Golden root: medicinal properties and contraindications

Rhodiola rosea, which is better known as the "golden root" is a medicinal plant, similar in its healing properties to ginseng. Preparations made on the basis of this plant have become a great achievement in medical practice and have a large spectrum of therapeutic action.

Description

Rhodiola rosea is a perennial herb of the Crassulaceae family. There is an opinion that it received its second name "golden root" due to the unusual color of the rhizome: bronze with mother of pearl. Drug grass is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, the distribution area - a country with a temperate and cold climate. The list includes England and Ireland, North America, the mountainous regions of Altai, the Pyrenees and the Alps, the Carpathians, in Russia: the Urals and the Arctic, Siberia, the Far Eastern Region and Yakutia.

The plant is a succulent, dioecious, grows up to 40 cm in height. It has one central powerful root with several thin branches.Stems are usually several, thick and durable. On them are fleshy leaves, alternate, sessile. The shape of the leaves may be oblong, similar to an ellipse, pointed in the form of a triangle. Sheet plate on the edge either smooth or with fine teeth.

In June-July, Rhodiola blooms with lush inflorescences of the thyroid, with numerous yellow flowers. The little flowers have four to five petals.

Toward August ripen fruits - mnogolistovki red.

Chemical composition of the plant

The parts of the golden root (underground and aboveground) contain:

• Organic acids: oxalic, apple, amber, lemon.
• Trace elements: manganese, silver, zinc, copper, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, chromium.
• Aromatic compounds: Rosavin, cinnamon alcohol.
• Carbohydrates: fructose, sucrose, glucose.
• Essential oil (cinnamic aldehyde, phenylethyl alcohol, geranyl acetate and other components).
• Steroids.
• Tannins.
• Alkaloids.
• Phenol carboxylic acids: gallic and coffee.
• Flavonoids.
• Coumarins.

In total, the chemical composition of about 140 components.

Beneficial features

Through numerous studies and experiments conducted in animal laboratories in foreign countries and in the CIS, it was concluded that the golden root has the following properties:

• tonic;
• soothing;
• antibacterial;
• anti-cancer;
• stimulating;
• antipyretic;
• anti-allergic;
• wound healing;
• tonic;
• rejuvenating

Plant components can increase the protective function of red blood cells, which significantly increases the resistance of the nervous system to stressful situations. Plant based preparations activate the production of glucose and oxygen in the blood,which improves brain function and concentration, relieves mental and physical fatigue, providing the body with reserve forces.

Rhodiola rosea is able to normalize pressure, increase the elasticity of the walls and the patency of blood vessels, reduce migraine pain.

Plant components have an antimicrobial effect on staphylococcus bacteria, gonorrhea bacillus, leveling the formation of cancer cells.

Rhodiola rosea extract is effectively used to relieve alcohol addiction, smoking, and drug (opium) addiction.

Medical indications of drugs based on medicinal root:

• neurasthenia, hysteria, schizophrenia;
• chronic fatigue;
• vegetative vascular dystonia;
• impotence and other disorders in the work of the genitals;
• hypotension;
• infectious diseases;
• allergy;
• radiation damage;
• during the rehabilitation period after fractures;
• overcooling and overheating;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• dermatological diseases;
• prostate cancer;
• vision and hearing problems;
• polycystic ovaries;
• mastopathy;
• early menopause and many others.

Rhodiola rosea is also popular in cosmetology: creams have a regenerating, rejuvenating, nourishing effect. It supports the skin and increases protection against the adverse effects of the environment. They improve metabolic processes, delay the loss of moisture, remove dryness, inflammation and slow down the aging process of the skin.

How to use Rhodiola rosea

Rhodiola rosea is used in folk medicine in the form of decoctions, infusions, lotions and compresses externally. Juice plants treat inflammation of the gums, conjunctivitis, boils and boils, it cleans wounds. Broths are used to rinse with diseases of the throat.

Infusion

Infusion is used with a cold. To prepare it, take 15 g of dried root, pour 300 ml of boiling water, leave for four hours, wrapped tightly. Take the infusion half an hour before meals, three times a day for half a cup.

Tincture

Rhodiola rosea in the form of tincture helps with hypotension. For tincture you need to take 50 g of crushed roots, pour two glasses of vodka and insist, periodically shaking the container, for two weeks in a dark place.At first, they drink 5 drops three times a day, half an hour before meals, then gradually increase the dose to 10 drops.

Decoction

Broths help in the treatment of diseases of the cardiac system, strengthen blood vessels, increase the elasticity of their walls. The use of decoctions helps with diseases of the thyroid gland, anemia and high blood sugar. Rinsing decoction relieves toothache, while wiping the skin of the face with inflammation and irritation.

To prepare a liter of boiling water put a teaspoon not a full spoonful of chopped root, boil for 10 minutes. Then leave to brew for an hour, after filtering. On the day you can drink up to two glasses, like tea.

Tea (collection)

Tea collection immunity enhancing:

• 20 g of Rhodiola root;
• 15 g of hawthorn fruit, zamaniha root and rosehips;
• 15 g nettle leaves;
• 10 g of Hypericum.

The mixture is poured with a liter of boiling water, put on fire for 10 minutes. Then insist three to four hours, filter, take 50 ml three times a day.

Harm and contraindications

The root of Rhodiola rosea, despite its medicinal properties, has and contraindications:

• nervous overexcitement;
• hypertension;
• heat;
• pregnancy and lactation.

When taking drugs every five days should be a break for a week, some components of the plant with prolonged use can cause the opposite effect: drowsiness and exhaustion.

Preparation of medical raw materials

As a raw material for medicines use the roots of the plant. Harvest them in August, carefully digging out of the ground. The rhizome is cleaned, and then washed from adhering soil particles, remove the rotted parts and brownish cork. The root is cut into pieces 10 cm long, cut along its length. Then the raw material is dried at a temperature of 50-60 ° C in special dryers, or spreading on thick paper under a canopy. The prepared raw material is folded in paper or cloth bags, they are not stored for more than three years.

Today, the golden root is a success in landscape design, its decorative appearance can decorate any corner of the garden.It is not difficult to grow it, but the benefit is double or even triple: the decoration of the plot, the medicine (the first-aid kit) and the preservation of a rare plant in nature today.