Medicinal properties and contraindications of wintergreen, how to use

Synonyms: winter grass, bitter grass, expulsion of borovaya, expulsion of ramen, nasadnik, porushnik, zolotnik, sukhovishnik, stannik, pear, grushovka, core, borovushka

• Preparation and storage
• Chemical composition
• Application in medicine
• Contraindications

Wintergreen umbrella is an evergreen perennial shrub, the leaves and grass of which are used in traditional and folk medicine as a diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and hemostatic agent.

The plant has powerful creeping roots and creeping stems. The shoots are woody, ribbed, covered with pointed, hard foliage of a bright dark green color. The upper part of the leaves is glossy, the lower part is pale. The shape of the leaves is lanceolate, elongated, serrated at the edges.

If a wintergreen leaf is broken, a strong pleasant smell begins to emanate from it. The leaves taste sweet with a slight bitterness. The flowers are bell-shaped, wide, collected in umbels of 2-8 pieces. Petals are white and pink. Wintergreen flowers emit a sweet menthol aroma.

The plant blooms in June-July. After flowering, fruit sets, which are a flattened round box with seeds. The plant reproduces vegetatively.

Wintergreen grows in the temperate forest zone of the Northern Hemisphere. On the territory of the Russian Federation it can be found in Siberia, the European part of the country, and the Far East. The plant prefers dry coniferous forests and sandy soil. Wintergreen is included in the Red Book of the Komi Republic.

Indications for use

For chronic pyelonephritis, cystitis, hepatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis; for urolithiasis and cholelithiasis; for prostatitis, edema of renal and cardiac origin. It has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, astringent (for diarrhea), analgesic (for pain after childbirth, as well as for dental and stomach pain), choleretic, restorative and tonic effect. Decoctions increase appetite, improve digestion processes, and reduce blood sugar in diabetes mellitus. In folk medicine it is recommended for menstrual irregularities, intestinal tuberculosis, rheumatism, gout. As a hemostatic agent - for all types of bleeding. Externally: for carcinoma, tumors of the lips, tonsils, mammary glands (in the form of poultices); for skin diseases and pustular wounds.

How to use the spool?

Zolotnik is used in folk medicine in the form of infusions, lotions, and decoctions. It is included in medicinal preparations. Wintergreen-based products have a tonic effect, so the last dose should be 3 hours before bedtime.

We recommend reading: Medicinal properties and contraindications of peony evasive

To prepare the infusion, you need to brew 5 g of herb in 240 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid, and leave for 3 hours. Take 80 ml strained three times a day. This medicine can be used to treat arthritis and gout.

To make a compress, add 5 g of dry herb to 250 ml of water and simmer for 5 minutes. Do not strain, use for lotions along with sediment. Soak the bandage in the solution and apply to diseased blood vessels, back, wounds, swelling and burns. You can keep the compress until it dries completely. Carry out procedures for 3 weeks.

A decoction can be prepared from 5 g of crushed leaves and roots, filled with 250 ml of water. The mixture needs to be boiled for 5 minutes, left for 1 hour under the lid. Take 30 ml strained before each meal. It is optimal for the treatment of prostatitis, urethritis, and diseases of the genitourinary system.

Slimming tea is prepared from 5 g of raw materials and 350 ml of boiling water. You need to leave it for 30 minutes. Drink 70 ml hot or warm 3 times a day. You can add a little honey to improve the taste. This drink helps with diabetes, eliminates swelling, and provides high-quality prevention of epilepsy.

To treat uterine or breast cancer, you need to prepare tea from 25 g of wintergreen and 400 ml of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Take 120 ml three times a day for 30 days.

Alcohol tincture is used to treat tuberculosis and intestinal diseases. Pour 65 g of dried herb into 500 ml of vodka, close, leave in a dark place for 25-30 days. Shake, filter. Take 30 drops 3 times a day before meals.

For cystitis, it is necessary to take a medicinal water infusion of spool. Pour 20 g of herb into 300 ml of cold water and leave for 12 hours. Take 15 ml strained 3 times a day before meals.

