Popular names: forest rosemary, marsh madness, puzzler, bedbug, gushatnik, bagun.
Ledum palustre L.Evergreen shrub of the heather family (Ericaceae), reaching 2 m in height, emitting a strong stupefying, camphor-like odor. The root system is superficial. Numerous ascending branches are pubescent with red glandular hairs. The leaves are alternate, leathery, linear-oblong, with edges wrapped to the underside, dark green above, shiny, covered with rusty-brown felt and small yellow glands below, not falling off in winter. The flowers are white, on long thin stalks, collected in apical, many-flowered umbellate corymbs. The corolla falls off after flowering. The fruit is an oblong, multi-seeded, five-celled pod. Seeds are very small, light yellow. Blossoms in May – June, fruits ripen in July – August. Propagated by root offspring, less often by seeds. The main habitats are located in the forest and tundra zones of Europe, Siberia and the Far East. Grows on peat soils of raised and transitional bogs, also on the swampy outskirts of pine forests, where it rarely forms extensive thickets. The plant is poisonous! The generic name comes from the Latin laedere to harm, as the plant has a strong intoxicating smell that causes dizziness. Species definition – from the Latin palus swamp – according to the habitat. The marsh wild rosemary grass has been used in medicine for the last 2 centuries, especially widely in Germany and Sweden. At the end of the 19th century, the plant began to be used in Russia. The plant is poisonous! The generic name comes from the Latin laedere to harm, as the plant has a strong intoxicating smell that causes dizziness. Species definition – from the Latin palus swamp – according to the habitat. The marsh wild rosemary grass has been used in medicine for the last 2 centuries, especially widely in Germany and Sweden. At the end of the 19th century, the plant began to be used in Russia. The plant is poisonous! The generic name comes from the Latin laedere to harm, as the plant has a strong intoxicating smell that causes dizziness. Species definition – from the Latin palus swamp – according to the habitat. The marsh wild rosemary grass has been used in medicine for the last 2 centuries, especially widely in Germany and Sweden. At the end of the 19th century, the plant began to be used in Russia.
COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS
As a medicinal raw material, only young (current year) leafy, rusty-pubescent, non-lignified shoots, up to 10 cm long, are harvested. Raw materials are harvested in the fall (from August to the end of September), during the fruiting period, when the shoots of the current year are fully developed. It is not allowed to harvest lignified 2-year-old and three-year-old shoots. Marsh rosemary plants have a low regenerative capacity, therefore, after cutting leafy shoots, biomass is restored only after 3 years. In this regard, a break in harvesting at one place should be at least 8 years. Ledum is dried in dryers at a grass heating temperature of up to 40 ° C or in the shade under a canopy, scattering with a layer within 10 cm thick. Drying of raw materials under canopies in favorable weather traditionally lasts 10-14 days. The shelf life of raw materials is 2-3 years. When harvesting, drying and a pack of wild rosemary should be used with caution, as the plant is poisonous and has a strong odor that causes nausea, dizziness and headache. Therefore, the collection is best done in respirators and gloves, no more than 2-3 hours every day, and after work, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
The medicinal properties of the plant depend on the content of essential oil in its aerial part, which, when administered intragastrically, is partially excreted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs. Being released through the bronchi, the volatile, biologically active compounds of wild rosemary have a moderate local irritating effect on the mucous membranes, increase the secretion of the bronchial glands and increase the activity of the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract. The antispasmodic effect of Ledum products on the smooth muscles of the bronchi was also noted. The total pharmacological effect is due to expectorant, enveloping and antitussive properties. In addition, the plant has a bactericidal, hypotensive, sedative and antispastic effect.