Medicinal herbs and their healing properties. The benefits of medicinal plants. Coumarins and furocoumarins

Probably, medicinal plants began to enter into human use as soon as he satisfied his hunger at least a little. I immediately felt a desire to live longer and not suffer from illness. Having learned to recognize useful plants for themselves, gained knowledge by observing animals and neighboring tribes, as well as experience - by trial and error, part of the population, who know what winter is like first-hand, became concerned with the problem of how to preserve not only food, but also medicinal plants . This is how the first medicines arose - at first just powders from dry plants, then ointments based on animal fat and vegetable oils. Well, when alcohol appeared (the honor of this discovery is attributed to Arab doctors, in particular Avicenna), then medicines began to be stored even better and, as practice has shown, many active ones began to be extracted more efficiently.

The second problem that people became concerned with, by the way, much earlier than design (I don’t care if I were alive) is growing medicinal plants near the home. Discovering new countries and continents, travelers took with them familiar plants, and those who returned took with them many useful plants overseas flora and planted in their gardens. This is how a whole industry was born - medicinal plant growing, taking various shapes- monastery gardens, university botanical gardens, apothecary gardens, and, finally, state farms. Well, everything that did not grow in the garden continued and continues to be collected from nature.

So we can very briefly list the main stages of the neighborly relationship between medicinal plants and humans.

But in last years these relationships have intensified. It would seem that the pharmaceutical industry, especially foreign countries, works perfectly, export-import does not let you down and you can get acquainted with the products of almost all countries, the pharmacy network cannot be thicker, almost like that of grocery stores. And they also included teas with medicinal plants, proudly bearing the title of “functional products.” But no! Everyone enthusiastically studies books and articles in specialized magazines on how to grow medicinal plants on their own and what can be prepared from them and for what diseases all this can be taken.

What is the reason for this interest? There are probably several reasons. Firstly, not all plants can already be bought at the pharmacy. Many of them, as a result of active harvesting, simply became rare and endangered, for example, many Araliaceae, Rhodiola rosea, and red root. Industrial cultivation of these species is very problematic. It is, of course, possible, but in this case the medicines made from them will be very expensive. But growing several plants in a garden plot is not a problem at all.

Secondly, many simply do not trust what is being sold to them. Even if medicinal raw materials look great, they may contain invisible to the eye radionuclides, mycotoxins and heavy metals (and this is very common). Therefore, the modern consumer wants to be sure that everything he consumes himself, and what he enthusiastically feeds to his family, is absolutely safe and “environmentally friendly.”

Thirdly, it is simply excitingly interesting to grow some rare species on your own plot, about which it is written everywhere that it does not want to grow in culture, and to independently prepare medicine from it according to all the rules. Same here sea buckthorn oil is on sale. But many people prefer to cook it themselves. True, when reading recipes in various publications, there are a lot of contradictions. Unfortunately, many publications are guilty of rewriting old mistakes from each other. But science does not stand still. Some recommendations are confirmed, some are debunked as myths, for many plants “new pages of biography” are opened, that is, directions for their use.

Taking care of your health is gradually turning into a way of life. That is, this is not only treatment with medications and preferably natural ones, but also proper nutrition healthy products. Nutritionists broadcast from all TV channels and newspaper pages. But most fruits and vegetables, without which a diet is simply unthinkable, are medicinal plants. For example, celery, dill, fennel, and anise are included in the pharmacopoeias of various countries, that is, they are official medicinal plants that are presented on pharmacy shelves. There are a lot of medicinal, not culinary recipes with garlic and potatoes, carrots and beets. And from some they cook medications- for example, artichoke is a delicacy and a raw material for many choleretic drugs.

On the other hand, some commonly used medicinal plants are promoted as food plants, for example calendula. Have you tried a salad or casserole with petals (scientifically, reed flowers)?

And finally, one more aspect - many medicinal plants are simply very beautiful, and some ornamental plants are medicinal. Therefore, they can be placed on the site so that they become not a necessity, but a decoration: echinacea, nasturtium, daisy, bergenia, evasive peony and many others can be stars in flower beds, and not Cinderellas in the backyard.

Therefore, the main task of our new section “Medicinal Plants” is to help grow the desired plant, prepare it correctly and warn against possible troubles. After all, many medicinal plants should be used in large doses and, like any medicine, they have contraindications. And, of course, help purchase seeds and planting material, get expert advice and exchange experiences.

Doctor of Agricultural Sciences

Photo: Rita Brilliantova, Maxim Minin

To make your search easier, we provide this list: Disease - Plant. , which are marked with an asterisk, are each poisonous in their own way, so be careful! Read more about contraindications

2. Plants that increase blood pressure- Eleutherococcus, lowers - .

3. Expectorants and emollients - calamus, budra, larch, dandelion, primrose (primrose), chamomile, hops, jasmine.

5. Astringents (antidiarrhea) - blackberry, St. John's wort, golden rod, willow, viburnum (berry juice), nettle, mint, white water lily*, dandelion (bark), wormwood, *, wheatgrass, rowan.

6. Laxatives healing herbs and plants - (berry), knotweed, bearberry, yarrow, chicory, thyme, string, horse sorrel (roots), jasmine.

7. Bitter herbs that stimulate appetite - dandelion, plantain, wormwood, chicory.

8. Enveloping and adsorbing plants - mullein, larch, Lyubka, wormwood, yarrow, chicory.

9. Metabolic disorders - blueberries, oregano, strawberries, fireweed, cranberries, nettles, fireweed, nettles, agrimony, licorice, string, bird cherry, blueberries (leaves).

