Iris
Useful properties and uses of iris bulbs, varieties
Description of iris
Iris includes 250 species that grow throughout Asia, Europe, North America and parts of Africa. This perennial is a unique herb with powerful tuberous rhizomes. They have two main types of shoots - generative and vegetative. Xiphoid flat leaves with a waxy bloom are collected at the base of beautiful peduncles with special fan-shaped bundles.
Many types of stem leaves either have few or none. Single flowers are located in low-flowered inflorescences. They are distinguished by a fragrant aroma and graceful shape. The rich gamut of varied shades includes a wide palette from dazzling whites to deep purples. The large flowers consist of six petal lobes of a typical perianth. The three outer lobes are always slightly downward. In a flower, the ovary has a three-celled shape, and the pistil column is slightly dissected into 3 lobes.
Irises bloom, as a rule, from May to mid-July. The life span of each inflorescence is approximately three days. The flower bud is laid on the rhizome in summer. The fruit of the plant is represented by a three-nested capsule. One gram contains up to 16 seeds. Irises prefer to settle in open spaces, choosing the shores of reservoirs, steppe zones and deserts.
Useful properties of iris
In modern medical practice, several varieties of irises are allowed for use, including decorative varieties of Florentine and German. Rhizomes are considered the main medicinal raw material of plants, since their main active ingredient is a unique essential oil. The active ingredient in this oil is ketone iron. The collection of rhizomes is carried out after planting in the third year. They should be rinsed in water, cleaned from lateral roots and aerial parts, dried thoroughly and stored in closed jars.
The rhizomes contain a large amount of essential vitamin C, starch, special sugars and other useful substances. In aromatherapy, the exceptional iris root is highly regarded as a mild sedative. The plant is often used as an excellent expectorant and mild laxative. Healing decoction of iris roots helps to dissolve solid tumors, eliminate severe headaches, and also heals gastrointestinal colic, bronchitis, sore throat and even pneumonia.
In modern cosmetology, the decoction is indicated for the effective elimination of freckles, acne, wrinkles, and dandruff. This remedy is used for severe hair loss. This is an excellent hair stimulator that increases hair density and shine at the same time.
The large leaves of iris contain substantial amounts of ascorbic acid. In India, rhizomes have long been used as an astringent and diuretic. And in some European countries, crushed leaves are still used due to their diaphoretic properties.
It has been proven that iris, in addition to essential oil, contains isoflavonoids, flavonoids, glycoside iridin, carotenoids, fatty oil, various organic acids and tannins. It has an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, antimycotic, detoxifying, antioxidant, anthelmintic, hemostatic, astringent, antipyretic, diuretic, tonic, analgesic, tonic and obstetric effect.
Iris application
In the form of miraculous infusions, the plant is used for toothache and dropsy. With scurvy, various rinses with iris are prescribed. The rhizomes are part of the popular breast tea. Modern homeopathic remedies based on the presented plant are prescribed for the effective treatment of the salivary glands and inflammation of the pancreas.
To prepare the infusion, you will need a glass of boiling water for 15 grams of raw materials. Inside, this remedy can be taken up to 6 times a day for 1 tbsp. l. The dried roots of iris are considered an excellent expectorant and blood-purifier. In addition, it has a powerful diuretic effect. It is prescribed for papillomatosis of the bladder and severe anacid gastritis.
To prepare a decoction of toffee, you need to take 1 tsp. powder of crushed rhizomes and pour them 300 ml of boiling water. Boil the mixture over a fairly low heat, be sure to cover for at least 5 minutes. Then the product should be kept warm for about two hours. After straining with the resulting broth, it is recommended to rinse the throat and oral cavity with tonsillitis and stomatitis. To get rid of long-term non-healing wounds and trophic ulcers, you can wipe them with this wonderful tool.
For coughs, pain in the gastrointestinal tract, colds, as well as for bladder cancer and polyps, taking a decoction inside warm, half a glass, is shown. With neurodermatitis and diaper rash, it is recommended to sprinkle the affected skin with powder from iris rhizomes.
Healing tincture of iris is prepared within two weeks from the ratio of 1 part rhizomes, which are finely chopped, and 10 parts of ordinary vodka. In case of circulatory disorders, with severe pain and persistent cramps in the stomach, you can take 20 or 30 drops a day at least three times a day. The tincture should be diluted in a little water. It is also indicated for the treatment of chronic lung ailments.
Alcoholic-water extract from curative iris rhizomes actively inhibits the development of tubercle bacillus. The plant's essential oil is used in perfumery and aromatherapy. The fantastic aroma of the oil gives a feeling of comfort and harmony, it improves mood and helps with nervous disorders. Various creams based on the presented iris oil can boast a powerful regenerating effect, while at the same time they make the skin soft and velvety.
