Plant cat's paws: use in traditional medicine. Medicinal plant cat's foot dioecious

DRY FLOWER OR CAT'S FOOT cat paw- a medicinal plant that, when used correctly, helps prevent and even treat various diseases. Features of the medicinal plant Dioecious cat's foot is a perennial herbaceous plant. It reaches a height of 10 - 20 cm, has a thin rhizome, from which lying shoots extend, bearing small leaves, stems with inflorescences. The flowers of the cat's paw are collected in a basket, painted in pink or White color. They appear in mid-May and persist until the end of July, and in June-August the plant bears fruit - small oblong achenes. Distinctive feature the cat's paw is a soft felt pubescence of the stems, making them tender to the touch. The cat's paw is widespread - you can find it throughout Russia: in the European part of the country, in the Caucasus, in Siberia and Far East. For growth, she prefers pine forests, dry meadows and glades with sandy soil, illuminated by the sun. The grass accumulates the maximum amount of nutrients before flowering, so the aerial part is harvested before the plant blooms. Inflorescences are recommended to be collected shortly before the opening of the baskets. How useful is a cat's paw? AT folk medicine this herb is used as a remedy that stimulates regeneration and stops bleeding, and also has a choleretic effect. The hemostatic ability of the cat's paw is comparable to that of some traditional medicines (adrenaline and calcium chloride). Medicinal properties, which this dried flower possesses, are due to the content of a rich set of biologically active substances. The plant contains: vitamins (ascorbic acid and phylloquinone); tannins; resins; essential oils; saponins; alkaloids; octacosan. Due to its ability to effectively stop bleeding, the cat's paw has been widely used in gynecology for the treatment of diseases that are accompanied by prolonged and heavy menstruation. In addition, the choleretic effect of the plant comes in handy for many diseases. gastrointestinal tract. Tannins make the cat's paw useful in skin diseases, and alkaloids help fight heart disease. Indications for use Using this dried flower, you can prepare medicines for oral administration and for topical treatment. The use of the cat's paw is indicated for the following diseases: gastritis; peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum; cholelithiasis; cholecystitis; hepatitis; diarrhea; hemorrhoids and anal fissures; endometriosis; uterine fibroids; arterial hypertension; pulmonary tuberculosis; eczema; diathesis; furunculosis. In gynecology, the cat's paw is used to prepare infusions: 1 tbsp. l. dry chopped herbs, pour ½ cup of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. Ready infusion should be filtered and taken from the 4th day of menstrual bleeding, 1 tbsp. l. every hour until menstruation stops. Dried flowers are also suitable for preparing a solution for douching the vagina, however, before carrying out such procedures, it is better to consult a doctor; they are rarely prescribed in gynecology today. To prepare an infusion with a choleretic effect, you will need dry chopped grass in the amount of 2 tbsp. l. Pour a glass of boiling water over it and leave for 60 minutes. Then pour the infusion into a saucepan and bring the dried flowers to a boil. Remove the decoction from the heat and let it brew for another 1 hour. Strain the finished infusion and take 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l. one hour before meals. The course of treatment is 10 days. When bleeding from hemorrhoids, the use of lotions is indicated. To prepare them, brew 2 tbsp. l. flowers 250 ml of boiling water and leave until the infusion has cooled. Then strain it, soak a gauze swab in the infusion and apply to the hemorrhoids for 15 to 30 minutes. Treatment should be continued for a week. Cat's foot dioecious helps in the treatment of skin diseases. To prepare a decoction with it, you will need grass in the amount of 2 tbsp. l. It should be poured with 1.5 glasses of water and boiled in a water bath for 10 minutes. Then cool the broth, strain, pour into the bath and take it daily for 10-15 minutes. The use of medicinal infusions and decoctions based on the cat's paw also helps to fight bleeding gums. In addition, the dried flower has the ability to soothe nervous system and treat a sore throat.

Hello dear reader!

The name of the plant seems remarkably accurate to me. The cat's foot is so named because the inflorescences at the top of its flowering shoots are strikingly reminiscent of the pads on the cat's foot. But this small plant is distinguished not only by its original appearance, but also by its outstanding medicinal properties.

Cat's foot dioecious

That is the Russian scientific name of the plant. In Latin, it “sounds” louder - Antennaria dioicabecause decorative garden varieties cat paws are often called "foreign" antenaria.

In nature, this is a very modest perennial, whose shoots are able to rise above the ground by a maximum of ten to fifteen centimeters. But the size is still not the most important and interesting! BUT interesting features a cat's paw has a lot.

