Useful and therapeutic properties of the May Lily of the Valley

Few people have heard the song about lilies of the valley performed by Gelena Velikanova. This delicate flower with a pleasant aroma can be called a symbol of something romantic, sophisticated and spring. But today we’ll talk about lily of the valley, not as a herald of spring, but as a medicinal plant that helps treat various diseases.

Plant description

Lily of the valley - This is a perennial herb, the height of which rarely reaches 30 cm. The leaves are wide (the width can reach 8 cm), basal and elongated upwards. Between them there is an arrow with fragrant flowers in the form of bells. Their number varies from 5 to 20 pieces on the stem. The flowers are most often white, but varieties with purple and bright red hues are known. Flowering occurs in May for 20 days. After the flowers die, in their place the berries are formed, which are painted red in the autumn - birds and rodents love to feast on them.Lilies of the valley can be found in the ravine area, in the shade of trees or shrubs.

Chemical composition

Lily of the valley in its chemical composition belongs to the group of cardiac glycosides. Each part of the flower is rich in glycosides: Convallomarin is in the roots, Convallotoxin is in the flowers, Convallozide is in the leaves and in the seeds. The plant also contains a wide range of trace elements, flavonoids, sugar, starch, malic and citric acid, a small amount of essential oils.

What is the use of lilies of the valley?

The rich chemical composition of the plant allows you to successfully apply it in medicine. Let's look at what particular parts of the lily of the valley are used and why, and also determine their useful properties.

Leaves

When used externally, preparations based on the leaves of the plant have wound-healing properties, and when used internally, they are soothing. The elevated part of the lily of the valley is widely used in medicine for the treatment of cardiosclerosis, cardiovascular insufficiency, heart neurosis, as well as thyroid diseases, epilepsy and various eye diseases. Infusion of the leaves is also used as a fortifying agent for the body.

Flowers

The flowers of the plant are part of drugs for the treatment of paralysis, headache, diseases of the nervous system. Popular use of flowers in the form of powder. It is inhaled with colds, migraines. Widely used in herbal medicine. So, the leaves are part of antitumor herbal preparations (for example, collection Zdrenko).

The use of therapeutic properties

Let's select the main medicinal properties of lily of the valley and find out their use in modern medicine. The following properties that are beneficial for the human body can be safely attributed to the plant:

• anti-inflammatory;
• soothing;
• antispasmodic;
• diuretic;
• diuretic;
• vasodilators;
• antifebrile.

Drugs of modern medicine

In modern medicine, this plant is used in the following preparations:

1. "Korglikon" (available in ampoules). Made on the basis of lily of the valley leaves. Indications for use: acute and chronic heart failure, tachycardia, cardiac decompensation on the background of arrhythmia and circulatory disorders. Despite the fact that it can be prescribed to children from 2 years, "Korglikon" is contraindicated in endocarditis, ventricular tachycardia, myocarditis in the period of exacerbation, cardiosclerosis, Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome and bradycardia.
2. "Konvaflavin" (available in tablets). The main component of the drug - the leaves of the plant.Indications for use: diseases of the biliary tract, liver. Choleretic and antispasmodic. Contraindicated in individual sensitivity to the components of the drug.
3. "Konvallyatoksin" (available in ampoules). Made from leaves and flowers of lily of the valley. It is used to treat chronic heart failure, heart rhythm disorders. The drug is contraindicated in people with the following diseases - myocarditis in the acute stage, cardiosclerosis, extrasystole.
4. "Cardompin" (available in drops). In addition to the lily of the valley includes peppermint, hawthorn, valerian. It is used as a sedative, with heart failure (initial stage), cardiac neurosis. Contraindicated in case of individual intolerance to the components.

Recipes of traditional medicine

Traditional medicine is also not spared lily of the valley side: thanks to its medicinal properties of the plant is part of many tinctures. Consider, in which diseases take drugs based on it:

1. In diseases of the thyroid gland and endocrine system malfunction apply tincture of lily of the valley leaves, parsley and cocklebur.Herbs are mixed in equal parts, then a pinch is poured boiling water and infused for 10 minutes. Take a tablespoon 3 times a day.
2. With neurosis of the heart, as well as a sedative and painkiller - 1 tbsp. A spoonful of leaves of the plant is poured with 1 cup of boiling water and allowed to infuse. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day.
3. With heart failure take an aqueous solution of fresh flowers of the plant. Here is the recipe of its preparation - 10 flowers are poured with 1 glass of water and allowed to infuse for 1 hour. Take the tincture inside in small sips throughout the day.
4. With eye disease, particularly glaucoma, to fresh flowers of a lily of the valley add a fresh nettle in a proportion 1: 5. Add 1 teaspoon of water and leave to infuse for 5 hours. After this gruel is mixed with a pinch of soda and, using cheesecloth, make a compress on the eyes. Nettle is better to collect in May - during this period all the useful substances and trace elements contained in the nettle, the most active.
5. For insomnia useful infusion of lily of the valley leaves. For its preparation take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of leaves, pour 250 ml of boiling water over them and insist (preferably in a thermos) for 12 hours. Ready infusion drink 2 tbsp. spoon 4 times a day before meals.

Contraindications and side effects

Lilies of the valley, like any other medicinal plants, in addition to useful properties, there are contraindications. Since it belongs to potent plants, It is forbidden to use lily of the valley for such diseases:

• myocarditis during the period of exacerbation;
• cardiosclerosis;
• endocarditis;
• gastrointestinal tract diseases;
• liver and kidney disease.

When complying with the dosages of the medication and the recommendations of the attending physician, there should be no side effects. However, check out what symptoms are characteristic of an overdose with drugs that include a flower:

• nausea;
• stomach ache;
• vomiting;
• drowsiness and sudden weakness;
• dizziness;
• bradycardia up to complete cardiac arrest;
• convulsions;
• dilated pupils;
• extrasystole.

Harvesting plants

In order for the collected lily of the valley retains its beneficial properties, and its use has benefited the body, It is very important to follow the rules for assembling and drying the plant:

• when harvesting flowers, flower stalks are cut near the place where they begin to grow;
• when harvesting leaves, they are carefully cut with a knife, leaving at the base at least 3 cm. The leaves are picked before flowering begins.

Collected raw materials are dried on the day of collection. The more time has passed since the day of assembly, the less nutrients remain in the plant.

The resulting raw material is laid out in a thin layer and dried - the temperature should not exceed 50 ° C. The room should be with good ventilation. Drying is allowed both in specially equipped dryers and in rooms with good heating and open windows. Properly dried plants have brittle petioles and stems. During drying, you can gently turn the raw material several times. Store the dried plant in compliance with the storage rules for poisonous substances.

Aware of such an extensive list of side effects and contraindications,Is it possible to call lily of the valley poisonous or not? The plant contains the glycoside, konvallotoksin, which has a strong effect on the heart system, so drugs based on it are taken only after consulting a doctor. Also in each part of the plant contains steroid saponins, which can also cause considerable damage to the body. Berries are especially toxic - their use is fraught with the strongest poisoning of the body. Harder poisoning berries carries a child's body - a fatal outcome in such cases is far from uncommon. However, with proper use of medicines and compliance with safety rules when walking in nature, lilies of the valley will bring only benefit.