A perennial herbaceous pubescent plant of the primrose family. It has an oblique rhizome with a large number of brown cord-shaped roots. Flower arrows are straight, leafless, 10-40 cm tall. The leaves are collected, in a surface rosette, ovate, elliptical, elongated or rounded, notched and finely toothed, wrinkled at the edge, with veins protruding from below and depressed from above, suddenly narrowed into a winged petiole, which is almost equal in length to the plate. The flowers are bisexual, regular, gathered at the top of the stem in a non-decumbent umbrella-shaped inflorescence with 5-15 flowers; the calyx is tubular, with five ribs, the corolla is funnel-shaped, with a wide five-lobed bend, the lobes of which are obovate, light yellow, inside with a darker spot at the base of the lobes of the bend. The fruit is a short cylindrical capsule, longer than the calyx. Blooms in May.
Distribution . The primrose grows tall in the Carpathians and in the Carpathians, it is occasionally found in the Western Forest Steppe in forests, on the edges of forests, among shrubs.
Procurement and storage. For medicinal purposes, the rhizome with roots (Rhizoma et radix Primulae), flowers with a calyx (Flores Primulae cum calyce), rarely only corolla (Flores Primulae sine calyce) and leaves (Folia Primulae) are harvested. The roots of the primrose are dug in the spring before the plant blooms or in the fall, when the leaves have faded; it is carefully washed from the ground and dried in the sun or in a warm room, spreading it in a thin layer on paper or cloth and stirring it from time to time. 28-30% of dry roots are obtained. Flowers and leaves are collected at the beginning of the flowering of the plant, plucking them by hand or cutting them with knives. Half of the leaves on each plant should be left so as not to harm flowering and fruiting. It is necessary to dry the leaves quickly and preferably at a high (90-100°) temperature, which makes it possible to obtain raw materials with a high content of ascorbic acid. 22-23% of dry leaves are obtained. Fresh leaves are used for salads. Flowers are cut or plucked with whole inflorescences and a part (2-3 cm) of the flower-bearing arrow. They are pre-cured in the sun, and then dried under cover in the open air, and in adverse weather conditions – in a warm room. Dry flowers yield 15-16%. They should be stored in well-closed jars or cans, because they are very hygroscopic. Artificial drying of flowers and roots is carried out at a temperature of 40°. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years. They should be stored in well-closed jars or cans, because they are very hygroscopic. Artificial drying of flowers and roots is carried out at a temperature of 40°. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years. They should be stored in well-closed jars or cans, because they are very hygroscopic. Artificial drying of flowers and roots is carried out at a temperature of 40°. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years.
Chemical composition . The tall primrose has a chemical composition close to the spring primrose, but differs in slightly different content and ratio of the components that make it up.
Pharmacological properties and use. Primrose is used mainly as a good expectorant for diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract. Galena products of primrose strengthen the secretion of the mucous membrane of the bronchi and upper respiratory tract, increase the activity of the ciliated epithelium, accelerate the evacuation of the secretion from the respiratory tract, and have a weak antispasmodic effect. An infusion of primrose roots (Infusum radicis et rhizome Primulae) is used as an expectorant. It is prescribed for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, chronic tracheitis and bronchitis, bronchopneumonia. Some authors (O. P. Popov, 1970) recommend a decoction of the roots and leaves of primrose also as a pain reliever (for rheumatism) and a diuretic (for diseases of the kidneys and bladder). Instead, other authors (F. Stary, V. Irasek, 1982) consider such recommendations unfounded. In folk medicine, the infusion of primrose roots is used as an expectorant and as a remedy that accelerates the resorption of external hemorrhages. Due to the presence of a large amount of ascorbic acid and carotene in the leaves, primrose is used in the form of salads and infusions (from fresh and dried leaves, respectively) for vitamin C and A deficiency. Often, primrose is prescribed in combination with other medicinal plants for diseases of the respiratory system: chamomile medicinal, common anise, large plantain, common fennel, etc. Primrose flowers are mainly used in folk medicine. An infusion of flowers is drunk for fever, inflammation of the throat and lungs, for various headaches, in particular for migraines, for neuroses and insomnia, rapid heartbeat, as a “blood purifier” for gout, boils, ulcers and skin rashes. Externally, the infusion is used to rinse the nose with a runny nose.
Medicinal forms and applications.
Internally – root infusion (10 g, or 1 tablespoon of raw materials per 200 ml of boiling water) 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day before meals;
10 g of flowers are infused for 15 minutes in a glass of boiling water, filtered and drunk during the day in equal portions; infusion of leaves (10 g of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water) for a quarter of a glass 4 times a day as a vitamin-containing agent;
a tablespoon of a mixture of primrose flowers, horsetail grass, leaves of common sedge and plantain, taken in a ratio of 4:3:1:2, infuse for 2 hours in a glass of cold boiled water, boil for 5 minutes, cool, filter and drink warm, 1 cup a day for several doses for cough, tracheobronchitis, chronic bronchitis and dry bronchitis;
salad: mix chopped primrose leaves and onions, put on pieces of boiled beet, salt and season with cream (for 100 g of primrose leaves, take 80 g of boiled beets, 25 g of green onions and 20 g of cream;
salt – to taste; cool the salad before use).