Perennial plant with creeping shortened rhizome and numerous adventitious roots. The stem is round, hollow, pubescent. The leaves are opposite, rounded below, lanceolate above. Flowers in branched semi-umbels, yellowish-white, with an unpleasant odor. The pedicels are in the axils of the leaves.
The fruits are pod-shaped, naked leaflets. Seeds numerous, equipped at one end with a tuft of long hairs. Blooms from June to August.
The plant is poisonous, especially the rhizome.
It grows in meadows and open slopes, in pine forests and rare birch forests in Russia.
For therapeutic purposes, rhizomes with roots, as well as seeds, are used. Preparations from the rhizome have an emetic effect and therefore are effective in the fight against poisoning, in small doses – as a laxative.
The action of the rhizome on the body is similar to the action of foxglove, sitrophanite and ipecac. However, the gossamer is less poisonous and does not have a harmful side effect on the gastrointestinal tract. For heart disease, it is better to use products from seeds.
The root of the plant is used for palpitations and high blood pressure, as well as a laxative (if the dose is less than 0.2 g in powder), a diuretic, diaphoretic and regulating menstruation.
The rhizome of the gossamer is used for fever and malaria, also for the treatment of wounds (externally).
In homeopathy, it is used in the treatment of patients with diabetes (diabetes).
Application
Decoction: 10 g per 200 ml; 1/2 or 1 full Art. spoon 3 times every day.
Tincture: 15 or 20%; 10 drops 3 times every day.
Powder: 0.1 g (on the tip of a penknife) 3 times every day.
Roots and leaves are applied to wounds for their rapid healing.