10. Plants to reduce acidity gastric juice- , barberry (roots), (leaf), volodushka.

11. Choleretic - calendula, viburnum, nettle, white water lily*, juniper, mint, tansy, plantain, wormwood, agrimony, knotweed, yarrow, hops, celandine*, horse sorrel.

12. Gallstones and kidney stones- , geranium, strawberries, cranberries, nettles, cloudberries, agrimonies, pine, knotweed, yarrow, horsetail, blueberries, rose hips.

13. Anthelmintic and anti-giardiasis - valerian, hoof*, tansy, pine, chicory.

14. Peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum- calamus, St. John's wort, calendula, viburnum, fireweed, white water lily*, burdock, coltsfoot, sea buckthorn (oil), tansy, plantain, chamomile, licorice, marsh cudweed*.

15. Gastrointestinal improve digestion - calamus, marshmallow, bergenia*, birch, lingonberry, budra.

16. When bronchial asthma- viburnum (berry juice), coltsfoot, lemon balm, wormwood, .

17. Soothing to the central nervous system - calamus, hawthorn, valerian, speedwell, blackberry, willow, viburnum (bark), fireweed, mullein, meadowsweet, linden, lemon balm, mint, primrose, chamomile, pine, hops, thyme, clear.

18. Diaphoretic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory - birch, oregano, blackberry, strawberry, St. John's wort, willow (bark), viburnum, cranberry, nettle, kupena, meadowsweet, linden, raspberry, mint, coltsfoot, plantain, chamomile, currant , string, bird cherry.

19. Diuretics - bergenia*, birch (buds), lingonberry, cedar, clover, cranberry, toadflax, raspberry, juniper, cloudberry, dandelion, nightshade, primrose, bearberry, string, celandine*, damask.

20. Medicinal plants hemostatic - bergenia *, barberry, blackberry, St. John's wort, viburnum (bark), nettle, meadowsweet, burdock, lemon balm, sea buckthorn, plantain, motherwort, chamomile, mountain ash, knotweed, yarrow, horsetail, thyme, jasmine.

21. Anti-tuberculosis - calamus, birch (buds), budra*, nettle, buttercup*, coltsfoot, plantain, knotweed, bearberry, chin, celandine*, Icelandic moss.

22. For rheumatism, gout and radiculitis - birch, lingonberry, oregano, (needles), willow (bark), cedar, nettle, lily of the valley *, linden, larch (needles and resin), burdock, buttercup *, juniper, mint, aspen , nightshade, chamomile, pine, bearberry, hops, thyme, string, blueberry.

23. Against burns - burnet, meadowsweet, sea buckthorn (oil from the berries), rosehip (oil from the fruit).

24. Anti-alcohol - hoof*.

25. for eye diseases - chamomile, bird cherry, blueberry.

26. Wound-healing and anti-putrefactive - bergenia *, birch (tar), crow's eye *, oregano, blackberry, chickweed, St. John's wort, calendula, cedar, fireweed, clover, nettle, linden, burdock, buttercup, juniper, mint, linden, fir, plantain, marsh cudweed*, yarrow, chicory, celandine*, rose hips, jasmine.

27. Antihemorrhoidal medicinal herbs and plants - barberry, chickweed, St. John's wort, strawberry, cedar, mullein*, cat's foot, nettle, buckthorn*, burdock, raspberry, dandelion, nightshade, rowan, yarrow, horse sorrel.

28. Medicinal plants and herbs for skin diseases— birch (tar), oregano, viburnum (berry juice), clover, hoof*, yellow egg capsule*, white water lily*, burdock, buttercup*, raspberry (leaves), aspen, fir, plantain, chamomile, licorice, knotweed, poplar , yarrow, horsetail, hops, string, celandine*, rose hips, jasmine.

29. Plants against insects - white water lily*, tansy, celandine*.

Nature gives people a variety of fruits, roots, medicinal herbs, and berries. All these gifts can be used for both therapeutic and preventive purposes. Application medicinal herbs is gaining more and more popularity every day.

Medicinal plants and herbs: video

Phytotherapy

Among the huge variety of methods for treating headaches and migraines, herbal medicine has its own recipes. This is due to the fact that products of animal and plant origin are by their nature closer to the human body. They rarely give side effects, their action is softer. Healing plants have a huge range of therapeutic properties. Headache, as is known, can serve not only as a symptom, but also alarm signal, which indicates the appearance of a disease in the body.

It could be:

infection
cold
hormonal disorders
lower blood sugar levels
allergy
hypertension

Taking a pill is the easiest way to get rid of pain. However, not the safest. That is why many people choose alternative options - infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs.

For the use of medicinal herbs in medical practice you need to know the properties and side effects one plant or another

The following types of plants are used for headaches:

sorrel
rose hip
chamomile
sagebrush
tansy
primrose
lemongrass
lavender
hoof
fireweed
galangal
ginseng
avens
verbena
basil

The following can have a pain-relieving effect:

great celandine
peppermint
belladonna
dope
elder
calamus

For the treatment of diseases of the nervous system the following is used:

common hop
chamomile
viburnum
calendula
oregano
white jasmine
meadow rank
adonis spring

Today, according to statistics, more than 500 thousand plant species grow in nature. There are an order of magnitude fewer medicinal ones. Herbalists believe that simply this moment they did not discover and study all the healing properties of plants.

