An annual sprawling green plant of the carnation family. The stems are branched, decumbent or ascending, densely pubescent, 5-25 cm long. The leaves are small, whole, opposite, oval or oblong-elliptical, wedge-shaped narrowed to a short petiole at the base, bristly-ciliated on the edge, with white-membranous lanceolate stipules. The flowers are small, bisexual and unisexual, with a green calyx and filiform petals, collected in dense axillary glomeruli; sepals and stamens 4 each. The fruit is a dry membranous spherical one-seeded nut. Blooms in June – September.
Spread. Polygamous sedge grows throughout Ukraine (rarely in Polissia) in open, mostly sandy places, rocky outcrops and as a weed on fields and roads.
Procurement and storage . Herbs (Herba Herniariae) are used to make medicines, which are collected during the flowering of the plant. The collected grass is quickly dried in the shade in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated room, spreading it on a cloth or paper in a layer 3-4 cm thick and stirring often. 23-25% of dry raw material is obtained. Store in dry, well-ventilated areas. The shelf life is 2 years.
The chemical composition needs further study. It is known that the herb contains coumarins (umbelliferone, guerniarin and scopoletin).
Pharmacological properties and use . Polygamous mullein has diuretic, astringent, antispasmodic and antibacterial properties, exhibits a weak choleretic effect, normalizes disturbed mineral metabolism in the body. Plant preparations are used for heart failure associated with decompensation of cardiac activity, acute and chronic catarrh of the urinary bladder, pyelitis, involuntary urination, kidney stone disease, pyelonephritis, persistent albuminuria, rheumatism, gout, arthritis, gonorrheal inflammation of the urinary tract, jaundice and in the case of respiratory catarrh and muscle pain after heavy physical work. Externally, the infusion of the herb is used for diathesis and skin diseases and for wound healing. No side effects of polygamous repellent products on the body of patients were found.
Medicinal forms and applications . Internally – herbal infusion (20 g of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water) 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day;
fresh plant juice is taken 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day;
Boil 3 tablespoons of a mixture of the polygamous sedum grass, common milkweed leaves, common juniper fruits (50 g each) and the roots of madder dye (200 g) in 1 liter of water for 15 minutes, strain and drink half a glass before meals and after meals 3 times a day day with kidney stone disease;
1 tablespoon with the top of a mixture of ostudnik polygamy grass, fruits of garden parsley (20 g each) and leaves of common milkweed (60 g) is infused in a glass of cold water for 6 hours, boiled for 15 minutes and drunk in equal portions during the day for cystitis and bacteriuria (collection is effective in case of alkaline urine).