Contents
Useful properties and application of skullcap tincture
Botanical characteristics of skullcap
Shlemnik – a large genus of herbaceous plants of the Lamiaceae family, or Lamiaceae (Labiatae). The leaves are petiolate, often crenate or serrated, rarely entire or slightly dissected.
The flower of the plant has a bell-shaped calyx, two-lipped (the upper lip is helmet-shaped, the lower one is flat) with a concave comb. Together, all the flowers form spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences at the tops of the stems. Fruits-nutlets are flattened-spherical or ovoid, warty, pubescent, may be smooth. Ripe fruits shoot seeds when touched. Many types of skullcap are decorative, some are medicinal plants, but all of them are among the dyeing herbs.
Useful properties of skullcap
Common skullcap, Baltic, Altai are widely used in folk and official medicine in many countries. Their roots contain essential oils, flavonoids, starch, tannins, catechols, resins. They contain a lot of saponins and coumarins, potassium, calcium, magnesium. Plants can be called very useful because of their content of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum and iodine.
The medicinal plant has pronounced anti-asthma and histamine properties. In Tibetan and Chinese medicine, the herb is valued as an antitumor and anti-sclerotic agent. It strengthens the immune system, exhibits an antihelminthic effect. Studies have shown the presence of scutellarin glycoside in the plant.
The use of skullcap
The herb is used for chronic fatigue, dysfunction of the heart, neuroses, irritations associated with premenstrual syndrome. As a natural stimulant and tonic, skullcap is considered the most effective drug with antihypertensive and sedative properties. Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects make it possible to use it for colds, to eliminate headaches.
This is one of the most versatile herbs that can dilate blood vessels, normalize heart rhythm, and prevent convulsive phenomena. Among other things, skullcap has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, liver function. taking funds from skullcap has a therapeutic effect in bile stasis, constipation. With prolonged use, the plant does not cause addiction and negative effects. It is prescribed in the initial stages of hypertension, insomnia, myocarditis. There is an improvement in well-being and performance.
This miracle plant improves well-being during toxicosis during pregnancy. In China, traditional healers recommend an ointment based on it for wound healing. Skullcap is used for bronchitis, pneumonia. There is also information that the herb is a good remedy even for the prevention of rabies. And yet its main purpose is firming, softening, sedative, it is of low toxicity.
Skullcap tincture: Pour 1 teaspoon of raw materials with a glass of boiling water, let it brew in a thermos for 2 hours, strain and take 1 tablespoon 4-5 times a day before meals.
skullcap root
Scutellaria root is a well-known medicinal raw material that came to European medicine from the East. Rhizomes and roots are harvested in autumn, during the period of maximum concentration of accumulation of biologically active substances. The raw material contains vitamins and microelements, is a choleretic, expectorant and diuretic agent. It is included in the complex treatment of diabetes mellitus, shortness of breath, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, nephritis, meningitis, and is prescribed during the period of influenza, cholera, anthrax.
There is experience in the effective treatment of mumps and various infectious diseases. Preparations from the root reduce the thyroid gland, stop the growth of metastases in the presence of tumors. Outwardly, remedies from the skullcap root are used for skin diseases, allergic dermatosis.
Skullcap tincture
Crushed dry roots must be poured with 70% alcohol (1:5) or vodka, insisted in a dark place for a week and taken 20-30 drops 2-3 times a day, diluted with water. Apply tincture as a hemostatic, appetite stimulant and normalizing digestion agent. It is also used for helminthic invasion.
The tincture increases the strength of the blood flow, slows down the contractions of the heart, lowers the tone and relieves spasms of the smooth muscles of the intestine. It is ideal for the complex treatment of hypertension and in terms of its pharmacological properties is not inferior to valerian tincture.
Skullcap extract
The herb extract has a healing and hemostatic effect, its intake is desirable for non-healing wounds and bleeding gums. Postoperative sutures heal especially well. The medicinal drug lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood, reduces the likelihood of blood clots, is an excellent protection against various viruses and infections, and also improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, helps to eliminate constipation.
The product stimulates the formation of collagen and elastin, improves skin elasticity. Showing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the extract improves metabolic processes in the dermis, accelerates the process of cell renewal.
Scuttler Baikal
The plant is found in the Far East, in Mongolia, in Transbaikalia. It chooses mainly steppes, dry stony and clayey slopes for habitation.
This herbaceous plant for medicinal purposes is harvested in the fall. In the case of drying at 40 degrees, numerous flavonoids found in the plant are preserved, such as baicalin, baicalein, oroxylin A, wogonin, scutelarin and others. Herbal decoctions and infusions are also saturated with tannins, steroids, coumarins, resins and essential oils.
It is known that the older the plant, the stronger its active ingredients.
Various medical sources mention the use of Baikal skullcap for uterine and other internal bleeding. Indications for the use of the root can be hematemesis, coughing up blood, nosebleeds, dyspepsia, epilepsy, acute rheumatism, whooping cough.
Scutellaria vulgaris
Scutellaria vulgaris is a perennial herbaceous plant with opposite, oblong-lanceolate leaves with wide blunt notches and two-lipped, bluish-purple flowers. This species grows in the regions of the European part of Russia and the Caucasus.
The herb contains the glycoside scutellarin, lowers blood pressure and reduces the excitability of the nervous system. In bronchitis and tuberculosis, skullcap liquefies thick sputum, allowing the bronchi and lungs to get rid of it. The plant has diuretic, astringent and hemostatic properties.
Infusion of common skullcap: 1 teaspoon of fresh or dry herbs must be poured with 250 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain. Take the resulting medicine 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day.
Altai skullcap
Altai skullcap habitats are rocky slopes, pebbles in the regions of Siberia and the Altai Territory. The plant has a long root, ascending stems, erect, pubescent. The oval leaves are rounded at the base, heart-shaped, crenate-toothed along the edge, pubescent below and above with adpressed hairs. The flowers are green or slightly purple. The plant has the same qualities as other species.
In folk medicine, Scutellaria Altai is used as a tonic and sedative. It is recommended to take it for palpitations, myocarditis, pulmonary diseases, colds, as the roots of the plant have a softening, expectorant and antipyretic effect.
Contraindications to the use of skullcap
This plant is not a panacea for all diseases, it is not a medicine, therefore, infusions and decoctions from it can be taken during complex therapy after a medical consultation. Grass is contraindicated for children under 12 years old, pregnant women, nursing mothers and with individual intolerance.