LEAVES

Common walnut (Juglans regia)

Common names: Persian walnut, English walnut

Description:

The common walnut is a large monoecious tree with light-grey bark and sparse foliage, belonging to the walnut (Juglandaceae) family. Its pinnately compound leaves are made up from 5 to 9 long, ovate leaflets. The elongated leaflets have intact margins and, if crushed, they have a strong aromatic scent. The male flowers form drooping catkins, the female flowers are grouped into clusters of 2 to 5. The trees bloom in April-May. Its fruits are the walnuts covered in a spherical or oval shell.

It is a species originating from the Balkans, requiring warm and moderately humid soils.

Harvest:

The walnut tree foliage (Juglandis folium) is collected for medical purposes. In addition, one can also use the unripe green husks and the inner dividing walls. The leaves are collected when fully- developed, they are ripped off the rachis. The green husks are collected during the walnut harvest period.

Active substances:

Both the walnut leaves and the husks contain naphthoquinone derivatives (juglone), flavonoids, tannins, a small quantity of essential oils and vitamin C.

Uses:

Due to its anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and fungicidal effects, it is used both externally and internally. Due to its slightly disinfectant, contractile effects, it is used in tea mixtures against enteritis and diarrhea. In traditional medicine, walnut has been used for a long time due to its wound-healing effects. Walnut leaf infusions are used as compresses or for rinsing ulcerations, carbuncles, inflammatory wounds and eczema. The cosmetics industry uses juglone transformation products for some hair dyes and sun protection oils. Walnut oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and thus it is a useful ingredient in an atherosclerotic diet.

MINT SPECIES (Mentha spp.)

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Spearmint (Mentha spicata var. Crisp)

Common names: –

Description:

Mint species belong to the Lamiales order and the mint (Lamiaceae) family. They are perennial herbs surviving the winter by modified underground stems (stolons). The roots are shallow. Some peppermint stolons reach the surface; they are green-violet and suitable to form both new roots and stems. The rectangular stems are 30-90 cm tall, violet and are densely branched. The leaves are oblong-ovate with serrated or crenate margins; they are dark green often having purple veins. Both sides are covered by gland-tipped hairs which contain the essential oil. The flowers have light purple petals, which can be easily removed. Spearmint has a vivid green colour, its stolons rarely reach the surface. The stems are 30-80 cm tall and have a light green colour. The leaves are curly and light green with serrated margins. The leaves are oblong-ovate, with a smooth surface or covered with rare hairs.

Although some authors believe that peppermint is native to the Far East, current studies indicate that it comes from England. Spearmint probably appeared in Southern or Western Europe. Mint species require lots of sunlight and warmth but during their hibernation they are extremely cold-resistant, under the snow, the stolons resist even at temperatures below -30 ° C.

Folk medicine often uses horse mint (Mentha longifolia) to treat the same diseases and symptoms as peppermint or spearmint.

Cultivation:

Mint species are planted during autumn. They are extremely demanding when it comes to soils. For a rich harvest, you need soils of medium consistency with a deep humus layer and good drainage. Because they are hybrid species, they can be propagated by vegetative reproduction with stem cuttings, seedlings or stolons. Planting seedlings with rhizomes implies rapid propagation but the most commonly-used method in plantations for medical purposes is by stolons. Planting should be completed by mid-November. Mint can be planted during springtime only in exceptional cases, because delayed planting will bring a relatively poor harvest in the plantation year. In both cases, the species require intensive irrigation after plantation. Under favourable conditions, peppermint stems can be cut up to three times a year. To extract essential oil, the stems are cut twice a year.

Active substances:

In case of both mint species, the drug is made from the dried stems with leaves, from the dried leaves and the essential oil. Peppermint has substantial essential oil content, concentrated mainly in its leaves and flowers. Peppermint oil has over 20 components, the most important being menthol, but the plant also contains large amounts of menthon, piperiton, menthofuran and pinene. Peppermint stems also contain flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. Spearmint has a lower essential oil content. Its main component is carvone but the plant also contains linalool, pinene, limonene, caryophyllene and cineole. In addition to essential oil, spearmint also contains flavonoids, tannins and bitter substances.