Rules for the use of herbal preparations and herbs

Since the healing and effectiveness of plants depends on the composition of biologically active substances in them, when preparing a medicine it is necessary to take into account that many properties are easily destroyed

There are a number general rules, which will eliminate this loss:

the therapeutic effect of the collection can reduce the absence of 1-2 phytocomponents
Before using medicinal herbs in medical practice, carefully read the properties of each plant
Before starting treatment using medicinal herbs, be sure to consult with your doctor
herbal medicine requires a fairly long course of treatment, unlike medication
in preparations that have analgesic properties, it is useful to include plants with high content mineral salts and vitamins
during the treatment period, an optimal rest and work regime should be organized

Application of dosage forms

For cooking healing agents at home it is necessary to use fresh medicinal plants.

It can be:

roots
bulbs
fruits and berries
seeds and buds
inflorescences and flowers
leaves
grass

Rhizomes and tubers should be dried first. Thus, they will retain most of the biologically active substances, giving up the water they contain. After drying, all parts of the plants are individually crushed and mixed.

Store medicinal raw materials in a tin or glass container

Medicinal drugs are prepared at home in different ways. Can be applied herbal collection or use only one type of grass. It all depends on the chosen recipe, which must be followed with particular precision.

Pastes, pastes and powders

Types of preparation of medicinal drugs largely depend on the chemical components of this composition, which should be extracted from plant materials. The effectiveness and ease of use at home are also taken into account. The simplest forms that can be easily prepared from plants are gruels and powders. They can be used as semi-finished products or independently.

Medicinal plants include plants that are used to obtain drugs used in medicine for therapeutic and preventive purposes. Plants of this group have substances that have medicinal properties. As a rule, they are concentrated in separate parts and tissues of a particular plant. Therefore, it is necessary to know which parts of medicinal plants should be used for treatment or prevention, as well as to know the medicinal properties of medicinal plants.

Classification of medicinal plants

These plants can be classified according to many characteristics, such as area of application, effectiveness, distribution areas. Let us first consider the classification of medicinal plants according to the parts used:

Solid - these include fruits, roots, seeds, shoots, and bark;
The soft parts of the plant are the inflorescences of herbs, flowers, leaves, buds and, strictly speaking, the herbs themselves.

Also great value have components that are included in physical and chemical composition plants, because they determine the main medicinal properties and methods of preparing the medicine:

Plant slimes are used as coating agent. They create a protective film for gastrointestinal tract, bronchi and others respiratory tract. Products are prepared from slimy plants for 2-3 hours, soaking them in cold water.
Bitterness increases the secretion of the gastrointestinal tract, as a result, stimulates appetite and helps digest food. Bitters tend to dissolve in alcohol, ordinary water and other organic solvents.
Pectin substances are best preserved in the form of a decoction, which must be kept warm for a little less than an hour. This decoction will have an adsorbent and anti-inflammatory effect.
Tannins will help against inflammation of the oral mucosa. Also used for alcohol poisoning or salt poisoning heavy metals. The resulting decoction of plants with tannins is immediately filtered while hot, which retains all the medicinal properties.
The infusion of plants with essential oils is filtered only after complete cooling and is used as a diuretic, choleretic, bactericidal, and anti-inflammatory agent.

Where to find miracle plants? The Internet offers many recipes traditional medicine, but very often for cooking dosage forms plants that are either very rare or do not grow near the place of residence are needed. Therefore, we will consider the most popular and accessible medicinal plants for everyone, which can be easily found in the country, in the yard or in nature.

We offer you a list of the most common medicinal plants:

Silver acacia;
Aloe arborescens;
Birch warty;
White willow;
Walnut;
Ginseng;
Wild strawberry;
Blooming Sally;
Calendula;
Horse chestnut;
Norway maple;
Stinging nettle;
Burdock;
Coltsfoot;
Melissa officinalis;
Peppermint;
Nightshade black;
Male fern;
Curly parsley;
Annual sunflower;
Mountain ash;
Common lilac;
Scots pine;
Black poplar;
Dill;
Horsetail;
Garlic;
Mulberry black;
Horse sorrel.

Common rose hip

Parts used: fruits, roots, leaves.

Properties: concentration of numerous vitamins, choleretic, astringent, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, laxative.

Dosage forms: extracts, tablets, oils and decoctions.

At urolithiasis, in case of illness digestive tract and liver prepare an infusion: necessary for 3 tbsp. spoons of berries 1 liter of boiling water, after cooking, drink three times a day, preferably half a glass regularly. A miraculous decoction is prepared from 2 tablespoons of rose hip root in 350 ml of water, boiled for a quarter of an hour, and then infused. We recommend drinking one glass 3 times a day regularly during the week.

For stomach upset, 1 tbsp. A spoonful of rosehip leaves is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for 10 minutes. Use throughout the day as needed.

A choleretic agent is a decoction of berries: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of berries in two cups of boiling water, boil over medium heat for 10 minutes, and then leave for a whole day and strain. Drink half a glass before each meal.

Black mulberry

Parts used: roots (early spring), leaves and bark (during flowering), fruits.

Properties: stimulation of blood circulation, blood purifying, mild laxative, anti-inflammatory properties.

Dosage forms: infusion, decoction, ointment.

For hypertension, bronchial disease, for example, bronchial asthma, an infusion is prepared: pour 200 ml of boiling water into 18 g of crushed ripe berries, leave for 4 hours and filter. Drink approximately 50 ml before meals.

For heart disease and diabetes, you need to eat a glass of fruits a day.

An infusion of leaves is an excellent antipyretic. You need 1 tbsp. Pour 300 ml of boiling water over a spoonful of mulberry leaves, leave and strain. After preparation, drink a glass a day.

For bruises, ointment is used. Bark powder in the amount of 2 tablespoons must be poured with vegetable oil (1.5 cups). Lubricate bruises, cuts, wounds.

Mountain ash

Parts used: fruits, young branches, flowers.

