Content
Gray hickory (Berteroa incana L) is part of the Brassica family. In each locality, the culture has its own popular name. The plant is known as sage, white yarrow, whiteflower. Distributed in all climatic zones except the Far North. It is considered a field weed.
Ikotnik gray-green belongs to medicinal crops, it is used in folk medicine
Morphological description of the gray-green hiccup
Gray-green Ikotnik is a herbaceous weed with a two-year biological cycle. It grows in the form of a bush with numerous branched stems ending in inflorescences. There are plants with one thick peduncle and a large number of side shoots.
Morphological characteristics of the culture:
- Plant height – 30-50 cm.
- The stems are medium thick, finely pubescent, hard, gray with a green tint.From the middle, the peduncles are branched into 3-5 lateral shoots, which also end in inflorescences.
- The leaves of the plant are gray-green, lanceolate, alternate, and larger at the bottom. Located on short petioles. Towards the top, the size of the leaf blade becomes smaller. The leaves have smooth edges and fine pubescence.
- The root system of the plant is taprooted, deep, allowing it to take root on any soil.
- The flowers are simple, small, white, and consist of four deeply dissected petals. Collected in dense racemose inflorescences. The core is formed by elliptical-shaped pods; during flowering they are lemon-colored, and at the time of opening they become dark brown.
- The seeds are small, with a tuberculate surface, equipped with lionfish. They scatter from the mother plant to a distance of up to 12 m.
They are prepared before frost, because they do not ripen at the same time.
The gray-green hiccup blooms from June to early September
Where does it grow
Ikotnik is a plant widespread everywhere. The main accumulations of the species are observed in the European regions, Belarus, Ukraine, the North Caucasus throughout the Central and Middle zone, in the Far East, Siberia and the Urals. Gray yarrow is less common in Central Asia.
Gray-green Ikotnik is a weed that grows on almost any soil. The vegetation of the crop does not depend on lighting and humidity. The plant is found along roadsides, in forest-steppes, meadows, forest edges, wastelands, and sandy embankments. Settles near pastures and farms. The seeds are carried by the wind and transported along with the hay. The gray-green yoke settles near the cultivated lands of populated areas.It can grow singly or form dense thickets.
Chemical composition
In each part of the gray-green hiccup, the chemical substances differ in composition. The root system contains:
- coumarins – 2%;
- tanning compounds – 1.5%;
- acids of organic origin – 0.15%;
- alkaloids – 96%.
The aerial part of gray yarrow contains only 13% alkaloids; the rest of the composition is approximately equal in amount to acids, coumarins and tannins. The seeds contain fatty oils – 28.2%.
Classification
Ikotnik gray-green is a flowering plant of the Dicotyledonous class. This is a biennial herbaceous shrub of the order Brassicaceae or Cruciferous. Belongs to the Brassica family, genus Ikotnik. The specific name is grey-green hiccup. It has medicinal properties, so the herb and rhizomes are used in alternative medicine recipes. Seed oil is used for technical purposes.
Medicinal properties
All parts of the plant are used in medicine; the above-ground part is considered the most effective for medicinal purposes.
The main active ingredients are alkaloids and tannins. Taking decoctions and infusions based on gray-green hiccup helps:
- lowering blood pressure levels;
- normalization of digestion, elimination of diarrhea. Effective for gastritis and stomach ulcers;
- relieving tension in the nervous system. Acts as a sedative;
- reduction of headaches;
- vasodilation. Helps with asthma, choking, hiccups, cough;
- eliminating skin diseases.
The use of gray-green hiccup is indicated for postpartum hemorrhage. It is also used for diseases of the female genital organs and urinary system.
Application
For medicinal purposes, the culture is used only in folk medicine.The seedlings are used in landscape design; they are planted as honey plants in areas with sparse flora, for example, in the steppe zone.
In medicine
In official medicine, gray-green hiccup is not used. Experimental studies on animals have shown that the plant has a hypotonic effect, but it is also toxic. For example, consuming this grass along with hay can lead to the death of horses.
Decoctions and tinctures based on gray hiccup are used only in alternative medicine for the treatment of:
- hiccups of a nervous nature, causing suffocation;
- purulent wounds;
- heavy menstrual flow or bleeding after childbirth.
