A tall (up to 30 m tall) tree of the linden family. The leaves are alternate, ovate, clear-equilateral, more or less cut at the base, sharp-toothed at the edge, the teeth are gradually elongated into a long point. The flower is regular, in umbels, the petals are yellow, slightly toothed at the top. The fruit is a nut, spherical or elongated in shape. Blooms in June – July.
Spread. Occurs in the mountainous Crimea in the forests. Cultivated in the parks of the Southern coast of Crimea, in botanical gardens.
Procurement and storage . Inflorescences together with bracts, known as “linden flower” (Flores Tiliae), as well as buds and fruits are used to make medicines. Linden flowers are collected when most of the flowers have opened, and the rest are in the budding stage. It is dried in the shade in the open air or in well-ventilated rooms, spreading it in a thin (3-5 cm thick) layer and making sure that the raw material does not dry out (on overdried inflorescences, the flowers fall off, as a result of which the quality of the raw material decreases). Artificial drying is carried out at a temperature of 40-45°. 30-31% of dry raw material is obtained. Store in a dry, well-ventilated place. The shelf life is 2 years. Linden flowers are available in pharmacies.
Chemical composition . Linden flowers contain essential oil (0.05%), glycosides hesperidin and tiliacin, coumarin fraxin, saponins, tannins, mucilage, carotene, ascorbic acid, sugars and other compounds.
Pharmacological properties and use. Galena products prepared from linden flowers increase sweating and diuresis, activate the secretion of gastric juice, increase secretion and improve the outflow of bile, have an anti-inflammatory and mild sedative effect. Infusion of linden blossom (Infusum florum Tiliae) is used for fever and cold diseases (influenza, bronchial catarrh), inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, and for increased nervous excitement in young and elderly patients. In folk medicine, linden blossom is used for fainting, headache, hysteria and epilepsy, as well as for cough, stomach ache and intestinal colic. Locally, the infusion of linden flowers is used for rinsing with inflammations of the mucous membrane of the mouth and respiratory tract (stomatitis, gingivitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis), and in the form of poultices and lotions for burns, ulcers, inflammation of hemorrhoids, rheumatic and gouty pains in the joints. For nervous diseases, linden blossom baths are taken. Linden blossom is part of diaphoretic teas and teas for gargling, as part of mixtures used to treat diseases of the stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys and bladder, kidney stone disease, inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, etc. Linden buds mashed to the consistency of dough are applied to burns, hemorrhoids and abscesses, used for compresses for mastitis and gout. The powder from the fruits stops bleeding from the nose (in a lying position) and from wounds. Linden fruits are edible, taste similar to nuts. Buds and young shriveled leaves are used to prepare spring vitamin salads. For nervous diseases, linden blossom baths are taken. Linden blossom is part of diaphoretic teas and teas for gargling, as part of mixtures used to treat diseases of the stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys and bladder, kidney stone disease, inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, etc. Linden buds mashed to the consistency of dough are applied to burns, hemorrhoids and abscesses, used for compresses for mastitis and gout. The powder from the fruits stops bleeding from the nose (in a lying position) and from wounds. Linden fruits are edible, taste similar to nuts. Buds and young shriveled leaves are used to prepare spring vitamin salads. For nervous diseases, linden blossom baths are taken. Linden blossom is part of diaphoretic teas and teas for gargling, as part of mixtures used to treat diseases of the stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys and bladder, kidney stone disease, inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, etc. Linden buds mashed to the consistency of dough are applied to burns, hemorrhoids and abscesses, used for compresses for mastitis and gout. The powder from the fruits stops bleeding from the nose (in a lying position) and from wounds. Linden fruits are edible, taste similar to nuts. Buds and young shriveled leaves are used to prepare spring vitamin salads. kidneys and bladder, kidney stone disease, inflammatory diseases of female genital organs, etc. Linden buds mashed to the consistency of dough are applied to burns, hemorrhoids and abscesses, used for compresses for mastitis and gout. The powder from the fruits stops bleeding from the nose (in a lying position) and from wounds. Linden fruits are edible, taste similar to nuts. Buds and young shriveled leaves are used to prepare spring vitamin salads. kidneys and bladder, kidney stone disease, inflammatory diseases of female genital organs, etc. Linden buds mashed to the consistency of dough are applied to burns, hemorrhoids and abscesses, used for compresses for mastitis and gout. The powder from the fruits stops bleeding from the nose (in a lying position) and from wounds. Linden fruits are edible, taste similar to nuts. Buds and young shriveled leaves are used to prepare spring vitamin salads.
Medicinal forms and applications .
Internally – linden flower infusion (10 g or 3 tablespoons of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water) is drunk hot 1-2 glasses 2-3 times a day after meals;
infusion of a tablespoon of a mixture (in proportion) of linden blossoms, common flax seeds, licorice root and reed yarrow, peppermint leaves and common fennel in a glass of boiling water, drink 2-3 glasses a day before meals with increased acidity of gastric juice;
infusion of 2 teaspoons of a mixture of linden flowers (40 g), fennel fruits (20 g) and medicinal chamomile flowers (20 g) in a glass of boiling water, drink 1-3 glasses a day before meals for peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum;
infusion of a tablespoon of a mixture (equally) of linden flowers, chamomile and black elder flowers, St. John’s wort and blackberry leaves in a glass of boiling water (filtered and cooled), drink 2 glasses at night for inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract;
salad: cleaned of scales buds or young linden leaves are washed in cold water, chopped (the buds are cut in half), poured with a sauce prepared from hard-boiled chopped eggs, cream, vinegar and mustard, salted and sprinkled with finely chopped parsley and dill leaves (for 500 g buds and leaves take two eggs, a glass of cream, a tablespoon of mustard and vinegar and salt).
Externally – infusion of linden blossom (20 g of raw material per 200 ml of boiling water) for rinsing the mouth and throat and wiping the face with oily skin;
4 tablespoons of a mixture of linden blossoms (40 g) and chamomile flowers (60 g) are infused for 15-20 minutes in a glass of boiling water, filtered and used for douching in the morning and in the evening for inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs;
decoction of linden flowers (100 g of raw material per 2 liters of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes) for a therapeutic general bath.