Badan thick-leaved (Bergenia crassifolia); Saxifragaceae family; badan thick-leaved
The wonderful nutritional and medicinal properties of this plant have been known to the people for a long time, but it is not often used in scientific medicine, because badan thickets are difficult to access and are located in the mountainous regions of Altai, Sayan and Transbaikalia. A close species with a similar effect grows in the mountains of Primorye. In Ukraine, it is mainly grown in botanical gardens.
Badan is a herbaceous perennial, the height of its stem is 10-20 (sometimes up to 50) cm. The rhizome of the plant is thick, cylindrical, creeping, reaches a length of 1 m. The leaves are leathery, rounded, wintering, up to 35 cm long. The flowers are lilac-pink, in flagellum-shield-like inflorescences. Badan blooms in natural places of growth (usually on rocky slopes and placers, in the upper forest belt) in June-July. Introduced into culture (the plant is grown on homesteads), and it blooms earlier in places of cultivation.
Badan rhizomes, which contain a large amount of tannins (15-28%), starch, sugars, glycosides and other organic compounds, are used medicinally.
Raw materials are collected after flowering, in July-August. The rhizomes are washed, cut into pieces up to 20 cm long, first dried in the air under cover, and then dried in well-ventilated rooms for three weeks. Properly dried rhizomes break with a crack and have a light yellow color at the break. Store the finished raw materials in a dry place with access to air, the shelf life is 4 years.
Badan has long been used in Tibetan and Buryat traditional medicine. The preparations of the plant have an astringent, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and bactericidal effect. They accelerate the rhythm of heart contractions, lower blood pressure, improve the secretory function of the glands, and strengthen the capillary walls. They have a harmful effect on the causative agents of typhoid and dysentery. Badan products are prescribed for infectious colitis and enterocolitis, and in parallel with sulfonamides and antibiotics for dysentery.
The plant is widely used in gynecological practice. With the help of its products, uterine fibroids and some other female ailments are treated, they are used for hyperpolymenorrhea (excessive blood loss during menstruation) and uterine bleeding after abortion. In the form of douching, a liquid diluted extract of badan rhizomes is used in the treatment of cervical erosion. In dentistry, the liquid extract is used to rinse the mouth cavity with gingivitis and stomatitis.
In folk medicine, an infusion of the rhizomes of the plant is drunk for diseases of the oral cavity and throat, thrush, gastrointestinal ailments, it also helps with headaches. Wounds and ulcers are sprinkled with powder of dry rhizomes.
Badan rhizomes rich in starch are used as food. They are soaked in water, dried, ground into powder and added to flour. Blackened leaves after winter are used as a substitute for tea. This surrogate is called chagyr tea or Mongolian tea. The drink tones and improves metabolism.
Liquid extract of rhizomes. A tablespoon of crushed dry rhizomes per 200 ml of boiling water. Boil over low heat until half of the initial volume remains, filter. Take 30 drops 2-3 times a day.
Decoction of rhizomes. 10 g of crushed raw materials per 200 ml of boiling water. Boil in a water bath for 10 minutes, filter, bring to the original volume with boiled water. Take 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day before meals.
Douching solution . 1 tablespoon of liquid extract of badan rhizomes is diluted in 1 liter of warm boiled water. After douching, a 10-15-minute vaginal bath is made from a liquid extract of the rhizome. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
Solution for rinsing. 10 ml of liquid extract is diluted in 90 ml of distilled water. Rinse the mouth cavity in the morning and in the evening.