Wintergreen umbrella is a medicinal herb with a wide spectrum of action. Official medicine does not recognize the medicinal properties of the plant, so now spool is used only by homeopaths and traditional healers.

Source

Other useful and medicinal plants

Beneficial properties and contraindications of alfalfa

Description of blue agave with photos, medicinal properties

Eyebright - medicinal properties and contraindications for use

Black henbane - beneficial properties, contraindications, application

Best before date

24 months

Vitamins with similar effects

• Wintergreen (Powder for oral use)
• Obivit (Capsule)
• Tincture "Urogin" (Tincture)
• Spruce syrup (Syrup)
• St. John's wort with herbs (Vegetable raw materials)
• Female Doctor (Capsule)

The description of vitamin Wintergreen is intended for informational purposes only. Before starting to use any drug, it is recommended to consult a doctor and read the instructions for use. For more complete information, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not self-medicate; EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of information posted on the portal. Any information on the project does not replace consultation with a specialist and cannot be a guarantee of the positive effect of the drug you use. The opinions of EUROLAB portal users may not coincide with the opinions of the site Administration.

Are you interested in the Wintergreen vitamin? Do you want to know more detailed information or do you need a doctor's examination? Or do you need an inspection? You can make an appointment with a doctor - the Euro lab is always at your service! The best doctors will examine you, advise you, provide the necessary assistance and make a diagnosis. You can also call a doctor at home . Euro lab clinic is open for you around the clock.

Attention! The information presented in the vitamins and dietary supplements section is intended for informational purposes and should not be a basis for self-medication. Some of the drugs have a number of contraindications. Patients need to consult a specialist!

If you are interested in any other vitamins, vitamin-mineral complexes or dietary supplements, their descriptions and instructions for use, their analogues, information about the composition and form of release, indications for use and side effects, methods of use, dosages and contraindications, notes about the prescription of the drug for children, newborns and pregnant women, price and consumer reviews, or you have any other questions and suggestions - write to us, we will definitely try to help you.

Preparation and storage

The aboveground part of the plant (leaves, stems, flowers) is used for medicinal purposes. The collection of raw materials is carried out during the flowering period of wintergreen, since it is at this time that the plant contains the maximum amount of biologically active substances.

The grass is harvested on a sunny, clear day. The aboveground part of the plant is cut off with a knife, darkened and damaged parts are removed. Drying is carried out outdoors, under a canopy, spreading the grass in a thin layer on paper or fabric or in special dryers at a temperature of no more than 50 degrees Celsius. While drying, the grass should be turned over periodically to prevent it from becoming moldy or damp.

The finished product is stored in paper or fabric bags, in a place protected from sunlight, in a room with good ventilation. The shelf life of the product is two years. After this period, the grass begins to rapidly lose its beneficial properties.

Contraindications

Despite the many beneficial properties for the human body, wintergreen herb also has contraindications that should not be ignored. Products based on it should not be taken:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• children under 6 years old;
• in case of an allergic reaction and individual intolerance to individual components;
• for chronic constipation;
• with a tendency to thrombosis.

Extreme caution should be exercised by people with increased excitability and hypertension.

Before starting herbal therapy, you must consult a doctor and receive recommendations on optimal dosages so as not to harm your health.

Lemongrass varieties: distinctive features and methods of propagation

Experts distinguish two main varieties of lemongrass (there are 55 of them): West Indian (Malabar) and East Indian. The birthplace of the first is:

• Burma;
• Cambodia;
• Sri Lanka;
• Thailand.

The second, as the name suggests, comes from Eastern India. The properties of plants of both varieties are very similar.

The grass does not tolerate cold and grows well in sunny areas,

Both Malabar and East Indian lemon-scented grasses are cold-tolerant and grow well in sunny areas, although they can tolerate some shade. It prefers moist, sandy, slightly acidic soil, which is why it often grows in swampy areas. Even when in favorable conditions, citronella, unlike its relatives, does not spread throughout the surrounding area, but clumps.

The plant reproduces in three ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• bulbs.

You will have to grow citronella at home or in the country through seedlings. You can plant the plant in open ground from the end of May to the beginning of July, but first it should be acclimatized, first putting it outside for the day and putting it away at night, and then leaving it outside around the clock.

