The use of heather in folk medicine: medicinal properties and contraindications

Description and photo of heather

Common heather is an evergreen perennial plant belonging to the Heather family. Southeast Asia is considered its homeland. But now, thanks to its unpretentiousness, it has spread throughout the globe. In Russia, it is most often found in Siberia. An amazing feature is the long life span of the plant. She can reach 40 years.

The height of the shrub can be 100 cm. Due to its attractive appearance, it is often used in landscape design. The plant has branching stems of gray-brown color, covered with umbrella-shaped inflorescences. The flowers have a bright lilac-pink hue. Heather fruits are a dark spherical box. Inside it are seeds divided into 4 nests.

The plant does well in sandy soils. Most often, heather is found on mountain slopes, in pine forests, peat bogs and burnt areas of forest. It is able to grow and reproduce even on infertile soil.

The medicinal plant is an excellent honey plant

Comment! People call heather greenery and heather.

Beneficial medicinal properties of heather and its use

The beneficial properties of heather are widely used in folk medicine. Heather is popularly called veresen, boron, zelenitsa. And translated from Greek it means “to clean.”

Currently, heather grows freely only in a few regions of Russia, which may be why its use has become limited over time. Many simply forgot about it. And in the old days, the beneficial properties of heather were used everywhere, especially in medicine.

The only heather in its kind is common heather. It is an evergreen shrub, highly branched. Low-growing, only 20-70cm high. Its leaves are small, triangular. The flowers are also small, collected in one-sided brushes, lilac-pink in color.

Composition of heather

The medicinal properties of the heather plant are due to its rich chemical composition. The highest concentration of nutrients is concentrated in the tips of the shoots. The leaf part of the plant is no less rich in composition. Such an abundance of useful components allows the plant to be used for medicinal purposes. The composition is represented by the following elements:

• flavonoids;
• steroids;
• starch;
• glycosides;
• vitamins C and B;
• organic acids;
• phenols;
• tannins;
• micro- and macroelements (potassium, phosphorus, sodium, etc.);
• essential oils;
• resins;
• alkaloids;
• saponins.

Due to its rich content of glycosides, heather helps cope with diseases of the cardiovascular system. The presence of macroelements in the composition enhances this effect. The benefit of tannins is to cleanse the body and normalize the functioning of the digestive system. Due to flavonoids, the plant has a positive effect on blood composition and enhances the body's defense processes.

Phenols provide antioxidant effects, but can have toxic effects under certain circumstances. Thanks to alkaloids, the medicinal plant helps eliminate insomnia and get rid of obsessive states. At the same time, blood pressure decreases and heart rate slows down. Organic acids in the plant ensure the normalization of metabolism.

Health Benefits of Heather

Many years of research have shown that heather has a number of beneficial properties. It contains rare alkaloids, glycosides and a complex of vitamins. When these elements are combined, a powerful immunomodulatory effect occurs. The plant protects the body from harmful factors and prevents the aging process. In official medicine in European countries, it is successfully used to eliminate nervous disorders. The most pronounced medicinal properties of forest heather:

• diuretic and choleretic effects;
• reduction in cough intensity;
• activation of regenerative processes;
• accelerating the process of sputum discharge;
• antispasmodic effect;
• strengthening the immune system;
• treatment of skin diseases;
• restoration of hair structure;
• antibacterial effect;
• anti-inflammatory effect;
• mild sedative effect.

The healing plant is famous for its pronounced antiseptic effect.

Heather tea benefits and harms

Good health to you,

My dear friends and dear subscribers of my channel! In this blog, we continue to consider the beneficial properties of plants, which we consider to be ordinary fruits, vegetables, and in general some of them are classified as weed species. In this part of our blog, I also want to talk about how we can eat certain plants. Many more interesting things await you ahead.

COMMON HEather

Ericaceae family

There is a beautiful legend associated with heather

, according to which
the Creator
awarded him with a lot of advantages, as a token of gratitude for the fact that he agreed to occupy barren hills, forest edges and swamps, at a time when all plants abandoned such habitat. Among the advantages of this evergreen shrub are its extraordinary aroma and beauty, endurance and a lot of healing qualities.

The magical properties of heather

Like any other medicinal herb, heather also has magical properties.

It has long been believed that a girl who carries a sprig of this plant in her purse will happily avoid rape. If you ritually burn a little heather along with fern leaves, you can cause rain. But let's move on to the heather itself.

