How to use reeds in hiking conditions. Reed treatment

What does reed look like and where does it grow?

The perennial is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the sedge family and the genus Reed. It has 52 species and is also sometimes mistakenly called reed or cattail. A coastal plant can be 1 meter or more in height.

The long root is located horizontally. The cylindrical stems are triangular. The wide-line spreading leaves are narrowed, and the reed flowers are formed in complex inflorescences.

Reed has fruits that look like triangular nuts or a brown cob. Flowering is observed in early summer. The plant can be found in moist places:

swamp;
ditches;
shores of reservoirs.

Reed grows in the following areas:

The universal reed plant and recipes from it

The Scirpus reed has a long history. It was used not only in informal medicine for the manufacture of medicines, but also in cooking, everyday life and plant growing. Previously, the plant was used as a durable lining (reed belt), which was laid along the entire perimeter of the foundation. In addition, rugs and shopping bags were made from the stems.

Today reeds are also widely used. Its roots are suitable for human consumption. In addition, the rhizome of the plant is used to make a coffee surrogate. Dried roots are an ideal raw material for making flour.

Reed is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the genus Reed and the sedge family, and includes 52 species. This is a coastal plant, reaching a height of a meter or more.

It is endowed with a horizontally located long root, triangular cylindrical stems, wide-linear spreading three-row leaves narrowed to a triangular tip, bisexual small inconspicuous flowers collected in spikelets, forming complex spreading inflorescences.

The fruits of the reed are triangular nuts. The plant begins to bloom at the beginning of summer. As a rule, it grows in moist places, swamps, ditches, and the banks of reservoirs.

The leaves and rhizomes of the plant in question are used for medicinal purposes. The best time to harvest foliage is the beginning of summer. You can collect raw materials until the end of the summer period. Next, the leaves are laid out in a thin layer on a tray and dried in a room with good ventilation or in the fresh air in the shade.

As for harvesting roots, it is recommended to do it at the beginning of the autumn period. The raw materials are dug up, washed, cut into small pieces and dried in a dryer at a temperature of 40-50 degrees.

The blanks are poured into paper bags and stored in a room with sufficient ventilation. Shelf life - two years, no more.

It is not for nothing that the plant is widely used in informal medicine. It is rich in valuable nutrients. It contains a lot:

vitamin C;
proteins;
carbohydrates;
starch;
tannins;
glycerin;
sugars;
lactic acid.

Preparations from the plant have powerful medicinal properties - anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diaphoretic, astringent, bactericidal, diuretic, antiscorbutic, emollient, wound-healing, antifever, hemostatic effect.

There are a considerable number of effective and efficient means for the treatment of various pathologies. However, you should not take them thoughtlessly, or especially without consulting your doctor, because this can harm you and cause your condition to worsen.

Remember, drugs from the public are only an addition to the main treatment prescribed by the doctor. Moreover, their use must be appropriate and reasonable.

1. Preparing a homemade medicine that helps strengthen the immune system. Clean the reed rhizomes, about a kilogram, chop them, and put them in a saucepan.

It is recommended to use 200 ml of strained medicine once a day. This composition has powerful immunostimulating properties and is suitable for both children and adults.

2. Cardiac dyspnea: use of tea. During the period of intensive flowering of reeds - in September, collect its flowers, pour them into a glass container and steam with 300 ml of boiling water. After an hour, start taking five sips of the filtered drug every four hours. The duration of the course is 30 days.

3. A remedy for the prevention of heart pain. Steam several dried inflorescences of the plant with a liter of just boiled water. Add a few mint leaves to the reeds and set aside for two hours. Drink 20 ml of the strained mixture several times a day.

5. Diabetes: use of an effective drug. Steam a spoonful of dried, crushed plants (stems, roots) in three hundred milliliters of boiled water. Boil, leave to brew. Drink a quarter glass of filtered drink three times a day. The duration of the course is three weeks.

6. Preparation of a diuretic composition. Pour 50 g of finely chopped leaves and reed stems into a thermos. Pour boiling water over the raw materials. After an hour, filter and start taking 200 ml of the drink three times a day. An effective remedy that has powerful diaphoretic and diuretic properties and helps normalize kidney function and reduce swelling.

No special contraindications to the use of plants have been identified. However, in order to prevent side effects or poisoning, before using any reed-based product, consult your doctor.

