Buckthorn bilberry (Urtica dioica L.)
Zhigalka, Ukr.: zhaliva big, krupiva zhalucha.
Nettle is a well-known perennial dicotyledonous plant densely covered with stinging hairs containing formic acid along the veins and stem. Dicotyledonous nettle grows everywhere as a weed: in shady damp forests, in clearings, burned areas, in ravines, on vacant lots, near houses.
Nettle leaves are used medicinally, and the juice, flowers, seeds and rhizomes are used in folk medicine. Nettle leaves are rich in vitamins. They contain vitamins C, K, Bg, carotene, carotenoids, glycoside urticine, formic and silicic acid, phytoncides, many trace elements (iron, copper, manganese), mineral salts, chlorophyll and tannins.
Nettle dicotyledonous has a very diverse and effective effect on the vital functions of the body. It has hemostatic and hematopoietic action (increases blood coagulation, narrows the lumen of blood vessels, increases hemoglobin, platelets in the blood, raises the level of prothrombin with excessive administration of anticoagulants), increases the tone of smooth muscle of the uterus and intestine, regulates metabolism and stimulates granulation and epithelialization of affected tissues (A. И. Schroeter).
In addition, preparations of nettle have diuretic, anti-inflammatory, blood purifying, astringent, choleretic, tonic, tonic, tonic, tonic, anthelmintic, antirheumatic, antitumor, expectorant effect, and also increases the body's resistance to various diseases. Fresh juice and decoction of nettle leaves lowers blood sugar levels. Nettle extract also normalizes the ovarian-menstrual cycle, lipid metabolism and improves the cardiovascular system.
It is used in medicine for various internal bleeding, hypo- and avitaminosis. Included in the preparation allochol, used for liver and intestinal diseases, in the collection of M. Н. Zdrenko.
М. А. Nosal and other authors believe that in bleeding better acts freshly squeezed juice of nettle leaves. С. Я. Sokolov and B. А. Ladynina recommend nettle preparations for iron deficiency anemia, asthenia, arterial hypertension and hypotension, atherosclerosis, neuroses, hysteria, epilepsy, bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, liver disease, cholecystitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, added to the collection for low appetite, gastritis, enterocolitis, peptic ulcer and heart failure I-II degree.
Н. Г. Kovaleva oblique flowering nettle tops used as a vitamin remedy for kidney disease, dysentery and various bleeding. Ф. И. Mam chur to activate the basic metabolism, improve digestion and reduce the manifestations of atherosclerosis recommends 1 tbsp. spoon powder of a mixture of nettle leaves and yarrow grass (10 g each) boiled for 10 minutes in 0.5 liters of boiling water and take 1/2 cup at night.
In folk phytotherapy, nettle is also widely used for pulmonary tuberculosis, cough, choking, edema, heart disease (palpitations) and spleen, jaundice, stomach and intestinal spasms, vomiting, habitual constipation.
Juice of young nettle leaves (15 ml 3 times a day) and grated with water leaves and seeds are used for kidney stones (oxalate) and gallbladder, fever, paralysis, spring fatigue, weakness and other diseases (1/2-1 tsp. spoonful of seeds rubbed in 250 ml of water - daily dose).
Nettle seeds with wine were used earlier for sexual weakness. Nettle helps to restore the function of smell, and also use it for dropsy and for the prevention of stone formation. In persistent coughs and stale stones, candied roots are used. As an expectorant drink tea from nettle flowers - one pinch for four cups of boiling water. Nettle roots together with garlic insist on 40% alcohol for 6 days and this tincture is rubbed on the patient and given inside 3 spoons a day for fever (B. Г. Wolynski) .
In Bulgaria, nettle seeds mixed with sour milk are used in diabetes mellitus (D. Pamukov). В. Chopik and others indicate that taking a decoction of nettle leaves 3-5 days before the onset of menstruation contributes to the normalization of the cycle and reduce blood loss (in metropathy). Some patients report that in the spring they had a significant improvement in their eyesight after a month's consumption of soup made from young nettles. Nettle juice is a must for spring nutrition (treatment) (G. Sviridonov).
As a strong active irritant and distracting agent in rheumatism and sciatica resort to section (stinging) with fresh nettle 3-5 times a day. Nettle is also used for dandruff and for strengthening and better hair growth - 1 tbsp. spoon dry or 2 handfuls of raw leaves insist 1 hour in 1 liter of boiling water. Part of the infusion after washing rubbed into the scalp, and the rest rinse the hair and do not wipe the head. The treatments are repeated for long periods of time with weekly breaks.
