Colchicum
Useful properties and use of colchicum
Botanical characteristics of colchicum
Colchicum is a perennial herb of the lily family. Stem glabrous, erect, low; in length is from 10 to 50 cm. The root is an oblong corm, in length it can reach three to five cm, the bulb is covered with dark brown scales (husk) along its entire length. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate or elliptical, large, glabrous. The flowers are single, bisexual, large, up to 20-25 cm long.
Depending on the type of colchicum, flowers can be colored from white to purple. The fruit is a rhombic or three-celled elliptical capsule. Colchicum blooms in late summer or autumn (until mid-October). The specific difference of this plant is the fact that during the flowering period the leaves are not yet developed. Fruits and leaves appear only next year in the spring (as a rule, this happens immediately after the snow melts).
The seed ripening period is May-June. Immediately after the end of the seed ripening period, the aerial part of the crocus dies off completely. The natural area of distribution of crocus is the southwestern regions of the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus, India and the territory of Central Asia, the northern part of Africa, everywhere it grows throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. The genus of crocus contains more than 70 species, which differ in the period of flowering and seeding.
Useful properties of crocus
All - aboveground and underground - parts of the crocus are poisonous, but the bulb (root) and seeds are especially toxic. However, it should not be forgotten that most of the medicinal plants used both in traditional (as the main active substances in the manufacture of various pharmacological preparations) and in folk medicine are poisonous plants in chemical composition.
Based on the positive dynamics that can be traced when using medicinal infusions, tinctures, as well as ointments, which include the crocus, the medicinal plant has found wide application in folk medicine. The chemical composition of fireweed corms contains: heterocyclic alkaloids (colchicine, colchamine, colchicein), aromatic acids, sugars, flavonoids and glycoalkaloids.
The chemical composition of colchicum seeds contains: alkaloids, resins, tannins, lipids and sugars. In folk medicine, the infusion, tincture and ointment of colchicum are used as analgesics (pain relievers), antiemetics, diuretics and laxatives.
The use of crocus
Before using any form of a medicinal product from a columbus, it is imperative to consult a doctor, since all parts of the medicinal plant (and therefore all of its dosage forms) are poisonous and uncontrolled intake, as well as an incorrectly selected dosage of the drug can lead to death.
The ointment and infusion of the medicinal plant are used externally as an effective pain reliever for gout, arthritis, rheumatism and radiculitis.
Tincture of fresh plant tubers has an effective effect on edema, rheumatism, cystitis, urolithiasis, as well as a feeling of tightness (compression, pressure) in the chest.
Infusion of crocus
Half a teaspoon of fresh onion is poured with 500 ml of boiling water, left for 2 hours, and then filtered into a clean dish. The application should also start with a minimum dose, subsequently it can be 7-8 ml up to six times a day. The infusion should be washed down with 200 ml of warm non-carbonated water.
Colchicum ointment
300 g of the aboveground and underground parts of the plant are finely chopped and poured in 500 ml of water, after which they are placed in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes. Then the resulting infusion is filtered into a clean container and petroleum jelly / butter is added until the required consistency of the ointment is obtained. Store the resulting ointment in a tightly closed container in a cool place (10-15 ° C).
Rubbing the crocus
Recipe number 1. 1 part of the crushed dry tubers of the plant is poured with 12 parts of vinegar. The resulting solution is infused for 14 days, after which it is used as an anesthetic.
Recipe number 2. 1 part of the crushed roots of columbus is poured with five parts of 50% ethyl alcohol, insisted in a dark place for 10-14 days, after which it is used as rubbing for various rheumatic diseases.
Crocus flower
Colchicum flowers are single, large (up to 20–25 cm long), with six petals. A distinctive characteristic of the flowers of this medicinal plant is the fact that they are bisexual. Depending on the type of crocus, flowers can be colored in different shades - from white to purple. The plant blooms from August to October inclusive.
In folk medicine, colchicum flowers are used in the manufacture of anesthetic ointment. The use of the ointment is indicated for arthritis, radiculitis, gout and rheumatism.
Planting a crocus
Colchicum is a perennial herb (does not require transplanting for several years), it is absolutely unpretentious to growing conditions. Feels best on light (not dense), loose soils. Planting depth can vary from 10 to 20 cm (depth directly depends on the size of the bulb). The plant reproduces by daughter bulbs (capable of propagating independently).
If it is necessary to plant / plant a plant, it is best to do this in the summer (at the time when the aboveground part completely fades). When working with crocus and caring for it, it is necessary to follow the rules of personal safety with particular care, since all parts of the plant (aboveground and underground) are poisonous, which is why it is recommended to carry out all manipulations with gloves.
Crocus bulb
The crocus bulb is a large corm, which can reach a diameter of 4 cm. Throughout its area, the bulb is covered with husks (black - brown scales). Each bulb ends with a long neck, which, in turn, is also covered with scales. In the spring, after a period of development of large leaves, the old bulb dies off and is replaced by a new young bulb as a result of assimilation.
Due to its unique chemical composition, the crocus bulb has found wide application in traditional medicine recipes. Infusion, tincture and ointments, which include plant raw materials, are successfully used as an anesthetic, vasodilator and anti-inflammatory agent.
The chemical composition of the colchicum bulb contains such alkaloids as colchamine and colchicine, which are successfully used in the treatment of a number of cancers, including malignant neoplasms on the skin, in the chest, in the lungs and in the gastrointestinal tract.