Common heather is an evergreen shrub

with small leaves that bloom
with small lilac or lilac-pink flowers
, on short pedicels, collected in racemes.

Blooms

in June - August.
The fruit
is a four-locular round tetrahedral capsule. Heather grows in pine forests, clearings and swamps. Distributed in the European part of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Western Siberia. Heather is currently found only in some regions of Russia. It is the limited area of ​​​​distribution of the plant that has become the reason that many cannot fully experience all its benefits. Today I want to talk specifically about the medicinal properties of heather and bring to your attention several traditional medicine recipes based on it. The high health benefits of heather are an indisputable fact. Heather leaves contain phenols, glycosides, phenolcarboxylic acid, catechin, coumarin, citric and fumaric acids, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, starch, gum, and resin. The stems contain leukoanthocyanidins, the shoots and roots contain protoanthocyanidins, and the flowers contain steroids, vitamins, microelements, and pigments.

As raw material

heather is harvested from
the end of June to September
, since it is at this time that the plant contains the maximum amount of valuable substances.

Application in medicine.

Heather, as a plant, is characterized by disinfectant, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, cleansing, expectorant, astringent, soothing, anti-acid and many other effects. Heather grass contains tannins, mineral salts, sugars, flavone glycosides, coloring matter, citric acid , saponins. Heather preparations have a disinfectant, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect, and activate the function of the gastric glands.

Heather infusion

used for cystitis, nervous system disorders, polyarthritis, gout, liver diseases, pyelonephritis and uraturia, in combination with valerian and hawthorn - in the treatment of heart diseases.
are used externally
for skin rashes.
Heather will be useful for vascular atherosclerosis, insomnia and nervous system disorders. It is often used to get rid of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, colitis). It is recommended to take heather for increased acidity of gastric juice, cholecystitis and obesity. For inflammatory processes in the mouth and throat, the use of heather is also reasonable. Heather is also used for cosmetic purposes
; it has been proven that it improves hair growth and slows down hair loss. And finally, salvation from rheumatism and radiculitis can also be sought in preparations based on this plant.

What does heather help with?

Heather and its derivatives have a fairly wide range of uses. It is often included in multicomponent homeopathic preparations. The plant is used both internally and locally. The method of its use depends on the nature of the disease. Heather can be used as an independent remedy, and can also be used to complement drug therapy. But this issue must first be discussed with a specialist.

Heather treats the following diseases:

• tuberculosis;
• rheumatism and radiculitis;
• insomnia;
• increased stomach acidity;
• excess weight;
• colds;
• atherosclerosis;
• urolithiasis disease;
• food and alcohol poisoning.

Advice! If it is necessary to use a medicinal product in combination with medications, it is important to consult a doctor.

Heather honey

The tart, deep taste of heather honey with a slight bitterness is pleasant from the first spoon and is remembered for a long time. Heather honey has both fans and people who don't like it. Moreover, some beekeepers classify it as a low grade, but unanimously recognize the medicinal properties of heather honey.

The amount of honey collected depends on the place of growth and the weather in the second half of summer. If the summer is dry, heather growing in marshy areas produces more honey than heather growing in mountainous areas. The plant blooms for a long time; working bees are able to collect up to three hundred kilograms of heather honey per hectare.

How to choose heather honey? Turn the jar over if the mass has been motionless for at least five minutes in front of you is real heather honey.

You may also be interested in: Horse chestnut

The use of heather in folk medicine

There are several options for using a remedy in alternative medicine. The most widely used herbal decoction. It is often prescribed to stabilize the emotional state and get rid of insomnia. The substances present in the plant have a hemostatic effect. This is true in the presence of various damages.

The medicinal properties of common heather make it effective against colds. It activates immune defense and prevents pathogenic cells from entering the human body. Sometimes heather decoction is added to baths to solve local problems. Alcohol tincture is used to make compresses and perform rubbing. Heather honey is no less popular. Due to its bitter taste, it is rarely used as a dessert. Most often, it is used to treat colds and viral diseases.

The duration of herbal medicine is determined by the complexity and nature of the disease. In most cases it is 14 days. Sometimes the treatment period is increased to a month.

Heather tea

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Heather flowers are used to make healthy tea. The medicinal properties of the drink include reducing nervous excitability and having a general strengthening effect on the body. For 1 liter of hot water you will need 5 g of dry mixture. You need to brew heather for at least 10 minutes. If you do not strain the tea, it can be stored for 24 hours.