Its small leaves are not quite green, they are rather bluish, felted. From what? The whole plant - both leaves and shoots - is covered with numerous hairs. This feature saves water by significantly reducing evaporation.

This is important because the dioecious cat's foot grows where water does not linger for a long time - on sandy soils along mounds, in a sparse pine forest, on the edges of pine forests. Often her neighbor turns out to be an unpretentious shrub from the family of the same name.

Even after heavy rain such soils are not able to retain moisture for a long time - it goes into deeper layers. Those local inhabitants who do not grow long roots had to learn to survive this "permanent drought". Some, like, store it for future use in their tissues. Others - heather, cat's paw - different ways reduce evaporation.

In the soil near the cat's paw there is a thin long rhizome that grows to the sides. Thanks to him, she never grows alone, but forms a curtain. Almost certainly all closely growing shoots are not different specimens at all, they belong to the same plant.

Looking more closely, we will see that this small grass has two types of shoots that are different from each other. Here are short creeping stalks bearing rosettes of pubescent ovate leaves. These sockets are easily rooted. Just like a mustache, only shorter.

This feature contributes vegetative propagation dioecious cat's paw. And also - the more roots in the soil, the more water you can take it out after the rain!

The second type of shoot is an upright, unbranched, pubescent stem with narrow leaves, also fluffy with hairs. At the top is a shield of inflorescences, for the appearance of which the plant got its Russian name.

Often they are called "flowers", although these are precisely the inflorescences. Like any plant from the Compositae family, the flowers of the cat's paw are never solitary. They are collected in inflorescences-baskets. Baskets are small - only about 5 mm. But numerous tubular flowers in baskets are even smaller! For greater visibility for insects, the baskets themselves are collected in a corymbose inflorescence at the top of a flowering shoot.

Another curious feature is reflected in the scientific name. The cat's foot is called dioecious because its male and female flowers grow in baskets different plants. The "male" and "female" specimens of the cat's paw differ in the dioecious shape of the baskets and their color.

Many have probably noticed that on some plants the baskets are white and spherical, on others they are pinkish and more elongated. In white "balls" are collected male staminate flowers, in pinkish baskets - female pistillate. However, for pink shade not the flowers themselves are responsible, but the leaves of the wrapper surrounding the flower basket.

Dioeciousness in plants is an important sign. It is considered a progressive phenomenon. After all, dioecy excludes self-pollination, therefore, the offspring of such plants is more viable. This feature is not so typical a large number types. And in the Asteraceae family, dioecious plants are generally a rarity.

This plant is light-loving, and therefore settles on poor sandy soils, where there is little water, but there are almost no competitors. After all, even low grass can shade it. But there is another interesting feature. Where the dioecious cat's foot has settled, very few people can grow! She not only avoids competitors, but knows how to survive them!

The mechanism of such a struggle is not entirely clear. Maybe, living plant emits into the air some "fluids" that adversely affect the neighbors. It is even more likely that when parts of the cat's paw die, substances enter the soil that make their growth impossible.

The cat's paw easily tolerates not only drought, but also severe frosts. It easily hibernates under the snow with green leaves. That's why it moved far north. It grows even in the tundra, beyond the Arctic Circle. There, reindeer dig it out from under the snow and eat it with pleasure.

The cat's paw does not lose its appearance when dried. Well, why lose it, if even during life there is always little water in the grass? For this feature, she was nicknamed "dried flower" and "immortelle". And also - the "Virgin's grass": it was customary to decorate iconostases with bouquets of an unfading cat's paw. In dry bouquets, the plant is preserved and looks very good.

Speaking of immortality. Almost under the same conditions, sandy immortelle, or cumin, grows. The plants are very similar, only in cumin the baskets are not white and not pink, but yellow. In addition, sandy immortelle still prefers more southern and warmer areas, not rising far to the north.

How useful is a cat's paw?

The plant is used in traditional medicine. It is not officially recognized as medicinal, but the composition and properties of the cat's paw have been studied in sufficient detail.

A complex of substances, including resins, saponins, vitamin K, tannins, determines hemostatic, wound healing, antimicrobial properties. They also note a choleretic effect, similar to the effect of sandy immortelle.

Grass should be stored at the beginning of flowering, in June. Baskets ("flowers") are generally taken only until they have blossomed. But useful material There are both shoots and leaves. Need to dry on fresh air, in the shade under a canopy, or in the attic, or in a ventilated area. It is important not to overdry the collection, otherwise the baskets will crumble, and a significant part of the valuable substances will be lost.

