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The grasshopper, or autumn stitch, rarely attracts the attention of mushroom pickers, and for good reason: mycologists have identified the properties of this variety to cause severe poisoning. At the same time, the culture is used in traditional medicine recipes for external use.
Description of autumn lines
Marsupial rare mushroom autumn line (lat.Gyromitra infula) belongs to the genus Lopastnikov, or Helwell, of the Discinaceae family. It is distinguished by its original appearance and healing properties. In Russia, the autumn line is called horned, and among the people - smarzhk. It grows in the fall, as indicated by the name of this representative; this also distinguishes it from other Discinaceae that grow in the spring.
Description of the cap
The horn-shaped cap of the autumn stitch with a diameter of up to 10 cm surprises with its unusual three-horned, saddle-shaped shape and edges fused with the stem. The incomprehensible, irregularly shaped surface in young individuals has a light brown color, while in adult stitches it is dark brown, even black. Its upper part is wrinkled, more saturated in color, and is rarely smooth. The lower one is pale, velvety to the touch. The thin, even translucent pulp of the autumn stitch has a grayish color and emits a mushroom aroma.
Description of the leg
The leg of the autumn stitch is hollow, from 4 to 10 cm high and up to 2 cm wide, and has a range of shades - from almost pure white to light brown, pinkish or gray. From the sides it is flattened, narrowed upward.
Where and how does it grow
The autumn line grows in the temperate climate of central Russia and Europe, found everywhere in coniferous, deciduous or mixed forests. This variety prefers most of all pine thickets, where it can grow singly or in small groups on wood subject to rotting or in close proximity to it. It also prefers mountainous terrain in autumn, but during certain periods it settles en masse on the plains. You can meet the original mushroom from the beginning of July, but the peak of its activity is observed from the second half of August until the end of September.
Autumn stitch mushroom in natural conditions in the photo:
Doubles and their differences
With its shapeless cap and size of the autumn lines, it is externally similar to other representatives of the genus:
- black lobed;
- curly lobed, or white-legged.
As you can see in the photo, the color of the cap of these representatives has clear differences. In the first twin, it is, according to the name, black, and in the white-legged species it is light, almost white. String, like other representatives of the genus, is an inedible mushroom; it is prohibited to eat it.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The debate about the edibility of this species is highly controversial. This is due to the content of a toxic substance in the autumn line - gyromitrin, which can destroy the human nervous system, liver and gastrointestinal tract. The toxin is so strong that a high dose is life-threatening.
Gyromitrin in autumn lines is presented in various quantities. Thus, myologists have identified strains of autumn morels with a high content of this toxin, which even long-term processing of the product cannot destroy. The distribution of concentrations of toxic substances in different populations has not been fully studied, so it is not possible to determine the degree of risk to life under normal conditions.
How to prepare autumn stitches
In addition to gyromitrin, overgrown, large specimens of autumn lines accumulate industrial waste products, heavy metals, poisons, exhaust gases, etc. over time. Thus, the toxicity of the fruiting bodies increases.
As a result, such a complex of gyromitrin content and environmentally harmful substances cannot be eliminated either during heat treatment or with drying recommended in some sources. All this makes it impossible to eat autumn lines.
The healing properties of autumn stitches
Autumn lines are still able to have a beneficial effect on the human body. The properties of the product have a wide range of applications in alternative medicine recipes:
- increase tone;
- improve appetite;
- relieve pain;
- have a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive organs, especially the pancreas.
Autumn stitches (Gyromitra infula) are distinguished by a higher content of toxic substances, even compared to their spring counterparts. This is due to the time of active growth. Thus, giant and ordinary strings bear fruit in the spring, when the soil and air have not yet warmed up.
Therefore, they do not accumulate as much gyromitrin as the autumn species, which is of interest to mushroom pickers only for medicinal purposes.
In autumn, an alcohol tincture is prepared, which helps with joint pain and respiratory diseases. It is used, in particular:
- for rheumatism;
- arthrosis;
- osteochondrosis;
- radiculitis;
- bronchitis and pneumonia;
- neuralgia.
How to make a tincture on autumn lines
Attention! Alcohol tincture is used exclusively externally, after consulting with your doctor.
A homemade mushroom medicine is prepared from autumn stitches collected in dry, sunny weather.For this purpose, large specimens are used that have accumulated a sufficient amount of a poisonous and at the same time healing (if used correctly) substance.
Step-by-step preparation of tincture:
- Autumn stitches in the amount of 200 g are cleaned and crumbled by hand
- Place in a half-liter jar or glass bottle.
- Pour in 0.3 liters of vodka or alcohol and seal with a lid.
- Place in the refrigerator to infuse for 14 - 20 days.
- The product is used without filtering.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
The lines contain a natural form of cortisol, which has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Rules for using the tincture
For pain in the joints or severe cough, the tincture from the lines is rubbed into the sore spots, into the chest, and then the area of the body is wrapped in a woolen cloth. Do this 3 times a day until the pain goes away or the cough calms down. Despite the fact that gyrometrin is considered a poison, it has a strong analgesic effect. The greatest amount is contained in overgrown, large autumn lines that grew in dry, warm weather.
The video will tell you how to treat with stitches and properly prepare the drug at home:
Contraindications to the use of autumn stitches
Stitches and medicinal products prepared on their basis should not be used:
- pregnant women;
- nursing mothers;
- children;
- people suffering from cardiovascular diseases;
- if you are allergic to product components.
Conclusion
Autumn string is a difficult mushroom that should be treated very carefully. It is prohibited to eat it, since the concentration of gyromitrin can be life-threatening. When using this type externally for treatment purposes, special attention is required: strictly adhere to the doctor’s prescriptions and monitor the body’s reaction.
