The therapeutic effect of medicinal plants is associated with the presence of various biologically active substances in them, which have a diverse composition and belong to different classes of chemical compounds (alkaloids, glycosides, coumarins and furocoumarins, essential oils, phytoncides, vitamins, flavonoids, resins, tannins, organic acids, mucilages, gum, pectins, pigments, enzymes, mineral salts, trace elements).
In many cases, the therapeutic effect of medicinal plants is not related to any single substance, but to the complex of substances that are included in it. Usually, various medicinal preparations are prepared from medicinal plants (galenic, etc.) and medicinal forms, less often they are consumed in natural form (powders, juices).
Powders are prepared from well-dried raw material, grinding it in a mortar or coffee grinder. They are most often used in folk medicine for ingestion, for powdering wounds, ulcers and making ointments.
Ointments are prepared on various fats in different concentrations - 10-20%, that is, 10-20 g of powder per 100 or 200 g of fat, or from 5-10 ml of tincture per 95 g of fat (petroleum jelly, lanolin, pig fat).
We also prepared 20% oil tinctures of raw plant material (St. John's wort, yarrow, sage, sage, sage, hyssop, mint, marigolds, plantain large) in vegetable oil, insisted I month (dry plants can be insisted in vegetable oil for several hours on a water bath), then strained, squeezed. An oil tincture of St. John's wort, and some patients and a tincture of marigolds, were used internally, as will be mentioned in the description of the plants. We also used these tinctures in 250 patients with proctosigmoiditis in microclysms. These drugs can also be used externally for trophic ulcers, wounds, cervical erosions, etc. д.
Juices from medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables are obtained using a juicer or mechanical press. Canning alcohol (1 liter of juice + 250 ml of 96% alcohol, or 1:1 45% alcohol, insist 2 weeks). They should be shaken before use. The juice is also poured into a flowing dish, and a thin layer of vegetable oil is poured on top. You can also preserve them with sugar at a 1:1 concentration.
We prepared syrup of joster and elderberry fruits: 1150-1200 g of sugar per 1 liter of juice, boiled for 2 minutes on low heat and hot poured into sterile bottles (sugar concentration - at least 64%). Juices are stored in a cool place.
Plant pollen (hazel, corn) and bee pollen in Romania are popular for prostate, gastrointestinal, anemia and other diseases. However, pollen is contraindicated for allergic conditions and obesity.
Infusions and decoctions are aqueous extracts of medicinal raw materials or aqueous solutions of extracts. Infusion (infusion, infusion) is prepared from leaves, buds, herbs, flowers, decoctions - from rough plants - bark, roots and rhizomes. Prepare them in pharmacies according to Pharmacopoeia X: crushed raw materials or collection of herbs placed in a heated porcelain, enameled or stainless steel infundirku (vessel), pour cold distilled water taken according to the recipe, cover and heated on a boiling water bath with frequent stirring: infusion - for 15 min, decoction - for 30 min, then remove the vessel from the water bath and cool at room temperature: decoction - for 10 min, infusion - at least 45 min. They are then strained, squeezed and water is added up to the prescribed volume of extract. Honey or sugar can be added to the decoction before consumption. Decoctions of raw materials containing tannins (bearberry, etc.).), strain immediately after removing from the water bath.
From most raw materials are prepared infusions and decoctions in a ratio of 1 : 10 (10%), t. е. from 1 weight part of raw materials prepare 10 volume parts of infusion or decoction, from potent raw materials - only according to the doctor's prescription (1 : 30), (1 : 400).
At home, the infusion is prepared without boiling, raw materials are poured steep boiling water, insist in warmth for 1-4-6 hours or more (better in a thermos). For decoction boil herbs from 5 min to 2 hours or more. For external use infusion (decoction) is prepared from a double or triple dose of raw materials. Since infusions and decoctions spoil, especially in summer, it is better to prepare them daily or for 2-3 days, but store them in a cool place, before use should be heated. Н. Г. Kovaleva recommended 5-6 g of raw materials pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, stew for 30 minutes, do not boil.
