SHOOTS

Common names: Hyssop

Description:

The hyssop is a perennial plant belonging to the mint (Lamiaceae) family, having a strongly branched deep taproot. Its stems are 50-70 cm long, branched. The lower parts of the stems are lignified, the upper parts are soft, greenish. Its opposite, pointed leaves have a dark green color and entire margins. Its flowers are blue, white or pink, grouped in pseudowhorls. The main blooming period is in July. In terms of active substance content there is no difference between the different colour variations.

It is a native species to the Mediterranean area and West Asia, cultivated in Central and Southern Europe and usually prefers dry, warm, southern hillslopes. It is a drought-tolerant plant, developing better in calcareous soils of medium consistency, which warm up easily.

Collection:

Hyssop must be sown in early spring, in March or early April, at a depth of 1-2 cm. To obtain dry drug, hyssop is collected from the appearance of the first flowers until the main blooming period. The stems are cut above their lignified lower parts, as these parts decrease the quality of the drug. If one wishes to extract essential oils, the plants must be harvested during the main blooming period.

Active substances:

The drug consists of the flowering stems (Hyssopi herba) and of the essential oil. The stems above ground surface contain significant quantities (0.3-1%) of essential oil. In addition, these parts contain flavonoids, tannins, bitter substances and resins.

Uses:

As a medicinal plant, hyssop has been known since the ancient times. In Europe it was grown as a garden plant as early as the 16^th century. Due to its expectorant, antiseptic and mild cough reliever properties, it is commonly used as herb. It can be part of tea mixtures treating coughs, bronchitis or asthma. It is also known for its appetite-improving and antihypertensive effects. If taken in higher doses, hyssop essential oil can cause epileptic seizures. It can also be used to season meats and sauces.

Common names: lady’s bedstraw

Description:

The yellow bedstraw is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the bedstraw (Rubiaceae) family. Its stems are 30-100 cm long, quadrilateral, ascending and become stolons after the flowers disappear. Its leaves are narrow, linear and form rosettes of 8-12. Its tiny golden flowers form an umbel, the main blooming period is in July – August.

It is a common plant spread throughout the entire Europe, but also throughout Anatolia. It is a very common species usually occurring in dry soils, dry meadows, oak woods, roadsides, landfill areas but also in saline soils.

Collection:

The drug is obtained from the flowering stem located above the ground (Galii veri herba), which can be harvested during the blooming period. The stems are dried spread in thin layers, placed in well-ventilated, shady places. From 3-4 kg of fresh plant one can obtain up to 1 kg dry drug.

Active substances:

The plant contains flavonoids, small amounts of iridoid glycosides, tannins, traces of essential oil, enzymes which coagulate animal milk, plant acids.

Uses:

Its mild sudorific, diuretic effects reduce cramping. In traditional medicine, bedstraw tea is mainly used to treat kidney, bile, liver and respiratory diseases, due to its sudorific and diuretic effects. Adults can take 2-3 teaspoons of crushed drug as a single dose. It is also known for its external use: bedstraw tea is used to rinse or as a compress on slowly-healing burns.

Common names: eryngo, flat sea holly

Description:

The blue eryngo is a perennial plant which belongs to the Apiales order and to the celery (Apiaceae) family. Its stems are 30-60 cm long, rigid, the upper part is ramified. The shoots are light-grey or yellowish-green. The basal leaves are intact, the upper ones are palmatisect with toothed margins. Its plump, rounded, bluish inflorescences are surrounded by a rigid, spiny collar. It blooms from July until September.

It is mainly found on dry grasslands, pastures or sandy dunes, being the characteristic plant of the drier, loose soils, which warm up easily.

Collection:

The stems above ground surface (Eryngii plani herba) are collected for medical use during the blooming period, from July to September.

Active substances:

The plant contains significant amounts of triterpenoid saponin, flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin), polyphenol carboxylic acids, tannins, carbohydrates, organic acids and essential oil.

Uses:

It is a medicinal plant which has been known since the ancient times. It is also widely used in the traditional medicine. It is known as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory and cough reliever. It is a common ingredient of tea mixtures and syrups which treat cough, upper respiratory tract infections and pertussis.

Common names: yellow melilot, ribbed melilot, yellow sweet clover

Description:

Common melilot is an annual or biennial plant belonging to the bean (Fabaceae) family. Nitrogen-binding bacteria develop in its roots. Its branched stems are usually 30-80 cm long but they can grow much higher. Its lower triple leaves are ovate, the upper ones are narrower, spear-shaped, pointed. The small yellow flowers form thin, pointed clusters in the axils.

