Colchicum

Useful properties and use of colchicum

Botanical characteristics of colchicum

Colchicum is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family. Stem glabrous, erect, low; in length is from 10 to 50 cm. The root is an oblong corm, it can reach three to five cm in length, the bulb is covered with dark brown scales (husk) along its entire length. Leaves oblong-lanceolate or elliptical, large, glabrous. Flowers solitary, bisexual, large, 20–25 cm long.

Depending on the type of colchicum, flowers can be colored from white to purple. The fruit is a rhombic or three-celled elliptical box. Colchicum blooms in late summer or autumn (until mid-October). The species difference of this plant is the fact that during the flowering period the leaves are not yet developed. Fruits and leaves appear only next year in the spring (as a rule, this happens immediately after the snow melts).

The seed ripening period is May-June. Immediately after the end of the seed ripening period, the aerial part of the colchicum dies off completely. The natural distribution area of ​​the colchicum is the southwestern regions of the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus, India and the territory of Central Asia, the northern part of Africa, it grows everywhere throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. The genus Colchicum has more than 70 species, which differ from each other in the period of flowering and seeding.

Useful properties of colchicum

All – aboveground and underground – parts of the colchicum are poisonous, but the bulb (root) and seeds are especially toxic. However, we should not forget that most of the medicinal plants used both in traditional (as the main active ingredients in the manufacture of various pharmacological preparations) and in traditional medicine are poisonous plants in chemical composition.

Based on the positive dynamics that can be traced with the use of medicinal infusions, tinctures, as well as ointments, which include colchicum, the medicinal plant has found wide application in folk medicine. The chemical composition of fireweed corm contains: heterocyclic alkaloids (colchicine, colchamine, colchicein), aromatic acids, sugars, flavonoids and glycoalkaloids.

The chemical composition of colchicum seeds contains: alkaloids, resins, tannins, lipids and sugars. In folk medicine, infusion, tincture and ointment of Colchicum are used as analgesics (painkillers), antiemetics, diuretics and laxatives.

The use of colchicum

Before using any form of a medicinal product from colchicum, it is imperative to consult a doctor, since all parts of the medicinal plant (and, consequently, all its dosage forms) are poisonous and uncontrolled intake, as well as an incorrectly selected dosage of the drug can lead to death.

Ointment and infusion of a medicinal plant are used externally as an effective pain reliever for gout, arthritis, rheumatism and sciatica.

A tincture of fresh tubers of the plant has an effective effect on edema, rheumatism, cystitis, urolithiasis, as well as a feeling of tightness (compression, pressure) in the chest.

Colchicum infusion

Half a teaspoon of fresh onion is poured into 500 ml of boiling water, left for 2 hours, and then filtered into a clean bowl. The application should also be started with a minimum dose, subsequently it can be 7-8 ml up to six times a day. The infusion should be washed down with 200 ml of warm non-carbonated water.

Colchicum ointment

300 g of the aboveground and underground parts of the plant are finely chopped and poured with 500 ml of water, after which they are placed in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes. Then the resulting infusion is filtered into a clean container and vaseline / butter is added until the desired consistency of the ointment is obtained. Store the resulting ointment in a tightly closed container in a cool place (10-15 ° C).

Colchicum rubbing

Recipe number 1. 1 part of the crushed dry tubers of the plant is poured with 12 parts of vinegar. The resulting solution is infused for 14 days, after which it is used as an anesthetic.

Recipe number 2. 1 part of the crushed colchicum roots is poured with five parts of 50% ethyl alcohol, insisted in a dark place for 10–14 days, after which it is used as a rubbing for various rheumatic diseases.

Colchicum flower

Colchicum flowers are solitary, large (up to 20–25 cm long), with six petals. A distinctive characteristic of the flowers of this medicinal plant is the fact that they are bisexual. Depending on the type of colchicum, flowers can be painted in different shades – from white to purple. The plant blooms from August to October inclusive.

In folk medicine, colchicum flowers are used in the manufacture of anesthetic ointment. The use of the ointment is indicated for arthritis, radiculitis, gout and rheumatism.

Planting of autumn crops

Colchicum is a perennial herbaceous plant (does not require transplantation for several years), absolutely unpretentious to growing conditions. Feels best on light (not dense), loose soils. Planting depth can vary from 10 to 20 cm (the depth directly depends on the size of the bulb). The plant reproduces by daughter bulbs (capable of reproduction on its own).

If it is necessary to plant / seat a plant, it is best to do this in the summer (during the period of time when the aerial part completely fades). When working with colchicum and caring for it, it is necessary to observe the rules of personal safety with particular care, since all parts of the plant (aboveground and underground) are poisonous, which is why all manipulations are recommended to be done with gloves.

The Timeless Bulb

Colchicum bulb is a large corm, which can reach a diameter of 4 cm. Throughout its area, the bulb is covered with husks (black – brown scales). Each bulb ends with a long neck, which, in turn, is also covered with scales. In the spring, after a period of development of large leaves, the old bulb dies off and is replaced by a new young bulb as a result of assimilation.

Due to its unique chemical composition, the colchicum bulb has found wide application in traditional medicine recipes. Infusion, tincture and ointments, which include plant materials, are successfully used as an anesthetic, vasodilator and anti-inflammatory agent.

The chemical composition of the crocus bulb contains such alkaloids as colhamine and colchicine, which are successfully used in the treatment of a number of oncological diseases, including malignant neoplasms on the skin, in the chest, in the lungs and in the gastrointestinal tract.

