Bellflower (plant) - Useful Properties And Uses Of Bellflower, Bell Seeds, Bell Flowers. Bell Blue

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Bell

Useful properties and uses of the bell

Useful properties of the bell

The bell has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, analgesic and sedative effects on the body. And this is the merit of those bioactive substances that are part of the chemical composition of this plant, namely carotene, caffeic and coumaric acids, kaempferol, quercetin, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium. There is also a lot of ascorbic acid in the leaves and flowers of the plant. For medicinal purposes, stems, flowers and leaves are used, harvested from June to August - during the flowering period.

For culinary purposes, young leaves are harvested in early May during the budding of flowers, the roots are dug up in early spring or late autumn. When cutting off the tops of the plant, they try to leave the largest specimens for divorce. Flowers are dried in the dark, in well-ventilated areas, it is best to keep the plants in bunches. After drying, the raw materials are folded into flat boxes, trying not to wrinkle.

Bell application

In folk medicine, decoctions and infusions of the plant are used; it is also effective in powder form. Decoctions are used to treat internal bleeding, fright and epilepsy in children. It is recommended to gargle with water infusion for colds, tonsillitis, stomatitis. A decoction of bellflower fruits and herbs is used to treat fever, atherosclerosis, constipation, glaucoma and syphilis. Decoction baths are used in the treatment of nervous disorders. Once upon a time, compresses from grass were applied to the site of a dog's bite, and lichens and felon were treated with powders.

Herb infusion: 2 teaspoons of dry herbs should be poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 15 minutes and filtered through cheesecloth. The infusion can be used externally to gargle or internally, at the rate of 1-2 tablespoons on an empty stomach 2-3 times a day.

Infusion of flowers: pour 1 teaspoon of powder from inflorescences with a glass of boiling water and leave for 40 minutes, then cool and strain through a strainer. It is recommended to take the remedy in 1 tablespoon as needed.

Broth: pour 10 g of chopped roots into an enamel bowl, pour 250 ml of water and boil in a water bath for about two hours with a tightly closed lid. You need to drink the medicine 1 tablespoon 3 times a day after meals.

Bell seed

The seeds of this flower vary in size: from dusty particles to larger specimens. They ripen in fruits and are used for reproduction. You can sow seeds in autumn or spring, in the ground or in a greenhouse. Since the seeds are very small, they can be mixed with sand or grated chalk before sowing.

Bell flowers

With its decorative effect, the flowers of this herb delight the eyes of many amateur gardeners, taking a worthy place in their flower beds. Bells usually grow in the form of inflorescences, but they can also be single. Their color range is very diverse: there are white, pink, purple, blue and bluish flowers. The plant is called a bell because the flowers in some species are bell-shaped. They bloom profusely and continuously in spring and summer.

Growing a bell

In nature, there are about 300 species of this plant, which grows mainly in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. More than half of the bluebell species grows in Russia, the Carpathians and the Far East. Grass propagation is done by seeds or seedlings.

For seedlings, use wooden boxes or other containers with a layer of drainage inside. The soil mixture is selected from leafy or soddy soil, weathered peat and sand, disinfecting such a mixture with a solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water. After planting, the seeds are not sprinkled with soil on top, but covered with paper or glass. From time to time, the soil should be sprayed with water, avoiding drying out. After the emergence of seedlings, the mini-greenhouse is removed. Plant pests are slugs and rust.

Bell varieties

Bells are frost-resistant perennials and dwarfs, grown mainly for rock gardens. There are also biennials - they are planted in flower beds. This herb is not difficult to grow, with the exception of a few species that need to be protected from excess moisture during the winter season. The group of curb bells is also numerous, they have varieties of various heights and they bloom from July to September. The varieties used for rock gardens are completely unpretentious, they only need non-acidic, drained soil. The grass blooms profusely in June-July.

The blue bell grows in the form of a bush up to 40 cm in diameter and 40–60 cm in height. This undemanding flower is one of the best rockery decorations. Its blue flowers form capitate inflorescences. In one place, the grass can grow up to 6 years. The plant blooms from June to July; in the wild, it prefers limestone rocks in the upper belt of European mountains. This species can be grown in rocky gardens, in flower beds, in flower pots.

Crowded bell is a herbaceous perennial medicinal plant. It has a short rhizome, reddish and hairy, with indistinct edges, stem, oval or lanceolate leaves. The upper leaves are sessile, the lower ones grow on long petioles. The flowers are grouped into the apical head, the inflorescences consist of 15–20 flowers. Flowering occurs in June and August.

The plant is widespread in the European part of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Siberia, Central Asia. This species grows in open glades and forest edges, in the steppes and in meadows. The plant is used as an analgesic, sedative and antiemetic agent.

Meadow bell is a perennial plant 15–20 cm high. It has a dense branched rhizome, erect or ascending non-branched stem. Leaves are cordate or rounded-bud, long-petiolate. Flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences of light blue or purple color. This species grows in areas with a temperate climate: in Siberia, the Caucasus, Central and Asia Minor, Europe. Its habitats are meadows, steppes, forests, sometimes the plant can be found in desert and rocky areas.

The middle bell is a biennial, very beautiful plant 1.2 m high. The stem is upright, pubescent, strongly branched, with many small leaves. Flowers are collected in a loose brush, simple or double. This species blooms from June to September with white, pink, purple or blue flowers. The plant serves as a great addition to flower arrangements. It is most often planted in flower beds with other perennials. They look very impressive in bouquets. Once cut, the flowers can stand in water for up to 10–12 days.

The bellflower is a perennial herb. Its stem is straight, branched, with many leaves, reaches a height of 50-150 cm. Fragrant milky-white flowers are collected in large racemose inflorescences. This species grows in the Caucasus, in Asia Minor, in the north-east of Turkey and north-west of Iran. The plant is used in double borders, in meadow flower beds. This kind of bell looks great near water bodies. This plant is one of the longest lived. In nature, it can reach the age of 20 years, in culture - 12.

Contraindications to the use of the bell

These are individual intolerance and hypersensitivity. It is not recommended to use preparations from the plant for pregnant and lactating women, children under 6 years old. Refuse from the use of this drug should be people with acute chronic diseases. It is imperative to observe the dosage and consult a doctor before use.

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).