Growing and care

Stevia herb: description, properties and application

Important! Wintergreen loves well-drained soils. Acidic and saline soils are not suitable for it. Propagated by dividing the bush. The plant loves coniferous forests, so when digging the soil you need to add pine litter.

The plant does not require special care, moderate watering, loosening - that’s all. You don’t even have to fight pests and diseases - pests don’t want to eat it or settle on it, and diseases don’t affect the bushes.

What does winterweed look like and where does it grow?

Wintergreen is a perennial wild plant of the Heather family, which has a lot of useful properties. It is distinguished by its frost resistance and external resemblance to lingonberries. The winter-loving plant is popularly called the core and spool. The plant has strong creeping roots that allow it to stay on the surface even at low temperatures.

Wintergreen branches at the base. The shoots and stems of the plant are quite strong. Petiolate sessile leaves are small in size. Their width is 2 cm and length is 12 cm. The leaf blade has pointed edges and a leathery surface. Pedicels at the base of the leaves appear in early summer. In length they can exceed the leaf part. The inflorescences resemble the shape of a chamomile. They are distinguished by pinkish petals. 2-8 inflorescences can form on one peduncle. Winter-loving fruiting begins at the end of summer. A small flattened box appears on it, inside which there are black or brown seeds. Its surface is covered with small fibers.

The winter-lover prefers areas with a temperate climate. She feels good in shady coniferous forests. Clay soils and sandstones are considered good environments for plant growth. In Russia, wintergreen is found in the Far East and Siberia. Some species live in Korea, China and Japan. Photo of the winter-loving plant:

During the entire flowering period, it is recommended to cut the leaves of the plant no more than 3 times.

Comment! In some regions, the winter-loving plant is listed in the Red Book.

Combination with other products

A healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition, complemented by a mug of aromatic herbal tea or decoction, will only enhance the effect of losing weight. If you drink one cup of the drink half an hour before meals, your stomach will feel a slight feeling of fullness, and you will not eat more than you should. You can follow a diet that is designed for a week. Before each meal, drink tea from the wintergreen herb, and after eating you should not drink water for at least half an hour. The diet involves eating one product on a certain day. The total amount of food should be divided into three times. The menu for the week looks like this:

1. Low-fat cottage cheese (0%, without adding any products) - 350 grams.
2. Chicken fillet (without skin and salt) – 420 grams.
3. "Tea Day" You need to drink tea with milk (the ratio of milk to tea is 1:1) - 8 mugs.
4. Apples (preferably green) – 8 pieces.
5. Boiled red meat (any except pork) – 350 grams.
6. “Carrot day” - for breakfast and lunch, a total of 5 pieces of raw carrots with the addition of two teaspoons of honey, for dinner - three boiled ones.
7. Rice or semolina with the addition of dried fruits (prunes, dried apricots, raisins) - 3 medium servings for the whole day.

Rules for taking a medicinal plant

If a medicinal herb product is purchased at a pharmacy, you should first of all follow the instructions for the drug. Store-bought tinctures are taken as follows: 30-40 drops of medicine per 100-150 ml of clean water before meals, twice a day.

It is recommended to take the decoctions 20-30 minutes before meals, one tablespoon, maximum 3-4 times a day. If the concentration of herb in the drink is lower than indicated in the recipe, the single dose can be increased to 2-3 tablespoons. Decoctions cannot be prepared for several days; the amount of the prepared drink must be equal to the daily dose; on the next day, all the qualities of the decoction are lost.

You need to use wintergreen for weight loss in courses, the duration of which should not exceed 3 months. After this period, a break is taken for up to 6 months. It is recommended to repeat this treatment if necessary.

Effective cooking recipes for weight loss

Traditional decoction

For the recipe you will need:

• 1 tbsp. l. dried herbs;
• 1 tbsp. water.

Place the pan with food on the stove and boil for 10-15 minutes. Leave the liquid to cool and infuse for three hours. The result is a concentrated drink. If the strong taste of the herb is difficult to tolerate, the tea can be made less intense by taking half a tablespoon of dry herb per 300 ml of water. It is recommended to store the broth in a thermos for a maximum of two days at room temperature.