It is not recommended to use the plant for medicinal purposes if you have gout or varicose veins. It is not advisable for pregnant and breastfeeding women to drink reed-based products. Long-term use may cause constipation. You cannot treat children of any age with plant preparations.

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What does reed treat and how is it useful for humans?

It is noteworthy that the herb is not used in official medicine. Its use is carried out in herbal medicine. Preparations made from the plant have the following effects:

anti-inflammatory;
diaphoretic;
antiseptic;
astringent;
diuretic;
bactericidal;
antiscorbutic;
wound healing;
hemostatic;
antifebrile.

The beneficial properties of reeds allow you to:

reduce temperature;
improve kidney function;
eliminate swelling;
strengthen the immune system;
normalize blood glucose levels.

Important! The plant helps accelerate tissue regeneration, treat insomnia, diarrhea, gastritis, and diabetes.

The herb is used to treat or prevent the following pathologies:

burns;
enteritis;
nausea;
swelling;
dysentery;
painful and heavy discharge during menstruation;
decreased immunity.

Important! Medicines can be made from raw materials (leaves, roots, inflorescences, stems).

Application

The plant is used for weaving rugs, bedding, some furniture, bags and purses. Since stick insects are considered a natural insulation material, they are used in the construction of houses, gazebos and sheds. Healers believe that reeds benefit human health and do not cause any harm when used correctly.

It is recommended to use reeds for the following diseases:

swelling;
wounds;
dysentery;
heavy and painful menstrual flow;

In herbal medicine, all parts of the plant are used - leaves, inflorescences, roots, and stems. Ointments, decoctions, and infusions are prepared from these raw materials. We will introduce you to some recipes.

This medicine is used to remove excess fluid, it has a good diuretic and diaphoretic effect, and normalizes kidney function. 3 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials (leaves and stems) pour boiling water (1000 ml), leave for 1 hour, then filter. Divide the liquid into 4 equal portions. The leaves of Kirkazon clematis have good diuretic properties.

This medicine must be taken if you have diabetes. You can drink it constantly as a prophylactic to maintain normal sugar levels. 1 tsp. crushed raw materials are poured with boiling water (250 ml) and boiled over high heat for three minutes. Leave until cool and strain. Divide the liquid into three doses and drink throughout the day. After 20 days, you can reduce the dosage of the medicine you drink by half.
This decoction is taken to treat colitis . It must be prepared from dried and crushed roots. 1 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured with boiling water (250 ml), boiled for 10 minutes. Then you need to leave until it cools completely and strain. Take 15 ml five to six times a day.

This remedy is drunk to improve immunity . It is prepared from fresh rhizomes. 1 kg of raw materials must be crushed and poured with boiling water (2000 ml), simmer over low heat for 60 minutes, drain the liquid, and pour boiling water (1000 ml) over the roots again and simmer for 20 minutes. Filter both broths, combine and boil for another 10 minutes. Drink 1 glass once a day. —Kumquat—contains a large amount of vitamin C, so it is very useful to eat for people with low immunity, as well as during periods of epidemics of colds.

This tea will relieve cardiac shortness of breath if taken regularly. It is brewed like ordinary inflorescence tea. A glass of this warm drink should be drunk three to four times a day. The course of treatment is 30 days.

Used for rapid healing of skin from burns. Mix cob fluff with melted cow butter in equal quantities until smooth. Apply to damaged areas 4 times a day.

This good wound healing remedy is prepared from fresh reed leaves, which must be turned into pulp using a blender or meat grinder. Apply on a bandage to wounds several times a day. For purulent wounds, you can apply compresses from the aerial part - salsify -.

The use of reeds in folk medicine

There are many ways to use the plant. Their use in various dosage forms depends on the indications.

Infusions

Herbalists recommend drinking a diuretic from the leaves. It is useful for kidney pathologies and swelling. Place 50 g of crushed leaves and stems in a thermos. The raw materials are poured with boiling water. After 1 hour, filter the infusion and drink 200 ml 3 times a day.

Reed can be used to prevent heart pain. Several inflorescences are steamed with a liter of boiling water and 1-2 mint leaves are added. The product is ready for use after 2 hours.

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

The strained infusion is drunk several times a day, 20 ml.

Decoctions

The product helps strengthen the immune system. Reed root (1 kilogram) is peeled, crushed and poured into a pan. The raw materials are poured with boiling water and simmered over low heat for 1 hour. Then the liquid is poured into a separate container. The roots are again filled with water and boiled. After an hour, both liquids need to be combined and brought to a boil. You need to take 200 ml of the product per day after preliminary filtering.