Tea can become a real table decoration if you brew it in a transparent teapot, placing a flowering sprig of a plant on its bottom. To enrich the taste, you can add mint, rosemary, thyme and oregano to the drink.

We recommend reading: Mint tea: beneficial properties and contraindications, how to make

Heather tea is perfect for decorating a holiday table

Heather tincture

No less popular is a tincture prepared on the basis of a useful component. It is used for rinsing, taken orally and applied to problem areas of the body. She copes well with sore throat, nervous tension and skin diseases. It is very important to take it as prescribed.

To prepare a medicinal tincture, 10 g of dried plant is poured into 50 ml of vodka. The container must be protected from light. The drink is infused in it for 2 weeks. After the specified time, the medicine is filtered, and then taken 30-40 drops no more than 4 times a day.

The tincture can also be purchased ready-made.

Bath with heather

It is recommended to take a bath with heather before going to bed. It helps relieve nervous tension and helps you fall asleep quickly. The procedure is also indicated for people suffering from rheumatism, edema, skin diseases and radiculitis. Initially, you need to prepare an infusion of heather. To do this, 50 g of dried raw materials are poured into 3 liters of boiling water. Cover the container with a lid and leave for half an hour. The finished medicinal infusion is filtered and added to a hot bath. The duration of its administration is 20 minutes.

The drink has a pleasant amber hue and pronounced aroma.

Attention! When growing heather in a garden plot, it is best to choose mineral fertilizers as a top dressing.

Heather compresses

The healing properties of heather herb favor its use in the fight against serious diseases and various injuries. To make a compress, you need to prepare an infusion. A thermos is used for this. 1 tbsp is poured into it. l. raw materials and fill it with 1.5 tbsp. hot water. The remedy is infused in a thermos for 2 hours. Then the resulting liquid is soaked into gauze folded in several layers. It is applied to the problem area for no more than 1 hour.

To make compresses, a pharmaceutical version of the remedy is often used.

Heather decoctions

To prepare a healthy decoction, 20 g of the dry mixture is poured into 200 ml of hot water. The drink is boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes. After removing from the heat, let it brew for another 2 hours. The resulting product must be filtered. Indications for use of heather decoction:

• cardiovascular diseases;
• kidney dysfunction;
• back pain;
• nervous diseases;
• insomnia.

If desired, you can add granulated sugar to the healthy drink.

Popular recipes

The following medicines are prepared based on heather:

• decoction (20 g per glass of boiling water, 15 minutes in a water bath, leave for 40 minutes);
• infusion (20 g per glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes);
• alcohol tincture (alcohol or vodka and heather in a ratio of 10:1, leave for 2 weeks);
• tea (a teaspoon per glass of boiling water).

Let's consider several recipes based on heather against various ailments:

• Increased stomach acidity (gastroduodenitis). It is necessary to prepare a decoction. To do this, take 1 tablespoon of dried heather and pour a glass of water. Bring to a boil and cook for 2-3 minutes, then leave for 30 minutes and filter. The product is taken 100 ml three times a day before meals.
• Nephritis. It is necessary to pour boiling water (0.5 l) into 1 teaspoon of herb and place it in a thermos. The product is infused for 3 hours and then filtered. The infusion is taken half a glass 4 times a day. Additionally, it is recommended to add honey to taste.
• Tumors. For half a liter of boiling water you need to take 4 tablespoons of heather. The product is infused for 1 hour and filtered. The infusion is taken a glass three times a day, and also applied to sore spots in the form of lotions. The same remedy is used to treat children's diathesis, only birch leaves and knotweed roots are additionally added.
• Calming collection. You should take equal amounts of heather, motherwort and valerian (1 teaspoon each) and pour a glass of boiling water over them. The product is infused for 30 minutes and then filtered. The herbal mixture is taken before bedtime or an hour before meals, 1 glass at a time.
• Gastritis and ulcer. A tincture should be prepared from alcohol or vodka and heather in a ratio of 5:1. The product is infused for 2 weeks in a dark place. Take 1 tablespoon of the tincture before meals three times a day. This remedy is also used to treat wounds and burns, as well as for joint diseases as an external remedy.

Heather will help with many diseases; the main thing is to follow the dosage and not exceed the course of treatment to avoid possible side effects. This is a natural remedy for colds, gastrointestinal diseases and infections of various origins. Heather is easy to find in any pine forest or can be bought at any pharmacy.

