How are the therapeutic properties of gentian in traditional medicine

Gentian - perennial or annual herb or shrubby plant with a height of 20 to 150 cm

The plant belongs to the family of gentian, which has more than 400 species. Gentian has whole opposite leaves.

It has a short, thick root with many thin cord-like roots.

Depending on the species, gentian can have a different description. Its stems can be short and straight, or, conversely, strongly elongated in height, with few or single flowers at their tops.

The gentian has a funnel-shaped or bell-shaped corolla; very rarely does the plant spread its leaves, forming a kind of plate. The fruit of the plant is a bivalve capsule, which is formed from a single nesting ovary.

Gentian flowers have a blue, purple or blue color. White or yellow flowers are very rare.

The composition of gentian

In the chemical composition of gentian contains bitter glycosides that enhance intestinal motility. At the root of the plant are present bioflavonoids, about 6% of essential and fatty oils, bitterness, sucrose, pectins, gums and mucus, and the leaves contain an impressive amount of ascorbic acid. Alkaloids that are part of gentian, do not have a physiological effect on the body.

The healing properties of gentian

Gentian has a high therapeutic potential, its useful properties are invaluable in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and joints.

Academic medicine recommends the use of drugs made on the basis of gentian, to stimulate the appetite, improve digestion, while weakening the evacuator-motor function of the digestive tract.

Gentian can be found in many herbal teas that stimulate appetite and improve blood circulation.

The plant is considered an excellent analgesic and antitussive agent. It is taken with anemia and reduced pressure. Also noted that it possesses easy sedative, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect.

In Japanese medicine, the gentian has found its widespread use as a detoxification, antirheumatic, anthelmintic and antifebrile drugs.

The use of gentian in traditional medicine: the treatment of various diseases

Gentian in folk medicine has been used for four centuries. Herbalists use for treating not only the ground part of the gentian, but also the root, the medicinal properties of which are considered more valuable than those of its herb.

Gentian decoction is taken when you need to quickly improve your appetite, get rid of heartburn, reduce blood pressure.Also, gentian can be used to treat gastritis caused by low acidity, constipation, dyspeptic disorders and flatulence. Gentian decoction is added to foot baths with increased sweating.

Gentian is indicated for anemia, gout and arthritis, for the treatment of which there are many effective recipes of traditional medicine. Reception of gentian helps to stabilize the condition of those who suffer from liver diseases, as well as the gallbladder, relieves muscle and joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis.

Large-leaved Gentian will help those men who, due to circumstances, have lost their masculine strength, as its composition contains substances that increase sexual activity.

With a poor appetite

Lack of or decreased appetite can be caused by a weakened state after undergoing chemotherapy, neuropsychiatric disorders and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.Very often, drugs that stimulate appetite, have many contraindications, which makes their reception for some patients impossible.

A completely different thing - medicinal plants. Gentian infusions and decoctions help to quickly improve the appetite, and their reception is not accompanied by the development of undesirable consequences.

With a decrease in appetite and systematic heartburn (reflux esophagitis), accompanied by a burning sensation in the esophagus and the epigastric region, will relieve unpleasant symptoms taking infusion of gentian yellow root.

To prepare the infusion, you should take a tablespoon of the roots of gentian and pour a glass of boiling water, insist drug for 2 hours. Use the tool should be on a tablespoon three times a day.

Perfectly increases appetite Gentian decoction for its preparation it is necessary to take a tablespoon of rhizomes, pour boiling water on it and boil for 15 minutes over low heat. Let it brew for another 20 minutes, strain and take a tablespoon before meals for 30 minutes.

With increased sweating feet

Hyperhidrosis stop is able to deliver a lot of unpleasant moments to a person, ranging from the inability to adjust personal life and ending with difficulties in hiring.

The fact is that excessive sweating of the feet is often accompanied by the appearance of an unpleasant odor, which is for many an insurmountable barrier in solving many life situations.

Hyperhidrosis can be hereditary, occur on the background of hormonal disorders or diseases of the nervous system. It can also occur on the background of the defeat of the feet with a fungal or bacterial infection, when wearing too tight, breathable shoes.

