Veronica officinalis (Veronica officinalis); wood veronica Rannykov family (Scrophulariaceae); Veronika is a healer
On meadows with acidic peaty soil, on the edges of forests, mainly pine, you can often see veronica medicinal. It is a low-growing perennial, 10-35 cm tall, with a creeping, pubescent stem. The flowers of the plant are light purple or blue, in thin tassels, located in the axils of the leaves. Flowering is long, from June to September. Veronica is widespread in the European part of Russia. In Ukraine, it grows in mixed and pine forests, on forest edges, meadows, clearings in the forest-steppe, in Polissia, occasionally in the north of the steppe zone.
For medicinal purposes, the aerial part of the plant collected during flowering is used. Dry the collected raw materials under cover in the air or in a well-ventilated room.
The chemical composition of the plant is close to the composition of Veronica Dibrovna, its aerial part contains glycosides, saponins, essential oil, organic acids, vitamin C (up to 230 mg%) and other substances.
Previously, medicinal veronica was widely used in scientific medicine, now only in folk medicine. It is known as an expectorant, pain reliever, hemostatic agent, heals wounds well. Infusions of herbs improve appetite, help with diarrhea, liver diseases, insomnia, rheumatism, and in the climacteric period. Effective external application of infusions and decoctions of the aerial part of the plant in furunculosis and various skin diseases. Previously, veronica infusions were used for pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes and some malignant neoplasms.
In Western Europe, in particular in France, the herb of the plant is an indispensable component of medicinal tea mixtures. Veronica medicine does not contain toxic substances, there are no contraindications to its use.
Bees like to visit the flowers of the plant. From 1 hectare of flowering thickets, they collect up to 200 kg of excellent honey.
Other species of this genus (veronica spikelet, long-leaved, ivy-leaved) have similar medicinal and honey-bearing properties.
Herbal infusion. 10 g of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water. Insist for 15-20 minutes, squeeze. Take 1/2 cup 3 times a day an hour before meals.
Herbal infusion (external). 20 g of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water. Insist for 15-20 minutes, filter. For local baths and washes for acne, fungal skin diseases.
Decoction of grass (external). 20 g of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water. Heat in a boiling water bath for 15-20 minutes, – strain. Used for washing and local baths for skin diseases.f