The melilot is native to Eurasia, it is very adaptable, a common species of weed association growing on arable lands, roadsides and grassy pastures.

Collection:

The drug is obtained from the stems which are at most 40 cm long (Meliloti herba) or from the ripped flowers (Meliloti flos). The stems must be collected when the first flowers appear. The stems are properly dried and stored if the leaves remain green and the flowers retain their yellow colour and pleasant, honey-like scent.

Active substances:

The characteristic scent of the melilot drug is caused by coumarin and its derivatives, produced during plant withering. The petals contain flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin), which are also responsible for their yellow color.

Uses:

As herb, melilot is known for a long time and has been used since the ancient times due to its benefits. It has anti-inflammatory effects, improves the lymph circulation and is used to treat oedemas. Externally, it is suitable to treat bruises, sprains, and luxation. For medical use, the plant drug must be soaked in hot water, placed into a canvas and then on the appropriate body part. One can also make a bandage of the injured limb form a piece of canvas soaked into melilot infusion. Infusions made from the flowering stems are used to treat varicose or haemorrhagic problems or oedemas caused by lymph circulation disorders. In traditional medicine, melilot was used as a diuretic and to treat digestive disorders. Since its coumarin content varies, its internal use is recommended in form of pharmaceutical products, which have precisely-set active ingredient content.

The flowers are also used as a tobacco fragrance.

Traditional names: heatch speedwll, common gypsyweed, “glorius grass”, “sickle grass”, “blood-dew grass”.

Description:

Common speedwell belongs to the order of Scrophulariales and family of Scrophulariaceae. Within Veronica genus there are known some 250 species, from which about 30 is native in our region. Common speedwell is often substituted by germander speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys). It is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has a cylindrical rhizome, climbing, 15-30 cm long, hairy stem. The leaves stand opposite, are oval and slightly serrated. The flower looks like a loose garland; the corolla is light blue with two outstanding stamens. The flowers come out from June to August.

Common speedwell occurs almost throughout Europe, West-Asia and North-America. It prefers less acidic, fresh soil. It appears in forests, scrublands, clearings, along embankments, dykes and roads.

The healing effect of common speedwell was already known by Romans, who widely used it. It was a real compliment to say someone: you have so many virtues like the common speedwell.

Collection:

The drug (Veronicae officinalis herba) is composed of the flowering sprout with leaves and can be collected from June to August. Germander speedwell (Veronicae chamaedrys herba) might also be collected, but the two species must not be mixed. We can gain 1 kg of dried drug from 4-5 kg of fresh sprouts.

Active substances:

The herb contains iridoid-glycoside (catalpol, veronicoside), flavonoids, triterpenoid-saponins, tannins, rests of volatile oils and organic acids.

Use:

It is a frequently and widely used medicinal plant in traditional medicine. It is used first of all in case of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, gastro-enteritis, bladder problems, rheumatic pain and skin inflammations. It is the main compound of depurant teas. It is able to soothe climax symptoms. Common speedwell is also present in expectorant tea mixtures and those used against diarrhea.

Tea: infuse one teaspoon of common speedwell in 3 dl of boiling water and strain it in 5 minutes.

Tincture: macerate 2 handful of minced herb in 1 l of 38-40% spirit for two weeks. Rub this tincture into the skin in case of rheumatic pains or joint goat. It can be used internally for bronchitis: drink 15 drops dissolved in tea or water three times a day.

Tea mixture: usually it is used in a mixture with dandelion and succory in 2:1:2 proportion. Infuse one teaspoon of this mixture with 3 dl of boiling water and strain it in 5 minutes. It is very effective for liver- and spleen-diseases.

Traditional name: it is also called smallflower hairy willowherb.

Description:

It is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Onagraceae family, which might reach 80 cm in height. The stem is erect and densely covered with hairs, especially the lower part. The leaves on the lower and middle part stay oppositely, while on the upper part stay alternately, are lanceolate or oval. Flowering occurs in June-July.  The loose and curly flowers are pale pink or pale purple.   The fruit is a cylindrical capsule containing very small black-brownish, hairy, 0.5-2mm long seeds.

