Medicinal Properties And Use Of Medicinal Lungwort

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Lungwort - beautiful honey herb

Recently, an article about beautiful ornamental deciduous plants appeared on our site - the borage family lungworms. There are several types of lungwort, which are widely used in the design of gardens in Europe, these species appeared in many gardeners in our country.

Lungwort varieties

Moreover, very interesting varieties have been created for decorative species by selection. For example, the narrow-leaved lungwort has a beautiful variety Blaues Meer - its plants stand out for their bright blue large flowers, while the long-leaved flower growers have grown fond of the Roy Davidson variety, which is distinguished by wide belt-like silvery leaves with light spots.

It is noteworthy that the flowers of this variety are at first light blue in color, and by the end of flowering they turn pink. The Highdown variety of sweet lungwort is also beautiful. Its plants grow up to 30 cm tall and attract attention with beautiful silvery leaves and dark blue flowers.

You can name interesting varieties in some other species of lungwort, but now we will not dwell on the decorative features of the plants of this family. The fact is that the name Medunitsa is our Russian name. Apparently, it is due to the fact that the flowers of the plant attract bees with an abundance of nectar. In some areas, it is also called medunka. And in Latin, lungwort is called Pulmonaria.

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And this name came from the word "pulmo", which means "lung" - it means an important organ of the human body that provides the breathing process. And this name suggests that since ancient times people have used the leaves of lungwort for the treatment of pulmonary diseases, and later not only pulmonary diseases. And it is not by chance that in our area it is also sometimes called pulmonary herb or pulmonary.

The fact is that almost all types of lungwort contain substances that can help in the treatment of certain diseases. For example, all these plants contain tannins and mucus, and the leaves of lungwort are rich in ascorbic acid and other vitamins. This means that plants of these species can be used to treat certain diseases and in vitamin salads.

Useful properties of medicinal lungwort

But the medicinal lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) is recognized as especially valuable in folk medicine. In addition to the above useful substances, it also contains saponins and tannins. Saponins are plant glycosides that are used in medicine as an expectorant. Also, after the use of saponins, intestinal permeability increases and the absorption of various chemicals is facilitated, as a result of which their effectiveness on the body increases.

And tannins are tannic acids, natural tannin is found in many plants, for example, chestnut, oak, persimmon and others. They are characterized by an astringent taste and tanning properties. The ability of tannins to form strong bonds with complex carbohydrates and proteins has found application in medicine.

In addition to saponins and tannins, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, silicon oxide, carotene, ascorbic acid, rutin are found in Lungwort … This plant is used as an expectorant, emollient, diuretic, analgesic, hemostatic and as an effective immunostimulating agent and even in the treatment of diabetes … And externally, the infusion of lungwort is used to wash festering wounds, ulcers, boils as an anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and antiseptic agent.

Unfortunately, wild lungwort is not as widespread as many of its other species, for example, soft lungwort, which is common in our country from the European part to Eastern Siberia. Medunitsa medicinal in our country grows only in the Kaliningrad region. But this plant can be planted in your garden. Some of its varieties are already used in flower beds. Lungwort is up to 30 cm high.

She has long leaves (up to 15 cm), they, like many other species, with light spots. There is one peculiarity in its flowers, which begin to bloom in early spring after the snow melts: they are pink-red at first, and then gradually turn blue. This feature of the flowers of the lungwort was even reflected in the saying about her: "Nadezhda has two clothes: one in a pink dress, then in a blue robe."

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Growing lungwort

Of course, traditional healers prefer to use plants grown in nature. But if Lungwort does not grow in your area, you should look for its dried herb in pharmacies. She is found there, however, there is not much abundance. In this case, you should try to grow lungwort in your garden. She loves shaded places more, for example, near ferns or host, loose soil - sandy loam or loamy. Does not like acidic soils, slightly acidic or alkaline soils are suitable for cultivation.

There are many ways to propagate lungwort. First, the seeds. True, in this case, the process of obtaining medicinal raw materials will be delayed, since it will bloom after sowing with seeds only after 2-3 years

Secondly, this plant can be propagated vegetatively - by divisions. True, you first need to find a florist whose lungwort is already growing. From an adult bush, you can carefully separate the division with the renewal bud and plant it in prepared soil filled with humus.

Caring for the plant consists in loosening the soil around the bush, feeding with humus and mineral fertilizers, in watering. She loves moisture, but you can't pour it - otherwise the measles system will rot. Before the onset of cold weather, lungwort bushes need to be mulched.

Medicinal properties of lungwort

The medicinal raw materials of the medicinal lungwort are the stems, and leaves, and flowers, and the root. It is necessary to harvest the upper part of the plant during the budding or flowering period, the roots are stored in the fall. Raw materials are dried in a dark ventilated room until brittle, the roots are well washed from the soil beforehand. The shelf life of medicinal raw materials is one year.

In official medicine, medicinal lungwort is not yet used very actively. Mainly for the treatment of lung diseases and as dietary supplements, as a source of flavonoids and polyphenols.

But in folk medicine, it has a fairly wide range of applications for a long time.

Biologically active substances contained in lungwort have an anti-inflammatory, expectorant and soothing effect in any respiratory tract infection, therefore it is often used to treat lung diseases. To do this, infusions are prepared from the herb of plants and roots, which are also used for the treatment of bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, cough, with hoarseness and even tuberculosis.

In addition, infusions of lungwort according to the recipes of traditional medicine are used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, anemia. And, as noted above, they are used to heal externally purulent wounds, ulcers, abscesses.

For example, lungwort juice can be used as iodine to treat wounds. And if there is no way to quickly get juice, you can simply apply the crushed leaves of this plant to a fresh or purulent wound to heal it.

Infusion of lungwort

To prepare it, you need two tablespoons of chopped dried herb of lungwort, pour two glasses of boiling water. Insist for two hours and then strain. Take half a glass three times a day half an hour before meals.

If you only have fresh lungwort herb, then chop it and double the amount.

For external use - lotions, washings, baths, rinses, the infusion is prepared more concentrated. To do this, take four tablespoons of dry chopped herbs for two glasses of boiling water.

Lungwort tea

It can be taken for coughs, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, for colds. For one glass of boiling water, you need to take one tablespoon of the herb. Pour and leave for 10 minutes. Take this tea in the morning and in the evening for 1 glass in small sips. To enhance the healing effect, it is necessary to sweeten it with honey. This tea can also be given to children.

The duration of treatment with lungwort depends on the severity of the disease. In the treatment of pulmonary diseases, lungwort is recommended to be used in preparations with herbs and infusions that strengthen the immune system, such as echinacea purpurea, black elderberry syrup, with licorice, thyme, rosehip …

Contraindications

There are no contraindications to taking this plant, but like any traditional medicine, they should be used with caution, as nausea may appear, especially when taken on an empty stomach. Individual drug intolerance is also possible. Care should be taken to treat such treatment for women during pregnancy, in the treatment of children under three years of age, with constipation and with increased blood clotting. In any case, it will never be superfluous to consult your doctor before starting treatment.

Anatoly Petrov