Useful properties and application of catharanthus
Useful properties of catharanthus
Cataracts – a herbaceous medicinal plant, which contains more than 65 alkaloids (in the roots – up to 2,1%, in the leaves – up to 1,3%, in the stems – up to 0,4%). Of these, the alkaloids vincristine, virozine, vinblastine, rosidine, perquine, leurosine, and leirozidine, which have antitumor activity, are of the greatest interest. The healing properties of this herb are well known not only to traditional healers, but also to oncologists.
In malignant neoplasms, only the aerial part of the plant is used, making preparations for chemotherapy from it. In folk medicine, all kinds of tinctures and infusions, extracts and oils are prepared from leaves and stems. Raw materials are harvested only at the time when the content of alkaloids in the grass is the highest, namely closer to mid-September, during the period of seed ripening. Leaves and young shoots are dried in a shady place and stored for no more than a year, after which the harvested raw material loses its medicinal properties.
Application of catharanthus
Despite the fact that catharanthus is poisonous, it has a wide spectrum of action on the human body and is therefore highly valued for its healing properties. Preparations from it are used in the treatment of leukemia, blastoma, sarcoma, leukemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other severe oncological diseases. Herbal tinctures and infusions give a stable positive result in the treatment of adenoma, prostatitis, polyps, uterine fibroids, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and stomach ulcers.
Kataranthus normalizes blood sugar levels, relieves trophic ulcers and prevents the development of gangrene in diabetes mellitus. It is used for high blood pressure and eczema, as well as a mild pain reliever and for the prevention of cancer. A decoction of young leaves is effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, skin itching, psoriasis.
decoction: a tablespoon of dry raw materials must be poured with 200 ml of water, boiled for 1 minute and infused for about 30 minutes. After straining, the decoction is recommended to be taken 2-3 times a day an hour before meals, while diluting one teaspoon of the drink in 50 ml of water. For external use, 2 tablespoons of dry grass can be poured into a glass of water.
Infusion: for the prevention of cancer, it is recommended to use a collection of rose catharanthus, pharmacy chamomile, white mistletoe and celandine in equal proportions. Pour a tablespoon of the crushed mixture into a glass of boiling water and let it brew for about half an hour. The infusion is taken 50 ml 30 minutes before meals for a month. A preventive course is carried out 2-3 times a year.
Catharanthus tincture
Herbal tinctures are usually prepared with alcohol or vodka and reach the desired condition within 7-10 days. These drugs are quite effective as a strong antitumor and blood-purifying agent.
Recipe 1. The crushed leaves of the plant are poured with vodka in a ratio of 1:20, kept at room temperature in a dark place for 7 days, after which the tincture is filtered and taken 10 drops in a tablespoon of water.
Recipe 2. Two tablespoons of young shoots, along with leaves, pour 250 ml of 70% alcohol and infuse in a dark place for 10 days, shaking occasionally. The first 3 weeks, the tincture is taken at the rate of 5 drops per tablespoon of water 30 minutes before meals. After a week break, the dosage is increased to 10 drops for the same volume of liquid. The course of treatment is at least three months, with strict adherence to the dosage and formulation of the preparation of the tincture. The drug helps well with fibroids, varicose veins, prostatitis, stomach ulcers.
Treatment with catharanthus
Despite the fact that this flower is poisonous, it is very useful in the treatment of malignant neoplasms. It contains anti-cancer substances used by traditional medicine in the manufacture of drugs for chemotherapy. The herb also has a detrimental effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it is effective for skin diseases – dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis.
Catharanthus seeds
The seeds of the plant ripen in fruits – two sickle-shaped leaflets 5 cm long and 3 mm thick. Seeds pitted, small, black. True, in our conditions they are not tied. After planting, the seeds enter together and quickly, with additional lighting they can be sown for seedlings as early as the end of February.
flowers of catharanthus
The flowers of the plant are simple, rather large (up to 3 cm), with five petals. Their color can be different: pale purple, white, pinkish. In the center of each flower is a bright crimson or yellow “eye”. The aroma of flowers is weakly expressed, they bloom continuously from May to October.
Cultivation of catarrhatus
This medicinal plant can often be found in amateur flower growers at home in pots, propagated by seeds and vegetatively. A soil mixture of soddy and leafy soil, peat, sand and humus is suitable for growing catharanthus. Seeds are sown to a depth of 1-2 cm in late February or March. Their germination requires complete darkness, so it is best to cover the sowing with a dark film. At an ambient temperature of +24 °C shoots appear in 8-10 days. After that, it is recommended to expose the seedlings in pots to light.
In winter, this healing flower is watered moderately, in the summer – plentifully. The first top dressing is carried out 2 weeks after germination, and picking (transplantation) – after the plant reaches a height of 6–8 cm and in the presence of four true leaves. Once every 10–14 days, seedlings are fed with a solution of mineral complex fertilizer at a concentration of 0,1–0,2%. In the second half of summer, the content of potassium and phosphorus is increased in it. In winter gardens, this ornamental flower can reach 1,5 meters, preferring light, but not too sunny places.
Quarantus pink
The birthplace of this species of catharanthus is the island of Java, where, under tropical conditions, the plant grows along the edges of forests and is one of the most common weeds. For medicinal purposes, only its aerial part is used, collecting raw materials during the fruiting period. The leaves and stems contain very valuable alkaloids – vincristine and vinblastine, which are effective antitumor agents. Herbal preparations are also used to treat diabetes, psoriasis, fibroids, adenomas and hypertension.
Catharanthus ampelny
This type of catharanthus is intended for growing in hanging pots (pots), it is also used as a ground cover plant. Many varieties of this species have been bred by breeders, and all of them are highly branching flowers. The shoots of some of them can reach a length of 1,0–1,5 meters. Catharanthus gained particular popularity after the introduction of decorative elements for home decoration in the form of hanging baskets, where this ampelous plant began to be grown.
In recent years, it has been increasingly used in landscape design in conjunction with other partner plants. This species grows rapidly, occupying all free space and covering the ground with a dense flowering carpet. Cataranthus can be grown in conjunction with annual herbs such as petunia and lobelia, and periwinkle and balsam are suitable for perennials.
Contraindications to the use of catharanthus
ATTENTION! Due to the fact that catharanthus is a poisonous plant, treatment with preparations from it should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor. Despite the fact that decoctions, tinctures and ointments prepared on their own have an effective therapeutic effect, they can also cause severe side effects – nausea, vomiting, baldness, skin irritation, although not all people have such symptoms. In addition, the plant is contraindicated in patients with hypotension and vegetative-vascular dystonia.