Meadow core

Popular names: cuckoo flower, meadow lettuce, wild lettuce. Parts used: aerial part (fresh and dry).

Pharmacy name: grass of the meadow core – Cardaminis pratensis herba (formerly: Herba Cardaminis pratensis).

Botanical description. Meadow heartwood is known to many people, because in spring it decorates meadows and is often collected in bouquets (though short-lived). It is a perennial plant 20-30 cm tall. The stem is erect, traditionally with a brownish tinge, hollow, rounded, juicy, hairless. Long-leaved basal leaves unpaired pinnate; their leaves – with long petioles, ovoid or rounded. Stem leaves are pinnately dissected, few of them. Flowers 8-20, they are collected in the apical brush. The flowers are light purple, rarely white or purple. Distinct dark veins are conspicuous on the petals. Sometimes a spit-like foam is visible on the stems. It is inhabited by the larvae of penny cicadas. Blooms from April to May (June). Found in wet meadows, sometimes in gardens.

Collection and preparation. Regardless of how you want to use the plant, it should be harvested at the beginning of flowering. Bunches of grass are dried in the shade.

Active ingredients: mustard oil glycosides, bitterness, vitamin C.

Healing action and application. Like watercress, it is used for non-specific stimulating therapy (spring course), traditionally in the form of salads. Differences between the meadow heart, watercress and bitter heart since ancient times and the Middle Ages, as a rule, do not make. Scientific medicine today does not object to the use of the core as a blood cleanser, since it has been found that mustard oil glycosides have a beneficial stimulating effect on the liver and kidneys.

Application in folk medicine.Not only in the countryside, where the experience of grandmothers still means something, but also on the recommendations of modern nutritional scientists, many now enjoy the life-giving effect of spring herbal salads. In addition to dandelion and sorrel, watercress and heartwood occupy a special place. They can be deliciously prepared according to old or new recipes, they stimulate the activity of the glands in the body, which undoubtedly improves well-being. o Spring treatment: pour Vg l of milk into a mixer, chop one apple with skin (without core), squeeze the juice of one lemon and three oranges, also add 20 g of fresh dandelion leaves, meadow core and watercress, then beat it all mixer. The resulting drink is slightly bitter, refreshing and toning. And with a tablespoon of honey, it will completely replace your whole breakfast or dinner. People sometimes drank tea from the heartwood against ailments of a rheumatic nature, as well as for pain accompanied by convulsions. It should be noted, however, that the use of the core in diabetes seems doubtful, despite the indications of N. Schulz in his book “The action and use of medicinal plants” (1929).

  • Heartwood herb tea: Pour 2 teaspoons with the top of the herb into 1/4 liter of boiling water, let it brew for 5-10 minutes, then strain. Against rheumatic and other pains, traditional medicine recommends drinking in small sips a cup of warm enough tea 2-3 times every day.

Side effects. Excessive consumption of fresh herbs should be avoided, as well as an overdose when brewing tea, otherwise irritation in the stomach and kidneys is possible.

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