Diseases and effects: uterine bleeding, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diseases of the stomach and liver, bronchitis, pleurisy, malaria, rheumatism, dysentery, bruises, cholecystitis, burns, urolithiasis.
Active substances: tannins, vitamin C, flavone glycoside avicularin, resins, anthraglycosides.
Collection time: June – September
Buckwheat family – Polygonaceae\r
An annual herbaceous plant with several lying stems, the length of which traditionally does not exceed 40 cm. The stems rise slightly in the upper part. Small grayish-green leaves have an oblong-lanceolate or elliptical shape. At the base, they taper into a short petiole. From June to mid-September, small greenish flowers with a whitish or reddish border bloom in the axils of the leaves. Distributed in Primorye, Amur region, on the Okhotsk coast and Kamchatka.\r
Tannins, vitamin C, flavone glycoside avicularin, and resins were found in the grass of the mountaineer. Plant roots contain anthraglycosides. It is not yet known which of the known effects of knotweed are associated with the substances listed.\r
In medical practice, knotweed is used as a uterine hemostatic agent. Preparations derived from the plant cause uterine contractions, increase the rate of blood clotting, lower blood pressure and increase urination. Known product “Avicularen”, which is a mixture of equal parts of dry extract and powder from the herb knotweed. Avicularen is produced in powder or tablets, prescribed for uterine bleeding after an abortion and in the postpartum period with insufficient regression of the uterus. This product is also recommended for the treatment of whooping cough and tuberculosis (Chass, 1952).\r
As a folk remedy, knotweed is widely used in many regions of Russia and abroad. In Ukraine, it is used for some diseases of the stomach, bronchitis, pleurisy, and also in the form of lotions for wounds as a means of soothing pain and promoting healing. Knotweed is also used for malaria, rheumatism, dysentery and some other diseases. G.V. Krylov (1969) reports that knotweed herbs soar legs with bruises, fresh wounds are treated with grass juice, fresh herb essences are used in homeopathy.\r
In Transbaikalia, in the treatment of certain gastrointestinal diseases and cholecystitis, knotweed roots are used. In Chinese folk medicine, the herb of this plant is quite widely used. Preparations prepared from them are used as anti-inflammatory, antihelminthic, antipyretic (including tropical malaria) and diuretic drugs. It is known about the use of knotweed herb for burns, also as a tonic for nervous exhaustion, senile weakness and loss of strength as a result of serious illnesses. As part of ointments, knotweed grass is used for skin diseases.\r
HELL. Turova (1967) indicates that knotweed is effective in certain liver diseases and nephrolithiasis. Apparently, in the later case, the combination of knotweed with other similarly acting plants is especially advisable. In particular, a mixture is used, consisting of equal amounts of crushed knotweed grass, corn stigmas, bean pods, herb herb smooth and bearberry leaves. 15 g of this mixture is brewed in a glass of water and, after filtering, is drunk throughout the day (two tablespoons per reception). HELL. Turova, referring to the data of traditional medicine, writes that with such treatment “almost imperceptibly, with each urination, 40-60 dark yellow irregularly shaped grains of sand come out.”
Knotweed grass can be harvested throughout the entire period of its flowering. It is cut at a height of 5 cm from the top of the rhizome and dried, laying out a thin layer under a canopy, in the attic or in any other well-ventilated room.