Powder from dry grass can be sprinkled on wounds, contributing to their disinfection and speedy healing. To stop the blood is applied to the wounds and fresh grass. Traditional medicine used the cat's paw primarily as a hemostatic agent for external, and especially internal bleeding - intestinal, uterine, hemorrhoidal, nasal.

Usually they prepare infusions and decoctions of the cat's paw. Their preparation and use will not be difficult. There are no problems with the dosage - the dioecious cat's foot is not poisonous.

Preparation of infusion: 1 tablespoon of dry chopped grass is poured with a glass of boiling water, infused for half an hour, filtered.

Apply the infusion for internal bleeding, one tablespoon after 1 - 2 hours.

For external use, the infusion is made more concentrated - herbs take 2 tablespoons per glass. This infusion is used to wash wounds, gargle with sore throat.

A decoction of the herb is often used in diseases of the liver and gallbladder as a choleretic agent.

Preparation of a decoction: pour 2 tablespoons of herbs with a glass of boiling water in a thermos, leave for 30 minutes. Pour the infusion into enamelware, boil. Cool, strain.

Drink as a choleretic three times a day before meals, 1 tablespoon.

The cat's paw is contraindicated for any diseases that cause thrombosis. Care must be taken to apply it at elevated pressure.

Thanks

Even our ancestors were sure that with the help of a herb called cat paw one hundred diseases can be cured. And they were absolutely right, because this plant has the widest spectrum of action. But most often, the cat's paw is used as an effective hemostatic agent. O useful properties of this plant, its use in traditional medicine in general and gynecology in particular, and we will talk further.

Description of the plant cat's foot dioecious (antennaria)

The herbaceous plant cat's paw, belonging to the genus Cat's paw (Antennaria), is a rather nondescript plant that reaches a height of 8–25 cm. This nondescript plant is explained by the creeping and rooting rhizome and flowers that do not give beautiful flowering. If we talk about the dwarfism of the cat's paw, then it is characteristic of all heat-tolerant plants. And all thanks to the "pubescent" cover of stems and leaves, which performs a protective function: this kind of felt protects the plant from excessive evaporation of moisture. But the cat's paw is not afraid of not only drought, but also frost, because it is highly frost-resistant (up to -28 degrees).

The cat's paw is a dioecious plant: for example, staminate flowers are placed in one of the "houses", and pistillate flowers in the other. male flowers differ in white color and blunt shape, while women have pink color and pointed edges. The front surface of the leaves of the cat's paw is bare, and the back is rough.

The fruits of the plant are cylindrical, oblong achenes with a tuft consisting of jagged hairs.

I must say that the cat's paw got its name for the gentle to the touch and velvety heads of the plant, which in their shape resemble the paws of such a domestic animal as a cat.

One more vernacular name plants - white immortelle (and here it is important not to confuse the cat's paw with the sandy immortelle, which has bright yellow flowers). The immortelle was called the cat's paw for the reason that even when dried, this plant does not fade.

Finally, the cat's paw is called "chest grass" (this plant helps to cure colds) and "nechuevik" (in honor of the miraculous plant called nechuy-wind, which, according to ancient legends, helped blind people find treasures).

Where does it grow?

Antennaria grows in Japan, Asia, Northern Kazakhstan, Central and Northern Europe, and North America. On the territory of Russia, this plant can be found in the European part of the country, in the Caucasus, the Kuril Islands and in Siberia.

The cat's paw prefers pine forests, dry meadows and clearings, wastelands, sun-drenched edges, sandy shores of water bodies and dry moss-lichen tundras. This is photophilous plant(the natural habitat of the cat's paw is open sunny areas with rather poor, acidic, and often sandy soil), growing in partial shade and on fertile soils, quickly loses its compactness and stretches.

Collection of cat's paw

AT medicinal purposes used exclusively above-ground part plants.

The cat's paw blooms from mid-May until the end of July, while the fruits of the plant ripen from June to August.

The following parts of the cat's paw have medicinal properties:
1. Grass and flower baskets that are collected during flowering. So, flowering grass (single flowers are also subject to collection and drying) is collected throughout the summer and dried in the fresh air, but always under sheds. Such medicinal raw materials are stored for no more than a year.

