Popular names: cancer necks, turtle dove, serpentine.
Highlander snake (Polygonum bistorta L.)Perennial herbaceous plant of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), up to 1 m high. The rhizome is thick, woody, snake-like curved, with numerous thin roots, pinkish at the break. Stem erect, solitary, simple, with tubular brown bells. Basal leaves are large, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, turning into long winged petioles, the upper leaves are smaller, linear, sessile. Leaf blades are dark green above, gray below, slightly pubescent. The flowers are small, pink, collected at the top of the stem in a thick cylindrical spike (up to 7 cm long). The fruit is a brown trihedral, smooth nut. Blossoms in May – June, fruits ripen in June – early July. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively (segments of rhizomes). Distributed from north to south of the European part of the CIS and in Siberia. Grows in wet meadows along the outskirts of transitional and low-lying swamps, in floodplains, along forest edges, in thickets of shrubs, most often on peat soil, in conditions of close occurrence of groundwater. In connection with the drainage of swamps, thickets of mountaineer serpentine have significantly decreased in recent times. It has long been used in traditional medicine. Known since the time of Dioscorides, Galen, Hippocrates. In European medicine, the plant became known in the 15th century, and in the 16th century it was widely used by doctors as an astringent for all kinds of diseases. The rhizome of the snake knotweed was proposed in 1905 by Dr. L.F. Ilyin as a substitute for the imported root of the South American ratania plant (Krameria triandra Ruiz et Rav.). in conditions of close occurrence of groundwater. In connection with the drainage of swamps, thickets of mountaineer serpentine have significantly decreased in recent times. It has long been used in traditional medicine. Known since the time of Dioscorides, Galen, Hippocrates. In European medicine, the plant became known in the 15th century, and in the 16th century it was widely used by doctors as an astringent for all kinds of diseases. The rhizome of the snake knotweed was proposed in 1905 by Dr. L.F. Ilyin as a substitute for the imported root of the South American ratania plant (Krameria triandra Ruiz et Rav.). in conditions of close occurrence of groundwater. In connection with the drainage of swamps, thickets of mountaineer serpentine have significantly decreased in recent times. It has long been used in traditional medicine. Known since the time of Dioscorides, Galen, Hippocrates. In European medicine, the plant became known in the 15th century, and in the 16th century it was widely used by doctors as an astringent for all kinds of diseases. The rhizome of the snake knotweed was proposed in 1905 by Dr. L.F. Ilyin as a substitute for the imported root of the South American ratania plant (Krameria triandra Ruiz et Rav.). In European medicine, the plant became known in the 15th century, and in the 16th century it was widely used by doctors as an astringent for all kinds of diseases. The rhizome of the snake knotweed was proposed in 1905 by Dr. L.F. Ilyin as a substitute for the imported root of the South American ratania plant (Krameria triandra Ruiz et Rav.). In European medicine, the plant became known in the 15th century, and in the 16th century it was widely used by doctors as an astringent for all kinds of diseases. The rhizome of the snake knotweed was proposed in 1905 by Dr. L.F. Ilyin as a substitute for the imported root of the South American ratania plant (Krameria triandra Ruiz et Rav.).
COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS
For medicinal purposes, the rhizomes of the snake mountaineer are used. They are harvested in September – October or early spring before the leaves grow back. The dug out rhizomes are cleaned of the earth, roots, remnants of the stem and basal leaves, washed in cold water and dried in the open air or in warm, well-ventilated areas. However, it is better to dry in dryers with artificial heating (heating of rhizomes up to 40 ° C is possible). Drying must be fast, because with slow rhizomes turn brown inside and become moldy. Dried rhizomes on the outside have transverse folds – they resemble cancer necks. To ensure self-renewal, it will be necessary to leave intact one copy of the mountaineer serpentine per 2-5 (10) m 2its thickets and shake off the seeds into the hole formed after digging the plant. Re-harvesting of rhizomes can be carried out in the same place only after 8-12 years. The shelf life of raw materials is 5-6 years. The color of the raw material is dark brown on the outside, pinkish with a brown tint on the inside. Taste – astringent, bitter, no smell. A related species is also allowed for use in medicine – meat-red mountaineer (Polygonum carneum C.Koch).