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Tops of shoots (with leaves, flowers). Infusion – as an antitussive and bactericidal in acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, whooping cough and other diseases accompanied by cough, as well as spastic enterocolitis. In Tibetan medicine, infusion, decoction – for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis with hemoptysis, bronchitis, endometritis, liver disease, jaundice; in the form of baths – with gynecological diseases; ash – with diarrhea. In folk medicine, decoctions and infusions – for whooping cough, shortness of breath, asthma, chronic diseases. To enhance the action of wild rosemary, it is combined with coltsfoot. Decoction (tea) – as a diaphoretic for fevers; with malaria, urethritis, cystitis, pyelitis, women’s diseases, metrorrhagia, gastritis, dysentery; as an anthelmintic. Burning smoke – as a hypnotic and sedative, insecticidal. external ointment, decoction in linseed oil, animal fats – for skin diseases: eczema, scabies, insect bites, bruises and frostbite; drops – with rhinitis; baths, lotions – with diathesis; poultices, ointments, patches – for boils, felons, hematomas, bruises, wounds, snake bites, poisonous insects, ringworm, chicken pox, blepharitis, conjunctivitis. In Yakutia, inside – for diathesis, eczema, gummous ulcers, tuberculous lymphadenitis, urethritis and as an abortifacient; externally – for hair growth. In Komi, it is added to wine for alcoholism. In Germany, France – with asthmatic cough, bronchial asthma, angina pectoris, all kinds of rheumatism. In Bulgaria, a hot infusion is used for arthritis, cholecystitis and as an abortifacient. In homeopathy, externally – for rheumatism (Lori alcohol), gout, arthritis, skin diseases, wounds, frostbite, in the treatment of tumors; inside – with oliguria, whooping cough, asthma. Serves as raw material for the production of the product “Ledin” (Ledinum), used as an expectorant. Flowers. In Tibetan medicine, a decoction is used for liver diseases. In the Republic of Belarus, a decoction of water is used for colds, coughs, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, stomach and heart diseases, headaches, kidney diseases, enuresis, rickets, rheumatism. Flowers steamed in vegetable oil – as a powerful painkiller; with skin diseases. Outwardly tincture and decoction – for rubbing with bruises and rheumatism. cough, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, stomach and heart diseases, headache, kidney disease, enuresis, rickets, rheumatism. Flowers steamed in vegetable oil – as a powerful painkiller; with skin diseases. Outwardly tincture and decoction – for rubbing with bruises and rheumatism. cough, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, stomach and heart diseases, headache, kidney disease, enuresis, rickets, rheumatism. Flowers steamed in vegetable oil – as a powerful painkiller; with skin diseases. Outwardly tincture and decoction – for rubbing with bruises and rheumatism.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
Infusion of wild rosemary herb (Infusum herbae Ledi palustris): 10 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml (1 cup) of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) for 15 minutes, cooled for 45 min at room temperature, the remaining raw material is squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. It is taken warm in 1/4 cup 2-3 times every day after meals as an expectorant and bactericidal agent for chronic bronchitis and other lung diseases accompanied by cough. in a cool dry place.♦ Decoction of wild rosemary herb and coltsfoot leaves: 1 tablespoon of the mixture (1: 1) pour 200 ml of hot water, boil for 5 minutes, then filter. Take 1 tablespoon every 2 hours. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: an overdose of wild rosemary products can cause serious side effects (excitation, and in severe cases, depression of the central nervous system). Therefore, you can use rosemary products only as directed by a doctor. If even mild irritability, dizziness, and increased excitability appear in patients, Ledum products are immediately canceled. In addition, the wrong dosage can cause inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. It is advisable not to treat children under 14-16 years of age with rosemary products. * There are cases of poisoning of sheep and goats with marsh rosemary, accompanied by severe gastroenteritis.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Leafy shoots in veterinary medicine – for colic, gastrointestinal diseases, epidemic diseases in pigs. Outwardly – to combat ectoparasites (decoction, fumigation), with scabies. In everyday life and agriculture – as a powerful insecticidal: decoctions, infusions, powder – a repellant for domestic insects. The broth is removed from the furniture and wooden walls of bugs and wood-boring bugs. Grass is placed in clothing storage areas to protect against moths. Often the grass is laid out in barns and cellars (mice do not tolerate its smell). Suitable for dressing and tanning leather and Russian leather. Added to beer instead of hops to add bitterness and intoxicating effect. Flowers are used in beekeeping to treat beehives in order to attract bees to them. Honey plant, however, there are cases of poisoning with honey collected by bees from wild rosemary flowers. Can be used as decorative used for group plantings in peat places, in parks. Productivity – 59 – 834 kg of dry weight per 1 ha, depending on the illumination of habitats, the type of communities and the projective cover.