Uses:

Mint species are known and used for over 2000 years. Currently, peppermint has the biggest medical and economic importance. Due to menthol, its main active ingredient, peppermint accelerates bile and salivary secretion and has slight antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects. It is a local anesthetic but it also has refreshing and antiseptic effects. In medicine, it is used to treat stomach, intestinal or bile cramps, to prevent gallstone formation and for its carminative effects. Cold mint tea reduces nausea. As an external treatment, mint is used in ointments and powders to treat itching skin. In form of drops, lotions or ointments, it has beneficial effects in case of nose or throat inflammation. Alcoholic extracts are used as lotions against muscle pain and rheumatism. Peppermint oil is also used in significant quantities in the food industry, especially as a flavour for beverages and sweets. It is frequently used as a component of cosmetics, mouthwashes and toothpastes.

The spearmint is used in digestive, appetizing, carminative and anti-spasmodic products or tea blends but also as cold medication. As a spice, it is often used to flavour toothpastes and sweets.

SALVIA (Salvia officinalis)

Common names: garden sage, common sage, or culinary sage

Description:

Salvia belongs to the order Lamiales and to the mint (Lamiaceae) family. They are evergreen subshrubs with deep and branched roots. The stems are 50-80 cm tall, becoming increasingly branched, the branches have a typical rectangular cross section. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, the lower ones are petiolate and the upper ones are sessile with crenate margins. Sage leaves are covered with tiny hairs on both sides. The inflorescences are pseudo-racemes composed of 2-3 flowers consisting of 5-8 pseudo-whorls. The corolla is white, violet or pink. It blooms from July until late May.

Sage is native to the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The plant loves heat and tolerates well the drought. It can be efficiently grown in well-ventilated soils of medium consistency, which warm up quickly. During long, cold winters without snow, frost can cause considerable damage to the plant.

Sage is one of the most versatile medical plants being known from the ancient times. Ancient Greeks and Romans originally used sage to preserve meat but also for medical purposes.

Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis) is often used in folk medicine although this species contains far less active substance.

Cultivation:

Salvia lasts up to for 5-6 years in one place. It can be propagated as seeds or by seedlings. The best time for sowing is in late October and early November. Because of the slow initial growth, the most commonly used planting method is by seedlings. In this purpose, the best period is the second half of September or early October. In general, the distance between rows should be of 60-70 cm, the distance between stems of 30-40 cm. Sage stems growing from the seedlings planted in autumn can be cut once during the following year and twice or three times in the following years. Each time, the stems should be cut above the wooden parts. If the purpose is to extract essential oil, sage is collected when the flowers are in full bloom.

Active substances:

The active substance are in the dried sage leaves (folium Salviae) and in the essential oil (aetheroleum Salviae). The plant contains 1 to 2.5% essential oil, its main components being the alpha-thujone, beta thujone, borneol, cineol, camphor and pinene. In addition, sage also contains tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, resins and bitter substances.

Uses:

The plant has anti-inflammatory effects, reduces perspiration but also has anti-diarrheal, astringent and antibacterial properties, due to which it is widely used. Sage is recommended in case of excessive sweating due to hyperthyroidism or imbalances of the nervous system. It can be used as a tea or mouthwash for inflamed oral mucosa, in case of gingivitis or sore throat. The alcoholic extracts are used to rinse the throat. In dentistry, sage often appears as an ingredient of toothpastes. It is often used to treat diarrhea and bloating. It increases the appetite, slightly strengthens the stomach, and aids digestion. It can be added into medical baths to treat hemorrhoids.

In case of prolonged or excessive use, the thujone contained in the essential sage oil can cause poisoning symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or epileptic seizures. These side effects occur especially by essential oil consumption, because it contains larger quantities of active substance.

LINGONBERRY (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)

Common names: cowberry, foxberry, quailberry, bearberry, beaverberry, mountain cranberry, red whortleberry, lowbush cranberry, cougarberry, mountain bilberry, redberry

Description:

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis idaea) is a dwarf evergreen shrub belonging to the heather (Ericaceae) family. The ovate leaves are 1-3 cm long with slightly wavy margins, glossy surface and black spots on the backside. The flowers are bell-shaped, white to pale pink, composed of four petals. The fruits are round red berries which are a little larger than blueberries.

