Lungwort obscure (Pulmonaria obscura L.)

Lungwort obscure – A perennial herbaceous plant of the borage family (Boraginaceae). Other names: brother-and-sister, living forest grass

Description:

One of the first flowering spring herbaceous plants. The stem is slightly ribbed, the upper stem leaves are sessile, oblong-elliptical, narrowed towards the base, the lower ones are on short, widely winged petioles; basal, developing after flowering, broadly ovate, pointed upwards, heart-shaped at the base and immediately narrowed into a long, narrow-winged petiole, green with whitish spots. The whole plant is pubescent with simple and glandular protruding hairs. Flowers on short stalks, collected in few-flowered whorls, forming a semblance of a shield at the top. The calyx at the fruits is expanded upwards, the corolla is tubular, first pink, then purple-violet. The fruit consists of 4 rounded ovoid, sharp nuts at the top. Lungwort blooms in April-May. Lungwort grows in deciduous forests, among shrubs.The narrow-leaved lungwort (Pulmonaria angustifolia), which differs from the obscure lungwort in the following features: basal leaves are narrow-lanceolate, gradually tapering into a petiole. Corolla calyx with fruits of the same width both at the bottom and at the top. The corolla is first pink, then azure. Nuts at the top are rounded. There is a narrow-leaved lungwort in dry pine and oak-pine forests and among shrubs.

Contains active substances:

Lungwort contains a hematopoietic complex of trace elements: manganese, iron, copper. Manganese regulates the activity of some endocrine glands, stimulates growth and activates vitamin B1. In addition to those listed, other microelements (vanadium, titanium, silver, nickel, strontium, etc.) were found in the lungwort herb, the significance of which as medicinal substances has not yet been clarified. Carotene, ascorbic acid, as well as tannins and mucus were found in a significant amount in the lungwort. .

Medicinal use:

In folk medicine, the whole plant, including the roots, in the form of an infusion, is used externally in the form of lotions, compresses and washes for purulent wounds, abscesses, leucorrhoea in women, and inside – for all kinds of intestinal diseases, for diseases of the respiratory tract. Included in many fees used in these diseases.