2. The aerial part of the plant until the full bloom of the flowers. It is the stems, leaves and flowers of the plant that contain useful substances, thanks to which the cat's foot has found wide application in herbal medicine. The aerial part of the plant is dried in the same way as described above. The shelf life of raw materials is three years.
3. Grass during flowering and inflorescence until the opening of the baskets. Raw materials are dried in the shade, both in the open air and in well-ventilated rooms, while it is important to prevent overdrying, which will result in scattering of baskets. The shelf life of this type of raw material is one year.

Store the dried parts of the cat's paw preferably in a cool place in paper bags or boxes (you can use boxes pre-lined with paper).

Important! Harvested fresh raw materials are not subjected to hot drying!

The composition and properties of the cat's paw

Tannins
Action:

• elimination of inflammation localized on the intestinal mucosa;
• decreased secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract;
• improvement of the digestion process;
• neutralization of the negative effect of salts of heavy metals.

So, tannins precipitate proteins of tissue cells, thereby exerting a local astringent or irritating effect on the mucous membranes (it all depends on the concentration of this class of substances in solution). It is the precipitated protein that protects the mucosa from various irritants.

resins
Action:

• slowing down putrefactive processes in the intestines;
• promoting wound healing;
• wound disinfection;
• destruction of pathogenic microbes;
• boosting immunity.

Saponins
Action:

• increased secretion of bronchial glands;
• elimination of foci of inflammation;
• excitation of the cough center;
• normalization of water, salt, and mineral metabolism;
• contributing to the enhancement of hormone activity.

In addition, saponins have diuretic and laxative effects.

Vitamin K
The action of vitamin K:

• prevents bleeding by increasing blood clotting;
• eliminates hemorrhages;
• normalizes liver function;
• neutralizes the harmful effects of aflatoxins and other poisons that accumulate in the body;
• promotes the formation of prothrombin - an enzyme that is necessary for blood clotting;
• provides the synthesis of osteocalcin, which is a bone tissue protein on which calcium crystallizes;
• prevents the development of osteoporosis;
• regulates redox processes.

alkaloids
Action:

• eliminate pain syndrome;
• reduce blood pressure;
• normalize blood circulation;
• increase blood clotting;
• regulate the work of the central nervous system (for example, when taking small doses, alkaloids act excitingly on the central nervous system, and large ones, on the contrary, depressingly).

Octacosan
Action:

• increases physical endurance;
• reduces the time of motor reaction;
• reduces manifestations of stress;
• relieves muscle pain after intense physical exertion, with muscular dystrophy, as well as other neuromuscular diseases;
• lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Phytosterol
Action:

• participates in the formation of cholesterol, steroid hormones and cell membranes;
• prevents the development of cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases;
• neutralizes the effect of viruses;
• strengthens the immune system;
• contributes to the cure of cancer;
• neutralizes the action of toxins;
• increases mental and physical activity;
• regulates mineral metabolism.

Vitamin C
Action:

• lowers the content of uric acid directly in the blood serum;
• regulates the redox processes of the so-called cellular respiration;
• strengthens the immune system;
• increases the degree of capillary permeability;
• promotes the growth and development of bone tissue;
• promotes the production of adrenal hormones;
• removes toxins that provoke the formation of malignant tumors.

Essential oil
Action:

• normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system;
• helps to alleviate cough, and enhance the separation of mucus and sputum from the bronchi;
• improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• eliminates inflammation.

Properties of the cat's paw

• Wound healing;
• hemostatic;
• choleretic;
• painkiller;
• antitumor;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antispasmodic;
• vasodilating;
• diuretic;
• soothing;
• antitussive.

Benefits of the cat's paw

1. Stops bleeding (it has been proven that in its ability to accelerate blood clotting and stop bleeding of various etiologies, the cat's paw is superior to substances such as adrenaline and calcium chloride).
2. Normalizes the menstrual cycle.
3. Promotes resorption and removal of stones from the gallbladder.
4. Relieves inflammation.
5. Accelerates the process of wound healing.
6. Improves eyesight.
7. Helps reduce the size of tumors.
8. Expands blood vessels.
9. Relieves pain in gout.
10. Lowers blood pressure.
11. Calms the nervous system.

Treatment with a cat's paw

What heals?

Cat's paw preparations are used in the treatment of the following diseases and disorders:

• hemoptysis;
• bleeding of various origins;
• hernia;
• bloody diarrhea;
• throat diseases;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• cholecystitis;
• hepatitis;
• children's eczema;
• abscesses;
• wounds;
• lupus;
• catarrh of the stomach;
• menstrual irregularities;
• gallstones;
• whites;
• inflammation of the gums;
• periodontal disease;
• stomach ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer;
• colpitis;
• acute vaginitis;
• hepatic colic;
• tumors;
• curvature of the uterus;
• gonorrhea;
• nervous diseases;
• cough;
• bruises;
• boils;
• diathesis;
• abscesses;
• gastritis;
• gout;
• allergic dermatitis.