We recommend reading: Tea with thyme: beneficial properties and contraindications

Colitis can be treated with decoctions. Dry and finely chopped roots (15 g) are poured with boiling water (200 ml). They are simmered over low heat, cooled and filtered. The drug is drunk 1 tablespoon 5 times a day.

Reed-based decoctions have immunostimulating properties and are prescribed to both children and adults

Compresses

A wound healing remedy can be made by taking fresh leaves. They are crushed using a meat grinder or blender. Soak a sterile bandage in the pulp and apply it to the wound.

A compress of reed leaves should be applied several times a day to achieve the desired effect.

Ointment

The product for external use is used in case of violation of the integrity of the skin and its inflammation. One of the indications is mild burns. To make the dosage form, you need to mix the fluff of the cobs and melted butter in equal proportions until smooth.

Reed ointment should be applied 4 times a day to the affected areas

Tea

The dosage form is intended for use in the complex treatment of cardiac dyspnea. To make the product, you need to take flowers collected in September. The raw materials are poured into a glass container and 300 ml of boiling water is poured. After an hour, the tea is ready to drink. It is necessary to take 5 sips of the strained drug. The interval between doses is 4 hours.

Recommended reading: Benefits of milk tea

The duration of drinking reed flower tea is 1 month.

Description and composition

The small green flowers are borne in panicle inflorescences that bloom for three weeks from mid-June. Half of the plant is in water.

Reeds grow in large groups: these are thickets near standing or slow-flowing rivers, streams or lakes.

Lake schenoplectus, as reeds are also called, was considered a useless plant. But, in an old botanical publication there was a description of the benefits of this herb. During the spring flood of reservoirs, reeds retain alluvial silt. Thanks to the thick stems of the reeds, silt and soil do not sink into the water. The soil after drying has a chernozem structure.

Beneficial features

There are many useful things in this plant. The tissues of the stems and roots contain a lot of sugar, starch is found in the rhizomes.

If you pull out the reed, the stem will be exposed at the base, which is edible in its raw state. The stems and roots are dried, ground and mixed with flour.

The root and stem are crushed, filled with water (1:1), and boiled for an hour over medium heat. This broth is filtered and evaporated to the desired consistency. This will make reed syrup.

The flexibility of the stems is used for weaving. Rugs or mats are woven from reeds. Dried stems were used in ancient times for mud huts. They mixed it with clay and coated the huts.

They also weave mats for beds from the stems; they are also called kugovik. Fishermen know how to make a float from reeds that will not sink in the water. The flowering of panicles-inflorescences is important for bees. Insects take beebread from the spikelets of the plant. Flower pollen is important for the growth of bee offspring.

Baskets and bags are woven from the stems. Dried stems are used for knitting small items and for making decorative crafts.

Even in Latin, the verb scirpus refers to “to knit” or “to weave.” Procurement begins at the end of September.

Reed has several varieties that differ in the color of the stems. These are plants with yellow striped stems, bright yellow stems in spring, and green stems in summer. And the decorative reed is interesting because its trunk has a yellow horizontal stripe.

Features of reeds

Reeds are classified as hydrophytes. Plants that lack moisture. The rhizome of the reed is immersed in heavy, viscous silt, in which there is no oxygen. To survive in such conditions, nature took care of a special adaptation for hydrophyte plants.

The roots do not breathe through silt, but with the help of aerenchyma. This is the tissue in plants through which air passes. It consists of cells connected to each other so that there is empty space between the cells. This space is filled with air.

If you cut a reed stem, these voids are visible behind the shell. In the voids there is air that spreads along the stem, including the root. If the stem is damaged or broken, this movement of air through the voids is disrupted. And over time, due to a lack of oxygen in remote areas of the plant, the reed dries out.

The composition of reed tissue has not been sufficiently studied. It is only known that the rhizomes and stems contain a lot of tannins, lactic acid and a lot of sugar, 6% protein and 3% fat.

Lake reed is considered a biofilter, a natural purifier of flowing water. And it is important for strengthening coastal soil.

For animals it is suitable as a top dressing. It is eaten not only by horned animals, but also by aquatic ones. They eat reeds and fish.

Today this plant has been transferred to garden plots, only in a decorative form. New varieties of reeds are being developed. But such reeds are more capricious. For the winter it is covered so that the roots do not freeze. It can only be propagated by dividing the bush. Wild reeds reproduce by self-sowing or shoots from the rhizome.

