Madder: medicinal properties and methods of use

What does madder look like?

The plant can reach one and a half meters in height. The stem is thin and covered with rough bark. The leaves are dense, wide, several leaves form a ring. There are sharp bristles along the leaf and its edge.

Madder blooms with small greenish-yellow flowers, similar to St. John's wort inflorescences. The root system is powerful and consists of a main root and many thinner ones, which are covered with brown bark.

Madder root

Madder grass found its first application in the textile industry. Dye made from the root was used to add color to various fabrics (wool, silk, cotton).

Madder is also used to make medicines. Based on the extract, complex preparations are made, for example “Cystenal”, which destroys stones in the bladder. In addition, numerous folk recipes use kropp to prepare decoctions, tinctures and powders against many diseases: inflammation of the spleen, bladder, jaundice, etc.

Medicinal raw materials of madder

The rhizomes and roots of madder are dug up in the fall with a shovel. Dug up rhizomes should be shaken off the ground. They are washed only as a last resort, if the soil is clayey and wet, and there is no way to shake it off. The finished raw materials are dried at a temperature of 45-50°. The shelf life of raw materials is 3 years for medical purposes, and longer for dye production. Freshly dug roots are yellow, and only after drying do they turn red.

Madder dyeing, excavation of raw materials

Madder - Medicinal properties

Madder has nephrolytic properties . The substances contained in the plant have a destructive effect on kidney stones and promote their painless removal. This occurs due to the action on the walls of the internal organs, which leads to a decrease in muscle contraction and helps to promote stones. Medicines made from the plant eliminate pain and spasms, improve water-salt balance and lead to the loosening of oxalates and phosphates.

Madder roots are used in folk medicine

When ingested, the herb activates the production of gastric juice. Madder has an anti-inflammatory effect, promotes the removal of bile, and cleanses the body of waste and toxins. Madder also cleanses the blood. Promotes cell renewal and improves immunity.

Coumarins in madder actively fight malignant cells, thereby preventing the formation of tumors.

Juice squeezed from madder root helps with abdominal pain and rickets. Tinctures and decoctions remove excess salt from the body, thereby helping in the fight against joint diseases and osteochondrosis. By supplementing the root with other ingredients, you can reduce skin rashes and heal wounds and bruises.

The dye herb has contraindications for use and instructions; compliance with them is the key to successful treatment of various diseases, because self-medication or overdose can cause significant harm to health and aggravate diseases.

Methods of preparation and use

Traditional medicine prepares strong tinctures and aqueous preparations based on madder dye. In addition, plant extract is available for purchase in pharmacies - a dry concentrate with strong medicinal properties.

Madder tincture

An alcoholic tincture of the perennial is used for anemia, stones in the ureters and kidneys, and for diseases of the spleen. Recipe:

The dried roots of the plant are ground to a powder.
Pour the raw material with 100 ml of medical alcohol diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.
Store in a closed container in a dark closet for two weeks.
Strain the product through gauze.

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The tincture should be taken three times a day in a dosage of up to 20 drops.

When using madder tincture, you must drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day.

Madder extract

The plant extract is available for purchase in tablets and capsules. Use the drug according to the instructions, usually dilute 2-3 tablets in 150 ml of warm water three times a day.

You can use the extract for kidney stones, nephrolithiasis, urinary tract infections, pain and spasms. The use of the product must be agreed with a doctor, since if used incorrectly, it can harm the body.

It is necessary to drink madder extract for a month, followed by a break of the same duration.

Infusion, decoction of madder

Aqueous preparations are prepared from the dried roots of a medicinal plant at home. In particular, for cystitis, urethritis and other inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, it is recommended to make a healing infusion:

Pure water in a volume of 200 ml is heated to approximately 85 °C.
Pour 20 g of dry madder roots into the liquid.
Leave covered to infuse for three hours.
Strain.

Take 75 ml of infusion on a full stomach.

For external use, you can prepare a decoction. The recipe looks like this:

About 10 g of crushed perennial roots are poured into 100 ml of liquid.
Heat in a water bath for 15 minutes.
Cool the medicine and filter.

A clean cloth is moistened in a warm decoction and applied to the joints for rheumatism, polyarthritis and gout. At the same time, the product can be taken orally, half a glass three times a day.

A decoction of madder root, when rubbed, cleanses the skin and slows down its aging

How to collect

The medicinal properties of madder are contained in the entire root system. Harvesting should begin in early spring - from March to early April.