To get rid of or reduce the manifestations of hyperhidrosis, should be done daily before bedtime. foot bath with the addition of decoction of gentian roots and oak bark. To prepare the broth, you need to take 5 tablespoons of gentian root and 3 tablespoons of oak bark, pour them with a liter of boiling water and boil for 15 minutes in a water bath, then let it brew for 45 minutes.

With constipation

Most often, constipation occurs against a background of decreased peristalsis or intestinal atony. In such cases, the reception of coarse plant fiber is not only ineffective, but can cause flatulence or intestinal colic.

To quickly and effectively deal with such a problem as constipation, will help tincture made from gentian root. For the drug should be 50 g of medicinal raw materials pour 0.5 liters of vodka and insist 8 days. Take the tincture of twenty drops, diluted in 100 ml of water for 20 minutes before a meal.

Besides, gentian is used in herbalwith a pronounced laxative effect. To prepare the medicine, take two tablespoons of the roots of gentian and rhubarb, pour 300 ml of alcohol or vodka over them, insist in a dark place for 10 days. Take the tincture in half a teaspoon, diluted in a small amount of water before meals in the morning and evening.

When gastritis

Gastritis - inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It can be accompanied by severe pain, indigestion and heartburn. Drug treatment of gastritis is very long and, as a rule, allows only for a while to get rid of the disease.

Gentian has long been used to treat gastritis, its reception allows you to forget about the exacerbations of the disease for a long time, and sometimes completely cure.

For this you need to cook herbal, consisting of equal parts of mint, yellow gentian root, Japanese sapphire, three-leaf watch, flax seeds and succession. All herbs must be carefully placed, then take one spoonful of the collection and pour a glass of boiling water, boil in a water bath for 10 minutes. Let the broth stand for 45 minutes, strain and take one-third of a glass three times a day half an hour before meals for a month.

With rheumatism and arthritis

Arthritis and rheumatism are manifested by inflammatory lesions of the joints, a violation of their mobility and the inability to perform habitual actions, which leads to the dependence of the patient on others and his further disability.

Patients with arthritis and rheumatism constantly suffer from severe pains, which are stopped by taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa and gastrointestinal tract.

Acceptance of phyto-collections allows you to get rid of pain and inflammation, but only if the disease is at an initial stage and until the articular cartilage has undergone profound changes.

To reduce the manifestations of arthritis or rheumatism, our ancestors used decoctions of gentian. To prepare the drug, 3 tablespoons of dry grass or gentian root should be poured over 700 ml of boiling water, boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes, then insisted for another two hours. Strain and take half a glass 20 minutes before meals three times a day for 30 or 45 days.

In addition, you can use a warm decoction of the gentian for compresses on the affected joints. Compress relieves pain, reduces swelling and inflammation, and also improves mobility in the affected joint.

Harvesting and storage of medicinal raw materials from gentian

The collection of medicinal raw materials is carried out from October to November or in early spring. For the preparation of suitable specimens that have reached the age of three.

Dug-out rhizomes are thoroughly cleaned from the remnants of the earth, small roots and the ground part, then they are well washed in cold water and cut into pieces. If the root is in diameter more than two centimeters, then it is also cut along.

Now the roots should be dried as quickly as possible, dryers are suitable for this purpose. Drying should be carried out at a temperature of 45 - 60 ° C.

Store medicinal raw materials should be in paper bags or glass jars in a cool, protected from sunlight place for a maximum of five years.

Contraindications and side effects gentian

Even for medicinal purposes, the gentian should not be used by those who suffer from high acidity, since the bitterness contained in the plant can cause exacerbation of gastritis.

It is necessary to refrain from treating with the gentian pregnant and lactating mothers, as the substances contained in it can cause an increase in the tone of the uterus, as well as a change in the taste of milk.

It is also better to refuse to take gentian if you suffer from high blood pressure, since taking a drug can trigger a hypertensive crisis.

Gentian is a beautiful medicinal plant, in charming flowers, leaves and horses of which there is a powerful healing potential.