Several species of the family occurs in temperate zones and might be very similar to each other. Sometimes they can be differentiated only through a microscopic examination. Hoary willowherb and related species grow on wet fields, marshlands, banks, in grove and wetland, and together with other weeds in large quantities on river meadows.

Collection:

The drug (Epilobii herba) is contained in the flowering plant above the ground. It must be gathered when the first flowers appear and the herb should not contain thin stem parts.  There are several confusable related species, often hybridized, that is why it needs to be picked carefully. Usually we will get 1 kg of dried drug from 5 kg of fresh herb.

Active substances:

It contains beta-sitosterol and other sitosterol-esters, flavonoids, triperten and tannin.

Use:

Its healing effect in the first stage of prostate gland disorders has been clinically proved. Regularly use of hoary willowherb can prevent prostatic hyperplasia. It reduces the number of night urinations and assures a peaceful rest. Having an anti-inflammatory effect, it can be used in case of cystitis and bladder insufficiency, especially for women.  It does not have any side effects, but in case of long-term use it might cause stomach and intestine problems. In traditional medicine it was used for prostate inflammation and enlargement.

Tea: infuse 1 spoon of dried drug with 2.5 dl boiling water and keep it covered for 15-20 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups daily.

One cup weekly is recommended for every man at an age over 40. Otherwise the recommendation depends on the frequency of night urinations.

Traditional names: church steeples, sticklewort, “inhale grass”, “lung-grass”, “strawberry leave grass”.

Description:

Common agrimony is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Rosaceae. It occurs Europe-wide on diverse habitats: clearings, fringe of forests, fields, scrublands. It can overwinter through its short rhizome. It has a 15-100 cm high simple or branching, hairy stem. The completed leaves are 10-15 cm long and stand alternately. The yellow flower garland appears from June to September. The small, acorn-like fruits have burs and attach easily to passing animals’ fur.

History:

In ancient times common agrimony was used for cataract, snake-bite and jaundice.  Dioscride recommended it against different ulcers. Saint Hildegard used it in case of fever and amnesia.  At the beginning of the last century, due to its astringent effect, it was recommended for tuberculosis. It has been recorded in the 18^th century that the infusion of common agrimony was successfully used against jaundice. American and Canadian Indians also used it for soothing fever. In the Middle Ages agrimony has been stated to have magical properties: according to the legends it helps falling asleep if placed under the pillow.

Collection:

Pick the upper 30-50 cm (Agrimoniae herba) of the flowering stem between June and August. According to the examination it has the highest concentration of tannins during developing rhizome leaves and fruits. We can gain 1 kg of dried drug from 4 kg of fresh herb.    

Active substances:

Its main substances are the tannins, silica derivatives, bitter substances, quercetin flavonglicozide, lemon-, apple- and tartaric acids,  anthocyanine and a little bit of volatile oils.

Use:

Due to its antibacerial effect, common agrimony can be used in case of diarrhea, gastro-enteritis, and chronic hepatitis. It is a well-known antibilious. In case of diabetes common agrimony reduces urine quantity and thirst, stimulates the digestive system.

Thanks to the anti-inflammatory effect of its flavonoid content, common agrimony can be used for buccal inflammation, sore throat, hoarseness and angina. Its tea is a good remedy for babies in case of thrush. It also can be used for high urine acid level, rheumatic pains and joint gout. Due to its diuretic effect, using common agrimony can prevent kidney stone and urinary sand. It stimulates digestion and regulates the function of spleen. It is also useful against bladder insufficiency, incontinence of urine or bed-wetting by children.

For herbal tea infuse 1 teaspoon of dried herb with 3 dl of boiling water, then strain it in 10-15 minutes. In case of a sore throat or other inflammations drink 3-4 cups of warmish tea for 4-5 days. In order to heal respiratory problems, sweeten agrimony tea with honey or blackberry syrup.  In order to prevent the formation of kidney stone or urinary sand, drink 1 cup weekly on an empty stomach.  For liver diseases one cup daily is recommended. In case of high urine acid level, incontinence of urine or for diuretic affects 1 cup on empty stomach is recommended.

Externally: boil 100 g of herb in 1 l of water. This infusion can be used for rinsing 5-6 times daily in case of sore throat or other respiratory diseases. Use this infusion as a poultice for strain or rick. In order to soothe rheumatic pains, pour 3-4 l of agrimony tea into your bath. The same bath might help in case of bed-wetting or incontinence of urine. Externally might also be used for treating wounds, boils and pimples.