Content
- 1 Description of the Tibetan lofant plant
- 2 Differences between Lofant anise and Tibetan
- 3 Chemical composition of the plant
- 4 Planting and caring for Tibetan lofant
- 5 Useful properties of Tibetan lofant
- 6 Rules for procurement of raw materials
- 7 Indications for use
- 8 Methods of using Tibetan lofanthus
- 9 Contraindications to Tibetan lofant
- 10 Conclusion
The genus of herbaceous flowering plants (Agastache) is mainly distributed in the temperate climate of the North American continent. But since the ancestor of the genus is somewhat older than the time of the divergence of the continents, there was only one representative of this genus left in Asia. Wrinkled polygonum, also known as Tibetan lofanthus, is a native of East Asia. In China, this plant is considered only slightly weaker than ginseng and is used in folk medicine as one of the 50 main herbs.
Description of the Tibetan lofant plant
Agastache rugosa has many other names:
- Korean mint (belongs to the same family of Lamiaceae);
- purple giant hyssop;
- blue licorice;
- Indian mint;
- wrinkled giant hyssop;
- Chinese patchouli;
- Huo Xiang;
- Tibetan lofant.
The latter is a copy of another Latin name - Lophantus tibeticus. This name is a synonym of Agastache rugosa.
The distribution area of this plant in the wild is all of East Asia:
- Korea;
- Vietnam;
- Japan;
- China;
- Taiwan.
Tibetan polygonum also grows in Russia in the Primorsky Territory.
Tibetan lofant is a perennial herb 0.4-1 m high with quadrangular stems. The leaves are large: 4.5-9 cm long, 2-6 cm wide. The shape can be lanceolate or ovoid. The leaf base is heart-shaped. The petiole is from 1.5 to 3.5 cm long. The edge of the leaf is jagged. The leaf blades are thin. The leaves are dark green on the upper side and light green on the lower side. The leaf blades are pubescent on both sides.
The flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, the length of which is up to 10 cm and the diameter is 2 cm. The peduncles below also have leaves, the same in shape as the main ones. But the size of these leaves is smaller.
Flowers are bisexual and capable of self-pollination. Pollination by insects is also present. The calyx is long (4-8 mm), colored purple or lilac. The two-lipped corolla has a length of 7-10 mm. Flowering lasts from June to September.
There are forms of Tibetan lofanta with white, purple and blue flowers. White flowers have a stronger odor than colored ones. The photo shows all three varieties of Tibetan lofant.
Differences between Lofant anise and Tibetan
Most polygons are very similar to each other. Tibetan polygonum is often confused with anise/fennel lofant. Even the color of the flowers is similar in some forms of lofants. Lofant anise grows taller than Tibetan, but the growth range of these herbs is the same and it is impossible to say with certainty which plant it is.
The height of the anise lofant is 45-150 cm, the Tibetan one is 40-100 cm. The flowers of the anise lofant are purple or pink-blue, the Tibetan one is purple or blue.
The difference between the two types of lofants is the region of origin and the aroma of the plant. The homeland of anise is North America, Tibetan is Asia. The smell of fennel is reminiscent of anise, which is how the herb got its name. Tibetan has its own scent.
In the USA, anise lofant is grown on an industrial scale to produce honey with a specific taste and smell. Plants are used to produce spices.
Photo of fennel lofanthus. Without a magnifying glass and special knowledge, the differences cannot be seen.
Medicinal use
For medicinal purposes, both types are used only in folk medicine. And information about them here has 3 versions:
- anise – medicinal, Tibetan – spice;
- Tibetan – medicinal, anise – spice;
- both types of lofants have similar medicinal properties.
The third version looks the most plausible. The placebo effect can sometimes work wonders.
Chemical composition of the plant
The situation with the chemical composition of the plant is approximately the same as with its medicinal value. That is, serious research has not been carried out due to the lack of value of these plants as medicinal ones. And when describing the chemical composition, the types of lofants are often confused. According to English-language sources, the plant contains:
- estragole;
- p-Anisaldehyde;
- 4-methoxycinnamaldehyde;
- pachydopol;
- estragole (60-88%), also known as the main component of basil oil;
- d-limonene;
- caryophyllene;
- hexadecanoic acid;
- linoleic acid.
Russian-language data is slightly different:
- hydroxycinnamic acids;
- luteolin;
- umbelliferone;
- quercetin;
- tannins (6.5-8.5%).
Often the composition of Tibetan lofant is copied from the more studied anise.
The chromium content in Tibetan lofant has not been confirmed even by studies invented for the sake of advertising. A high content of chromium, which supposedly prevents aging, is attributed to anise lofant (the origin of the species is North America). And even about anise lofant there is no other data except for the “research” of a certain Dr. V. Evans from the USA. The research was allegedly conducted in 1992 and caused a sensation. Mentions of the doctor are found only in Russian-language advertising articles.
But some amount of chromium is certainly present in both types of lofant. But this amount does not depend on the type of plant, but on the presence of the element in the soil.
Planting and caring for Tibetan lofant
In the first year after sowing, Tibetan lofanthus seed harvest ripens at the end of September. In subsequent years, seeds should be collected 2-3 weeks earlier. The Tibetan polygonum produces the maximum number of seeds in the 3-4th year of life.
The grass is unpretentious, and growing Tibetan lofanthus is not difficult. Given a choice, the lofant will prefer moisture-resistant, fertile soil and good sunlight. In the shade, the aroma of the plant weakens.