Lingonberry is native in Europe, Asia and North America. In Europe, the species grows in pine woods, wetlands and in acidic soils, reaching altitudes even above 2000 m.

Collection:

Both lingonberry leaves and fruits can be collected for medical purposes. It is important to be careful during collection to cause as little harm as possible to the shrubs. The leaves are shade dried, freshly picked fruits can be processed or can be preserved through drying.

Active substances:

The plant is very rich in antioxidants which protect the body from degenerative oxidation processes. It also contains vitamins A, B, C and E, a large number of minerals and flavonoids. The leaves contain tannins and arbutin.

Uses:

Lingonberry leaf tea is used to treat kidney problems and urinary tract infections.

Fruits and fruit products or extracts are recommended to treat urinary tract infections, prostate and kidney problems. They are also recommended in case of overweightness, hyperglycaemia, lipid metabolism problems, atherosclerosis or high blood pressure. We should mention that some studies show that prolonged consumption or large amounts of cranberry might increase the risk of kidney stone formation.

Lingonberries have antioxidant properties, strengthen the immune system, protect the body against infections, have vasoprotective properties, aid cell regeneration, detoxification, prevent stone formation and the development of inflammatory or neoplastic diseases, therefore, one can say that they have significant preventive effects.

Berries can be consumed as such, in shakes, fruit salads or as delicious cake ornaments. Due to their sour taste, they are often used in sauces or jams. The fruits are suitable for syrups or jams or they can be preserved for the cold days by freezing or drying.

COWSLIP (Primula veris)

Traditional names: cuy lippe, herb peter, paigle, peggle, key flower, key of heaven, fairy cups, petty mulleins, crewel, buckles, palsywort, plumrocks, tittypines.

Description:

Cowslip is an herbaceous perennial specie belonging to the primrose family (Primulaceae), flowering in early spring. Its rhizome is dark brown, approximately 10 cm long and 0.5cm thick, from which erect the 20-25 cm long roots. Its oval leaves with crinkled surface form a rosette of leaves. The 15-25 cm high stem has a simple cluster of flowers. The nutant yellow flowers have a campanulate corolla with 5 orange spots. Flowering occurs mostly during March and April. Its fruit is an oval capsule with small, brownish gray seeds. It is native throughout temperate Eurasia, first of all in mountain forests, scrublands, fields, especially in limy, alkaline soil.

Collection:

The root leaves and flowers of cowslip are used for medical purposes. The rhizome is collected when flowering or at autumn. The flowers are gathered when fully blown, while the leaves can be picked year-round. The flowers demand a fast drying and depositing in a dry space, otherwise they will lose their color. 3-3.5 kg of roots, 6-7 kg of flowers or 5 kg of leaves results in 1 kg of dried drug.

Active Substances:

Every part of cowslip, but especially the root contains triterpene saponins and phenolglycosides (primverin, primulaverin). The flower contains less saponin, but it contains flavonoids, carotines and a little bit of volatile oils. The saponin content of the leaves is also low, but they contain L-ascorbic acid.

Use:

Cowslip is a good expectorant. It suppresses the hardly passing cough, helps breaking and expectorating phlegm. In case of bronchitis the cowslip rhizome infusion is used. It is effectively used as a diuretic and widely known as a remedy for rheumatic pains and joint gout.

In traditional medicine it was used as diuretic, depressant and for soothing rheumatic pains. The flowers were used as an expectorant, diuretic, sudorific and depressant. Occasionally it is used for dying different tea mixtures. In homeopathy it is used against headache and skin rash.

Tea: place a half spoon of dried cowslip roots or one teaspoon of dried cowslip flower in 2 dl of cold water and boil, then strain it after 10-15 minutes. In case of cough drink 3-4 cups of tea daily. Cowslip root is very rich of saponin, which is why it is the main compound of several cough suppressant tea mixtures.

