Content
Astragalus whitestem is a healing plant, which is also called the herb of life. People have known about the beneficial properties of culture for many centuries. Its rich chemical composition allows it to be used not only in herbal medicine, but also in cooking and cosmetology. By the way, astragalus is recognized by official medicine and is a component of many drugs.
What does the plant look like?
White-stemmed astragalus (Astragalus albicaulis) is a subshrub, small in height - up to 50 cm. It belongs to the legume family, a perennial.
The plant has thin, slightly drooping and white stems, with a dense layer of hairs. At the base of each there is a gray wood covering.
The leaves are characterized by a hairy covering. Length from 2 to 6 cm, with small petioles. Oblong and oval in shape, collected in pairs. The stipules are predominantly lance-shaped and have white or black hairs.
The fruits of Astragalus whitestem are oblong, very similar to real beans. They can reach 15 mm in length. Ripening begins in June-July, depending on the region of growth.
Astragalus of this species blooms from May to July. White-yellow or completely white flowers appear on the bush. They are collected in loose brushes that reach 10-15 cm in length.The calyxes have white and fluffy hairs, with black hair in the form of stripes.
Astragalus helps you get rid of diabetes
Where does it grow
The habitat of the subshrub is very wide. It is found in Ukraine, Moldova, the southwest of Western Siberia and the European part of the Russian Federation. Prefers chalk pine forest.
The main place of growth of white-stemmed astragalus in the Belgorod region is the Veidelevsky district. We are talking about the village of Salovka, which is located on Chalk Mountain.
White-stemmed Astragalus is listed in the Red Book of most countries of the world and administrative units of Russia:
- Kursk region.
- Stavropol region.
- Belgorod region.
- Republic of Kalmykia.
- Lipetsk region.
Today it is on the verge of complete destruction.
White-stemmed Astragalus is listed in the Red Book of the Belgorod Region
Application of Astragalus whitestem
The main feature of the subshrub is that it is capable of accumulating gold. For this reason, it can often be found near places where uranium and manganese ores occur, near which there are always many deposits of this precious metal.
The chemical composition of Astragalus whitestem is rich in the most important elements of the periodic table for the human body:
- magnesium;
- strontium;
- manganese;
- iron;
- aluminum.
Scientists also managed to find out that the plant contains a lot of silicon and phosphorus, alkaloids and tannins. It is a leader in the accumulation of asparagine and polysaccharides. The most common vitamins are B and C.
Astragalus whitestem has a pronounced hypotensive and sedative effect on the human body. Therefore, it is widely used for coronary vessels. Has a diuretic and sedative effect.
Astragalus is recognized by official medicine, so it can be found in preparations from pharmacies. It is used in the manufacture of remedies for nephritis and hypertension. There are no restrictions; therapy is prescribed for the chronic course of the pathology or during an exacerbation.
The presence of organic acids in the composition of white-stemmed astragalus makes it possible to effectively cope with problems of the digestive system. Oxalic acid improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.
White-stemmed Astragalus is often included in infusions and preparations as a single drug for the treatment of:
- angina pectoris;
- epilepsy;
- Raynaud's disease;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- tuberculosis.
The shrub is a natural immunomodulator and has antiviral and antibacterial effects. Has wound healing and antitumor effects.
A drink is prepared from white-stemmed astragalus to quickly restore the body's strength; it is also suitable for getting rid of lumbar pain that appears as a result of lifting weights. For cooking you will need 2 tbsp. l. raw materials and 250 ml of boiled warm water. Leave the mixture for 4 hours and take ¼ part 4 times throughout the day.
Infusions and other preparations based on Astragalus whitestem should not be used to treat children under 2 years of age. It is also unacceptable to use during pregnancy, with severe overexcitation or stress, or with hypotension.
It is best to harvest the plant during active budding.
Collection and preparation
For medicinal purposes, all parts of Astragalus whitestem must be collected.Due to the fact that the subshrub is on the verge of extinction, during harvesting you should act carefully so as not to damage the root system; you must retreat at least 5-7 cm from it. You should also not collect it every year in the same place.
The best period for collecting is the time of mass budding, that is, the beginning of flowering. It is best to do the preparation early in the morning, no later than 11 o’clock. The weather must be dry.
Before drying, the raw materials are cleaned of all foreign impurities, but not washed. All material is laid out on a moisture-absorbing material with a height of no more than 7 cm. Plain paper or any natural fabric can be used as bedding.
The room where the astragalus will be dried must be maintained at room temperature. It should be well ventilated.
It is permissible to prepare for the winter in drying cabinets, but at a temperature not exceeding +50 OC. Readiness can only be determined manually, by the degree of fragility of the stems and petioles.
It is permissible to store prepared white-stemmed astragalus in dried form for 2 years, during which time it will not lose its beneficial properties. It is best to place it in bags made of natural fabrics, in dark glass containers, or, if there is space, then hanging it.
White-stemmed Astragalus actively grows in the village of Salovka, Belgorod region
Conclusion
White-stemmed Astragalus is a plant that has received “new life.” Interest in it has only been growing lately.Indeed, the healing properties of the subshrub allow you to get rid of many diseases and activate the mental and physical strength of the body.