In Bulgaria in these diseases take 100 g of crushed leaves or fresh root, boiled for 30 minutes in a mixture of 0.5 liters of water and 0.5 liters of wine vinegar, strain and wash the head before bedtime several nights in a row without soap (D. Yordanov, V. Petkov). In the northern parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, stinging nettle (small) (U. urens L.), which differs from the former by its smaller stature (15-20 cm), smaller leaves, and denser pubescence. М. А. Nosal recommends washing your hair 3 times a week in a strong decoction of stinging nettle roots, burdock, heather grass and hop cones. It is not used in medicine, but is popular in folk medicine and is used similarly to the first. In Bulgaria it is also used for digestive disorders, uremia, epilepsy and other diseases.
М. А. Nosal recommended in tumors of the spleen - 3 times a day on the end of a knife powder from a mixture of equal parts of nettle leaves, sage and plantain lanceolate, drinking water; in boils, small amount of urine and constipation -
2 tbsp. spoonfuls of a mixture of equal parts of nettle leaves, blackberries, dandelion and sloe flowers pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and steamed in the oven for 2-3 hours, drink daily for 2 weeks (blood-cleansing collection), with bronchial asthma infusion of 15g nettle leaves and 25 g herbs Ledum in 1 liter of boiling water - 0.5 cup 5-6 times a day for 15 days, children with bronchial asthma and whooping cough this infusion - 1 tsp. a spoonful several times a day.
H. И. Solomchenko in 16 patients with asthmatic bronchitis and mild form of bronchial asthma used such an infusion and noted expectorant and antispastic effect. Е. Т. Mikhailenko and others in gynecological diseases recommend powder nettle flowers on the tip of a knife 1-3 times a day with food, leaf juice 5 ml 3 times a day inside and for sprinceanias infusion of 30 g flowers in 1 liter boiling water (insist 4-5 hours), the course of treatment - 10 days, after a 5-10-day break treatment is repeated.
Methods of application:
1. 2-3 sts. spoonfuls of nettle leaves insist 2 hours in 0.5 liters of boiling water - a daily dose of anemia, asthenia, nephritis, hepatitis, for external use infusion is prepared 2 times more concentrated.
2. Infusion of 50-60 g flowers and leaves of nettles in 1 liter of boiling water - 250 ml 3 times a day for bronchitis, pyelonephritis (M. А. Nosal).
3. Fresh juice of nettle leaves - 1-3 tsp. spoonfuls 3 times a day, canned with 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1 : 1 - 1-2 tbsp. spoonfuls 3 times a day for avitaminosis, various bleeding.
4. 1 Art. spoon nettle root boiled for 10 minutes in 0.5 liters of water - a daily dose of worms.
5. Liquid extract of nettle - 30-50 drops 3 times a day as a styptic.
6. Allochol - 2-4 dragees 3 times a day after meals for liver disease.
7. Seed powder - 2-4 g 3-4 times a day for kidney stones, bronchitis. Powder of stinging nettle leaves 1 tsp. spoonful after meals - in anemia (D. Pamukov).
8. Nettle leaves stinging, dandelion root, hop cones, birch leaves, mint - 50 g each, herb turnip - 100 g, mix; 2 tbsp. spoonfuls of the mixture boiled for 5 minutes in 0.5 liters of water - 100 ml 4 times a day before meals for eczema (D. Pamukov).
9. 1 tsp. each. spoonful of a mixture of nettle seeds - 5 parts, spores of Plaunus pinatus - 2 parts and sugar - 3 parts three times a day for kidney stones (V. В. Karhut).
10. Powder from a mixture of leaves of stinging nettle, sage, plantain lanceolate, taken equally, - on the end of a knife three times a day with enlargement of the spleen after malaria, inflammation of the liver and biliary tract (V. В. Karhut).
11. Nettle leaves - 80 g, nettle root - 20 g, root of aira - 10 g insist 6-7 days in 50 ml of water and 130 ml of 95% alcohol, strain, squeeze, massaging, rub into the scalp with hair loss and dandruff (V. В. Karhut).
The leaves are harvested in spring and early summer, plucked with gloved hands, or more often by mowing the grass with scythes and snipping the leaves after wilting, when they stop stinging. Spread the leaves in a thin layer so they don't turn black. Some pickers prefer to harvest the leaves before the plant blooms, before they are affected by the caterpillar..