Tibetan polygonum propagates in two ways:
- division of roots;
- seeds.
The simplest and easiest method of propagation is growing Tibetan lofanthus from seeds.
Propagation by seeds
Lofant fruits are the size of a poppy seed, so they cannot be buried in the soil. Their germination is aboveground. Seeds are sown in spring in mid-May. Sprouts appear 2 weeks after sowing.
Seeds are poured onto prepared, very finely loosened soil and “nailed” to the ground using a spray bottle.During these two weeks, the soil is kept moist by spraying rather than watering with a watering can.
You can grow lofant through seedlings. In this case, a certain amount of seeds is placed in each container. Planting Tibetan lofantha seedlings can begin at the end of March or at the beginning of April. The rules for germination are the same as for any other seedlings.
7-12 days after germination, the blade of grass acquires a pair of opposite round leaves. A week later a second pair appears. At the same time, roots develop. The root system of Tibetan polygonum is quite powerful and already in its young state has 7-10 lateral roots.
At the end of May, the seedlings along with the earthen ball are transplanted to a permanent place. A distance of 25 cm is left between plants. The width of the rows is 70 cm. Further care consists of timely watering and weeding weed.
Flowering begins at the end of July and continues until September. Sometimes lofant can bloom until frost.
Propagation by roots
Tibetan polygonum can also be propagated by roots. They are dug up in late autumn or early spring. They are divided and planted in a new place. The distance between seedlings is left 30 cm.
Useful properties of Tibetan lofant
Koreans use Tibetan polygonum as a food seasoning in dishes. The Chinese have a different view of this herb. They believe that Korean mint can help with many types of diseases. It is used:
- as a sedative;
- immunostimulant;
- to improve blood circulation;
- as a bactericidal;
- to normalize blood pressure;
- to increase male potency;
- as an anti-inflammatory;
- to normalize metabolism.
There is information that a decoction of polygonum dissolves wax plugs in the ears. But ordinary water copes with this task just as well.
Rules for procurement of raw materials
Traditional medicine uses the entire aerial part of the plant. Fresh grass works better, but in winter there is nowhere to get it. At the same time, it is in winter that a person needs drugs that support immunity. Even if Tibetan polygonum is not actually medicinal, it will serve as a good addition to tea and an aromatic seasoning for dishes.
When preparing Tibetan lofant, you need to follow some rules:
- collect grass in mid-summer;
- after cutting off the necessary parts, all contaminants are removed from the prepared raw materials;
- dry the grass in the shade in a draft;
- For storage, the prepared lofant is placed in a canvas or paper bag.
The shelf life of the workpiece is 1 year.
Indications for use
In folk medicine, Tibetan lofant is used almost as a panacea for all diseases at once. Scope of its use:
- restoration of strength in stressful situations, after a hypertensive crisis and stroke;
- anti-inflammatory for the gastrointestinal tract;
- increasing immunity;
- treatment of the respiratory tract from acute respiratory infections to pneumonia and bronchial asthma;
- for liver diseases;
- for problems with the genitourinary system.
It is also believed that sleeping on a mattress and pillow stuffed with Tibetan polygonum will forever relieve insomnia, headaches, weather dependence and even fungi.
Alcohol tincture of lofant is used for diseases of the cardiovascular system, paresis, paralysis, and tremors of the limbs. Decoction, gel and powder from lofant leaves are advertised as a good remedy for skin fungi.
Methods of using Tibetan lofanthus
In the homeland of the Tibetan polygonum, the grass is popular as a food seasoning. In South Korea, it is added to stews of meat and fish. Sometimes used for Korean pancakes.
In folk medicine, lofant is used in the form of:
- Infusion for internal use: 1 tbsp. l. per glass of boiling water. Wrap and leave for 3 hours. Strain. Add honey. Drink ½ glass 3 times a day before meals.
- Infusion for external use: 4 tbsp. l. Infuse 2 cups of boiling water for 2 hours. Use the infusion to wipe the skin and rinse hair.
- Tincture for internal use is made from fresh raw materials: 200 g of flowers and leaves per 0.5 liter of vodka. Leave for a month in a dark place. Shake occasionally. Take 10 drops per 120 ml of water in the morning and evening and 20 drops at lunch 30 minutes before meals.
An infusion for internal use is used for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and to calm the central nervous system.
To soothe inflamed skin on the face, make a gel from fresh young lofant leaves. The raw materials are ground in a mortar into a homogeneous green mass and apricot or olive oil is added there. For 100 g of fresh leaves take 2-3 tbsp. spoons of oil and add 1 ml of vinegar essence.
Store the gel in refrigerators and use as needed. If you add 50 g of fir oil and salt to it, you will get a good remedy for corns.
Contraindications to Tibetan lofant
Products based on Tibetan polygonum have no special contraindications. Caution should be exercised by people suffering from hypotension and thrombophlebitis. But it doesn’t hurt to ask a doctor a question in any case.
It is necessary to start taking medications from Tibetan lofanthus carefully and with small doses, since no one can predict the individual reaction of the body. The dosage of the drug is gradually increased to the required level.
Conclusion
Tibetan lofant is a controversial plant from the point of view of its actual medicinal effect. But if it does not heal, then it cannot harm. But it can decorate the garden and give dishes an original taste and smell.
