Contents
Types, useful properties and use of the ditty
Chastukh description
Chastukha is one of the most common plants growing in damp places: canals, ponds, puddles and other bodies of water. In appearance, it is very similar to plantain. Chastukha has beautiful ribbed leaves on long petioles, collected in a branched panicle, bisexual flowers, six stamens. The fruits of the plant are quite numerous, they have a laterally flattened shape, arranged annularly in dense heads.
The appearance of this grass can be greatly modified under the influence of the environment. In addition, the length of the stem, as well as the shape and color of the leaves, may differ depending on the variety. Usually the height of the plant does not exceed 70 cm. The main habitat is the forest zone.
Currently, ten species of Chastukha are known in the northern hemisphere. Some of them are actively used to decorate ponds and lakes. In this case, it should be remembered that the seeds of the plant germinate very quickly and can clog the entire reservoir, so wilted flowers must be removed immediately.
Useful properties of a chastukha
Mentions of this medicinal plant can be found in the writings of medieval healers. Even then, folk medicine in many countries appreciated the healing abilities of the chastukh. It was often used to prepare tinctures that could help with hemorrhoids, kidney disease, and jaundice. This herb has an effective diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. In the old days, decoctions of chastukha were considered an effective remedy for the bites of rabid animals, although these data have not been confirmed to date.
Official medicine has not yet sufficiently studied the composition of the chastukha, but it is known that it contains essential oil, starch, sugar, resin and some other substances useful to the human body. For medicinal purposes, the rhizomes and leaves of the plant are mainly used. The leaves are harvested for this in June-August, and the roots – in September-October.
Chastukh application
Previously, the chastukha helped people resist many different diseases. It was often prescribed for venereal diseases, hemorrhoids, fresh leaves of this herb were applied to abscessing wounds and abrasions. With the help of this medicinal plant, chronic nephritis, dropsy, edema of renal origin were treated, stones were expelled from the kidneys. It should be noted that chastukha tends to crush kidney stones to a powdery state, which greatly facilitates their withdrawal.
Tibetan healers used some varieties of chastukha to treat wounds and reduce the formation of scar tissue. Japanese folk medicine recommends a decoction of this herb as an effective diuretic for edema of cardiac and renal origin, dizziness, hypertension and a number of other diseases.
Infusion: one glass of boiled water is required to pour one tablespoon of the dried grass of the plant, insist for two hours, then strain. Take the infusion should be four times a day for a quarter cup. Traditional medicine recommends this remedy for kidney stones.
Chastukha types
There are several types of chastukha, consider the most popular of them.
Chastukha plantain. This species grows mainly in shallow water, along the banks of lakes, ponds and rivers. Chastukha plantain can be found from the Barents Sea to the subtropical zones of Asia and Europe. It has green broadly linear or ovate leaves, its inflorescences are large pyramidal panicles with protruding branches. The stems of the plant reach a height of 10 to 70 centimeters. In folk medicine, chastuha psyllium is mainly used to fight kidney stones due to its diuretic effect.
Chastukha floating is a perennial plant whose habitat is the warm-temperate zone of Central Europe. This species has a floating stem, not exceeding 40 cm in height. The leaves of the plant are also floating. The flowers are bisexual, located on long pedicels. Chastukha floating is often used to decorate pools and small ponds.
Chastukha common. It is an annual grass with an upright bare stem and a powerful rhizome. The leaves are ovate or broadly linear, the flowers are white or pinkish-white, collected in pyramidal panicles. The plant blooms in June-August. The rhizomes contain sugary substances, starch, essential oil, and the grass contains poisonous alkaloids. In folk medicine, chastukha preparations are used for chronic nephritis, edema of renal origin. In small doses, they help ease weaning babies.
The plant is POISONOUS, especially fresh juice. Oral use requires caution, although the juice loses its poisonous properties when dried.
Wallenberg’s song. This type of chastukha differs from the rest in that it never grows out of water. The plant has narrow ribbon-like or lanceolate green leaves growing from a rosette, a very short inflorescence and non-blooming flowers. This species blooms in mid-summer. Chastukha Wallenberg is especially common in Scandinavia and on the shores of the Gulf of Finland.
Contraindications to the use of chastukha
Chastukha has a number of contraindications. It is strictly forbidden to take during pregnancy and lactation. Also, this plant is contraindicated in acute kidney diseases, diabetes. In addition, fresh grass contains poisonous substances that can cause skin redness and blistering. Any infusions and decoctions of chastukha should be taken only after consulting a doctor.