Popular names: birch, dodder, loach.
Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.)Perennial herbaceous plant of the bindweed family (Convolvulaceae), with a longish taproot penetrating the soil to a depth of 3 m. The stems are creeping, glabrous, up to 120 cm long, extending from the root neck and forming dense rosettes. Leaves on long petioles, with a spear-shaped base, entire. The flowers are large, bell-shaped or funnel-shaped, pink or white, arranged 1-3 on axillary peduncles. The fruit is a round ovoid capsule. Seeds are brownish or dark gray, slightly tuberculate. Blooms from June to autumn, fruits ripen in August – September. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively (root offspring). In the CIS, it is distributed everywhere – from the White Sea to Central Asia. It grows on fresh sandy and loamy soils. It grows in agricultural crops, in poorly cultivated vegetable gardens, along roads, in bushes, forest glades, garbage places. The plant is poisonous! The medicinal properties of bindweed have been known since the time of Avicenna, who recommended it for the treatment of asthma, diseases of the lungs, liver and spleen.
COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS
Medicinal raw materials are grass and roots, less often flowers and seeds of field bindweed. Air dry in the shade, in well-ventilated rooms or in dryers at 45°C. Collection should be carried out in combination with weeding crops. The shelf life of raw materials is 1 year. The finished raw material has a characteristic bitter taste.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
The plant has laxative, choleretic, diuretic, hypotensive and wound healing properties. Bindweed seeds increase intestinal peristalsis and increase the secretory activity of the large intestine. In folk medicine, it is believed that the use of a fresh plant is more effective, since dried raw materials lose most of the active ingredients.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Roots. In Indian medicine – a laxative. In folk medicine, a decoction, infusion, powder, tea – similar to the use in Indian medicine, as well as a sedative for neuroses, analgesic for wounds, bruises, women’s diseases, toothache; with fevers, gastritis, enterocolitis; as diuretic, antitumor. Juice (fresh), external ointment – anesthetic for dermatitis and ringworm. In Central Asia, juice (dried) is choleretic, for headaches, lung and ear diseases; externally – detoxification for bites of poisonous snakes, scorpions; to reduce freckles; in various combinations (with honey, olive, rose, cow oil, vinegar, wine, wax) – wound healing, antitumor, for the treatment of burns, ulcers, wounds; with arthritis, sciatica. Aerial part. In Tibetan medicine – for pulmonary tuberculosis, atherosclerosis, syphilis, fever; in Mongolian – for the treatment of the ear, throat, nose, mouth. In homeopathy, the essence is a laxative, antipyretic, diuretic. In folk medicine, infusion, decoction – for women’s diseases (especially after childbirth), metrorrhagia, leucorrhoea, visceroptosis; with chronic bronchitis, laryngotracheitis, acute respiratory diseases; in collections – with ascites; externally – with dermatitis and ringworm; locally – with bruises, rashes, abscesses, insect bites, pustular skin diseases. Juice (fresh), powder – wound healing, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal; powder – for weeping wounds and ulcers; ointment – analgesic, detoxification for snake bites. Leaves. Outwardly – with furunculosis; detoxification – with the bites of poisonous snakes. Decoction – for women’s diseases, dermatosis. In Central Asia, infusion – for diseases of the spleen, for the treatment of long-term non-healing wounds and ulcers; juice (as part of ointments) – for pulmonary diseases, pain in the ears. Flowers. In Tibetan medicine – a sedative for neuroses. In Mongolian medicine, powder is used for dermatitis and ringworm. In Belarus (decoction, infusion) – for fainting, acute respiratory infections. Seeds. In Korean medicine (as part of a complex collection), a decoction is used as a diuretic for dysuria; with heart and kidney failure, edema of various etiologies, nephritis, coughing; laxative for persistent constipation; anthelmintic. In folk medicine – laxative, diaphoretic. infusion) – with fainting, acute respiratory infections. Seeds. In Korean medicine (as part of a complex collection), a decoction is used as a diuretic for dysuria; with heart and kidney failure, edema of various etiologies, nephritis, coughing; laxative for persistent constipation; anthelmintic. In folk medicine – laxative, diaphoretic. infusion) – with fainting, acute respiratory infections. Seeds. In Korean medicine (as part of a complex collection), a decoction is used as a diuretic for dysuria; with heart and kidney failure, edema of various etiologies, nephritis, coughing; laxative for persistent constipation; anthelmintic. In folk medicine – laxative, diaphoretic.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
♦ Bindweed herb tincture: 1 part of the herb is infused in 5 parts of 70% alcohol. Take 1/2-1 teaspoon 2-3 times every day.♦ Bindweed herb infusion: pour 1 tablespoon of raw material into 200 ml of boiling water, insist, then filter. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times every day.♦ Field bindweed root powder is taken 1 g 1 time every day. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Due to the poisonousness of the plant, care must be taken when used internally. In case of an overdose or accidental poisoning with bindweed seeds, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain occur due to a direct effect on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the fact that, after absorption, most of the substances contained in bindweed are excreted in the urine, these substances cause sharp irritation of the kidneys and their hyperemia, which leads to polyuria and hematuria. The active substances of bindweed seeds affect the cranial nerves. Due to the fact that the hypoglossal nerve is especially sensitive to their action, motor paralysis of the muscles of the tongue occurs and speech is disturbed. In severe cases, the central nervous system and centers of the cranial nerves are affected. The use of bindweed seeds by pregnant women is contraindicated, as this can lead to miscarriage or premature birth, in the presence of hemorrhoids, to a sharp deterioration in the condition of the sick. It is not recommended to use large doses and prescribe a long course of treatment for debilitated patients. * Horses are most susceptible to field bindweed poisoning from farm animals. In case of poisoning, diarrhea, weakness, loss of strength appear. However, when fed in a mixture with other herbs, it is eaten well by all types of livestock.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Aerial part in veterinary medicine – for chronic constipation, especially in sheep. Honey plant.