Medicinal properties and contraindications for the use of heather herb, composition
The heather plant belongs to the heather group. It can be planted both on the street, for example, in the garden, in the local areas, and at home, placing it in pots. Heather has long been famous for its medicinal properties, but contraindications have also been found that are an obstacle to taking plant-based products. However, this does not limit the use of heather in various branches of medicine.
Description and chemical composition of heather
The plant looks like a small branchy shrub. It grows in different parts of the world. To a greater extent, it can be found in Europe, North America and Africa, Asia (in the temperate climatic zone). However, heather was also brought to Russia, and due to its beautiful appearance, they began to plant it next to houses.
Until now, there is no complete information about the composition of the plant. Some components are not yet fully understood.
Inflorescences
Heather flowers contain vitamins, mineral and resin components, organic acids, alkaloids, which contain nitrogen and have a hemostatic, analgesic effect, improve the activity of the cardiovascular system.
The antiseptic therapeutic effect is due to the glycosides and arbutin that are part of the flowers. Due to flavonoids, tannins, quercetin, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, antihistamine, diuretic, antitumor effects are achieved.
Leaves
Grass heather in its leaves contains phenols (including derivatives), coumarin, catechin, glycosidic substances, phenol carboxylic acids (synapic, coffee, chlorogenic, vinylinic). In addition, the herb is rich in flavonoids, organic acids, and tannins.
How to collect and procure raw materials
The main therapeutic effect of the plant is inflorescences. Therefore, flowers are harvested for therapeutic purposes. Harvesting takes place around August, when active flowering occurs. The required area is carefully broken off or cut off, excluding the shoots.
The roots, which are dug out of the ground with a shovel, have less therapeutic effectiveness. Next, the root is cleaned of dirt, the upper parts are cut off. Collecting roots falls on October (end), November (beginning).
Drying of the plant is carried out in a dark place where open sunlight does not penetrate. For this purpose, an attic or a shed in the yard is better suited.Spread the future raw materials on paper or fabric in a thin layer, periodically turning over. You can also collect the stems with flowers in a bunch, tie them with a thread and hang them from the ceiling. The roots are dried in the same way: laid out on cloth or paper, placed in the shade.
Store raw materials in a tissue bag.
The beneficial effect of the plant on the body
The heather plant is useful due to its medicinal composition, which makes it possible to use funds based on it for various diseases.
Effects on the skin
In the presence of a wound, burn, or other violation of the integrity of the skin, products with heather in the composition help to accelerate healing, destroy pathogenic microorganisms, clean the wound, and relieve the symptoms of the inflammatory process.
In cosmetology, plant-based products are used to rejuvenate the epidermis, as well as a photoprotector, since they act prophylactically against the formation of sunburn.
The plant extract is used due to the antiseborrheic effect, which causes the normalization of sebum production, preventing excessive greasy hair and dermis.
Heather-based products are useful for oily, problematic, aging, combination skin, in the presence of inflammatory elements. If a skin disease develops, infusions and decoctions are added to the baths.
Strengthening the joints
Heather is used as a strengthening agent for joint diseases, which include arthritis, polyarthritis, rheumatism, and gout. In this case, an infusion is prepared, from which compresses are made. In the finished product, a gauze piece is moistened, applied to the joint for 10 minutes. Apply a compress 3 times a day, until complete recovery.
Normalization of gastrointestinal functions
The plant helps fight diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, it can be gastritis or another pathology that occurs with an increase in acidity in the stomach.
Urinary tract and kidneys
Plant-based remedies are used in the treatment of urinary tract pathologies - cystitis, urolithiasis, which can be explained by the diuretic effect of heather.
Improves metabolism
Heather helps to improve metabolic processes in the body, therefore it is often used in the development of corresponding diseases: diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular pathologies, gout, obesity.
Ways to use heather
From the plant, its flowers, stems, root, leaves prepare infusion and decoction, as well as honey.
Heather tea
Making tea from a plant is not difficult. You need to take 2 tablespoons of raw materials (any part), pour 300 milliliters of boiling water, put on fire and simmer for 10 minutes. After removing from the heat, cool, strain and use instead of regular tea throughout the day.
Heather infusion
To prepare the infusion, you need to take 2 tablespoons of raw materials, previously crushed, pour 300 milliliters of boiling water, insist for an hour. The daily dosage and duration of administration differ depending on the primary condition for the treatment of which the infusion is used.
Heather honey
Heather honey is produced by bees. It sits down so quickly that crystallization occurs already in the combs, and the strength is so high that it is practically impossible to remove it from the combs naturally. For this reason, in most cases, heather honey is extracted by pressing on a special press with plates and honeycomb pins.
Side effects and precautions
Adverse reactions after taking heather-based products, as a rule, occur against a background of neglect of contraindications. Overdose cases have not been reported to date.In some cases, nausea and vomiting, pain in the epigastric region may occur..
Contraindications to eating heather
Health damage can be caused if you do not take into account the existing contraindications to heather intake. The absolute limitations include hypersensitivity to the constituent components, pathologies occurring with low acidity of the stomach, constipation.
Conclusion
The heather plant has a unique composition due to which it is appreciated in many branches of medicine. Since it contains only natural ingredients, heather rarely causes side symptoms, but it is still not recommended to abuse self-medication. Otherwise, you can not only slow down recovery, but also harm your health.
