Lemon
.Lemon is an evergreen tree, as a shrub, from the family of rutaceae, wintering at our Black Sea coast in the open ground and grown as a room culture. The flowers are white, fragrant, and the fruit is commonly known. The homeland is China and Japan.
The lemon usually blooms in May - early June, the fruit ripens in November - December.
Lemon phytotherapists use only when fully ripe.
Chemical composition
.The fruit contains ascorbic acid, flavonoids, vitamins P, B and carotene, citric acid, sugars, coumarin derivatives; the rind contains essential oil.
Action and application
.The presence of a large number of vitamins, mainly C and P, accounts for its medicinal properties. Of all the citrus fruits, lemon has the greatest therapeutic effect. Used lemon for febrile illnesses and hypo- and avitaminosis. Lemon oil is used to improve the taste and odor of medicines. Lemon preparations (oil, tincture, syrup, fresh and dried fruit bark) are official in many countries around the world. Lemon oil was included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR in 1961.
In domestic folk medicine lemon juice has long been used against scurvy, freshly squeezed lemon juice lubricated diphtheritic plaque in the throat. Lemon juice mixed with water was used for liver diseases, febrile and inflammatory diseases. Lemon peel boiled in sugar was used to improve digestion. Externally, freshly cut lemon was applied to the subgluteal region in the form of a mustard for vomiting in pregnant women as a distraction. Lemon oil and zest are widely used in the confectionery industry.
Heart linden
.The heart-shaped linden (small-leaved linden) (from Greek. tilia - wing, by wing-shaped bract; cordata - heart-shaped leaves) is a well-known tree of the linden family, 20-40 m high, with a dense crown, living 300-400 years and more. Flowers are yellowish-white, fragrant, collected in small shield-shaped inflorescences, poluzontiki. The inflorescence axis bears a tongue-shaped yellowish-greenish bract. The heart-shaped linden blooms from 20 years of age in the second half of June or in July. Flowering lasts for 10-15 days. The heart-shaped linden is an exceptionally good nectar bearer - linden flowers are the richest source of nectar for bees (Fig. 44).
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The heart-shaped linden is distributed in the European part of the former USSR, in Western Siberia, Crimea, and the Caucasus. Grows in forests, on the edge of woods, in gardens and parks. The heart-shaped linden is cultivated as an ornamental and landscaping plant.
Inflorescences are used together with bracts (linden flower), collected in June - July, when most of the flowers have blossomed, and the smaller part is still in buds. The odor of linden heart-shaped has a faint, pleasant, the taste is sweetish, mucilaginous, slightly astringent.
Chemical composition
.Inflorescences contain tiliacin glycoside, flavone glycoside, hesperidin and diaphoretic glycoside; essential oil, bitter and tannins, saponins, mucilage, ascorbic acid, carotene, sugars, wax. Leaves contain carotene, ascorbic acid, glycoside thyliacin, which has phytoncidal activity. The leaves contain 131.5 mg% ascorbic acid and the flowers contain 31.6 mg%.
Therefore, the use of linden is recommended by many healers to alleviate the symptoms of ailments.
Effects and uses of linden
Infusion of linden flower has diaphoretic, antipyretic, bactericidal, and according to Bulgarian scientists - diuretic, mild antispasmodic and secretolytic properties (D. Yordanov et al.). The use of linden for medicinal purposes is recommended in the form of infusion or decoction for colds, pyelitis, as a diuretic. Externally in inflammatory diseases of the mouth, pharynx as a gargle. Included in diaphoretic tea and throat gargle collection. Wood in calcined, finely ground form is used for flatulence.
Lime flowers were included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR in 1968.
In the GDR it is also recommended to use linden as a diaphoretic, for gargling the throat and baths. In the 15th century, charcoal was used medicinally for diarrhea, inflammatory processes of the intestines and poisoning (Dorfler, Roselt, 1964).
In Poland, linden flowers are used for respiratory diseases, joint rheumatism, angina, neuralgia, headaches and externally for hair loss.
In domestic folk medicine, the use of linden has long been recommended in the form of tea as diaphoretic, expectorant for coughs, as an analgesic for stomach cramps and as a diuretic for kidney stones. In addition, used linden leaves for headache externally in the form of a compress of leaves on the head, and flowers as a mild therapeutic bout.
Inflorescences of linden are used in aromatization of baths, in liqueur and brandy production. Linden blossom finds use as a surrogate for tea.
We use linden flowers and leaves in respiratory diseases; as a diaphoretic; for gout and neuroses..