Properties: laxative, hemostatic, choleretic, diuretic.

Dosage forms: infusion, decoction, tea, gruel.

For hepatitis, kidney and bladder stones, hemorrhoids, an infusion is recommended: 15 g of rowan fruit per 200 ml of boiling water. Take one spoon 3 times a day. Or you can make an infusion of 2 tbsp. spoons of rowan flowers, brewing them in 400 ml of boiling water. After boiling for 5 minutes, strain and take regularly 200 ml per day 4 times.

To fight with hypertension and atherosclerosis, useful Fresh Juice and rowan fruits. For prevention, 50 ml of juice should be drunk three times a day.

For urolithiasis, take a little gruel throughout the day, which is prepared from 500 g of rowan, ground with 50 g of sugar.

Walnut

Parts used: leaves, as well as fruits of different ripeness.

Properties: normalizes gastric secretion, lowers blood pressure, strengthens muscles; tonic, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and anthelmintic.

Dosage forms: infusion, decoction.

For fast healing For wounds, lotions with a decoction of leaves are used. And for gargling, an infusion is made: infuse 1 tbsp for 30 minutes. spoon of crushed leaves, poured a glass of boiling water, then strain. Children can be given 1 teaspoon of the tincture three times a day. This remedy is also effective in the treatment of scrofula and rickets.

When treating stomach ulcers (gastritis) and duodenum, nut shells infused with alcohol are recommended.

For ulcers and diarrhea, an infusion of young nuts of milky ripeness is effective. For 15 days at a temperature of 20-25 degrees, 30 nuts per 1 liter of 70º alcohol are infused. Then, after straining, we advise you to take one teaspoon at a time.

Horse sorrel

Parts used: root, leaves, seeds.

Properties: anthelmintic, choleretic, laxative.

Dosage forms: decoction, powder, infusion, ointment.

When treating burns, ulcers, scabies, wounds, crushed leaves are applied carefully to small wounds, skin ulcers and so on. The leaves contain a lot of oxalic acid, which is contraindicated for people with diseases urinary tract and renal failure.

For stomach upsets, take 1/3 cup of the decoction three times before meals a day. The decoction is boiled for 1 hour from 1 tbsp. spoons of crushed root and herbs in 1500 ml of water.

Powder from the roots of sorrel acts as a fixing agent in small doses, and in large doses it has laxative effect. The powder is made from dry root and taken 0.25 g three times a day as a fixative or 0.5 g twice a day as a laxative.

For skin diseases, use crushed sorrel root along with sour milk.

A tincture helps with hypertension: one part of the roots to 4 parts of alcohol (40%). Take the tincture three times a day, 10 ml.

Horsetail

Parts used: grass.

Properties: bactericidal, diuretic, restorative, expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Dosage forms: infusion, decoction.

For inflammation Bladder And hemorrhoidal bleeding, for atherosclerosis and diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and liver, its drugs are used.

The infusion is very easy to prepare: 1 tbsp. We recommend pouring a spoonful of chopped herbs into 1 cup of boiling water and steeping thoroughly for 30 minutes. We recommend drinking ¼ glass three times a day. It is used externally for compresses for skin diseases, as well as against baldness.

Rinse your mouth with a decoction: 1 tbsp. spoon of herb per glass ordinary water, boil the broth for about half an hour.

An infusion is prepared for rinsing and compresses. Horsetail herb is infused for 24 hours, usually 50 g of herb per 600 ml boiled water, but cold.

Great celandine

Parts used: grass, roots, fresh juice.

Properties: laxative, diuretic; antispasmodic property.

Dosage forms: infusion, decoction, juice.

Infusions of celandine have a choleretic effect; ½ teaspoon of crushed leaves and roots of celandine is poured into a glass of boiling water, infused and filtered. Take half a glass a day three times.

A special collection is used for liver disease and frequent constipation: ½ tbsp. tablespoons of celandine grass and roots, horsetail leaves, hawthorn flowers and chamomile grass, add one tablespoon each of mint, rue grass, buckthorn bark and butterbur leaves, 1 tbsp. A spoonful of the resulting mixture is immediately poured with 200 ml of boiling water and allowed to brew for 20 minutes. Drink half a glass early in the morning and after dinner in the evening.

For rinsing, use the infusion, pouring 2 tbsp. spoons of celandine 200 ml of boiling water.

Let's summarize:

Nature is a real healer, because it is in nature that you can find healing herbs that will help overcome the disease. Medicinal plants have wide range applications in folk practice, and sometimes dosage forms made from natural materials can compete even with some artificial medicines.

First of all, when making a product according to a recipe, you need to understand what properties it should have, and depending on this, add certain ingredients after studying the properties. We also recommend that you strictly follow the recipe instructions, because the goal of all remedies is to save yourself main value in life - health.

A huge number of recipes for products that contain many plants unknown to you. It is enough to use proven simple recipes dosage forms that are prepared using one or two plants. For example, for the above recipes, you can easily find plants in your country garden, in your vegetable garden, in your yard or in nature.

Love and take care of nature! In return you will have strong body for many years!

Medicinal plants on your site - video

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It is a mistake to believe that useful medicinal plants are found only in the wild. Of course, they are mainly collected in forests and meadows. But it is just as possible to grow medicinal herbs on personal plots- it goes without saying, when creating conditions close to natural ones.

Below you can see photos and descriptions of medicinal plants, as well as find out what medicinal herbs are and how you can grow them in your garden.

Forest and meadow medicinal herbs

St. John's wort (HYPERICUM). St. John's wort family.