EAST ASIAN WHITE BIRCH (Betula pendula)

Common names: white birch, silver birch or warty birch

Description:

Birch species belong to the birch (Betulaceae) family. It is a tree that requires lots of sunlight, grows rapidly, reaching a height of 15-20 m. The young trees have white barks, rare leaves, older ones have drooping branches. The roughly triangular leaves have long petioles with doubly serrate margins and are arranged alternately. Male flowers form umbels of three and bloom in April-May, before the leaves appear. Female catkins are shorter and they can be found at the end of the young twigs. The fruits are winged small samaras with one seed.

It is a species widespread throughout the entire Europe. The area of distribution extends to 70 degrees northern latitude but also to Asia and North Africa. In our country, the plant prefers the acid soils in hill- and mountain areas.

History:

Nordic people (the Sámi, the Vikings) frequently used birch due to of its healing properties. Native Americans used the tree sap to purify their blood, leaves to treat joint and kidney problems and bark for skin diseases. Hildegard of Bingen was the first to mention the wound-healing properties of the catkins. An Italian script dating back to 1565 states that birch helps to dissolve kidney stones.

Collection:

The drug is found in the healthy, fresh leaves (Betulae folium), picked directly from the tree, which do not lose their colour during drying. Fallen leaves should never be collected. The sap of the tree (birch sap) shall be collected before the leaves appear.

Active substances:

Birch leaves contain flavonoids (hyperoside, myricetin), essential oils, saponins, tannins and resins.

Uses:

Birch leaf tea can treat the bacterial infections of the urinary tract, regulates kidney function, has diuretic effects and prevents the formation of kidney stones and sand. It is also used in tea blends which clean the bladder and kidneys. It can also be used in spring detoxification cures due to its purifying effects. It reduce uric acid and blood cholesterol levels. It is also known for its beneficial effects against rheumatism, gout and joint diseases. The sap of young stems removes kidney stones. The concentrate obtained by dry distillation of birch wood is used after purification as a component of dermatological products treating eczema or psoriasis. The alcoholic extract is an ingredient of hair care products.

Tea: pour 2 dl of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried chopped birch leaves, allow to infuse for 10-15 minutes then strain it. 3-4 cups of tea are recommended daily. It has diuretic, anti-inflammatory effects and purifies the blood. It is not recommended for those suffering from heart or kidney failure! After washing, rinsing the hair with birch tea may prevent or stop hair loss.

Bath: 1 litre of water is mixed with 4-5 fistful birch leaves, the mixture is left for fifteen minutes and then strained, after which it can be added to the bath water. It can treat acne.

Birch sap or birch water is used for detoxification, against arthritis, hair loss and dandruff. For tapping, choose young, well-developed trees. The tree is suitable for tapping, if, after breaking a branch, sap is flowing out of it. On can drink up to 100-200 grams of freshly-tapped sap until it becomes increasingly dilute and watery.

EUROPEAN BLUEBERRY (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Common names: common bilberry, blue whortleberry blaeberry, hurtleberry, huckleberry, winberry, fraughan.

Description:

The European blueberry is a small shrub of 25-50 cm belonging to the heather (Ericaceae) family. Its branches are angular, the ovate leaves are 2-3 cm long and narrowing towards the top, with fine serration on the margins. The flowers have reddish-green, round petals which are welded together Blackberry fruits have a blue-black colour and 6-10 mm in diameter.

Blueberry is widespread throughout Europe, besides Northern Europe it is generally found on high hills or in mountain areas. It prefers fresh, acid soils and avoids the calcareous ones.

Collection:

Both the leaves (Myrtilli folium) as well as the berries (Myrtilli fructus) contain drugs. The leaves collected are shade dried. From 4 to 5 kg of fresh leaves about 1 kg of dry drug can be obtained. The fruits ripen in August. Raw, freshly-collected fruits can be processed for food or pharmaceutical purposes or they can be dried, which allows them a longer storage period.

Active substances:

The leaves contain tannins, catehic tannins and proanthocyanidin. Compared with cranberry, blueberry leaves do not contain any arbutin whatsoever. The blue colour of the fruit is due to mirtilene, an anthocyanin. In addition, the plant contains tannins, fruit acids and anthocyanin glycosides.