Colchicum tincture

Colchicum tincture has long been used in folk medicine as an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. The tincture is applied topically (directly to the area of ​​pain localization) and internally. However, before starting to use a medicinal tincture, it is important to seek the advice of a doctor – the tincture, like all other dosage forms of the plant, is poisonous in large quantities and its improper and uncontrolled use can be fatal.

Recipe number 1. 10 g of fresh onion (can be exchanged for plant seeds) are poured with 100 ml of 45% ethyl alcohol, after which the resulting infusion is placed in a dark place for 20 days. After this period, the infusion is filtered and colchicum is started with 1 drop per day (if side effects are not observed, the number of drops can be increased).

Recipe number 2. 1 part of the seeds is poured with 10 parts of 70% ethyl alcohol, then infused in a dark place for 14–20 days. The resulting tincture can be used both inside (15-20 drops 3 times a day) and externally (directly on the area of ​​pain localization).

Colchicum splendid

Colchicum splendid is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family. The stem is short, bare, develops in the spring (by summer, the aerial part of the magnificent colchicum dies off completely). The root is a large corm, covered over the entire area with black-brown scales, reaching 4 cm in diameter. The leaves are large, bare, broadly oblong in shape, as well as the stem, develop in the spring season.

Flowers are bell-shaped, large (up to 5–7 cm long), bisexual. They can be colored from pale lilac to pink-purple. The fruit is a rather large three-celled multi-seeded pod up to 5 cm in length. The aerial part of the plant dies off completely in the summer, blooms in autumn (September-October). It bears fruit in June, immediately after which the aerial part of the plant dies off. In the summer, the old bulb dies off, and a daughter corm is formed.

The natural habitat of the magnificent colchicum is the territory of Western and Eastern Transcaucasia, Ciscaucasia and the Main Caucasian Range. It grows mainly on forest edges. In folk medicine, the underground part of medicinal raw materials – corms, which are harvested in the autumn period (during the flowering period of the plant), has found wide application, for the maximum extraction of alkaloids, the raw materials are processed raw.

The chemical composition of the colchicum corm contains over 20 different alkaloids, however, among this variety of organic compounds, two species are of the greatest value – colhamine and colchicine. In addition, the chemical composition of medicinal raw materials is rich in sugars, sterols and aromatic acids.

In traditional medicine, in the form of solid dosage forms (tablets) and ointments, Colchicum splendid is used in complex therapy in the treatment of oncological diseases of the skin, papillomas of the respiratory tract, malignant neoplasms in the mammary glands and in the gastrointestinal tract.

Colchicum autumn

Colchicum autumn is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family. The leaves are wide, elongated, lanceolate in shape, develop in the spring. The flowers are large, painted in a pink-lilac hue. The fruit is an oblong-oval leathery box 3–5 cm long. Seeds are rounded, numerous, painted in a dark brown shade.

The flowering time of the autumn colchicum is the autumn period (September-October), it bears fruit in the summer period of the next year (June-July). Like most species representatives, the aerial part of the autumn colchicum in the summer completely dies off. All parts of the medicinal plant are very poisonous, so using them without consulting a doctor is extremely dangerous for the patient’s health.

In medicine, the underground part of the autumn colchicum is used – the corm, which is harvested in the autumn period (the flowering period). After the medicinal raw material is removed from the ground, it is washed well under running water and cut into pieces (for maximum extraction of alkaloids).

The chemical composition of autumn colchicum corm contains two most valuable alkaloids – colchicine and colchamine, which are used in complex therapy for the treatment of oncological diseases of the skin and as an anesthetic for gout, rheumatism and sciatica.

Colchicum Colchicum

Colchicum (colchicum) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family.

The fruit is a three-celled capsule, the seeds are small, numerous, rounded. Colchicum blooms from August to September inclusive. In medicine (traditional and folk), the seeds and the underground part of the medicinal plant are used. The corm and seeds, like the rest of the colchicum, are poisonous, so the independent use of medicinal infusions and ointments can have an extremely negative effect on the human body, even death.

The chemical composition of colchicum corms contains: alkaloids – colchicine and calchicein, phytosterols, sugars and aromatic acids. Due to its unique composition, healing infusions and ointments, which include the plant, are successfully used for chronic leukemia, skin cancer, malignant neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract, gout, arthritis, arthrosis and sciatica.

Colchicum shady

Colchicum shady is a perennial herbaceous plant of the lily family. The leaves are large, linear, fleshy, leathery, narrowed towards the base, reach a length of 10–15 cm, a width of 2–3 cm. The root is a small corm that reaches a length of 3 cm and a diameter of 2 cm. Flowers large, painted in pale purple or lilac shades.

The natural distribution area of ​​the shady colchicum is the territory of Crimea. It grows mainly in forests, forest edges and clearings. A characteristic feature of the shady colchicum, which distinguishes it from other varieties of this genus, is the early vegetation (April). Colchicum shadow is an endangered species and is listed in the Red Book. Based on this, the medical use of medicinal infusions and ointments is unacceptable.

Contra-indications

All plant parts of Colchicum are poisonous, so the use of ointments, infusions and tinctures from this medicinal plant is carried out only after consulting a doctor. Ointment, which includes Colchicum, is contraindicated in skin cancer III-IV degree.

All preparations of colchicum are contraindicated for use in persons with severe inhibition of the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow, as well as in diarrhea and diabetes. Contraindicated in children, pregnant women and women during breastfeeding.