winter hardiness. Such a herb is easy to breed on your site - it is useful not only for preparing raw materials for medicine, but also for decorating the garden.
Description of the species
Urban gravilat is a perennial flowering herb from the Pink family. It grows in height up to 40-60 cm. Close to the roots lies a rosette of several leaves of a rich green color, with beautiful jagged edges. The flowers are small, 5-petaled, no more than 1.5 cm in diameter.
The rhizome of the gravilat is powerful, thick, with a specific clove aroma. The stem is straight, covered with white hairs. The leaves are also pubescent. Gravilat urban (pictured) has light yellow flowers that look very beautiful against the background of the leaves of the plant.
Flowering is quite long: in natural conditions, it lasts from May to mid-September
Distribution area
Gravilat urban is distributed throughout the Mediterranean region:
- in most European countries;
- in the North of Africa;
- in the Caucasus;
- in Turkey;
- in the countries of Central Asia.
On the territory of Russia, culture is also growing everywhere - in the European part of the country, in the southern regions, as well as in the North Caucasus and in the regions of Western Siberia.
Basically gravilat prefers light forests. It can often be found along roads and even in garbage dumps. Among the forests he chooses alder and spruce forests, can grow on the edge. The presence of a city gravilat in itself speaks of good soil fertility. Also, the plant is often found in city parks, due to which it received the appropriate name.
The composition and value of the plant
The value of the herb is mainly associated with those substances that are included in the composition of the root tissues (while all parts are used for treatment, including leaves and flowers):
- tanning compounds;
- bitterness;
- resin;
- essential oil;
- ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
- carotene (precursor of vitamin A);
- glycoside gein;
- carbohydrates (sucrose, starch);
- catechin;
- organic acids (including gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic, ellagic).
The value of the city gravilat is associated with the fact that the biologically active substances that make up it have a complex effect on the human body. They suppress inflammation, which leads to less pain, improved blood flow and other positive effects. Therefore, in folk medicine, the remedy is used to treat various diseases, as well as for general strengthening of the body.
The culture has an anti-inflammatory effect, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, prevents the development of allergic reactions and even protects the liver from the destructive effects of alcohol.
The healing properties of the city gravilat
Gravilat urban has long been known for its medicinal properties, so it is used as
- anti-inflammatory;
- wound healing;
- hemostatic;
- astringent;
- tonic;
- pain reliever.
It is known that city gravilat is also used in veterinary medicine: cows are given this herb when blood appears in the urine.
Gravilat is characterized by a complex effect on the human body
Limitations and contraindications
The use of urban gravilata herb and preparations based on it is contraindicated in the following patients:
- with a tendency to thrombosis;
- suffering from thrombophlebitis;
- with reduced pressure;
- with persistent constipation;
- suffering from increased nervous irritability;
- pregnant and lactating (at any time);
- children under 12-14 years old.
In some cases (including in violation of the dosage and / or the duration of the course), taking the herb of city gravilata leads to a number of side effects:
- heaviness in the abdomen, bloating;
- flatulence (gas formation);
- loss of appetite;
- dehydration;
- problems in the work of the liver, kidneys (especially in patients with chronic diseases of these organs).
If any of the described symptoms are observed, the herb gravilata urban should be discontinued. The course can be resumed only after consulting a doctor.
What helps
Dried plant raw materials of urban gravilat and preparations based on it are used to treat various diseases, including:
- cough, bronchitis;
- bronchial asthma;
- tuberculosis;
- pneumonia;
- kidney pathology;
- diseases of the gallbladder and liver;
- hemorrhoids;
- gastritis;
- colitis;
- scurvy;
- infertility;
- muscular and articular rheumatism;
- inflammation of the oral cavity;
- bleeding gums;
- dermatitis;
- wounds and burns;
- allergy;
- rickets (in children);
- heart rhythm disturbances;
- nervous disorders.
Urban gravitational use
The medicinal herb is widely used not only for medical purposes, but also in cosmetology and cooking. Urban gravilat is able to decorate the garden, therefore it is used for cover plantings on the site.
Decoctions and infusions are prepared from dried raw materials
In folk medicine
For the treatment of the described diseases, an infusion or a decoction from the raw materials of the city gravilat is used. Basic effective recipes:
- For the preparation of the infusion 1 tsp. leaves are poured into a thermos and poured into a glass (200-250 ml) of boiling water. Insist 1.5-2 hours. Then they cool, filter and take two tablespoons 3-4 times a day.
- Leaf decoction: 2 tsp. The crushed raw material of the city gravilat is poured with 2.5 cups of boiling water and placed in a water bath for half an hour (moderate heating, low boiling). Then they cool, filter and take a tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
- Broth from rhizomes: 1.5 teaspoons of raw materials are insisted in a glass of boiling water, simmer for 30 minutes in a water bath. Then cool and filter, take a tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
A decoction from the rhizomes of urban gravilate is suitable not only for internal, but also for external use. They are treated with wounds, abrasions, dermatitis, applying compresses for several hours. Also, this broth can be used to rinse the mouth and throat for inflammation, bleeding gums or coughs.
