Scepter's scepter or dense-flowered cowpea (Verbascum thapsiforme Schrad.; V. densiflorum)
Cowslip tall, tsar's candle, tsar's scepter, ukr.: divina.
Scepterus scepterus is a large biennial plant up to 2 m tall in the norichnium family. Flowers are yellow, one-day flowers, gathered in a dense spike-like inflorescence. Scepterocarpus scepteroides - blooms from June through September.
Scepter's bromegrass - grows on sands along forest clearings, on slopes and deposits in the northern parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Common cowslip (bear's ear) grows on chernozems (V. thapsus L.) it has smaller flowers, 15-25 mm in diameter.
The corollas of the flowers of both species of cowpea are used in medicine, in the home - leaves, grass, roots. Flower corollas can be collected on the same plant for a month or more. Collect them only in dry and clear weather, but not crumbled on the ground. When drying, make sure they don't turn brown.
Corollas of cowpea flowers contain a lot of mucus and sugars, flavonoids, gum, glycoside aucubin, coumarin, triterpene glycosides (saponins,) carotene, vitamin C, mineral salts (including potassium acetate), traces of essential oil and other substances.
Scepetrum scepetrum - has expectorant, emollient, antispasmodic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, styptic, diuretic, analgesic, antiseptic, vasodilator, sedative, enveloping, sugar-reducing, hypotensive, wound-healing, antifungal and insecticidal properties. In Bulgaria, cowpea is also considered an anti-ulcer agent - the drug verbascan is derived from it.
Used earlier in medicine - in catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract, bronchi and lungs, accompanied by a strong persistent cough, as well as diseases of the mucous membrane of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach and intestines. Bark preparations protect the mucous membrane from external influences, alleviate pain at the site of application, reduce painful reflexes and spasms, reduce tissue swelling and cause liquefaction and expectoration of sputum (A. Д. Turowa).
It is also used for inflammation of female genital organs, hypertension and atherosclerosis in the menopausal period (E. Т. Mihailenko). Polish scientists recommend a 10% decoction of cowpea flowers with honey before bedtime as a sedative. Н. Г. Kovaleva used flowering oblique tops of cowpea for hypertension, atherosclerosis and inflammation of respiratory organs. In France with constipation and other diseases, as well as chronic skin diseases have long been used infusion of 15 g of cowpea flowers and 20 g of leaves in 1 liter of boiling water.
Scepterocarpus scepteroides
In folk medicine, cowpea is also used for colds, pleurisy, runny nose with lacrimation, hoarseness of voice (laryngitis), pulmonary tuberculosis, dyspnea, hemoptysis, bronchial asthma, cochlea, pulmonary emphysema, edema, dyspepsia, spastic enterocolitis, diarrhea, dysentery, conjunctivitis, diathesis in children (internally and externally) and other diseases.
Н. Г. Kovaleva indicates that the root of cowpea is an excellent diuretic, useful in renal stone disease and gout in the form of decoction, taken in the morning on an empty stomach, in the afternoon between meals at 125 - 225 ml per day. When diarrhea is used decoction of the whole flowering herb.
Infusion of flowers and leaves of cowslip - for gargling mouth and throat with their diseases, decoction of flowers or seeds - for compresses and bruises on purulent wounds, scabs, ulcers, lesions of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, burns, sores, bruises, with scabies and hemorrhoids. In these diseases also used decoction of leaves or flowers of cowpea on milk. Alcoholic tincture of cowpea is used for rubbing for joint pain, neuralgia and hemorrhoids.
Decoction of 4 handfuls of flowers or chopped roots in 5 liters of water used for baths for ulcers, wounds and hemorrhoids in the form of cold sitting baths for 15 minutes three times a week (V. В. Kar-hut). Purulent wounds, skin lesions, cracks between toes and cracked nipples in women lubricate with the juice of grated carrots and sprinkle with fine powder of cowpea flowers 3 times a day. In wounds, ulcers and other diseases also use ointment of 5 g of powder to 10 g of fat. Infusion of flowers is also used for enemas for proctosigmoiditis and for spritzing.
Flowers and leaves of cowpea along with thyme herb, succession, sage leaves, black currant, chamomile flowers, marigolds, pine needles, burdock roots and oak bark used for baths for scrofulosis, rickets and poor weight gain in children.
Slimes are recommended for washing the scalp for dandruff, seborrhea and baldness.