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
Preparations from mountaineer serpentine have astringent, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic properties, and also have a resorptive calming effect. Astringent properties appear slowly, as the active substances are broken down under the influence of digestive juices. When used externally, they have an astringent, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effect.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Rhizomes. In scientific medicine – an astringent for intestinal disorders, inflammation of the mucous membranes, dysentery. Outwardly – in the form of rinses and lotions for stomatitis and for lubricating diseased gums. It is used externally and internally in the form of powders, decoctions, rinses, lotions, douches, etc. They are used for bleeding, hemoptysis, indigestion, cholera, dysentery, cystitis, cholecystitis, colpitis, vaginitis, inflammatory diseases of the skin and mucous membranes, scurvy, also for burns and bites of rabid animals. In folk medicine, tincture of the rhizomes of the mountaineer snake is used for gastric and duodenal ulcers, dysentery, women’s diseases, nervous disorders, bleeding (hemostatic agent); externally – for lotions on bleeding wounds, ulcers. A decoction of rhizomes is taken for cholecystitis, cystitis, urolithiasis and gallstone diseases as a choleretic and diuretic. In a mixture with other plants, a decoction is made for irrigation and washing the vagina with whites. In some European countries and in China, rhizomes are used to treat all kinds of tumors. Flowers. Infusion – for the treatment of ear diseases.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
Extract of the rhizomes of the mountaineer snake liquid (Extractum Bistortae fluidum) is prepared from a medium-sized rhizome by extracting 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:1. It looks like a transparent liquid, red-brown in color, strongly astringent, bitter taste. The content of tannins is not less than 18%. Take 20-30 drops 2-3 times every day before meals. A liquid decoction of a mountaineer snake (Decoctum Bistortae fluidum) is prepared at the rate of 10 g of raw material per 200 ml of water. The rhizome is crushed into pieces no larger than 3 mm, fruits and seeds – no more than 5 mm, poured with water at room temperature, closed and heated in a boiling water bath with frequent stirring for 30 minutes, filtered immediately after removal from the water bath. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times every day before meals. 10-20 g of raw materials are infused in 200 ml of boiling water in a thermos for 8 hours, then filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times every day. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Knotweed products are non-toxic, but cause constipation with prolonged use.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Rhizomes are used in veterinary medicine as an astringent, in the form of decoctions – externally and internally, in the form of powders – for powdering wounds. It is used for tanning leather, preparing ink, dyeing fabrics yellow and brown, and black for iron mordant. Fried food, also as additives to rye flour in baking. Used in the alcoholic beverage industry. The aerial part is eaten as a substitute for spinach and spicy-aromatic; brew instead of tea. Leaves and young stems are edible raw, boiled, dried and pickled. Seeds are food for poultry. Forage, in terms of nutritional value it is equal to oats. In the pasture it is eaten by sheep, in hay – by many farm animals. Honey plant. Decorative. It is possible to grow in a culture where the mass of plants increases by 6-10 times. Elements of agricultural technology of cultivation. To create a plantation, a plot of a low-lying meadow is selected. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively (layering rhizomes 4-5 cm long). Sowing is best done in autumn with fresh seeds planted to a depth of 0.5-1 cm, planting rhizomes in spring, in holes to a depth of 2-3 cm, with row spacing of 60 cm and a distance between plants of 20-30 cm. Harvesting of roots can be started selectively from 3-4 year old plants.
TASTY TIPS
Cakes from the rhizomes of the highlander.
Wash the rhizomes in cold water, soak in water for a day, dry, grind. Flour contains up to 30% starch and 10% protein. Prepare the dough and bake the cakes. Flour from the rhizomes of the highlander can be added when baking ordinary breads.
Highlander salad.
Rinse green leaves (100 g) thoroughly with cold water, blanch for 5 minutes, pour over with cold water, chop, salt and season with sour cream (mayonnaise, vegetable oil) (25 g).
Highlander salad with other herbs.
Blanch young stems and leaves of mountaineer (50 g), nettle leaves (50 g) and burdock (50 g) for 5 minutes, then chop, salt (to taste), add chopped hard-boiled egg, season with sour cream or mayonnaise (75 g).
Highlander garnish.
Blanch leaves and young stems for 5 minutes, then chop, mix with stewed potatoes or other vegetables. Serve as a side dish for meat and fish dishes.