Other names: Amur adonis.
Diseases and effects: cardiac decompensation.
Active substances: .
Perennial herbaceous plant with a short thick rhizome, thin roots, tripartitely dissected leaves. A characteristic feature of Adonis is early flowering. On thawed patches – from mid-March, in other places – a little later on leafless succulent stems, the height of which does not exceed 15 cm, bright yellow flowers bloom. After the end of the flowering period, the length of the stems increases to 20-30 cm and a few leaves develop on the bottom.\r
Grows in moist, humus-rich soil. It does not form large thickets. Within the Soviet Far East, the range of Adonis covers Primorye, Amur Region and Sakhalin.\r
In medical practice, only products obtained from spring Adonis are used. They are the most common mild drugs for the treatment of moderate cardiac decompensation. Initially, Adonis products were also used for severe cardiac decompensation, but now they have been “pressed” by products derived from other plants that act more vigorously. However, very active medicinal substances of cardiac action can also be isolated from Adonis. Adonis herb also contains a certain amount of substances with a calming central nervous system (sedative) effect.\r
In practice, an infusion of adonis herb and adonizide product (in drops and for injections) are used. Adonis herb extract is part of Bekhterev’s medicine, which is prescribed for certain diseases of the central nervous system. At one time, the so-called Bekhterev tablets, which are identical in composition to the mixture, were widely used. They are still available in pharmacies, but they are used less frequently, since the medicine is more easily absorbed from the digestive tract.\r
Being the closest relative of spring Adonis, Amur Adonis, according to experimental studies, practically does not differ from it either in character or in strength of action in the body (Mikheev, 1940; Pereslegin, 1941a, b). According to Chinese researchers, the clinical use of Amur Adonis is safe, although it is somewhat more toxic than Spring Adonis (Guo Zheng-hong et al., 1962).\r
The simplest medicine that can be prepared from adonis is an infusion of 6 g of dried and crushed grass per 200 ml (i.e., almost a glass) of water. Take it in a tablespoon 2-3 times every day. The infusion prepared according to this recipe is enough for about 12 examples. It is not recommended to cook it in larger quantities, because the infusion deteriorates during long storage.\r
To prepare the infusion, the measured amount of crushed grass is placed in a cleanly washed vessel (glass, earthenware, porcelain or enameled) and the amount of cold boiled water indicated in the recipe is poured into it. Then the vessel is placed in a pot of boiling water and, with frequent stirring, the contents of the inner vessel are heated for 15 minutes, after which it is cooled for at least 45 minutes. At this time, medicinal substances continue to pass into the solution. After 45 minutes, the resulting infusion is filtered, and it is ready for use.\r
In no case should you “simplify” the preparation of infusions by placing a vessel with medicinal raw materials and water directly on the fire. Many medicinal substances are not very stable and can be destroyed with such rough processing of raw materials.\r
Adonis grass is harvested from mid-April to mid-June, until the fruits fall off. It should be cut off at a height of 5-10 cm from the ground, leaving basal scaly leaves. The collected grass will need to be dried quickly. To do this, it is better to use a dryer with a temperature of 50-60 °. With slow drying, the activity of drugs prepared from the herb of adonis will be low.