Istod
Useful properties and application of istod
Botanical characteristics of istode
Istod is a perennial dicotyledonous plant with unbranched erect stems 15–30 cm high. The leaves are alternate, sessile, lanceolate, forming a noticeable basal rosette at the base. The flowers are zygomorphic, on short pedicels, blue, white, less often reddish, with oval-elongated petals (5–7 mm), form brushes on the tops of the branches. The flowering period is May-June, the fruits ripen in July-August. Fruits are obverse-heart-shaped capsules, flattened from the sides. Seeds are glabrous or hairy, with a prunus.
Istode grows in almost all moderately warm zones. The plant prefers moist soil and light places. The source can be found along roadsides, along river terraces and slopes, in pastures and even in dry meadows.
Useful properties of istode
Istod is widely used in folk medicine, despite the fact that it contains many bitter substances. For the preparation of medicines, the aerial part and roots are used. Leaves and flowers are cut off during flowering, roots are dug up later. The grass is dried under a canopy or indoors with free access to air, stored in a dry place.
The roots and rhizomes contain saponins (up to 6%), which also include an amorphous mixture known as senegin. The roots also contain a lot of tannins and dyes, essential and fatty oils, polygallic acid. The leaves contain ascorbic acid and flavonoids. The plant has a choleretic, antidiabetic, expectorant, anti-sclerotic and wound healing effect. According to ancient Chinese teachings, its regular use promotes longevity.
Using istode
Decoctions and infusions are prepared from the roots, used as an expectorant in the treatment of bronchial asthma, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema. They increase the secretion of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, which leads to the thinning of mucus. Decoctions from the root are also good for cystitis. Herbal infusions are used for diarrhea, catarrh of the stomach and intestines, as well as for appetite. They are able to increase lactation in lactating women.
The leaf infusions are soothing and beneficial for cramps, they are useful for impotence and memory loss, as an anti-febrile remedy. In the form of poultices and wipes, herbal infusions are prescribed for abscesses and eczema.
Decoction from the root: 8 g of dry crushed roots should be poured with a glass of boiling water and cooked in a water bath for 20-30 minutes, then let it brew, and then strain and bring the resulting broth to the previous volume by pouring boiled water into it. The medicine should be taken 30 minutes before meals 4 times a day, 1 tablespoon.
Infusion of flowers and leaves: 1 teaspoon of chopped grass is poured with 400 ml of boiling water, infused for 2 hours and filtered. Dosage: 10-15 minutes before meals, take 100 mg of infusion 4 times a day.
Herb tea: 2 teaspoons of dry leaves and flowers are poured into 1/3 cup of boiled water, brought to a boil and filtered after 1–2 minutes. Tea can be drunk one cup 2-3 times a day, sweetened with honey.
Root of istode
When harvesting roots and rhizomes, they are carefully dug out of the ground and cleaned well (you cannot wash them!). Raw materials are dried outdoors in the shade, in a ventilated room or in dryers at a temperature of 45-50 ° C. After drying, the roots are shaken again on special sieves to completely remove the remaining soil. The dried roots are stored in cloth bags in a dry place, the shelf life of raw materials is up to three years. Harvesting of roots is carried out from August to September.
For a long time, the roots of istode were imported to Russia, but over time, domestic botanists studied local plant varieties and came to the conclusion that they also have excellent medicinal properties.
Siberian isstod
Istod Siberian grows in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the southeastern European part of Russia, in Eastern and Western Siberia, in the Far East and the Caucasus. This small perennial plant has thin, short pubescent, more or less bushy stems. The upper leaves are lanceolate, the lower ones are elliptical, pointed at the ends. Sepals are green with whitish edges, corolla is blue or light purple. The plant blooms from late May to mid-June.
The roots of this type of istode contain saponins, tannins, salicylic acid methyl alcohol, fatty oil, glycosides. Medicinal preparations from the roots are used for diseases of the lungs and bronchitis, for mucous diarrhea, catarrh of the intestines and stomach. Good results are obtained with the external use of infusions and decoctions for the treatment of boils, gargling with laryngitis.
Myrtle leaf spring
It is an evergreen shrub over 1 meter high. Its thin branches are densely covered with foliage. Leaves are oval, different shades of green. At the ends of the short branches, the flowers are collected in small brushes. The flowers are large, purple or bright purple, similar to fluttering butterflies. This species blooms from May to September.
This South African plant needs plenty of light and we grow it in pots. The medicinal properties of this species have not been studied.
Istod thin-leaved
This type of istode is found in Primorye, Amur region, Altai, in the southern regions of Eastern Siberia. It grows along river terraces, on stony mountain slopes, in dry meadows. Plant height is from 10 to 30 cm, it has many thin branching stems. The lower leaves are lanceolate, the upper ones are narrow-linear to filiform. The flowers are bluish or light purple, on drooping pedicels, collected in sparse inflorescences. Fruits are two-celled rounded capsules with dark brown seeds.
Traditional Chinese medicine recommends decoctions from the roots of the thin-leaved istode for heart neuroses, vegetative-vascular dystonia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and nephritis. In Tibetan medicine, istod is used for inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, diseases of the stomach and intestines, edema, and lack of appetite. As part of complex charges, it is prescribed for sleep disorders, atherosclerosis, anemia, disorders of the nervous system, vascular spasms.
The roots of the thin-leaved istode are distinguished by anomalous wood structure. The cross section clearly shows the absence of a full disc. Most often, wood is only 1/2 or 3/4 of a disk, the rest of the space is filled with cortical parenchyma. The roots are odorless, they have a whitish break, taste sweetish, irritating to the throat.
Ordinary source
This species is distributed throughout the European part of Russia, in Ukraine (in the Carpathians), less often in Polesie. It grows in wet meadows, along river banks, on forest edges, in bushes. There are many stems, they are branched or simple, almost glabrous. Plant height 15–30 cm. The lower leaves are alternate, oval, 0.5–2 cm long, the upper ones are elongated, sessile, sharp. The flowers are five-petal, blue, rarely pinkish, collected in rare brushes. The fruits are boxes. The flowering period is June-July, the fruits ripen in July-August.
Decoctions and infusions of the common istode contribute to the liquefaction of sputum, have an anti-inflammatory effect and increase the secretion of the bronchial glands. Prescribed funds based on istode for laryngitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma and bronchitis. The positive therapeutic effect is associated with the action of triterpene saponins.
Contraindications to the use of istode
The root of istode can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, therefore it is not recommended for patients with peptic ulcer and gastritis. Individual drug intolerance is also possible. Treatment of children under three years of age is contraindicated.
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).