Beneficial properties of heather honey

Heather honey has a specific tart taste, but at the same time it has a lot of useful qualities. Due to its high content of enzymes and proteins, it sugars slowly. The medicinal product of beekeeping has become widespread in alternative medicine. Among its beneficial properties are the following:

• general strengthening effect on the body;
• anti-inflammatory effect;
• diuretic effect;
• reduction of nervousness;
• restoration of energy reserves;
• wound healing and antiseptic effects.

Heather honey is considered a powerful antioxidant. It is recommended to add it to tea for colds. It has the ability to relieve fever and protect against possible complications. For headaches, insomnia and neurotic diseases, it is enough to eat 1 tsp. product before going to bed. This method will allow you to quickly fall asleep and wake up in a great mood.

Important! If you are prone to an allergic reaction, it is better not to use heather honey.

Common heather

Lipica, ryskun, passerine buckwheat, wild rosemary, heather, heather-grass, ernik, borovaya heather, boron heather

In Germany, Norway, Poland, and the Czech Republic, heather is recognized as official medicine and is used to treat diseases of the kidneys, joints, allergic reactions, and disorders of the central nervous system. In Russia, healers value the beneficial properties of the plant, recommending it for gout, tuberculosis, and trophic ulcers.

Name in Latin: Calluna vulgaris Family: Ericaceae

Heather is considered a long-liver - the bushes can develop for 45 years, and at the same time they are distinguished by annual flowering. The culture prefers breathable soils mixed with sand. The plant is found in light forests, forest edges, clearings, and also in wetlands. It actively grows, forming thickets called heathers. Their characteristic feature is that a void is formed in the center, called heather. This arrangement of plants is associated with the structure of the inflorescence - the flowers are mainly concentrated on one side.

South Africa is considered the homeland of heather, from which it migrated to the temperate latitudes of Europe, Asia, the Baltic states, and the Atlantic coast of North America. The plant is found in Greenland, the Azores, Ukraine, Russia (Western and Eastern Siberia).

Side effects of heather and contraindications

Before using heather for medicinal purposes, not only the benefits, but also the health risks of the plant are studied. Otherwise, the likelihood of encountering side symptoms will increase. Experts do not recommend using heather for the following diseases:

• constipation;
• individual intolerance;
• low acidity of gastric juice;
• acute form of gastritis.

Pregnant women are most interested in the beneficial properties and contraindications of heather. They are not prohibited from using the plant for medicinal purposes. But it is important to follow the recommended dosages. When breastfeeding, it is better to avoid herbal medicine so as not to provoke an allergic reaction in the baby.

If you abuse the drug, you may experience stool problems and pain in the abdomen. In some cases, nausea occurs, accompanied by dizziness.

Treatment of kidney stones with infusion of the bush

A diagnosis of kidney stones is a reason to seek help from an infusion of the plant. The home remedy is considered one of the most effective herbal remedies for the presence of formations. The active components are crushed and promote the removal of stones.

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Periodic courses of taking the infusion serve as effective protection against relapses of the disease. The herbal composition also improves the functioning of the genitourinary system and relieves inflammation.

Grind dry plant materials and place in a cooking vessel. You will need 100-120 gr. main component. Pour vodka (500 ml), seal the bottle tightly, and send it to a dark, cold room. It is allowed to use homemade good first aid as an alcohol-containing component.

The tincture takes 2-3 weeks to prepare. During this period, it is recommended to periodically shake the bottle vigorously; there is no need to uncork it. Strain and fill a clean container with the product. Keep refrigerated.

Take the tincture before meals, dosage – 30-35 drops. In case of individual intolerance, prepare a solution by diluting the required amount of product with water. Take home medicine three times a day.

Collection and harvesting of heather

Heather is usually collected during flowering. A sickle is most often used to cut branches. In order for the plant to continue to reproduce, it is necessary to leave more than half of the presented amount of shrub. During collection, the root system must not be damaged.

The drying process is carried out in the shade or in a ventilated area. The raw materials are laid out in a thin layer on the surface of newspapers or film. The optimal drying place will be the attic. The stems and leaves should be stirred periodically to ensure even release of moisture. The shelf life of finished raw materials is 2 years. It should be stored in fabric bags or paper bags. It is also acceptable to keep the product in glass jars with a lid.