Wintergreen tincture

Option 1

This drink is recommended for people who are obese. You will need:

• 4 tablespoons of wintergreen herb;
• 1 liter of boiling water.

Pour boiling water over the dried leaves and leave to steep overnight (for convenience) for 10-12 hours.

Option 2

• a glass of boiling water (steep);
• 3 teaspoons dry herb.

Place the wintergreen in a thermos, pour boiling water over it, close the container with a lid and leave to steep for 5-6 hours. The result will be a tart tincture.

Wintergreen tincture with alcohol

• 1 liter of vodka;
• 150 g dried herb.

Pour vodka over the medicinal plant and leave for two weeks. Strain the finished tincture. Use twice a day; for this, 40 drops (half a teaspoon) of the prepared medicine must be diluted with one hundred milliliters of clean water and drunk before meals.

If it is not possible to buy high-quality vodka (an expensive excise product from a well-known manufacturer) for tincture, it is better to use 40% alcohol.

You cannot lose weight with this infusion for a long time, a maximum of 2 months in combination with a healthy eating program. This recipe is not suitable for those who often drive a car, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

Tonic tea

Required:

• 1 teaspoon wintergreen herb;
• 250 ml boiling water.

Pour water over the herb and leave for 20-30 minutes. Tea is drunk in small sips throughout the day.

In order not to buy a medicinal plant at the pharmacy and to be confident in its quality, you can prepare wintergreen yourself. This should be done in environmentally friendly areas, away from roads and highways. The optimal time is when the plant blooms, August and September. To produce a dry product, only leaves and flowers need to be collected. Dry them in dark, ventilated areas, spreading them in a thin layer on a clean surface.

Benefits and harms for losing weight

Taking wintergreen for weight loss is useful for those who want to get rid of 2-3 extra kg and for obese people. The plant has the following positive effects on weight loss processes:

• cleansing - the use of herbs allows you to remove toxins and waste from the body;
• appetite suppressant;
• diuretic - the use of plant-based drinks helps remove excess fluid from the body;
• improves and restores digestive and metabolic processes;
• limits the absorption of sugar and fats from food;
• accelerates the process of breaking down fat deposits during sports.

Don't expect amazing results from this weight loss technique. In a month you can lose no more than 3 kg.

At the same time, common winterweed is not an entirely simple herb. It can cause harm to a person due to its diuretic effect, which helps eliminate not only excess fluid, but also flushes vital substances, such as potassium, from the body.

With its deficiency, problems with the cardiovascular system are observed. For this reason, it is recommended to include foods rich in potassium (fish, honey, legumes, bananas) in your diet when losing weight.

The duration of the course of taking winterweed for weight loss should not exceed 3 months. After this, it is recommended to take a break for six months and, if necessary, repeat the course.

Reviews

Valeria, nutritionist

Any herbs for weight loss are not a panacea for excess weight, but only a corrective agent that can remove only 2-3 kg from the waist and hips. Winterweed for weight loss does not provide a 100% guarantee of weight loss, but if you combine its intake with exercise, the effect will be noticeable.

Vladislav, therapist

In certain cases, herbal treatment is much more effective than taking medications. But when it comes to excess weight, you first need to find out the reason for its appearance, and only then begin therapy. Many of my patients, after reading various forums, immediately start using wintergreen for weight loss, and then do not understand why there is no result. It’s not enough just to drink herbs for weight loss, you also need to exercise and adjust your diet, eliminating harmful foods from it.

Olesya, 28 years old, fashion designer

I use wintergreen as an effective diuretic. I used to think that I could lose weight with the help of it, but in a month I managed to lose only 1 kg. And I think that this result was achieved due to the removal of excess fluid.

Maria, 32 years old, housewife

I read on one forum about the benefits of wintergreen for fat burning processes. I decided to test it on myself because I was tired of the extra weight. For 2 months I drank a decoction based on the plant. As a result, I managed to lose only 3 kg during this period. I'm not happy with the result.