Catharanthus
Useful properties and applications of Catharanthus
Useful properties of Catharanthus
Catharanthus is a herbaceous medicinal plant, which contains more than 65 of alkaloids (the roots to 2.1 % in leaves, up to 1.3 %, in stalks up to 0.4 %). The most interesting of these are the alkaloids vincristine, virosin, vinblastine, rosidin, perquin, leyrozin and lejrozidin having antitumor activity. The healing properties of this herb are well known not only traditional healers but also oncologists.Malignancy is used only aboveground part of plants, producing medicines for chemotherapy. In folk medicine the leaves and stems cook all sorts of tinctures and infusions, extracts and oil. The raw material is collected only at the time when the content of alkaloids in the grass the most, namely closer to the middle of September, in the period of seed maturation. Leaves and young shoots are dried in a shaded place and stored for not more than a year, after which the prepared raw material loses the medical properties.
The use of Catharanthus
Despite the fact that Catharanthus poisonous, it has a wide range of effects on the human body and therefore is highly prized for its healing properties. The preparations used in the treatment of leukemia, blastoma, sarcoma, leukemia, cancer of the breast, cervical and other cancer diseases. Tinctures and infusions from herbs give a stable positive results in the treatment of adenoma and prostatitis, polyps, uterine fibroids, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and ulcers of the stomach.
Catharanthus normalizes the level of sugar in the blood, relieves venous ulcers and prevents the development of gangrene in diabetes. It is used in high blood pressure and eczema, and as a light anaesthetic for the prevention of cancer. A decoction of young leaves is effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, skin itching, psoriasis.
The broth: a tablespoon of dry raw materials, pour 200 ml of water, boil for 1 minute and leave for about 30 minutes. After straining the broth, it is recommended to take 2-3 times a day an hour before meals, diluting it with one teaspoon of drinking 50 ml of water. For external use in a glass of water can fill2 tablespoons dry grass.
Infusion: for prophylaxis of oncological diseases it is recommended to use a collection of Catharanthus roseus, pharmacy chamomile, mistletoe and celandine in equal shares. A Cup of boiling water poured a tablespoon of the powdered mixture and allow to infuse for about half an hour. Infusion of 50 ml 30 minutes before food throughout the month. The preventive course is carried out 2-3 times a year.
Tincture of Catharanthus
Infusions of herbs are usually prepared in alcohol or vodka and reach the desired condition for 7-10 days. These drugs are quite effective as a potent anti-tumor and blood-purifying remedies.Recipe 1. The crushed leaves of the plant pour vodka in the ratio 1:20, incubated at room temperature in a dark place for 7 days, after which the tincture filter and take 10 drops in a tablespoon of water.
Recipe 2. Two tablespoons of young shoots with leaves pour 250 ml of 70% alcohol and insist in a dark place for 10 days, shaking occasionally. The first 3 weeks of taking the tincture at the rate of 5 drops per tablespoon of water 30 minutes before eating. After a week the dosage increased to 10 drops for the same volume of liquid. The course of treatment is not less than three months in strict compliance with the dosage and formulation of the preparation of infusions. The drug helps with fibroids, varicose veins, prostatitis, stomach ulcers.
Treatment with Catharanthus
Despite the fact that this flower is poisonous, it is very useful in the treatment of malignant tumors. It contains anti-cancer substances, used in the traditional medicine in the preparation of drugs for chemotherapy. Grass also has a detrimental effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it is effective for skin diseases – dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Seeds of Catharanthus
The seeds of the plants ripen in the fruit – two sickle-shaped leaflets with a length of 5 cm and a thickness of 3 mm. Seeds yancowinna, small, black. However, in our conditions they are not fastened. After planting, seeds are quickly and amicably, with additional lighting they can be sown seedlings in late February.
Flowers of Catharanthus
The flowers of the plant are simple, quite large (to 3 cm), with five petals. Paintingthey may be different: pale purple, white, pink. In the center of each flower is bright crimson or yellow "eye". The mild aroma of the flowers, they bloom continuously from may to October.
Cultivation of Catharanthus
This medicinal plant can often be found in flower growers at home in pots, it propagated by seeds and vegetatively. For cultivation of Catharanthus suitable soil mixture of turf and ground sheet, peat, sand and humus. Seeds are sown at a depth of 1-2 cm in late February or in March. Germination requires complete darkness, so sowing is best enjoyed dark film. When the ambient temperature is +24 °C the seedlings appear after 8-10 days. After that, it is recommended that the seedlings in pots to put on the light.In winter, this healing flower watered sparingly in the summer – plenty. The first fertilizing is conducted in 2 weeks after emergence, and swordplay (transplant) – after reaching a plant height of 6-8 cm and in the presence of four of these sheets. Every 10-14 days the seedlings fed with a solution of complex mineral fertilizers in concentrations of 0.1-0.2 percent. In the second half of the summer it increases the content of potassium and phosphorus. Winter gardens this ornamental flower can reach 1.5 meters, preferring light but not too Sunny places.
Catharanthus roseus
The birthplace of this species of Catharanthus – the island of Java, where in the tropics the plant grows on forest edges and is one of the most common weeds. For therapeutic purposes, using only the overground part, collecting raw materials in the period of fruiting. The leaves and stems contain very valuable alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine, which are effective antitumor agents. Preparations of the herb are also used for the treatment of diabetes, psoriasis, fibroids, prostate adenoma and hypertension.
Catharanthus basket
This kind of Catharanthus suitable for growing in hanging pots (planters), it is also used as a groundcover. Breeders displayed a lot of varieties of this species, and they are all strongly ramified flowers. Shoots can reach a length of 1.0–1.5 meters. Popularity Catharanthus won after introduction to fashion decorative items for home decoration in the form of hanging baskets, where they started to grow it basket plant.
In recent years it is increasingly used in landscape design in conjunction with other plant partners. This quickly expands, filling allspace and covering the ground thick flowered carpet. Catharanthus can be grown together with annual herbs such as Petunia and Lobelia, perennial suitable Vinca and Impatiens.
Contraindications to the use of Catharanthus
ATTENTION! Due to the fact that the Catharanthus is a poisonous plant, treatment of it should be conducted only under the supervision of a physician. Despite the fact that teas, tinctures and ointments, prepared by yourself, have an effective therapeutic effect, they can also cause severe side effects – nausea, vomiting, baldness, skin irritation, although these symptoms are not all people. In addition, the plant is contraindicated in patients with hypotension and vascular dystonia.