Colchicum tincture
Colchicum tincture has long been used in folk medicine as an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. The tincture is applied topically (directly to the area of pain localization) and internally. However, before starting to use a medicinal tincture, it is important to consult a doctor - the tincture, like all other medicinal forms of the plant, is poisonous in large quantities and its improper and uncontrolled use can lead to death.
Recipe No. 1. 10 g of fresh onion (can be exchanged for plant seeds) are poured with 100 ml of 45% ethyl alcohol, after which the resulting infusion is placed in a dark place for 20 days. After this period has elapsed, the infusion is filtered and the reception of crocus is begun with 1 drop per day (if there is no development of side effects, the number of drops can be increased).
Recipe number 2. 1 part of the seeds is poured with 10 parts of 70% ethyl alcohol, then infused in a dark place for 14–20 days. The resulting tincture can be applied both internally (15–20 drops 3 times a day) and externally (directly to the area of pain localization).
Colchicum magnificent
Colchicum magnificent - a perennial herb of the lily family. The stalk is short, bare, develops in the spring (by the summer, the aerial part of the magnificent columbus dies off completely). The root is a large corm, covered over the entire area with black-brown scales, up to 4 cm in diameter. The leaves are large, bare, broadly oblong, as well as the stem, develop in the spring.
Flowers - bell-shaped, large (up to 5-7 cm in length), bisexual. They can be colored from lavender to pink-purple hue. The fruit is a rather large three-celled polyseminated capsule up to 5 cm in length. The aerial part of the plant completely dies off in the summer, blooms in the autumn (September-October). Fruiting in June, immediately after which the aerial part of the plant dies off. In the summer, the old bulb dies off, and a daughter corm is formed.
The natural area of growth of the magnificent columbus is the territory of the Western and Eastern Transcaucasia, the Ciscaucasia and the Main Caucasian ridge. It grows mainly on forest edges. In folk medicine, the underground part of medicinal raw materials is widely used - corms, which are harvested in the autumn period (during the flowering period of the plant), for maximum extraction of alkaloids, the raw material is processed in its raw form.
The chemical composition of the magnificent colchicum corm contains more than 20 different alkaloids, however, among this variety of organic compounds, two species are of the greatest value - colchamine and colchicine. In addition, the chemical composition of medicinal raw materials is rich in sugars, sterols and aromatic acids.
In traditional medicine, in the form of solid dosage forms (tablets) and ointments, the splendid crocus is used in complex therapy in the treatment of oncological diseases of the skin, papillomas of the respiratory tract, malignant neoplasms in the mammary glands and in the gastrointestinal tract.
Autumnal crocus
Colchicum autumn is a perennial herb of the lily family. Leaves - wide, elongated, lanceolate, develop in the spring. The flowers are large, painted in a pink-lilac shade. The fruit is an oblong-oval leathery capsule 3-5 cm long. Seeds are round in shape, numerous, colored in a dark brown shade.
The flowering time of autumn crocus is the autumn period (September-October), bears fruit in the summer period of the following year (June-July). Like most species representatives, the aboveground part of the autumn crocus completely dies off in the summer. All parts of the medicinal plant are very poisonous, therefore, using them without consulting a doctor is extremely dangerous for the patient's health.
In medicine, the underground part of the autumn crocus is used - the corm, which is harvested in the autumn period (flowering period). After the medicinal raw material is extracted from the ground, it is washed well under running water and cut into pieces (for maximum extraction of alkaloids).
The chemical composition of the autumn colchicum corm contains two most valuable alkaloids - colchicine and colchamine, which are used in the complex therapy of the treatment of oncological diseases of the skin and as an anesthetic for gout, rheumatism and radiculitis.
Colchicum colchicum
Colchicum (colchicum) is a perennial herb of the lily family.
The fruit is a three-celled capsule, the seeds are small, numerous, rounded. Colchicum blooms from August to September inclusive. In medicine (traditional and folk), seeds and the underground part of a medicinal plant are used. The corm and seeds, like the rest of the colchicum, are poisonous, therefore, the independent use of medicinal infusions and ointments can have an extremely negative effect on the human body, up to and including death.
The chemical composition of colchicum corms contains: alkaloids - colchicine and calchicein, phytosterols, sugars and aromatic acids. Due to their unique composition, healing infusions and ointments, which include the plant, are successfully used for chronic leukemia, skin cancer, malignant neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract, gout, arthritis, arthrosis and radiculitis.
Colchicum shady
Colchicum shady is a perennial herb of the lily family. Leaves are large, linear, fleshy, leathery, narrowed towards the base, reach 10-15 cm in length, 2-3 cm in width. The root is a small corm, which reaches 3 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter. Flowers large, painted in pale purple or lilac shades.
The natural area of distribution of the shady crocus is the territory of Crimea. Grows mainly in forests, forest edges and clearings. A characteristic feature of the shady crocus, which distinguishes it from other varieties of this genus, is the early growing season (April). Colchicum shade is an endangered species and is listed in the Red Book. Proceeding from this, the medical use of medicinal infusions and ointments is unacceptable.
Colchicum contraindications
All plant parts of the crocus are poisonous, therefore the use of ointments, infusions and tinctures from this medicinal plant is carried out only after consulting a doctor. The ointment, which includes colchicum, is contraindicated for skin cancer of III-IV degree.
All columbus preparations are contraindicated for use in persons with severe suppression of the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow, as well as in diarrhea and diabetes. Contraindicated for use in children, pregnant women and women during lactation.
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).
