Gorse Dyeing
Low semi-shrub with numerous upright stems. Leaves alternate, simple, entire. Inflorescences are dense, long brushes. Flowers five-membered, irregular, yellow. The calyx is two-lipped, the corolla is moth-like, there are 10 stamens, all fused into a tubule. Pistil one, ovary superior. The fruit is a bean, naked, slightly curved. Blossoms in June-July, fruits ripen in August-September.
Distributed in the steppe and partly forest zones of the European part of Russia and Western Siberia. It grows along the edges of forests, among shrubs, in water meadows.
Medicinal raw materials are leafy tops of twigs with flowers. Collection is made during flowering. Dry raw materials in the shade in the air or in a well-ventilated area.
The main active principles are essential oil and alkaloids: cytisine, methylpitizine, anagirin, sidetein; pigments were isolated from the flowers of the plant: genistein and luteolin, which have coloring properties.
There are indications that an infusion of the green parts of the dyed gorse has a distinct vasoconstrictive effect, excites respiration and can stimulate the function of the thyroid gland.
In folk medicine, it is believed that it is a diuretic and laxative, with a reduced function of the thyroid gland, it acts like thyreodine.
An aqueous infusion or decoction of gorse branches is prescribed internally as a powerful diuretic for dropsy of cardiac and renal origin, for the purpose of choleretic action, it is used for liver diseases, including those accompanied by jaundice; in rickets, dropsy (abdomen) and emaciation.
Application
Decoction 1: 10 g per 200 ml; 1 st. spoon 3 times every day.
Decoction 2: 15 g of dried grass is poured with cold water (0.5 l), boiled, evaporating up to 1/3 of the liquid; use 2 tbsp. spoons after 2 hours until the result is obtained (normalization of the functional activity of the intestines or kidneys). It is necessary to take a decoction with a break every other day.
Externally, an infusion or decoction is used for furunculosis, lichen, scrofula.
Since the plant has a strong effect and is poisonous, it should be used with caution and only as directed by a doctor.
Infusion: 1 teaspoon or 1 tbsp. a spoonful of grass for 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times every day.