Perennial herbaceous glabrous plant of the celery (umbrella) family. The stem is straight, spreading, 30-150 cm tall. Alternate leaves, entire, entire: basal and lower stems — elongated-reversed-ovate, narrowed into a petiole at the base; middle and upper stems are long, sessile, heart-shaped or stem-wrapped at the base. The flowers are bisexual, 5-petaled, in complex 10-20-rayed umbels, at the base of which there is an envelope of 3-5 large, egg-shaped, mostly yellow, uneven leaves, and at the base of the umbrellas there is a cup-shaped envelope of elliptical or almost rounded leaves; the petals are golden-yellow, with the tip bent inward and pulled back in the form of a tongue, with papillae on the back. The fruit is dicotyledonous. Blooms in June – July.
Distribution . The golden weasel grows in the Carpathians on mountain meadows, among shrubs, in forests.
Procurement and storage . Herbs collected during the flowering period of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Dry the raw materials under cover in the open air or in a room with good ventilation, spreading it in a thin layer. Artificial drying is carried out at a temperature of 50-70°. The shelf life is 5 years.
The plant is unofficial .
Chemical composition . The herb contains flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, isoquercitrin, isorhamnetin, rutinoside), saponins, alkaloids, tannins, essential oil and ascorbic acid.
Pharmacological properties and use. Preparations of golden weed activate the secretion of bile, increase the secretion of gastric and pancreatic juice. The content of pigment substances, acids and cholesterol increases in the secreted bile. In general, the action of the golden weed grass is similar to the action of sand wort. In traditional medicine, the plant enjoys the reputation of an effective remedy for diseases of the liver and gall bladder, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. The main indications for the appointment are cholecystitis, angiocolitis and hepatitis. The local use of sedum is indicated for skin lesions with pus and for itching. Lilac is used in the form of an infusion, and preference is given to infusions from a freshly picked plant. It is not recommended to prescribe weed products inside for gallstone disease,
Medicinal forms and applications. Internally – infusion of freshly picked or dry grass (3 teaspoons of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water, infuse for 4 hours, strain) half a glass 3 times a day before meals for 20-25 days.
Externally – herbal infusion (prepared as in the previous recipe) for washing the skin.