Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill.
The heather family is Ericaceae
What does it look like? A small evergreen branchy bush 15-70 cm tall. The stem is thin with raised branches, the bark is gray-brown. The leaves are small, placed oppositely, closely scaly, four rows. The flowers are purple or purple-pink, sometimes white or cream, on short peduncles, placed in one-sided clusters. The taste of the plant is bitter, astringent. It smells like honey. Blooms from July to September.
Where does it grow? In the forest and in the north of the forest-steppe areas – not dry and soggy, poor in lime, sandy soils, more often in pine and mixed forests, on meadows, dry hills, on forest meadows, along roads.
What and when are collected? Branches with leaves and flowers, in summer.
When is it used? As a diaphoretic and diuretic, anti-inflammatory – for inflammation of the urinary tract. Recommended for gout, rheumatism, bladder diseases that accompany inflammation of the prostate gland, urolithiasis, diarrhea. They are used for disorders of the nervous system, insomnia, timidity, and thoughtfulness (glycosides arbutin and ericoline, alkaloid ericodpn, fumaric, silicic and citric acids, tannins, flavonoids quercetin and myricitrine, calcium salts are effective).
It is used as a tea. Take 1 teaspoon of heather per 1 cup of boiling water and infuse for 10 minutes. Drink 2 glasses a day in sips, useful for stomach catarrh with increased acidity. As a means that calms the nerves and treats insomnia, a mixture of heather , dog nettle grass, dried marsh flowers and valerian root is used in a ratio of 4:3:3:1 – take 1 tablespoon of the mixture for 2 cups of boiling water and steam it all night. They drink 4-5 sips every hour, 4 glasses a day (for neurasthenia). In case of insomnia, take 2 full tablespoons of a mixture of heather trap, lemon balm leaves and valerian root in a ratio of 2:2:6 per 1 cup of boiling water, infuse for 15 minutes. Drink in sips throughout the day.
With chronic inflammatory changes in the heart muscle, pericardium, heart valves and the state after their transfer (compensated and decompensated heart valve defects, endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, mitral valve insufficiency, mitral stenosis, aortic valve insufficiency, aortic stenosis) 2 teaspoons a mixture of heather flowers, thorn flowers, thorny hawthorn leaves, dog nettle grass, yarrow grass, lovage root (equally) is boiled for 20 minutes in a glass of water and drunk in sips per day.
Diuretic for chronic cystitis, pyelitis, urolithiasis, renal colic, a mixture of heather grass, sedum grass, milkweed leaves, gorse grass, St. John’s wort grass, lavender flowers, rhizomes of yarrow and sage leaves (equally) – take 1 tablespoon for 1 glass of boiling water, steam for 10 minutes, drink 2 glasses a day.
With painful menstruation, women steam 1 tablespoon of a mixture of blooming heather branches , buckthorn bark, birch leaves, chamomile flowers, spearmint leaves and valerian rhizomes and roots in a ratio of 10:7.5:7.5:25:25. 25 in 0.25 l of water and drink hot during the day.
For compresses on wounds that are difficult to heal, abscesses, a decoction of a mixture of heather grass, horsetail grass, and common goldenrod grass is used in a ratio of 3:3:4 — 2 full tablespoons pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and boil for 15 minutes.
And also pay attention to the article Common heather