Tinctures and extracts are prepared at pharmaceutical factories, plants and in galenovyh laboratories at 40-70% ethyl alcohol: 1 : 5 (20%) (100 g of raw materials pour 0.5 liters of alcohol), insist 7-14 days, periodically shaking, then strain, squeeze and add alcohol to the required volume. From poisonous plants prepare 10% tinctures (1 : 10) (tinctures of lily of the valley, perepod, etc.).).
Collections (teas) - a mixture of several types of finely ground raw materials. Available in ready-to-use form (pg. 262) or prepared in a pharmacy according to a doctor's prescription (dosed collections of poisonous plants), as well as at home. Usually a collection includes 10 plants or more, in the collection of M. Н. Zdrenko - 35 plants. Pharmacy collections consist of 3-5 plant species. They should be composed of predominantly equally active (synergistic) components. It should be remembered that some plants are incompatible in one collection, as their medicinal properties are neutralized. For example, alkaloid plants (celandine, et al.) should not be combined with tannins (lapwort). From the collections can also prepare infusions, decoctions for lotions, rinses, spritzing, micro enemas, baths and poultices.
Therapeutic baths from the infusion (decoction) of one or more herbs or aromatic baths (pine needles). Use the herbs of succession, nettle, thyme, oregano, aira root. Take 40-60 g of raw materials, brewed in 2-5 liters of boiling water, insist 20 minutes or boiled for 10 minutes on low heat, strain and pour into the bath at a water temperature of 36-38-40 ° C. Stay in the bath for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of at least 36 °. Take baths 2-3 times a week for 15 days. After this bath, you should not wash yourself with water.
Baths of oregano infusion are recommended for neuroses, obesity, diabetes, gynecological and other diseases. Baths from decoction of aira root in lung diseases, dizziness, gallstone disease and neurosis. From the decoction of fresh oat straw (50-100 g boiled for 15 minutes in 2 liters of water) can be made 3 baths a week for thyroid disease, bladder and excessive sweating. Baths from the decoction of elecampane root (30 g root to 6 liters of water) - in bronchial diseases, anemia. Certainly, they should be prescribed by a physician.
Б. А. Ladynina in diseases of the joints recommends collection for baths of elderflowers, currant leaves - 3 parts, nettle leaves - 2 parts, flowers and horsetail flowers and horsetail herb - 4 parts and herbs succession - 5 parts and other collections.
The most rational method of administration of drugs, including phytotherapeutic substances, in the treatment of bronchial and pulmonary diseases is inhalation. The suction surface of the lungs is 200 m2. Therefore, drug aerosols are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and have a better therapeutic effect than when taken orally. With the help of stationary inhalers can be administered 5% infusion of herbs St. John's wort, thyme, oregano, sage leaves, eucalyptus, marigold flowers or tinctures of St. John's wort, marigolds, pine buds, as well as plantain juice (2 ml per 30 ml of water).
As you know, the effectiveness of the treatment also depends on the dosage of drugs, which can be from small (homeopathic) to quite large. The boxes of herbs dispensed by pharmacies have the dosage and method of administration on them. At home, the raw material is dosed with spoons. We give some data on the mass of one tablespoon in grams: herbs St. John's wort, ergot, motherwort and linden flowers - 5-6 g, celandine, leaves of mother and stepmother, flowers of cumin - 2.5-3 g, flax seed-18-20 g, licorice roots, elecampane and bark, oak - 15-18, rhizome of valerian - 10 g, bilberry root - 8 g, corn stigmas - 4 g. A cup of sophora beans has 150 g. The volume of liquids is given in ml: a slim glass - 250, a teaspoon - 5, a tablespoon - 15 ml.
In collections of plants are given abbreviations: tablespoon - st.; teal - ch.; hour - h; minute - min; gram - g. Plants not sold through the pharmacy network are marked with *.
Д. Yordanov gives a scheme of single dose of medicinal plants depending on the age of the patient: from 25 to 60 years - 1 dose, from 14 to 25 years - 2/3 dose, from 7 to 14 years - 1/2 dose, from 4 to 7 years - 1/3 dose, from 3 to 4 years - 1/6-1/4 dose, from 1 to 2 years - 1/8-1/4 dose, up to 1 year - 1/12-1/8 dose of an adult..
