Name: Sleep-grass luchna
DREAM MEADOW GRASS (SUN) —
Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill
The Zhovtetsevi family is Ranunculaceae
What does it look like? Perennial herb 25-30 cm tall. Its rhizome is dark brown, vertical. In March-April, a hairy arrow grows from the axil of the basal leaf with a hairy, leg-dissected, sessile bract – a cover, which melts the snow above it with its breath. Frost, freezing the melted water, creates an ice “greenhouse” window above the plant, which allows the plant to accumulate enough heat, necessary for its rapid development. The leaves of the plant are oblong and tripartite. The flower is drooping, quite large, single, its cup is petal-like (six parts of the cup replace the petals), dirty purple in color, in the form of a bell with bent edges. Blooms in April – May, sometimes also in August – September.
Where does it grow? Widespread throughout the territory of Ukraine, but mainly on calcareous soils in pine and mixed forests, on open sandy hills, dry slopes, on steppes and meadows, in the forest-steppe and steppe (Donetsk region, Amvrosiivskyi, Volodarskyi, Oleksandrivskyi, Slovyanskyi districts ).
What and when are collected? The whole plant, in May – June. The fresh plant is poisonous, causes burns on the skin: watery and even bloody blisters. The plant is odorless, when dried it acquires a sharp, acrid smell. The dry plant is used 3-5 months after collection. Its varieties—opened dream-grass and blackened dream-grass—act similarly.
When is it used? As a hypnotic, antispasmodic, expectorant and pain reliever, for hysteria, insomnia, migraine, dizziness, neuralgia, whooping cough, bronchitis, bronchial asthma. Used by women during menstruation to reduce pain and speed up childbirth. Used for kidney and gallstones, colic; as a diuretic and diaphoretic agent for gout and rheumatism; children are given for convulsions (for children’s convulsions).
Used in the form of a decoction. For 1 glass of water, take 1 tablespoon of crushed dry grass, boil for a minute, strain, squeeze and give: adults – 1 tablespoon every 2-3 hours; children, depending on age, 1 teaspoon each. In the treatment of some mental diseases — as a hypnotic, sedative. A decoction of 3 tablespoons of the herb in 1 glass of water is used – 2-3 tablespoons at a time for several weeks. In a dose of 1-2 tablespoons three times a day for 2-3 months, it is given for glaucoma. The same decoction – 1 tablespoon, 3-5 times a day, at regular intervals between meals, for 2-3 weeks – is used in the treatment of hypertension of the I-II degrees. Instead of a decoction, a 20% alcohol tincture of meadowsweet is used – half a teaspoon (3 g) for a certain time, 3-4 times a day.
The plant contains ranunculin glycoside, triterpene saponins, tannins, volatile pulsating oil – a derivative of camphor, poisonous substance anemonin (anemone camphor) and its decomposition product anemonol, organic acids and about 20 different macro- and microelements. The substances contained in the plant inhibit the development and growth of bacteria and fungi and irritate the skin, so it should be used carefully so as not to cause burns
Instead of mustard, it is used for bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, pain in the joints. The fresh juice squeezed from the plant is rubbed on the places numbed by rheumatism. Fresh leaves are applied to the head – for scabies, to the back of the head – for chicken blindness (in combination with the use of fish oil internally). The juice from the roots removes warts.
A handful of chopped grass (4 tablespoons) is boiled in 1 liter of water and the decoction is added to a full bath for the treatment of skin fungal diseases. Baths made from a decoction of roots or grass are used for eczema.
And also pay attention to the article Dream grass meadow