When talking about what medicinal herbs there are, St. John's wort is one of the first that comes to mind. It is a rhizomatous herb, but more often a subshrub and shrub. Another name for this medicinal herb is “Ivanovo grass”. It is due to the fact that St. John's wort begins to bloom on Midsummer's Day.

The leaves of this herbaceous medicinal plant are whole, hard, and in some species they overwinter; flowers solitary or in corymbose inflorescence, golden. Flower growers often use herbs or shrubs.

Kinds:

St. John's wort (H. ascyron)– forest medicinal herb of Siberia and Far East, up to 100 cm high, lanceolate leaves up to 10 cm long.

St. John's wort calyx (H. calycinum)- plant 25 cm high, from the Eastern Mediterranean, leaves are oval, large.

Gebler's St. John's wort (H. gebleri)– a medicinal plant of the wet meadows of the Far East, bright orange flowers, resistant.

St. John's wort (H. olympicum)- dry forests of Southern Europe, height 50 cm, in middle lane Russia is not resistant, the leaves are narrow-lanceolate, glaucous, height 25 cm.

St. John's wort (N. perforatum).

Growing conditions. The genus is very diverse in terms of the ecological needs of the species; it also includes typical plants of Central Russian meadows - h. perforated, and drought-resistant, heat-loving subshrubs of Southern Europe (W. cup-shaped, W. Olympic).

They are grown in sunny, wind-protected locations with well-drained alkaline soils. Drought resistant.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring and late summer) and cuttings. Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Melissa (MELISSA). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

Melissa officinalis (M. officinalis)- perennial of Southern Europe, forms a dense bush 40-60 cm high from branched dense stems covered with ovate leaves, jagged along the edges. The entire plant is softly pubescent. The flowers are small, white, in whorls. And if the description of this medicinal plant is unremarkable, then the aroma deserves the highest praise. The plant exudes a very pleasant lemon scent, which is why it is sometimes called lemon balm. The variety "Aurea" has leaves with yellow spots.

Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded places with rich loose soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) or dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Mint (MENTHA). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

(M. piperita)- a perennial from the countries of Southern Europe with a branched, hairy stem 60-80 cm high. The leaves are ovate, dark green; the shoot ends in a spike-shaped inflorescence with whorls of purple flowers. It grows quickly due to above-ground stolons.

Growing conditions. Light and semi-shaded places with loose fertile soils.

Reproduction. Sections of rooted stolons. Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.

Lovage (LEVISTICUM).

Lovage officinalis(L. officinaie)- decorative deciduous perennial with thick rhizome. The leaves are shiny, slightly bluish, pinnately dissected, large in the basal rosette and on the stem. The stem is branched, up to 150 cm high, bearing a large umbrella of yellowish flowers. The whole plant has a specific pleasant aroma, therefore it is also used as a flavoring agent.

Growing conditions. Sunny to semi-shaded locations with clayey, rich, moist soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing before winter), dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 3 pcs. per 1 m2.

Soapwort (SAPONARIA). Clove family.

Perennials with creeping rhizomes, growing mainly in the Mediterranean. The flowers are fragrant, collected in a shield.

Kinds:

Soapwort officinalis(S. officinalis)- height 100 cm.

Soapwort basilicofolia (S. ocymoides)- height 10 cm.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with well-drained, light, lime-rich soil. Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2.

Reproduction. Seeds (sowing in spring), summer cuttings.

Briefly about medicinal plants of forests and meadows

Below you can find a description of the medicinal herbs comfrey, yarrow, echinacea and valerian.

Comfrey (SYMPHYTUM). Borage family.

Perennials with thick rhizomes, 30-100 cm high, from the light forests of Europe and the Caucasus. The stems are winged, thick, straight. Leaves are petiolate, lanceolate. Plants are covered with stiff hairs. Flowers in drooping inflorescences - curl.

Kinds:

Caucasian comfrey (S. caucasicum)- 80-100 cm high, forms a thicket, blue flowers.

Comfrey officinalis (S. officinale)- 50-60 cm high, forms bushes.

Comfrey grandiflora (S. grandiflorum)- low (30-40 cm) compact bushes.

Growing conditions. Shady and semi-shady places with moist peaty soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring), dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.

Yarrow (ACHILLEA). Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae).

The genus contains about 100 species, found in the meadows of the temperate zone. It attracts attention with its undemanding culture, ability to grow quickly and beautiful gray-green, usually feathery leaves. Small baskets are collected in a corymbose inflorescence (10-20 cm in diameter).

Yarrow(A. millefolium)- with a long branching rhizome, therefore it forms a thicket 70-80 cm high.

Yarrow ptarmika, sneezing herb (A. ptarmica), has a variety with white double flowers - pearl mussel, height - 60 cm.

U "Perry's White" and "The Pearl"- white balls of the baskets are collected in a loose brush.

Yarrow meadowsweet (A. filipendulina)- dense bush, 60-100 cm high, dark green, pinnate leaves; the flowers are bright yellow in dense large corymbs (diameter up to 9 cm).

Yarrow tomentosa (A. tomentosa)- 15-20 cm high, leaves finely dissected, grayish, pressed to the ground, shield of yellow flowers 6-8 cm in diameter.

Growing conditions. Sunny places with any garden soil, grows well in sand.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing before winter or spring), by dividing the bush (in spring and autumn). Planting density -5-9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Echinacea (ECHINACEA). Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae).

Perennial tall (up to 150 cm) herbs with a tap root and dense leafy stems, at the top in July-August with a large basket pinkish color. The leaves are oval, pubescent, with sharp-toothed edges. Three species are native to the grasslands and prairies of the Southeast North America.

Most often grown echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea) with a dark pink basket.