Iris bulbs
Bulbous iris has an interesting developmental cycle similar to that of tulips. In temperate climates, bulbs can be planted in the fall. They take root rather quickly at low temperatures and sprout in early spring. When flowering, a daughter bulb is formed. As a rule, this always happens during the summer. When dug up, each bulb often has 3 leaf buds. In a snowy frosty winter, it is not necessary to cover the iris plantings. In the absence of snow, it is advisable to insulate them with a layer of dry foliage.
Iris drops
Wonderful Iris Eye Drops are a special preparation. The clear liquid is yellow in color, because it contains a special aqueous polyvinylpyrrolidone and a solution of gentamicin sulfate. These incomparable drops have a rather pronounced bactericidal effect. They are harmful to many gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. These include the dangerous Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
This tool has regenerating and prolonging properties. When installed in a special conjunctival cavity, the drops are absorbed throughout the conjunctival mucosa. They easily penetrate into the intraocular environment through the cornea. At the same time, the required concentration of the drug inside each eye is guaranteed. Iris drops provide excellent antibacterial action for severe corneal and conjunctival lesions.
The main indications for the use of the drug are not only treatment, but also the prevention of keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis and iridocyclitis in all dogs and cats.
Iris essential oils
The healing essential oil of iris is extracted from the dried roots. The plant is subjected to a special extraction method. The essential oil has a yellowish brown color and a sweetish aroma. It contains over 140 unique components. These include geraniol, stearopten, linalool, eleopten, betulenol, betulene, methyl salicylate, iron, ketones, benzaldehyde, as well as acids such as salicylic, lauric, oleic, stearic, palmitic and others. Iris essential oil is applied only externally to relieve pain, relaxation and relaxation.
Iris seeds
Plant seeds sprout easily when sown in the ground. The best germination rate is usually observed with fresh seeds. They are often used to make a delicious drink that can replace regular black coffee. In addition, the seeds are an excellent means of uniquely flavoring various spirits.
Growing iris
When choosing a landing strip, pay attention to protection from wind and stagnant water. Most of the day should be sunny. The soil should be fertile with humus or compost, and you can also add some bone meal. The cut of the rhizomes should be white and clean, without any visible damage or stains. Irises are planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other. The top layer should always be loose and breathable.
After 2-3 years, lush bushes of green xiphoid leaves appear from the planted sections. Then strong flower stalks are formed, which will have up to 7 graceful buds. Watering before flowering is a must. Withered flowers should be removed immediately. It is recommended to cut the flower stalks after flowering.
Varieties and types of irises
Irises differ in their richness of tones and the duration of flowering. This plant boasts a wide variety of varieties and species
Iris bearded. This variety is considered the most popular of the garden irises. The bases of the outer petals are decorated with special stripes of hairs that stand out strongly against the general background with a contrasting color. Bearded light-loving irises are undersized, medium-sized and large-sized. Their height can vary from up to 70 cm.
Iris Siberian. Its distribution area is vast territories, ranging from the north of Italy to the purest Lake Baikal. Plant populations are also found in the Komi Republic, the Caucasus and Northern Turkey. The rhizome of the Siberian iris at the top has brown remnants of leaf sheaths. The branched stem has several stalk-enclosing leaves. Beautiful flowers are on unequal pedicels. A small box contains light gray seeds.
Iris Dutch. Such a perennial has a special underground organ where reserves of substances are stored instead of rhizomes. Several daughter bulbs are formed annually. The leafy sturdy peduncle reaches a height of 80 cm. The stem has narrow-fluted dense leaves. The color of the flower can be either one-color or two-color. This variety is considered thermophilic and requires shelter from cold weather and winds in winter.
Iris dwarf. This species grows well in feather grass and dry grass steppes. He also enjoys settling in rocky calcareous slopes, salt licks and sands. The height of this perennial plant is no more than 15 cm. All its leaves are basal and bluish in color. The length of the peduncle reaches 3 cm. The dwarf iris blooms in early May. It tolerates dryness well.
Iris marsh. It can often reach one meter in height. Beautiful golden yellow flowers are decorated with brown strokes. This unique variety blooms in May and June. This plant is considered heat-loving and winter-hardy, it prefers direct sunlight. In the wild, marsh iris chooses river floodplains and various banks of water bodies. It can often be found anywhere in Europe, in Siberia, the Far East, China and Japan.
Iris xiphoid. This plant is a late flowering species. The height of the narrow leaves does not exceed 40 cm. The flat flowers have short inner petals and rather wide outer petals. The average height of the peduncles is no more than 70 cm. In natural conditions, it always blooms from mid-July to mid-August. The xiphoid iris with a special thickened rhizome is found in Korea, China and Japan.
Contraindications for iris
The main contraindication to the use of the plant is only individual intolerance to the components.
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).