Uses:

Bilberry leaf tea has carminative and diuretic effects, due which it can be used in case of kidney or bladder problems. It is also suitable to cover the daily fluid intake of people with diabetes. It is assumed that leaves reduce blood sugar, but this effect has not yet been scientifically proven.

The fruits can be consumed as follows: 1 tablespoon of dried or bottled fruit or fruit extract daily. Blueberry extract can prevent subconjunctival haemorrhage by people suffering from diabetes and is beneficial for those susceptible to vasculitis. It improves eye adaptation to low light conditions. Blueberry tea cures problems such as gastritis, enteritis and diarrhoea. It also has beneficial effects in case of stomatitis or pharyngitis.

Blueberry jam, syrup and wine are all are very popular and delicious products, the latter improving the strength of the human body.

COMMON NETTLE (Urtica dioica)

Traditional names: stinging nettle, common nettle

Description:

The common nettle belongs to the genus of Urticales and to the family of Urticaceae. It is native to Eurasia, but abundant in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows on wet and green areas, forest cuttings and waterside greenwoods, together with other weeds, next to human settlements, in rich and limy soil.

Nettle is a dioecious, perennial, herbaceous plant. Its long, cylindrical and branchy rhizome is tawny. The oval leaves are born oppositely on the stem, are heart-formed with a tapering peak and serrated margins. The stem and the leaves are covered by hair (trichomes) which causes a painful stinging sensation and small rashes when contacted by skin. The paniculate grow axillary to the leaves and on the top of the stem. In case of both, stamened and pistillate, the inflorescence is composed of green tepals. It blooms from May to the end of September. The fruit is oval and peaky with only one seed.

History:

The nettle was first used as a fiber for weaving, just later as a medicinal plant. In graves revealed form the metal age there were found shrouds made of nettle. During wars, cotton was substituted by fabric made of nettle stem. The ancient Greeks used nettle externally for snake- and scorpion-bites, internally as a treatment for vegetal poisonings. Roman soldiers in cold areas used nettle to warm up their skin and body by beating themselves with fresh nettle and for treating joint gout. Medicine men in early Europe used nettle smoke against asthma.

Collection:

The drug can be gained from the dried leaves (Urticae folium), sprout (Urticae herba), root (Urticae radix), and rarely from the fruit (Urticae fructus) of nettle. The leaves and the plant (the upper 30-40 cm) can be picked from spring to autumn. In order to gain drug, the leaves must be scarfed from the stem immediately. The roots can be dug out either in spring or in autumn.

Active Substances:

The drug gained from the roots contains sterols, coumarin, tannins, lignan and phenylpropan-derivates. Nettle leaves and stem contain flavonoids, triterpens, sterols, vitamins (B, C, K, U), carotenoids, amino acids (histamine, serotonin, choline) and minerals.

Use:

The leaves and the plant are the mostly used drugs of nettle. It is used for inflammations of the urinary tract, in depurant diets, against goat and as an additional treatment for rheumatic pains. In traditional medicine nettle was also externally used: for instance in alcohol is used to rub the rheumatic body part or on head skin against dandruff or fat hair. Skin contact with the fresh plant was used against rheumatic pain and lumbago. The fruit of nettle was used exclusively in traditional medicine: as an unguent for rheumatic pains and skin diseases, or its oil internally as an invigorator. The drug of the roots is contained in several pills used against prostate problems.

Tea: Pour boiling water on 3 teaspoon of drug to gain one cup of tea, then strain it in 10 minutes. As an infusion of herb nettle has a wide use: general invigorator, depurant, diuretic, and its positive effect has also been proved in case of bladder inflammation, rheumatic pains, goat, skin diseases, hair loss, hypertension or gastritis. In spring is mostly used as part of a depurant cure, since it washes through the veins, the kidney and removes kidney sand and stones. It is also good to prevent the latter.

Bath: nettle bath is recommended for pimply skin. The hip bath is used for treating hemorrhoid and as a poultice for rash. Nettle infusion can be used externally against hair loss and dandruff or as a bath against rheumatic pains.

Unguent: nettle unguent made of the leaves has positive effects on eczematous skin.