Echinacea angustifolia(E. angustifolia) has a smaller and lighter basket.

And Echinacea pallidum (E. pallida)- reed flowers are narrow, pale pink. The last two species are more dry-loving.

Growing conditions. Sunny locations with rich soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sown in spring), seedlings bloom in the 2nd year. The division of the bush is carried out in the spring. In one place without dividing, Echinacea can grow for up to 15 years. Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Echinacea purpurea will decorate any flower garden, mixborder, and can also be grown as individual bushes on the lawn. Often used as a medicinal plant.

Valerian (VALERIANA). Valerian family.

Perennial rhizome herbs of meadows and light forests of the temperate zone of Eurasia. They grow both as individual bushes and thickets (species with underground stolons). The flowers are small, in a beautiful openwork inflorescence-tassel, the leaves are usually pinnate.

Kinds:

Mountain valerian(V. montana)- bush 40 cm high, pink flowers in bunches.

Valerian officinalis(V. officinalis)-height up to 100 cm, white flowers, pinnate leaves.

Valeriana Fori (V. fauriei)- forms thickets 40 cm high.

Valerian lipophylla(V. tiliifolia)- up to 150 cm high, leaves are large, simple, heart-shaped, flowers are white, in a corymbose inflorescence.

Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded areas with moderately moist rich soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring and before winter), by dividing the bush (in spring), they are often weeded. Planting density -5 pcs. per 1 m2.

If we talk about this medicinal plant briefly, we can define its medicinal properties as sedative. And in landscape design it is used to create a dense evergreen ground cover on tree trunks and spots on shady rockeries.

Description of the best medicinal herbs

(SALVIA). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

A large genus (almost 700 species), which includes plants of different life forms, growing all over the world. They all contain essential oils, grow in warm habitats. The leaves are ovate, the stems are branched, the final inflorescence is a raceme of medium-sized helmet-shaped flowers.

Kinds:

Sage sticky(S. glutinosa)- subshrub up to 100 cm high, from the forests of Southern Europe, pale yellow flowers.

Meadow sage(S. pratensis)- height 70-80 cm, blue flowers.

Sage rejected(S. patens)- height 70 cm, blue flowers.

Oak sage (S. nemorosa)- height 60 cm, purple flowers.

Salvia officinalis(S. officinalis)-height 50 cm.

Growing conditions. This is one of the best medicinal plants that prefers sunny areas (except for sticky sage) with fertile, well-drained soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (spring), dividing the bush (spring and late summer). Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Toothwort (DENTARIA). The cabbage (cruciferous) family.

Perennial herbs 15-20 cm high with a long, clear rhizome and dark green leaves, large pink and crimson flowers. Typical early spring forest ephemeroids, ending the growing season already in June. They are attractive because they form a bright pink flowering carpet in spring. They bear fruit. They form self-seeding.

Kinds:

Toothwort tuberiferous(D. bulbifera)- a plant of the Caucasus with fawn-colored flowers.

Glandular teeth (D. glandulosa)- from the Carpathians, with large crimson flowers.

Toothwort five-leaved (D. quinquefolia)- from the forests of Europe, pink flowers.

Growing conditions. Shaded areas under a canopy of trees with forest soils, moderate moisture.

Reproduction. Seeds (sow freshly collected) and sections of rhizomes (after the end of flowering). Planting density - 25 pcs. per 1 m2.

Initial letter (BETONICA). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

About 15 species growing in temperate meadows. Short-rhizomatous herbs that form decorative dense bushes of ovate rosettes, crenate along the edges of leaves.

Kinds:

Capital letter grandiflora - grandiflora chistema (B. macrantha = B. grandiflora = Stachys macranthus) 50-60 cm high, beautiful leaves and dark pink large flowers.

Medicinal initial letter (B. officinalis)- taller plant (80-90 cm), smaller flowers.

Growing conditions. Sunny places with fertile soils and moderate moisture.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (spring and late summer) and seeds (sowing before winter). Seedlings bloom in the third year. Planting density - 12 pcs. per 1 m2.

Burnet (SANGUISORBA). Rosaceae family.

Short-rhizome perennials from wet meadows of the temperate zone of Eurasia.

Kinds:

Burnet (officinalis) (S. officinais)- 80-100 cm high, dark red flowers.

Gorgeous burnet (S. magnifica)- height 80-90 cm, large pinkish-crimson flowers.

Small burnet (S. minor)- height 40 cm, graceful inflorescences, red flowers, openwork plant.

Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded areas with fertile, moist soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in autumn), dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density – 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Perennial medicinal herbs with photos and descriptions

Below are photos and descriptions of the medicinal herbs elecampane, zopnik and cuff:

Elecampane (INULA). Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae).

Perennial herbaceous species (about 200), widely distributed in meadows and light forests in the temperate zone of Eurasia. The rhizomes are thick, powerful, and the root system is deep. The basal leaves are large, heart-shaped, oval, the stems are straight, slightly branched (except for elecampane), the flowers are large yellow “daisies”.

Kinds:

Elecampane magnificent(I. magnifica = I. orientalis)- up to 150 cm high, branched stem, basket -15 cm in diameter in sparse corymbs, spreading bush.

Elecampane tall (I. helenium)- stems are slightly branched, 150-200 cm high, elliptical leaves, baskets 6 cm in diameter, cylindrical bush.

Inula elecampane(I. ensifolia)- 30 cm high, narrow leaves, basket 4 cm, Compacta variety - 20 cm high.

Growing conditions. Sunny places with any garden soil and average moisture. Hardy perennials.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring), dividing the bush (in spring). Elecampane is a perennial medicinal herb that lives without transplantation or division for 8-10 years. Planting density of large plants - 3 pcs. per 1 m2; Elecampane sword-leaved - 12 pcs.