They are sprinkled with wounds, abrasions and ulcers. Use to rinse your mouth (pre-dissolve a few pinches of this powder in warm water).
In cosmetology
Gravilat urban has a beneficial effect on the skin. It promotes rapid healing of wounds and ulcers. Therefore, on the basis of a decoction or infusion, compresses are prepared, which are applied to the affected area and changed several times a day. Also, on the basis of rhizomes, cosmetics are made with an essential oil extract, which has a pleasant clove aroma.
In cooking
Young leaves of the city gravilat are distinguished by a delicate, interesting scent. Therefore, they are put in crushed form in various salads, for example, in vegetable:
- cucumbers;
- tomatoes;
- green onion;
- dill;
- leaves of gravilata.
The plant is edible, so it is even used in cooking.
Another option is a salad of dill, parsley and gravilata sprigs (100 g each) mixed with salt and vegetable oil (or with mayonnaise).
Gravilata leaves can be used as a flavoring additive to puree soup
The greens are crushed and added 10 minutes before the end of cooking, then let it brew for 20-30 minutes.
The rhizome has a pleasant clove aroma, therefore, when crushed, it is added as a seasoning to fish and meat dishes, put in tea and even in baking dough. Also, the rhizome of urban gravilata is often added to beer or kvass. They give drinks not only a pleasant aftertaste, but also an interesting aroma.
At home
Since the roots of gravilat contain a lot of tannins, it is used for leather dressing. Also, on the basis of the rhizome, a black and red-brown paint is prepared - it is well suited for dyeing wool.
The plant is used as an insecticide. It has a detrimental effect on many insect pests, so a diluted broth can be sprayed on the foliage of various plants (both for prevention and for the destruction of the colony). Also for this you can prepare a regular water infusion from rhizomes (kept for 4-5 days).
In landscape design
Urban gravilat goes well with various garden flowers:
- bells;
- different types of peonies;
- carnations;
- phlox.
The plant is used both to create flower arrangements and in single plantings.
Gravilat serves as a ground cover, it decorates the remote corners of the garden.
The culture harmoniously fits into the design of flower beds, rockeries, alpine slides, compositions on lawns or on the banks of water bodies
Tight fit of the urban gravitator creates a green carpet effect
Breeding features
You can propagate the city gravilat in the following ways:
- seeds;
- dividing the bush.
In the first case, the seeds are preliminarily kept for 3-5 days in the refrigerator, then planted in boxes (February - March) and grown as ordinary seedlings, and in May they are transferred to open ground. According to the experience of gardeners, gravilat grown from seeds blooms longer and more luxuriantly.
You can divide the bush at the age of five years (then every 5-6 years). It is not necessary to completely dig it out - it is enough to separate several daughter outlets with a part of the root, plant them in a new place and water well. This can be done in late spring or early summer.
Planting and care rules
Gravilat urban is planted in mid-April (for most regions) or early September (for the south). The site is pre-cleaned, dug up and, if necessary, 50 g of mineral fertilizer per 1 m2... Then the cuttings are planted at a distance of no more than 20 cm.
Maintenance of the city gravilat is very simple:
- Watering - regular, preferably once a week, in drought - 2 times.
- Top dressing once a month (only 2-3 times per season) with complex mineral fertilizer (you can alternate with organic matter - droppings, humus).
- Loosening the soil.
- Removal of dried peduncles.
- Full pruning (at the root) at the end of September, mulching with spruce branches, foliage for the winter.
Collection, procurement and storage of raw materials
Basically, the rhizomes of the city gravilata are harvested (in late autumn), although the entire aboveground part is often used as well (late May - early June). To obtain valuable roots, the grass is dug out completely.
Then they are shaken off the ground, washed thoroughly under running water. Dry in the open air or in a well-ventilated area for three days. After that, it is immediately dried at a temperature of 45 degrees (several hours). It is important that the raw material of gravilat does not lose its clove flavor (especially for culinary purposes).
It can be stored in well-sealed jars at room temperature and at low humidity.The herb is stored for a year after harvest, and the roots are stored for up to 3 years.
Interesting facts about the city gravilat
Gravilat urban has been known for a long time in Europe, Russia, Turkey and the countries of North Africa. Initially, this plant was called "love-grass". Some peoples were convinced that it would help to spell a loved one, so healers and sorcerers cooked potions based on roots and leaves.
Often, raw materials were added to special mixtures that were used in purification rituals. It was believed that the grass of the city gravilata scattered over the site would be a kind of amulet that would protect against the attack of insects and animals. Gravilat was also known to the Indian tribes. It is known that men from different tribes used the leaves to attract the attention of girls.
In the second half of the 20th century, the American esotericist Scott Cunningham described several magical characteristics of this herb. He suggested that she has:
- male gender;
- patron planet Jupiter;
- the element of fire.
The energy of the plant is associated with cleansing, as well as with love spells.
Conclusion
Urban gravilat is one of the medicinal plants that is used not only in alternative medicine. The culture has found application in cosmetology, cooking and in everyday life. In addition, gravilat is also used to decorate the garden - in single plantings and flower arrangements. Any gardener can grow a medicinal herb on his site.