Reed in medicine

Substances found in plant tissues have an astringent, sedative and hemostatic effect. Reed preparations are also taken as a diuretic and used as an enveloping agent.

Even panicles have found a use: for heart pain and increased stress, an infusion is made. The infusion also treats high blood pressure. The peeled root applied to a fresh wound relieves pain, stops bleeding and speeds up healing.

Popular beliefs

To this day, reed is considered a controversial plant, with many myths and superstitions associated with it. Some peoples revere this plant, bring it into the house and make bouquets. Others, on the contrary, consider reeds to be a harbinger of bad events. And they won’t even tolerate brooms in the yard. The Slavs placed reeds in front of the door, believing that this would protect the house from failure.

The stick insect has a creeping rhizome that can grow at a depth of up to 1 meter. The stem is tall and strong, growing 2-3 meters in height. The long leaves are narrow-linear and rigid, the flowers are unisexual and collected in panicles. The fruit is a brown cob.

Reed has medicinal properties due to the following composition of components:

tannins;
silica;
vitamin A;
lignin;
ascorbic acid;
sugar;
cellulose.

Contraindications

Reeds are beneficial to humans. However, its use is advisable after consultation with a specialist. This is due to the presence of restrictions on use.

The following are contraindications in which the plant is not included in therapy:

gout;
phlebeurysm;
hepatosis;
thrombophlebitis;
period of pregnancy or lactation.

Reeds can bring both health benefits and harm. Long-term use of products made from a medicinal plant causes constipation.

Important! Reed-based products can only be considered as an addition to the main treatment.

Benefits, medicinal properties and contraindications to the use of reeds

Reed (stick insect, ragosa) is a perennial herbaceous amphibian plant belonging to the sedge family. Found throughout Eurasia, North Africa, New Zealand, Australia and North America. In the wild it grows in swamps, along the banks of rivers, lakes, in ditches, and forms thickets in damp places. Cultivated for landscaping artificial reservoirs.

Description and composition

Reed has medicinal properties due to the following composition of components:

proteins;
fats;
cellulose;
lactic acid;
starch;
glycerol;
pentasans;

Application

It is recommended to use reeds for the following diseases:

burns;
enteritis;
diabetes;

bloody diarrhea;
gastritis;
insomnia;
nausea;

dyspnea;
colitis;
decreased immunity.

Infusion

This medicine is used to remove excess fluid, it has a good diuretic and diaphoretic effect, and normalizes kidney function. 3 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials (leaves and stems) pour boiling water (1000 ml), leave for 1 hour, then filter. Divide the liquid into 4 equal portions. The leaves of Kirkazon clematis have good diuretic properties.

Contraindications

Reed is not a toxic plant, however, preparations based on it should be used with caution, not exceeding the dosage. Treatment with this plant is not recommended:

during pregnancy;
suffering from thrombophlebitis;
with varicose veins;
during breastfeeding;
with hepatosis;
patients with gout.

It is necessary to collect medicinal raw materials in environmentally friendly places. It is not recommended to collect reeds in bodies of water where animals bathe and birds live. The leaves are harvested in July and August, the roots are dug up in September and October, and the inflorescences are cut off during flowering.

It is best to dry in an electric dryer or oven. You can do this in the shade under a canopy. The finished raw materials are laid out in canvas bags, cardboard bags, and stored for no more than two years.

Have you used reeds to prepare medicines? We are waiting for your reviews, recommendations, proven recipes.

Compress

Collection and preparation

Reed roots are suitable for consumption as food. The rhizome is used in the production of coffee surrogate. Reed roots are also considered an ideal raw material used to produce flour.

To collect raw materials, preference should be given to environmentally friendly places. It is not recommended to choose bodies of water that are habitat for birds and animals.

Reed panicles are used in folk medicine. Rhizomes and leaves, which are harvested in early summer, are suitable for treatment. In general, it is permissible to collect raw materials until autumn. The leaves should be spread out in a thin layer and dried thoroughly. Optimal conditions are a dark, dry and well-ventilated place.

The roots are harvested in early autumn. They are dug up, washed and cut into small pieces. The roots are dried in a dryer. A suitable temperature is 50°C.

Flowers are also suitable for making medicinal products. They are cut during the period of active flowering.

Attention! The preparations are stored in paper bags for 2 years.