Zopnik (PHLOMIS). Lamiaceae family.

Perennial herbs (about 100 species) with a thick rhizome or tap root, rough leaves, flowers collected in false whorls forming a spike-shaped inflorescence.

Kinds:

Zopnik Roussell(P. russeliana)- 90 cm high, yellowish-pinkish flowers.

Zopnik tuberiferous (P. tuberosa)- 50-70 cm high, purple flowers.

Zopnik meadow (P. pratensis)- 50-70 cm high, pink flowers.

Cuff (ALCHEMILLA). Rosaceae family.

Pay attention to the photo of this medicinal herb - the cuff has a short rhizome and a rosette of round, often fluffy, bright green leaves forming a spherical bush. At the height of summer, loose openwork inflorescences of small yellow flowers rise above them. Flowering is abundant and long lasting.

Kinds:

Alpine cuff(A. aipina)- with trifoliate dense leaves and small inflorescences.

Red petiolate cuff (A. erythropoda)- with gray-green dense leaves, 30 cm high.

Soft cuff(A. moiiis)- the most beautiful, stable, undemanding cuff. Its leaves are round, fluffy, pale green with a wavy edge, up to 6 cm in diameter. Peduncles are numerous, up to 60-70 cm high.

Growing conditions. Sunny and semi-shaded areas with loose, fertile neutral soils and moderate moisture. Does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Easily tolerates division and transplantation. Planting density - 5 bushes per 1 m2.

One of the most colorful, consistently decorative and interesting plants in mixed flower beds. The cuff looks good in flower beds of the “natural garden” style and in mixborders together with cornflower, heuchera, cornflowers, coreopsis, etc. It is used to decorate bouquets, giving them lightness and delicacy.

Medicinal herbs and their cultivation

Thyme, thyme, Bogorodskaya herb (THYMUS). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

A large genus (about 400 species) of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs with recumbent or erect woody stems and straight, upward-pointing peduncles. They grow on rocks in the southern regions of Eurasia. The leaves are small, oval, opposite, leathery, usually overwintering. Due to recumbent, rooting shoots, plants quickly grow, forming low, dense “mats” and “pillows” (10-30 cm high), emitting pleasant aroma. In mid-summer, numerous inflorescence heads of small flowers appear.

Kinds:

Lemon-scented thyme (Th. citriodorus).

Common thyme (T. vulgaris)- height 5-15 cm, leaves are pubescent on the underside.

creeping thyme (T. serpyllum)- leaves are larger than those of other species.

Growing conditions. Sunny locations with light, well-drained soil, neutral or alkaline. Grows on sands.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring and late summer), by seeds (sowing before winter), by cuttings (in spring). Planting density - 25 pcs. per 1 m2.

Used as a carpet plant in mixed flower beds, rockeries and on paths among tiles. Looks good in containers.

Hellebore (VERATRUM). Melanthiaceae (lily) family.

Tall (100-150 cm) herbaceous perennials growing in meadows and steppes of the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Powerful short rhizome and deep roots. The stems are straight, thick, and bear tough, folded along the veins, elliptical, beautiful leaves. The flowers are small, open, in a large paniculate inflorescence. All species are similar in appearance.

Kinds:

White hellebore (V. album)- flowers are whitish-greenish.

California hellebore(V. californicum)- flowers are white with green veins.

Black hellebore (V. nigrum)- flowers are blackish-brown.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with rich soils are moisture-loving, but tolerate drought well.

Reproduction. By seeds (sown in spring), seedlings bloom in the 5th-6th year. By dividing the bush (in spring), the divisions grow slowly and often die. Planting density - 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Chernogolovka (PRUNELLA). Family Lamiaceae (Labiaceae).

Perennials with creeping rhizomes, erect, low (25-40 cm) stems; leaves are entire, with an uneven edge; flowers in false whorls in a capitate inflorescence.

Kinds:

Chernogolovka grandiflora(P. grandiflora)- height 25 cm.

Webb's blackhead (P. x webbiana)- purple flowers.

Chernogolovka vulgare (P. vulgaris)- flowers are reddish.

Growing conditions. Sunny and slightly shaded areas with garden, moderately moist soils.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 16 pcs. per 1 m2. Capable of forming a thicket and growing weeds.

Euphorbia (EUPHORBIA). Euphorbiaceae family.

Large genus - about 2000 species, mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions globe, but there are species in the temperate zone. Their height, leaf shape and type of root system are different, but they stand out for their original flowers.

Look at the photo of this medicinal plant: small flowers are collected in an inflorescence, surrounded by a common veil in the form of a glass (which appears to be a flower), and the “glasses” are collected in complex umbrella-shaped inflorescences with wrappers. In general, all this gives the impression of a “flying”, openwork yellowish inflorescence.

In sunny dry places - cypress spurge (E. cyparissias)- a low-growing (15-20 cm) plant of the steppes with narrow bluish leaves, densely located on lodging stems.

On sunny places with rich soils - Euphorbia multicolor(E. poiychroma), forming a tall bush (50-60 cm) of densely leafy woody shoots.

In the shadow - long-horned spurge (E. macroceras) with a high stem (up to 100 cm) and scaly euphorbia (E. squamosa) 20-30 cm high with a spherical through bush.

Growing conditions. Euphorbias can grow in a wide variety of conditions depending on environmental features species, but always on well-drained soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) or dividing the bush (in spring and late summer).

They self-sow easily and are capable of weeding. Planting density - 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Eryngium (ERYNGIUM). Celery (umbelliferous) family.

