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The common kalina is distributed throughout the former USSR. Grows in shrub thickets, along ravines, wet places, in floodplains of rivers, often in oak forests on dry places. Common Kalina is cultivated as an ornamental and landscaping plant.
Common Kalina blooms in late May - June, fruits ripen in August - September.
The bark is used, harvested in early spring, during the sap movement. The odor of the finished raw material is weak, the taste is astringent.
Chemical composition and properties of calamus
The properties of calamus are recognized by ancient healers as therapeutic. In the bark are found glycoside viburnin (1-2%), organic acids - acetic, valerian, isovalerian, formic, caprylic, linoleic, palmitic, cerotin, ascorbic, vitamin K, tannins, bitter and resinous substances (up to 6.5%). In fruits - sugars (invert sugar up to 32%), tannins, ascorbic acid and a lot of pectin substances. Ascorbic acid (26.3 - 50 mg%) is found in the leaves; fatty oil (up to 21%) is found in the seeds.
The properties of calamus are used for the preparation of medicinal preparations.
The effects and treatment of calamus
Treatment with Kalina is recommended to revitalize the whole body. The viburnin contained in the bark increases uterine tone and has some vasoconstrictive action, analgesic, antiseptic and hemostatic properties. The fruits of calamus increase the contractions of the heart and increase diuresis.
Used treatment with calamus (plant bark) in the form of alcoholic extract and decoction to stop uterine bleeding, especially in menopause, pregnancy and menstrual disorders. Decoction - externally for nosebleeds.
Kalina bark is official in the former Soviet Union and the United States.
In France, berry infusion and fresh berries are used for stomach ailments (Leclerc). The properties of calamus can alleviate unpleasant symptoms of ailments and increase appetite.
In Bulgaria, the bark is used in the form of decoction and extract in gynecological practice as a styptic and antiseptic agent for menorrhagia, threatened abortion and beginning contractions in it. Decoction is prepared as follows: 3-4 g of finely chopped bark pour 200 ml of boiling water, strain after 15 minutes and drink during the day in sips (daily dose). In Bulgarian folk medicine is used treatment with kalina in the form of decoction from the flowers of the plant for pain and spasms in the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, uterine pain and as a diuretic (D. Yordanov et al., 1963).
In domestic folk medicine, in addition to the bark of calamus, fruits collected after the first frost, when they acquire a sweet taste, as well as flowers, juice and seeds of calamus are used. All parts of the plant have retained the medicinal properties of calamus. Fruits are used as diaphoretic, laxative and vomiting agent, as well as for stomach ulcers.
Berries boiled with honey - for colds, coughs, hoarseness, choking, diarrhea, liver disease, jaundice. Bark - in hysteria, painful menstruation, to prevent miscarriage and as an anti-fever remedy instead of quinine. Young branches of calamus - in scrofula. Infusion of flowers - for scrofula and skin rashes. Juice - externally for lichen planus.
Not only in medicine use the properties of calamus. From the seeds prepare coffee, which has a tonic effect on the intestines, recommended for constipation. Kalina fruits are used in confectionery production for making marmalade, marshmallow, candy fillings, for making kalinnik sour cream, jelly and pie filling.
Treatment with calina is recommended by many phytotherapists. Foliage flowering tops of calamus and bark we use as an analgesic, styptic (especially in threatened miscarriage), antiseptic and expectorant. Infusion of flowering branches is useful for painful menstruation, fresh berries and infusion of them - with gastritis with reduced secretion and for the prevention of gastric cancer. Berries infused with hot honey for 6-7 hours - in bronchitis, pneumonia and liver diseases..
