The orthosiphon staminate

Useful properties and applications of orthosiphon staminate

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Botanical characteristics of orthosiphon staminate

The orthosiphon staminate of the family Labiatae refers to evergreen shrubs, reaching a height of 0,8–1,2 meter. Its square stems are greenish-purple color and much branched. The leaves are oblong, opposite, short, with serrated edges. Small pale purple flowers form at the tips of stems racemes. Flowering time – July-August, but when growing on the territory of Russia the plant does not give seeds.

In the wild the orthosiphon grows in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Java, Indonesia and northeast Australia. In Russia in nature, it is not found, it is grown as an annual medicinal plant on the black sea coast in the Crimea and the Caucasus.

The beneficial properties of orthosiphon

Medicinally used aboveground part of the plant – the leaves and flushes (apical shoots of leaves), the collection of which is carried out 3-4 times during the whole vegetation period. The first time the apical and lateral shoots are harvested in late July, before flowering orthosiphon. Then raw material is carried out in August, September and October, when the tops are cut off and all green leaves. After drying, the moisture content of the finished raw material is usually not more than 10 %.

In the above-ground parts of the plant contain organic acids, tannins, fatty oil, a bitter glycoside ortosifonin, triterpene saponins. The leaves are also rich in potassium salts. As shown by pharmacological studies, the plant is not poisonous and has a mild diuretic effect without side effects.

The use of orthosiphon

Aboveground part of the plant is used in diseases of the kidney associated with edema, uric acid diathesis, gout, hypertension. Infusions and decoctions of orthosiphon beneficial effects for the patient with cholecystitis, gastritis with low acidity, liver disease. It is recommended for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, as well as in the formation of sand or stones in the kidneys.

Infusion: it is necessary to pour half a teaspoon of chopped dry grass a glass of boiled water, bring to the boil and infuse for 20 minutes. After straining it means you need to add boiling water to the same level, and drink 100 ml of warm infusion for half an hour before food 2 timesday. The infusion is prepared daily, course of treatment – 1-1. 5 months.

Broth: 2-3 tablespoons of dried leaves is poured into an enamel bowl, pour a glass of boiling water and heated on a steam bath for about 15 minutes. Insist 45 minutes, filter and adjusted the resulting volume to 200 ml by adding boiled water. The decoction is taken 2-3 times a day for 60-100 ml for half an hour before meals.

The leaves of orthosiphon

During a recent gathering of raw materials in October from plants pluck all the green leaves, the length of which can reach up to 7 cm They are dried and Packed in bundles of 50 g. the Color of dried leaves brownish-green, the taste is bitter-tart, the smell is barely perceptible. The quality of raw materials can be reduced from the admixture of black leaves or stems greater than 50 mm thicker and 2.5 mm. Store the finished products usually in a cool and dry place.

Tea from orthosiphon

The orthosiphon staminate – a great diuretic, used in the form of tea in diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. Tea also has a slight antispasmodic action.

Tea made from orthosiphon: it is made of 1 tablespoon of dried leaves in 50 ml of cold boiled water. Tea insist 8-12 hours stirring occasionally. After straining the drink can be slightly warm to a nice drinking temperature. The dosage is 2-3 cups of tea during the day, in the evening, he drink a little.

A mixture of leaves of orthosiphon and bearberryused as a tea, excellent disinfects and cleanses the bladder and urinary tract.

Tea from a mixture of bearberry and orthosiphon: tea is pre-mixed to 25 g of bearberry leaves and orthosiphon, and then 2 teaspoons of the mixture pour 50 ml of cold boiled water, insist 10-12 hours, filter. Drink 2 cups of tea a day warm.

The orthosiphon staminate – "kidney tea"

Kidney tea is found active use in many countries, in Europe it is approved for use in 1950. Kidney tea improves the function of the tubules, increasing glomerular filtration, when it is received alkalization of urine. It is effective in edema caused by heart failure, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, cystitis, urethritis, kidney stones.

In patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis with regular intake kidney teasignificantly reduces the pain, has a good appetite, increases the secretion of gastric juice and decreases the number of leukocytes and mucus in the bile.

The orthosiphon during pregnancy

Tea made from orthosiphon is a diuretic, the only fee that doctors safely prescribe in pregnancy. It is recommended in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system and reduces swelling that can occur in women during the second half of pregnancy. The taste of the tea is quite tolerable, but it is not recommended to use more than three consecutive weeks.

Recently, the mothers increasingly began to raise questions about the possibility of drinking tea during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that some manufacturers among the contraindications on the packaging began to point and pregnancy. As explained by the doctors, today often called renal tea kidney any fees, which can include herbs, the intake of which is highly undesirable during pregnancy.

Real kidney tea, namely, tea made from orthosiphon does not represent a real threat to the future mother or to the fetus. On the contrary, it can significantly alleviate the unpleasant condition pregnant.

Contraindications to the use of orthosiphon

Specific contraindications for taking orthosiphon is not, although broths and teas with edema due to heart or kidney failure, the better to consume only after consulting a doctor and under his supervision. There are also individual intolerance of the drug. You should avoid overdose as with taking any other drugs.