About 230 species are known, growing on almost all continents. But in cultivation, perennial herbs are more often grown with leathery, whole or dissected leaves, prickly along the edges. The flowers are small, blue, located in the axil of the bracts and collected in a capitate inflorescence surrounded by hard, spiny involucre leaves. Magnificent for their originality and exoticism. They bear fruit abundantly.

Kinds:

Alpine eryngium(E. alpinum) - 70 cm high, interesting wrapper of bluish, curved upward leaves.

Amethyst eryngium (E. amethystinum)- amethyst blue wrapper.

Burg's eryngium (E. bourgatii)- 30-40 cm high, leathery leaves with a white pattern.

Eryngium flatifolia (E. planum)- a plant of the steppes of Europe and Asia, the stems are bluish, the capitate inflorescences are small, bluish.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with loose, poor, sandy or rocky soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (before winter) or by dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density - 5 pcs. per 1 m2.

Wormwood (ARTEMISIA). Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae).

Large genus (more than 250 species). Of the numerous species, subshrubs and perennials with fragrant silvery leaves, pubescent or tomentose, are mainly cultivated. The flowers are inexpressive and colorless, so it is better to cut off the peduncles.

Kinds. In central Russia the most decorative and stable are:

Wormwood Pursha (A. purchiana)- forms a cover of straight stems with silvery elongated whole leaves, responds well to constant pruning, can be planted in borders.

Steller's Wormwood (A. steiieriana)- a low plant with spatulate leaves, forming a dense spot; sometimes the leaves overwinter.

Wormwood Louis(A. iudoviciana)- with narrow, lanceolate leaves.

Wormwood Schmidt (A. schmidtiana), the “Nana” form is especially interesting, 15-20 cm high with rounded, heavily indented leaves.

Growing conditions. Wormwood is an undemanding plant that grows well in sunny places with any soil, and is especially good on well-drained sandy alkaline substrates.

Reproduction. By dividing the bush (in spring and late summer), by seeds (sowing in spring). Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Description of the best medicinal plants and their photos

In this chapter you can read the description of such medicinal herbs and plants as rhubarb, cat's foot, cyanosis, toadflax and mullein.

Rhubarb (RHEUM). Buckwheat family.

A powerful perennial with a multi-headed rhizome, from which large, round, five to seven-lobed light green leaves emerge on long, fleshy, ribbed reddish petioles.

At the end of spring, a powerful peduncle (up to 150 cm in height) rises above the rosette of leaves, bearing a large panicle of small whitish-fawn flowers. Grows in the meadows of Eurasia.

Kinds. In culture they often use:

Rhubarb palmate (Rh. palmatum) And R. Tangut (Rh. tanguticum) with more deeply dissected leaves.

Black Sea rhubarb (Rh. rhaponticum)-dense shiny leaves.

Growing conditions. Well-lit and semi-shaded areas with deep, fertile garden soils and normal moisture.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing before winter) and dividing the bush (in spring and late summer). Planting density is single.

Cat's paw, antennaria (ANTENNARIA). Family Asteraceae (Asteraceae).

Low (5-10 cm) dioecious plants from pine forests of Europe and North America. The leaves are densely pubescent, white-tomentose, overwintering, collected in a rosette. They grow due to creeping shoots. Flower baskets are small, round, in a capitate inflorescence.

Kinds. Cat's paw dioecious (A. dioica) has the forms:

"Tomentosa"- more densely pubescent; "Rubra"- with red pink flowers; "Minima"- height 5 cm.

"Rosea"- with pink flowers; Antennaria sun-loving(A. aprica)- height 10-15 cm.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with poor, slightly acidic, dry sandy soils. On ordinary garden soils it will quickly grow and lose its decorative properties.

Reproduction. By dividing a bush or a section of a creeping shoot (in spring or late summer). Plant densely - 36 pcs. per 1 m2.

On poor sandy soils it creates a low, slowly growing, but consistently decorative silvery ground cover.

Cyanosis (POLEMONIUM). Family of cyanaceae.

Cluster-rooted perennials, grow in light forests of the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Bushes from 25 to 50 cm tall, decorative leaves, wintering; the flowers are numerous, collected in a raceme-like inflorescence, blue.

Kinds:

Creeping cyanosis(P. reptans)- height 30 cm.

blue cyanosis (P. caeruleum)- height 60 cm.

Growing conditions. Sunlit or semi-shaded areas with normal garden soils. A very undemanding plant.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing before winter), dividing the bush (in spring, late summer). Self-seeding possible. Planting density - 9 pcs. per 1 m2.

Toadflax (LINARIA). Norichnikov family.

Perennials from the Mediterranean with narrow leaves and two-lipped flowers with a spur in a racemose inflorescence. The plants are graceful, low (40-50 cm).

Kinds:

Dalmatian toadflax (L. daimatica)- yellow flowers.

Common toadflax (L. vuigaris)- yellow flowers.

Macedonian toadflax (L. macedonica)- pubescent plant, yellow flowers.

Purple toadflax (L. purpurea)- red flowers.

Growing conditions. Sunny areas with loose sandy dry soils.

Reproduction. By seeds (sowing in spring) and dividing the bush (in spring). Planting density - 20 pcs. per 1 m2.

Mullein (VERBASCUM). Norichnikov family.

Plants of open dry places of Europe and the Mediterranean. Biennials and perennials from 50 to 150 cm in height, basal leaves are large, on petioles; The stem is straight, with sessile, entire, pubescent leaves. The flowers are wheel-shaped, small, in a branched large inflorescence. A magnificent plant that provides flower garden architecture.

Kinds: