Knotweed
Properties and uses of bird knotweed
Botanical characteristics of knotweed
There are several types of this herb with different botanical characteristics. You can find a creeping plant that adheres tightly to the soil. The stems of this type of grass are thin. In a knotweed ascending, the stem is more powerful, reaching a height of 40 cm. The stems of this herb have many branches, the leaves are elliptical or oblong, alternate. The flowers are funnel-shaped, white, greenish and pink with a reddish tint. They appear in May, flowering continues until June. As flowering ends, fruits grow in place of each flower, and their ripening is observed until late autumn.
Knotweed is an unpretentious plant, it grows excellently on gravelly and fertile soils, propagating by seeds. Its distribution area covers the entire territory of the CIS. This herb grows abundantly in the southwestern part of Siberia, preferring woodland and steppe expanses. Knotweed can be found along roads, in areas near houses, and its favorite places are on wastelands and pastures.
Harvesting knotweed as a raw material for use in traditional medicine can be carried out in one place every harvest season, since the grass grows even more after mowing. You should not collect knotweed from dwellings and pastures for livestock. The stems are cut with a sickle, drying is carried out in the air under a canopy or in well-ventilated attics.
Useful properties of knotweed
The knotweed herb has a high content of ascorbic acid, vitamins E, K and carotene are present in it. Of the flavonoids in the plant, avicularin, hyperin, isorhamnetin, myricitin, quercetin and kaempferol were found. The presence of tannins and essential oil in the spore was noted. The plant also contains coumarins: scopoletin and umbelliferone. Among phenolcarboxylic acids there are gallic, caffeic, coumaric, chlorogenic, and also ash.
The plant is rich in resins and silicic acid compounds. The flowers contain flavonoids. The roots contain anthraquinones. The active substances of the plant: silicic acid, mucus, tannins, flavonoids, saponin - most of all affect the body in the treatment of various diseases.
Using knotweed
The herb is highly nutritious. Knotweed - just like alfalfa, clover, rank - loves livestock and poultry. The knotweed herb is low-toxic. Due to its ability to regulate metabolic processes, knotweed is a component of blood-purifying teas, contributing to good filtration of the kidneys, increased urine output, and excretion of excess salts.
The plant is used for inflammatory manifestations in the kidneys. Knotweed herb is a prophylactic agent, prevents the formation of sand in the kidneys and urinary stones, dissolves silicic acid compounds that are excreted in urine. The beneficial substances of the plant affect the functioning of the stomach and intestines. Thanks to tannins, knotweed herb has antimicrobial properties, has an anti-inflammatory effect, and therefore decoctions are effective in treating wounds and pustular rashes on the skin. The astringent properties of the plant strengthen the walls of blood vessels, increase blood clotting.
If necessary, the use of knotweed helps to increase the contractility of the smooth muscles of organs, which is recommended in the postpartum period and after abortions to contract the uterus. The plant has a hypotensive effect, normalizes respiration. As a tonic and diuretic, knotweed is used for tuberculosis and malaria, and is also used for colds, since it has antipyretic properties. Knotweed is recommended for tumors and gallstone disease. The aerial part of the plant is used as a tonic for fatigue and weakness after illness. With arthritis, septicopyemia, knotweed has an anti-inflammatory effect. A decoction of knotweed, cooked in milk, acts as a sedative for cramps.
Infusion and decoction are very useful for diseases of the kidneys, liver, stomach, bladder. The hemostatic effect of the plant helps with hemorrhoids, scurvy and gout. Knotweed is often included in the composition of various therapeutic fees used for chronic gastritis, uterine bleeding, cystitis, whooping cough, pulmonary tuberculosis.
Infusion of knotweed: 3 tablespoons of dry or fresh raw materials are poured with 200 ml of hot boiled water, heated in a water bath for 15 minutes, cooled for 45 minutes, filtered and the volume is brought to 200 ml with boiled water. Take 1 / 3-1 / 2 glass 2-3 times a day before meals.
Broth from knotweed: Pour chopped raw herb with water at room temperature in a ratio of 1:10, put in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes, cool for 15 minutes, filter and drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day. Three cups of broth a day are indicated for hoarseness, rheumatism and gout, pain with hemorrhoids.
Fresh juice is valuable; it is squeezed from mature plants cut during flowering. Take 0.5-1 glass 2-3 times a day 30 minutes before meals, adding a teaspoon of honey. This remedy is useful for hypertension, convulsive syndromes, diseases of the lungs, genitourinary system. With the juice of fresh grass knotweed heals wounds, ulcers, it dissolves bruises. To do this, you need to rinse the wound with juice and put a napkin soaked in it in place of the damaged tissue.
Knotweed (highlander) avian
This simple grass covers courtyards, river banks, meadows with a carpet. In the spring, the bird's mountaineer is of a delicate emerald color, in the summer it is dark green, and in the fall it becomes ocher. This species blooms from May to September. The herb is used as an astringent, hemostatic agent, helps to improve the condition after serious illnesses, regulates water-salt metabolism and metabolism. With sore throat, vitamin deficiency, pneumonia, severe bronchitis and pleurisy, the plant promotes recovery faster. Bird knotweed has a diuretic, hypotensive effect, is able to act as a general tonic, is a source of vitamins.
