Alder black or sticky

COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS

BLACK ALDER, OR GLUE [Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaerth.]As a medicinal raw material, mainly infructescences (“cones”) are used, which are harvested in autumn and winter (until the beginning of March). With a secateurs or a knife, the ends of thin branches are cut off, from which the seedlings are then cut off. Fallen seedlings are not collected. Most often, the harvesting of raw materials is carried out during logging. Dry in attics or under sheds, also in air dryers with artificial heating, spreading out in a thin layer (4-5 cm), stirring occasionally. In favorable weather, you can dry the seedlings of alder in the open air. The shelf life of raw materials is 3 years. The second, morphologically close, ecologically replacing black alder species, gray alder [Alnus incana (L.) Moench.], also has medicinal value. Alder gray – a tree up to 15-20 m in height, with smooth ash-gray bark and pubescent, non-sticky shoots. Leaves broadly ovate or elliptical, pointed at apex, on felt-pubescent petioles, dense green, non-glutinous, lighter on underside, pubescent, especially along veins. Unlike black alder, fruit catkins are 3-8, sessile, except for the terminal one; nuts are obovate, with narrow wings.

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Alder seedlings, due to the presence of tannins in them, have pronounced astringent and disinfectant properties. In addition, alder cones also have anti-inflammatory, desensitizing and hemostatic effects.

APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE

Bark. Infusion and tincture – astringent and anti-inflammatory agent for enteritis and colitis. Broth – hemostatic for inflammation and bleeding from the intestines, for rinsing – for diseases of the throat, poultices – for ulcers and wounds, as a diaphoretic, for diarrhea. Powder – anticancer agent, decoction – for throat tumors. Leaves. Alcohol extract “Alglutin” is recommended as a laxative for chronic constipation. Infusion – as an anti-inflammatory and astringent for diseases of the throat and intestines; as a diaphoretic for colds and coughs; wound healing; in rheumatism and gout. Decoction – for cancer of the breast, pylorus, pancreas, duodenum, esophagus, rectum, throat, tongue, uterus and other tumors. Foot baths relieve the feeling of fatigue during long transitions. Tincture, infusion (especially summer, green “cones”), liquid and dry extracts (“Tkhmelini”) – for acute and chronic enteritis and colitis, dysentery, colds, cough, gout; for rinsing the throat, mouth, to strengthen the gums and diaphoretic in the form of tea. They are part of the gastric collection.

DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES

Alder seed tincture (Tinctura fructuum Alni) is taken 25 drops 3 times every day. Alder seed fruit dry extract (Extractum fructuum Alni siccum) is taken 0.5-0.6 g 3-6 times every day. ) alder (Infusum fructuum Alni): 10 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature for 45 minutes, filter, the remaining raw material is squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take 1/3-1/2 cup 2-3 times every day 30 minutes before meals as an astringent. Take 1 tablespoon 2-3 times every day.♦ Infusion of alder bark: 15 g of raw material is poured into 200 ml of boiling water, insisted in a warm place for 30 minutes, then filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times every day.

APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS

Water protection and bank protection, suitable for afforestation of wet and marshy places. Improves the soil by enriching it with nitrogen. Roots turn brown. Wood – for hydraulic structures, carpentry and turning, in furniture and plywood (in Ukraine, 42% of plywood is made from sticky alder) industries, in electrical engineering – insulating material. It is used to imitate walnut, mahogany. The sags on the trunks are especially appreciated. Dry distillation of the wood yields wood vinegar and charcoal, which in the past was used in the manufacture of gunpowder and for painting. Alder firewood is used for smoking fish. Bark for tanning “calf” leather; for dyeing leather in black, red and yellow, cloth in red and yellow, silk in ocher and gray-yellow, wool in black, red and yellow, cotton in gray. The leaves turn the skin brownish-yellow. Leaves and young shoots – food for goats, sheep, rabbits. “Cones” are suitable for tanning, give black and red color. Honey plant. The resinous substances secreted by the kidneys and leaves of the bee are used in the production of propolis. It is recommended to feed the bees with alder pollen before it blooms. To do this, alder branches are brought into a warm room and the pollen that has spilled out from the opened anthers is mixed into the syrup, which is given to the bees.

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