Nettle has a main role in beauty salons. Young nettle leaves are used for facial steaming, while the cream made of them is a good skin cleanser. Especially for fat and scaly skin it is a very effective remedy. Through industrial methods there is chlorophyll extracted from nettle leaves, which is used as dye. Thanks to its silica content it strengthens the connective tissues, nails and hair-bulbs.

The young and fresh nettle leaves can be used for a vegetable-dish or offered as a side dish to meat menu. It is also good for animals.

Nettle is not recommended in case of edema due to inadequate heart- and renal insufficiency!

LAMB’S TONGUE (Plantago lanceolata)

Traditional names: English plantain, narrowleaf plantain, ribwort plantain, ribleaf.

Description:

The lamb’s tongue is a perennial plant belonging to the family of Plantaginaceae. It is a frequent species, which appears in large quantities on pastures, meadows, along roads, unimproved lands. From its short rhizome grow the basal leaves and a scape with the flowers. It has 15-20 cm long and 1-3 cm large oval or lanceolate leaves, with parallel veins. One stool usually has several, 10-50 cm high stems. Its tight penicle is located on the top of stem, is 2-4 cm long, looks like a globe or oblong. The corolla is white, with long stamens and the anther is jonquil. It starts blooming upwards and takes from May until September. Its fruit is an elliptical case with 2 seeds.

Collection:

The fully developed, whole leaves of lamb’s tongue is used for curative reasons. It can be collected from May to September. The drug must not contain scapes. It must be dried in a thin layer, at an airy space. Transported and dry it carefully, since the fresh leaves get easily brown if pressed or broken.

Active Substances:

Its main component is a glycoside called aucubin (1,5-2%), but it also contains polyphenol compounds, mucus, L-ascorbin acid, tanin, citric acid, invertase and emulsion enzymes.

Use:

The antibacterial, haemostatic and expectorant effects of lamb’s tongue are all well known. The juice of the fresh leaves, as well as the unguents made of this juice can be used in case of insect bites and small injuries, thanks to its wound healing effect. Its tea or syrup is used in case of upper respiratory diseases due to its expectorant effect. It can be used for rinsing the mouth in case of throat ache and inflammation of mucous membrane of the mouth.

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale)

Traditional names: blowball, lion’s-tooth, cankerwort, milk-witch, yellow-gowan, Irish daisy, monks-head, priest’s-crown, puff-ball, faceclock, pee-a-bed, wet-a-bed, swine’s snout, white endive and wild endive.

Description

It belongs to the family of Asteraceae. This perennial plant appears in very varied forms and is native to Middle-, Eastern- and Southern Europe. It appears on fields and unimproved lands, meadows and wet pastures, on ramparts and in gardens. Its root has the form of a spike and grows 10-25 cm deep, is 1-3 cm thick, outside grey, inside white. The rosette of leaves and the stems grow out from the rhizome. The 15-25 cm long lanceolate leaves are serrated. The flower stem is 5-40 cm high, tubular and slightly hairy. The flowers are light yellow, mellific and bloom from March to June. It has silver tufted fruits (blowballs). The whole plant contains a sticky and milky latex.

Collection

The root of dandelion can be collected for medical reasons in autumn and spring, while the leaves and upper parts from spring to September. The cleared roots must be halved and dried in a covered and airy space. The most beautiful and healthy leaves must be cut just above the rhizome and dried in a thin layer at a clean, airy and shady place.

Active Substances

The plant contains taraxasterol-type triterpene, as well as a bitter substance called lactucopicrin, which decomposes into tranquilizer lactucin compounds. It also contains potassium salts, carotenoids, inulin and saponin. The leaves are rich in L-ascorbic acid, Vitamin A and B.

Use

The bitter substances stimulates digestion, so the dandelion is a good appetite enhancer and digestion improver medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory effects. It has been proved through experiments that the active substances of dandelion have good influence on the organism in case of cholepathia and cystalgia. In traditional medicine dandelion tea is used first of all as a diuretic and depurant, since it gears up liver and kidney functions. Dandelion poultice is good for rheumatic pains and join gout. The young leaves picked before flowering can be used for salads. In veterinary medicine dandelion is used for increasing milk-production.