OR MAY —
Convallaria majalis L.
The lily family is Lillaceae
What does it look like? A herbaceous perennial plant with a creeping rhizome, from which flower-bearing stems 20-30 cm high grow every year. The leaves are sheathed, stem-wrapped, two are large, elliptical or oval in shape. The flowers are on arched peduncles, white fragrant bells with slightly bent teeth. The fruit is a juicy red berry with three seeds. Blooms in May-June.
Where does it grow? Throughout the territory of Ukraine — in forests, shady places, thickets; in the steppe zone – only in the valleys.
What is collected? Flowers and leaves of lily of the valley (grass) separately. At the same time, the rhizomes should not be destroyed. Dry quickly, in a thin layer, in the shade. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the flowers, which can cause nausea and vomiting.
When is it used? With compensated and undercompensated heart defects, with physical overexertion, with heart muscle insufficiency (chronic myocarditis) and for the regulation of the cardiovascular system (the glycosides convalatoxin, convalamarin and convaloside, which do not have cumulative properties, as well as the saponin convalerin, volatile oil ). With neuroses of the heart in a mixture with valerian and hawthorn; with arrhythmias and extrasystoles; during menopause, pregnancy and diseases that exhaust the body (asthma, periodic uterine bleeding).
Used in the form of tea. Take 1 tablespoon of a mixture of lily of the valley grass, fennel seeds, mint leaves and valerian root in a ratio of 1:2:3:4 per 1 cup of boiling water, infuse for 15 minutes, strain and drink 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day day for chronic myocarditis, Based’s disease, epilepsy, to increase urination in dropsy of cardiac origin.
To prepare the drops, a jar with a narrow neck is filled to the level of fresh lily-of-the-valley flowers and filled almost to the top with 90% alcohol. Stopped and put in a warm place for 14 days. Then strain, filter through cotton wool and use 10-15 drops on sugar or a spoonful of water.
For neuroses of the heart, insomnia, depression, pain and tightness in the area of the heart, half a glass of steamed nettle is used (1 tablespoon of nettle herb per 1 cup of boiling water, infused for 10 minutes), to which 30-35 drops of alcohol tincture of lily of the valley are added (drink in 5 times).
For atherosclerosis, hypertension, take 1 full tablespoon of a mixture of lily of the valley flowers, lemon balm leaves, goose foxglove and rue rue in a ratio of 1:2:3:3, infuse in a glass of cold water for 3 hours, boil for 5 minutes, steam for 15 minutes and drink in sips throughout the day.
With tea from lily of the valley flowers or a diluted tincture in a ratio of 1:10, eyes are washed with conjunctivitis.