Another harvesting option is from the beginning of August until the first cold weather. The roots are dug out using a shovel. Then they are shaken off the ground and the stems are cut off. Dry the roots in the shade or in a dryer at 45 degrees. The dried root can be stored for 2 years.

In order not to deplete the supply of growing madder, the next harvest should be carried out after 3 years.

The demand for the root of the plant is very high - due to its chemical composition, it is widely used in folk recipes and pharmacology.

Growing madder

Landing

Madder is a heat-loving, moisture-loving plant that is demanding on the composition and fertility of the soil: its roots penetrate up to 35 cm deep, so the soil must be loose and structured, otherwise you can’t count on a good harvest. The best soil for madder is light or medium loamy, enriched with humus and well fertilized. It is advisable to sow madder after winter grains, early forage or vegetable industrial crops in an area that was previously fallow.

Before sowing, fall plowing is carried out on the site or the soil is dug up to the depth of a spade, filling each m² of land with 2 kg of humus or compost, then the site is harrowed and cultivated to a depth of 6-7 cm. The seed is treated before sowing with Granosan at the rate of 2 g of the drug per 1 kg of seeds.

Tritsirtis

In areas with a warm climate, madder seeds are sown directly into the ground in the second half of April, when the soil warms up to 6-8 ºC. Sowing is done to a depth of 4-5 cm, maintaining a row spacing of 45-60 cm. At a temperature of 10 ºC, seedlings can appear within two to three weeks, however, under unfavorable weather conditions, the process of seed germination can take 30-40 days. The most favorable temperature for the growth and development of madder is 23-25 ºC.

Madder is also grown from rhizomatous cuttings 6-8 cm long, which are planted at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other in furrows 8-10 cm deep cut with a cultivator. The filled furrows are rolled and watered.

Rules of care

Madder may bear fruit in the first year, but there will be few of them. Normal fruiting will begin at 2-3 years. Caring for madder consists of keeping the soil in the area moist and loose and removing weeds. During the season, it is necessary to loosen the soil 3-4 times, including between rows, and weed the area manually 1-2 times. In the fall, the plant should be earthed up, and from the second year of growing season in early spring, remove dead ground organs and add a nitrogen-phosphorus complex to the soil at the rate of 3 g of fertilizer per m².

How to use

The use of madder in medicine is varied, due to the many beneficial properties of the plant. Madder is mainly taken to improve digestion and treat diseases of the urinary system.

Madder can be purchased at the pharmacy

The use of madder extract in pharmacology ensures the production of medicines of various forms and concentrations. They should be used strictly according to the instructions and after consultation with a doctor:

Madder drops are used to remove calcium oxalates, which cause the formation of kidney stones. According to the instructions, 20 drops of the drug should be diluted in a glass of warm water. Take the medicine twice a day before meals. The course of treatment is 1 month.
Madder tablets should be taken 2-3 pieces, after dissolving them in a glass of warm water. The course of treatment is from 20 days to 1 month.
Madder root tincture is the basis for the drug “Cystenal”, which also contains essential oils, ethanol and magnesium. This drug is prescribed for inflammation of the urinary canals, spasms and urolithiasis. According to the instructions, you need to take Cystenal half an hour before meals, 5 drops three times a day. After consulting with a doctor and conducting the necessary examinations, the specialist may increase the dose or extend the course of treatment. Taking drops with meals will help reduce the acidity of gastric juice. The course of treatment is about 4 weeks.

Overdose and neglect of contraindications can cause exacerbation of diseases. Before treatment, consult a specialist and strictly follow the instructions for using madder.

Powder for kidney stones

For urolithiasis, madder root dissolves the formed stones, promotes their removal, and stops the accumulation of harmful salts and phosphates in the ducts.

Ingredients:

Madder root powder - 1 g.
Water - 100 ml.

How to prepare : Dissolve the powder in warm water.

How to use : Drink the resulting medicine 3 times a day before meals.

Result : The stones are gradually destroyed under the influence of the medicine and removed from the body.

During treatment for urolithiasis, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. Products high in oxalic and citric acid are excluded from the patient’s diet, and vitamin complexes are prescribed.

Infusion for cystitis

Due to its bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects, madder infusion is used for cystitis.

Ingredients:

Madder root - 15 g.
Water - 400 ml.

How to prepare : Grind a small fresh madder root. Fill it with a glass of cold water and leave for 8 hours. Strain the infused mixture, and refill the crushed madder with 200 ml of boiling water. Strain the second part of the infusion after 15 minutes. Mix both extracts from the plant.

