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Cultivation, useful properties and recipes for the use of aspen
Botanical characteristics of aspen
Aspen is a dioecious rhizomatous tree that can grow up to 30 meters in height. The bark of the plant is smooth, gray in color, but it can also be green in color. Aspen leaves are rounded or rhombic, glabrous, with rounded teeth along the edges. The leaves are painted in two colors: above – green, below – a bluish tint. The leaves have flattened petioles, thanks to which they move.
The plant has dicotyledonous flowers of small size, which are collected in inflorescences-earrings. Female flowers have a pistil with an upper ovary and 2 purple stigmas, male flowers consist of 5, 6, 7 or 8 stamens and red anthers. Aspen blooms until the leaves bloom (April). Immediately after flowering, the plants ripen fruits (May-June). Aspen fruits are boxes consisting of two wings. Inside the fruits are a large number of fluffy seeds. The seeds are very light and small. The root system of the plant is deep in the soil, so it is not afraid of fires.
Aspen is common in forests, forest-steppe zones, on the banks of a reservoir, near swamps and ravines. It grows throughout Russia, in Mongolia, the Crimea, China, Europe and Kazakhstan.
Useful properties of aspen
Aspen bark contains many useful substances, such as aromatic and fatty acids, tannins, carbohydrates and phenol glycosides. The buds of the plant contain essential oils, resins, flavones and mineral salts. Fresh aspen leaves are rich in vitamin C, carotene and various enzymes.
Aspen has a whole range of substances useful to humans. Most often, the plant is used as a diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory agent. Aspen has antipyretic, diuretic and astringent properties.
A tincture is prepared from aspen, which is used for gout, rheumatism, problems with urination and inflammation of the bladder.
Aspen application
Aspen has been widely and for a long time used in folk medicine as an effective and versatile medicine. Preparations are prepared from the buds, leaves and bark of the plant. Medicines prepared from aspen have analgesic properties. A decoction of aspen is used to treat gastritis, diarrhea and as a remedy that increases appetite and improves the functioning of the digestive tract.
Tincture from the kidneys of the plant helps with cystitis, hemorrhoids and dysentery. An ointment is prepared from the kidneys for external use, which is used for bruises, ulcers and wounds. Aspen leaves are used as poultices to help treat rheumatism, hemorrhoids and gout.
Alcohol tincture of aspen bark in prostate hypertrophy. The bark must be removed in early spring from thin branches. To prepare this tincture, take 1 tablespoon of aspen bark and grind it into powder. Next, this powder is poured into 100 ml of vodka and everything is left to infuse for 14 days. Take this tincture before meals, 1 teaspoon (30-40 drops) three times a day. The same tincture can be prepared from the buds of the plant.
A decoction of the bark with a deterioration in appetite and gastritis. It is very easy and quick to prepare. We take 5 tablespoons of the bark of the plant, which we fill with a glass of boiling water. Now we put the composition on fire for 30 minutes. It is necessary to take a decoction in 3 doses a day before meals.
Aspen bark in pulmonary tuberculosis. Take 1 tablespoon of the bark of a young plant and pour 500 ml of boiling water over it. Pour everything into a thermos and leave for 12 hours to infuse. Now we divide the finished infusion into two parts and drink in small sips one part in the morning, and the second before bed.
Ointment for gout, burns and ulcers. We take 10 grams of plant buds and grind to a powder. Add to this mass 40 grams of vaseline (or butter). We mix everything thoroughly and apply a remedy for lubricating festering wounds, ulcers and rubbing sore spots with rheumatism and gout.
Aspen for eczema. It is necessary to take aspen wood and burn it, and combine the ashes resulting from them with butter and use it as a remedy for treating eczema.
Appetite enhancer. We take 1 tablespoon of aspen bark and fill it with two glasses of water. We put the composition on fire for a quarter of an hour, then remove it and leave it to brew for 3 hours, wrapping the container with the infusion with a towel. Take this remedy for coughs and colds.
Contraindications to the use of aspen
To date, contraindications to the use of this medicinal plant are unknown. But still, do not forget about the individual intolerance of drugs from aspen.