Chastuha

The types of useful properties and applications of water plantain

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Description chastuhi

Chastuha is one of the most common plants growing in damp places: channels, ponds, puddles and other bodies of water. In appearance it is very similar to the plantain. Chastuha has a beautiful ribbed leaves on long petioles, collected in branched panicles, bisexual flowers with six stamens. The fruits of the plants are quite numerous, they have laterally flattened shape, located Annularly in dense heads.

The appearance of this herb can greatly evolve under the influence of the environment. In addition, the length of the stem, and the shape and color of leaves can vary depending on the variety. Usually plant height does not exceed 70 cm. the Main habitat is forest area.

Currently in the Northern hemisphere known ten species of water plantain. Some of them are actively used for decorating ponds and lakes. In this case, it should be remembered that the seeds of plants germinate very quickly and can pollute the whole pond, so the dead flowers to be removed immediately.

Useful properties of water plantain

Mention of this medicinal plant can be found in the writings of medieval healers. Even then the folk medicine of many countries appreciated the healing ability of water plantain. It was often used to prepare tinctures that can help with hemorrhoids, kidney disease, jaundice. This herb has an effective diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects. In the past, the decoctions of water plantain was considered effective against the bites of rabid animals, although the data to date are not confirmed.

Official medicine is still insufficiently studied composition chastuhi, however, it is known that it contains essential oil, starch, sugar, resin and some other useful human body substances. For medicinal purposes mainly used rhizomes and leaves of the plant. The leaves for this are harvested in June-August, and roots in September-October.

The use of water plantain

Before chastuha helped people to resist the many different diseases. It is often prescribed to sexually transmitted diseases, hemorrhoids, fresh leaves of this herb were made to run up the wounds and abrasions. With the help of this medicinal plant was treated with chronic nephritis, dropsy, edema of renal origin, cast out the stones from the kidney. It should be noted that chastuha has the ability to break up kidney stones to a powder thatgreatly facilitates their conclusion.

Tibetan healers used some variety of water plantain for the treatment of wounds and reduction of scar tissue formation. Japanese traditional medicine recommends a decoction of this herb as an effective diuretic for edema of cardiac and renal origin, vertigo, hypertension and many other diseases.

Infusion: one Cup of boiled water is required to pour one tablespoon of dried herb plants infuse for two hours, then strain. Take the infusion should be four times a day for a quarter Cup. Folk medicine recommends this remedy for kidney stones.

Types of water plantain

There are several types chastuhi, consider the most popular of them.

Chastuha podorozhnikovaya. This species grows mainly in shallow water, along banks of lakes, ponds and rivers. Chastuhu plantain can be found from the Barents sea to the subtropical zones of Asia and Europe. She has green broadly linear or ovate leaves, its inflorescences are large pyramidal panicles with erect branches. The stems of the plants reach a height of from 10 to 70 centimeters. In folk medicine, chastuha podorozhnikovaya it is mostly used to combat kidney stones because of its diuretic action.

Chastuha floating is a perennial plant, of which habitat is warm-temperate zone of Central Europe. This type has a floating stem, not exceeding 40 cm in height. The leaves of the plants are also floating. Flowers bisexual, situated on long stalks. Chastuha floating is often used for decoration of swimming pools and small ponds.

Chastuha ordinary. This grass is an annual weed with erect glabrous stem and vigorous rhizomes. The leaves are ovate or broadly linear, the flowers are white or pinkish-white, collected in pyramidal panicles. Blossoms in June-August. The rhizomes contain sweeteners, starch, essential oil, grass – poisonous alkaloids. In folk medicine preparations of water plantain is used for chronic nephritis, edema of renal origin. In small doses, they help to facilitate the removal of children from the breast.

The plant is POISONOUS, especially the fresh juice. Oral administration requires caution, although when dry the juice loses its poisonous properties.

Chastuha Raoul Wallenberg. This kind of water plantaindiffers from others in that it never grows out of the water. The plant has narrow ribbon-shaped or lanceolate green leaves growing from a basal rosette, very shortened inflorescence and flowers prispuskaya. This species blooms in mid-summer. Chastuha Raoul Wallenberg is particularly prevalent in Scandinavia and on the Gulf of Finland.

Contraindications to the use of water plantain

Chastuha has a number of contraindications. It is strictly prohibited to take during pregnancy and lactation. Also this plant is contraindicated in acute renal diseases, diabetes. Furthermore, fresh herb contains a poisonous substance that can cause skin redness and formation on it of bubbles. Any infusions and decoctions chastuhi should be taken only after consultation with your doctor.