Highlander

Popular names: kidney grass, kidney grass, babii mustard.

Highlander (Polygonum persicaria L.)An annual plant of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), up to 110 cm in height. Rod root. Stem ascending or erect, solitary, branched. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, wedge-shaped narrowed towards the base, almost sessile, often with a reddish spot on top. The flowers are small, pink or white, in dense cylindrical spicate terminal racemes. The fruit is a black shiny, broadly ovoid or trihedral nut covered with a membranous flower within. Blossoms in June – August, fruits ripen in July – October. Propagated by seeds. It grows in the European part of the CIS, in the Caucasus, in the south of Siberia and the Far East, in Central Asia. It grows along the banks of rivers, lakes, reclamation canals, in damp meadows, like a weed in fields, in gardens and kitchen gardens, in alder thickets. Often forms pure thickets or mixtures with other hygrophilous plants. The plant is sometimes classified as poisonous. Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galen mention the healing properties of the highlander. Dosage forms are used in India, Bulgaria, Poland and other countries. The name kidney herb comes from the old name for hemorrhoids – kidney.

COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS

For medicinal purposes, the grass of the highlander is used, which is harvested during the flowering period of plants, cutting off its upper parts at a distance of 15-25 cm from the soil plane. At the same time, 2-3 plants are left for 2-3 m 2 of its thickets. Dry in the open air in the shade, however, it is preferable to dry in dryers with artificial heating, adjusting the temperature, taking into account the heating of the raw material, not higher than 40-50°C. With slow drying, the grass turns black. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years. There is no smell, the taste is bitter. The main harvesting areas: Polissya and Ukrainian forest-steppe.

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Decoctions and infusions of highlander pochechuyny have pronounced hemostatic properties, manifested in an increase in blood viscosity and clotting, and also significantly increase the contractility of smooth muscle organs. In addition, plant products have a laxative, diuretic and non-cordial anti-inflammatory effect. They constrict blood vessels, without having a significant effect on blood pressure, enhance the function of the heart. Application in medicine. Aboveground part. Recommended for medical use in chronic constipation. Extract – with uterine bleeding. Decoction and infusion – in the treatment of hemorrhoidal bleeding; as a diuretic in kidney disease and urolithiasis; with diarrhea, colds and sexually transmitted diseases; externally in the form of rinses – to strengthen the gums with scurvy and for washing wounds; fresh – instead of mustard plasters for radiculitis, gout, headache (applied to the back of the head), for wound healing. Knotweed preparations are used in the complex therapy of patients with atonic constipation. In folk medicine in some countries, it is additionally prescribed for the treatment of tumors of various etiologies, including stomach cancer.

DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES

Infusion of herb knotweed (Infusum herbae Polygoni persicariae): 20 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) with frequent stirring for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature for 45 minutes, filter, the remaining raw material is squeezed out. The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. It is taken warm, 1 tablespoon 3 times every day before meals for chronic atonic constipation, hemorrhoids and uterine bleeding. Highlander herb (polygoni herb) (Herba Polygoni persicariae) is available in packs of 100 g. Store in a cool, dry place.♦ A decoction of the grass of the highlander kidney: 1 tablespoon of raw materials is poured into 300 ml of boiling water, boiled for 15 minutes, insisted for 2 hours, then filtered.

APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS

Roots, rhizomes and aerial parts are used to dye fabrics yellow. The above-ground part can be used in the wine and liquor industry. Bed bug insecticide. Honey plant. Ornamental, essential oil and vitamin-bearing plant. The experience of the introduction of the mountaineer showed the real possibility of its cultivation as an industrial crop.