Knotweed seeds
Knotweed seeds are formed by the end of summer. Small dry black fruits have three facets, sparrows, domestic and game birds like to feast on them, they carry seeds, which contributes to the reproduction of this weed and useful plant. In folk medicine, seeds are not used: they are not digested in the digestive tract and therefore do not bring any benefit.
How to drink knotweed
There are many folk recipes for the preparation of knotweed decoctions and infusions, their correct use contributes to a quick recovery. It is important to adhere to the recommendations when taking herbs, when preparing decoctions, you must adhere to the ratio of ingredients specified in the recipes.
Knotty during pregnancy
The causes of infertility can be organ pathologies, stressful situations. In order for the long-awaited pregnancy to come, it is worth helping yourself by including folk remedies in the complex treatment. Knotweed promotes conception; for this, people have used decoction recipes since ancient times. Herbal treatments can be effective, and the natural properties of the nutrients can work wonders. Such agents are sometimes preferable to chemical-based drugs.
Recipe for knotweed decoction: 20 g of herb should be poured with a glass of water, heated for 15–20 minutes in a water bath, let it brew for 45 minutes and squeeze. It is recommended to drink 2 tablespoons of the broth 3-4 times a day before meals.
Knotweed decoction
Many recipes for knotweed broths have come down to us since ancient times, many are compiled as a result of observations of the action of nutrients by modern healers-healers.
Recipe number 1: you need 1 tablespoon knotweed and a glass of boiling water, they should be boiled in a water bath for 30 minutes, insist for ten minutes and drink 100 ml after taking a decoction of rosehip root, the remedy helps with gallstone disease.
Recipe number 2: you need to mix one part knotweed, horsetail, 5 parts Potentilla goose, three parts centaury, then take 1 tablespoon of the mixture, brew for 1 hour, strain and drink in small sips during the day for pain on critical days.
Knotweed infusions
Recipes for making infusions have been known for a long time. Here are some of them.
Recipe number 1: you need to take 3-4 tablespoons of knotweed, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 4 hours in a warm place or use a thermos for this. It is recommended to drink 0.5 cups of the product 4 times a day 20-30 minutes before meals. This medicine is effective for female diseases. With leanness and obesity, metabolic normalization is observed. The infusion gives strength to the elderly, helps well with nervous exhaustion and muscle weakness.
Recipe number 2: 4 tablespoons of herbs need to be poured with 1 glass of boiling water, insist in a thermos for 1-2 hours, strain and drink 1/4 cup in three doses during the day. It is an excellent remedy for whooping cough, dry cold cough, gallstones and bladder stones.
Knotweed for the kidneys
If kidney stones are tormented and the disease haunts, you can use folk remedies and take decoctions and infusions of knotweed. Modern healers, as well as thousands of years ago, know the secrets of longevity: in order to be healthy, you need to cleanse the kidneys from accumulated toxins, stones and sand. This will help knotweed with its help, the kidneys are cleaned gently and painlessly, the state of health improves, the method is very effective.
Knotweed broth: it is prepared in the morning. 1 tablespoon knotweed should be poured with a glass of boiling water, steamed in a water bath for 30 minutes, cooled, filtered and taken (only in the morning) in combination with cocklebur grass according to the following scheme: drink a glass of knotweed broth, after ten minutes take half a glass of cocklebur decoction.
Knotweed for men
Knotweed is great for treating male problems. It normalizes sexual function in men. This natural remedy is excellent for most disorders in the male genital area. The herb is used as a remedy for inflammation. Due to its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, knotweed destroys microbes, promotes healing of various wounds, restores tissue integrity and normalizes metabolic processes.
When used correctly, knotweed gradually dissolves stones and removes sand from the bladder, helps restore diseased organs, improves the emotional background, tones and strengthens the body. Having a beneficial effect on all systems of the male body, knotweed is the number one plant for the prevention of most diseases. These include impotence and cancer.
Knotweed tea
Knotweed is a part of teas used for lung diseases, severe cough. This medicinal drink can be prepared at home.
Tea recipe: 2 tablespoons with the top of the herb must be poured with 1/4 liter of cold water and brought to a boil, then strain, take 2-3 cups.
Knotweed for children
Knotweed is incredibly helpful for children with seizures, whooping cough, and coughs.
Broth of knotweed in milk: boil two tablespoons of herbs in 0.5 liters of milk for 5 minutes. Drink 0.5 cups 4 times a day.
A course treatment with knotweed is recommended for acne in adolescents. In the spring and fall, to cleanse the skin, take knotweed tea daily for several weeks.
Contraindications to the use of knotweed
Knotweed is contraindicated in pregnancy, as it has properties that affect the tone of the uterus. You can not use the herb for acute diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system. During the period of taking knotweed, it is contraindicated to consume garlic and onions.
Knotweed is also not recommended with excess sputum (bronchitis). People with low blood pressure need to remember that grass helps lower blood pressure. It will not hurt to be careful with varicose veins and blood clots.
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