How to use : Divide the infusion into two doses and drink throughout the day.

Result : The medicine relieves inflammation, pain and discomfort.

Decoction for gout

A decoction prepared from madder helps remove salt deposits in case of gout, improves metabolism, which helps treat joints.

Ingredients:

Madder root powder - 1 tsp.
Water - 300 ml.

How to prepare : Pour boiling water over madder powder. Place the mixture on low heat and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes. Cool and strain the broth.

How to use : Drink 100 ml of decoction 40 minutes after meals three times a day.

Result : Joint pain decreases, motor activity increases.

Infusion for prostatitis

The inflammatory process in the prostate gland can be relieved with the help of a herbal mixture, in which each ingredient has a therapeutic effect.

Ingredients:

Dried madder root - 1 tsp.
Rose hips - 1 tsp.
Calendula flowers - 1 tsp.
Wintergreen - 1 tsp.
Shepherd's purse - 1 tsp.
Angelica - 1 tsp.
Water - 300 ml.

How to prepare : Mix equal amounts of herbs. Then 1 tbsp. l. Pour boiling water over the herbal mixture and leave for 2 hours. Strain the resulting product.

Application in veterinary medicine

Diseases of internal organs in pets also often occur due to metabolic disorders. Medicines containing madder will stop the progression of pathologies of the urinary system.

Madder dyeing for cats and dogs

Pets suffer from kidney and bladder stones, just like humans. Madder will help remove stones from the body.

Ingredients:

Madder tablets - 1 pc.
Boiled water - 1 tbsp. l.

How to prepare : Divide the tablet into 4 parts. Grind a quarter of the tablet and dissolve in water. Put the resulting medicine into a syringe without a needle.

How to use : Observing the proportion - 1 ml of medicine per 1 kg of animal, give your pet water twice a day before meals.

Result : Breakdown of stones and their removal from the body.

If the disease is in an advanced state, the dose is increased. Before using the product, your pet should be examined by a veterinarian.

Use in folk medicine

Madder extract in its pure form or as part of complex preparations is included in the list of official medicines. Tablets or rhizome extract are prescribed to adults for urolithiasis, gout, and bone tuberculosis.

According to doctors, tablets and madder root extract are more gentle on the kidneys and are significantly more expensive compared to synthetic drugs, but, in any case, you must carefully study the instructions for use and consult with a specialized specialist.

In herbal medicine, ingestion of dry powder from the roots or a decoction is prescribed. To prepare the decoction, pour 1 teaspoon of crushed root into a porcelain or glass bowl and add two glasses of water. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Let cool, strain and take half a glass of broth three times a day after meals for:

cystitis, nephritis,
pain caused by spasms,
anemia,
sore throat,
diphtheria,
gout, rheumatism, osteochondrosis, polyarthritis to remove salts and other deposits in the joints.

Additionally

Fresh juice from the roots and shoots is drunk for jaundice and rickets.
The decoction is prescribed for quick recovery after heavy physical work, relieving muscle spasms after a long walk or prolonged exercise associated with sports. For muscle pain, an alcoholic tincture of Echinops is also prescribed.
The root powder is taken as an antispasmodic drug.
Fresh crushed rhizomes are mixed with animal fat to treat allergic skin rashes.
The powder of dry rhizomes is mixed with egg yolk and used to treat bruises, sprains, and heal fractures.
A mixture of fresh herbs and vinegar treats ulcers, lichen and herpes. As a natural antiseptic and antifungal drug, it is recommended to make lotions from fresh monarda juice externally.
Pigment spots, ulcers, dermatomycosis are treated with fresh leaf juice or lotions are made from rhizomes.
Dry powder of the roots is added to herbal mixtures for the treatment of bronchitis in the chronic stage (mix with dandelion and licorice roots), removing gallstones (mix with leaves of buckthorn, mint, wormwood), increasing immunity (mix with flaxseed decoction, echinacea, ginger , rose hips).
In places where the herb grows, a decoction mixed with honey is used to treat jaundice and memory loss.

What to remember

the plant contains toxic elements that are hazardous to health;
strictly follow the recipe - harmful substances in case of overdose can cause poisoning;
do not abuse the techniques - take the recommended amount of the product at a certain time;
do not combine drug therapy or traditional treatment - leave intervals between the use of the compositions;
the plant contains a large amount of microelements, acids and vitamins;
the use of medications has a positive effect on the body and helps fight many diseases (urolithiasis, inflammation of the kidneys and bile ducts).