Powder from the seeds is used for animal bites, especially if rabies is suspected.
Used to treat diarrhea in children.
For technical purposes
Oil from the seeds of the gray-green hiccup is used as a lubricant and as an anti-corrosion agent:
- To improve the friction of the running gear of the sewing machine.
- Treat rusted door hinges and keyholes.
- Used to lubricate mechanical parts in household and electronic devices.
Natural raw materials from green hickory do not change viscosity due to temperature changes and are gentle on parts.
In design
The gray hiccup has not found wide application in ornamental gardening. It is considered a weed and is removed from the site. The plant is used only for landscaping wastelands in industrial zones of cities. Planted around apiaries as a honey plant.
The grey-green honeygrass is a serious competitor to clover and alfalfa, which are also characterized as honey plants.
He forces them out of the area.When dried, grey-green hiccup retains the shape, color of flowers and above-ground mass, so it is ideal for herbarium.
Folk recipes
In alternative medicine, gray-green hiccup is used in the form of a decoction or infusion. Almost all parts of the plant are used for cooking. The high alkaloid content of the root is not used for oral administration.
Infusion for gastrointestinal diseases
The product is effective for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Preparation:
- green ikotnik (dried leaves and stems) are crushed in a mortar until smooth;
- take 1 tbsp. l. powder, placed in a thermos;
- pour boiling water (250 ml), close the container tightly;
- leave for 2-4 hours, filter.
This is the daily dose. It is distributed into several servings. Drink no more than 1 tbsp at one time. The minimum course of treatment for stomach diseases is 7 days.
For skin damage
A decoction is made from dried raw materials that is effective for treating festering wounds. Gray-green hickory is used as an antibacterial agent.
Cooking process:
- green hiccup (seeds) are ground into powder;
- pour water into the container - 500 ml;
- add 3 tbsp. l. prepared seeds;
- simmer over low heat in an open container for 30 minutes.
Let it sit. Moisten a napkin in the broth and apply it to the affected area, fix it, and leave it until it dries. This solution can be douched during an exacerbation of cystitis; the gray hiccup is first filtered through several layers of gauze.
Sedative
The plant calms the nervous system, relieves hiccups, and improves sleep quality.
Preparation of the infusion:
- green hiccup (flowers) – 40 g;
- water – 200 ml;
- the components are mixed and kept in a water bath for 30 minutes;
- Remove from heat, cover container. Allow the liquid to cool.
- filtered.
Take 1 tsp in case of hiccups. at intervals of 40 minutes (until the unpleasant symptoms pass). 2 hours before bedtime, take 1 tbsp. l. and the same dose is used directly at night.
For anxiety and irritability, drink 1 tbsp of gray-green ikotnik throughout the day. l. every 4 hours
For diarrhea
An infusion of the flowers and leaves of this plant is taken for indigestion. The product quickly helps normalize stool.
Preparation:
- dry raw materials are crushed;
- 2 tbsp. the product is poured into 200 ml of boiling water;
- leave in a sealed container for 4 hours.
Drink one sip at an interval of 2 hours.
Contraindications
There are no special restrictions on the use of gray-green hiccup. The main contraindication is that decoctions and tinctures of the plant should not be used for low blood pressure. Recommended with caution for pregnant and lactating women, as well as for those with individual intolerance.
Procurement and storage of raw materials
Seeds of the gray-green hiccup begin to be harvested as they ripen so that they do not have time to fall off (approximately from mid-August). They are placed in a fabric or paper bag and stored in a ventilated place.
The root is dug in early spring, the surface is cleared of soil and stored in a suspended state; it is advisable to take it out onto the balcony or into an outbuilding.
Flowers, stems and leaves of the plant are harvested in early July. The gray-green hiccup is separated, cut into small pieces and dried on a tray in a shaded place. They do the same with flowers, only they are laid out separately. Store gray-green hiccup in a canvas bag at low air humidity.
Conclusion
Ikotnik gray or green is a biennial weed with a medicinal chemical composition. Used in folk medicine in the form of tincture or decoction. Used in design for landscaping empty areas. Grown as a honey plant. The plant is unpretentious, so the composition of the soil, weather conditions, and sufficient lighting for the growing season do not play a role. The gray-green hiccup is widespread throughout the temperate climate zone.