Grass

The stems and leaves of the cat's foot are used orally in the treatment of tumors, leucorrhea, hernias, uterine curvature, hemoptysis, heavy menstruation, bleeding (uterine, nasal, gastrointestinal, postpartum, pulmonary, hemorrhoidal, wound). For hemorrhoidal bleeding, preparations from the cat's paw are used both internally and externally.

As a rinse, this part of the plant is indicated for diseases of the throat and oral cavity.

Infusion of cat grass is recommended to douche with gonorrhea, while grass powder promotes healing of wounds, burns and bruises, for which it is enough to sprinkle with powder damaged areas skin several times a day.

Flowers

Cat's foot flowers help to cope with cholecystitis, diarrhea, jaundice, diseases of the liver and stomach. In addition, this part of the plant helps to remove bile from the body and stones from the gallbladder. Powder from the flowers of the cat's paw accelerates the healing process.

With the help of a cat's paw, you can improve eyesight and speed up the process of treating diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts. To do this, the flowers of the plant are placed in a small cloth bag, which are then soaked in boiling water and applied warm to sore eyes before going to bed.

Application of dried flower cat's paw

Decoction

This form of taking the plant will help cure peptic ulcer, stop bleeding, and accelerate the process of resorption of hemorrhoidal cones. The decoction is effective in the treatment of chronic cholecystitis, severe functional disorders of the gallbladder, as well as bile ducts (especially if these disorders are accompanied by a hypertensive form of dyskinesia).

A decoction of the cat's paw in the form of an external remedy (lotions and baths) is indicated in the treatment of diathesis, childhood eczema, skin tuberculosis. In this case, the decoction can be used orally, which will enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. A decoction is also taken in the treatment of hepatitis, non-healing wounds, boils and bruises.

To prepare a decoction taken orally, 8 g of flower baskets of the plant are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and boiled for 5 minutes. And then the broth is infused for half an hour, carefully filtered, and drunk in a tablespoon three times a day. For external use, a more concentrated solution is prepared - 16 g of raw materials per 200 ml of boiling water.

Important! Before taking cat's paw preparations (especially by children), you should consult a doctor!

Infusion

Infusions of the cat's paw help to cure inflammation, stop the blood, act as a choleretic agent. In addition, in the form of a rinse, infusions are used for inflammation of the gums, stomatitis, periodontal disease and other diseases of the oral cavity.

Lotions from the infusion are recommended for nosebleeds, while poultices are recommended for abscesses, enlargement of the thyroid gland, tumors, bruises, eczema, hardening of the mammary glands.

A tablespoon of plant flowers is brewed with 300 ml of boiling water, infused for four hours, filtered and taken in a tablespoon every two to three hours (in case of intestinal or gastric bleeding, the interval between doses of the infusion can be reduced to 15 - 30 minutes). With nosebleeds, tampons are impregnated with infusion, which are inserted into the nasal passages, while with bleeding gums, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with infusion. To stop hemorrhoidal bleeding, you can resort to external use of infusion in the form of lotions, as well as enemas or tampons.

Tincture

This form of cat's paw preparations is used for skin diseases. Also, the tincture, which has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and coagulating properties, is indicated in the treatment of hemorrhoidal bleeding (to enhance the effect, it is recommended to combine the internal intake of the tincture with its external use).

To prepare the tincture, 1 tbsp. 100 ml of vodka is poured with cat's paw grass and infused for a week in a dark, and necessarily warm place (the tincture should be shaken periodically). Strained tincture is drunk 25 - 30 drops, diluted in 150 ml of water twice or thrice a day. For external use, one teaspoon of tincture is diluted in a glass of water.

Cat's paw in gynecology

Today, traditional medicine has large quantity medicinal plants, with which you can cure many gynecological diseases. One of these plants is the cat's paw, which has excellent hemostatic and anti-inflammatory properties.

The preparations of this plant increase blood clotting. If we talk about uterine bleeding, then the principle of action in this case is as follows: the cat's paw stimulates the muscles of the uterus, thereby causing squeezing of the blood vessels located in its walls. At the same time, the main stimulant of this hemostatic plant is vitamin K, which promotes the formation of prothrombin in the liver, and, as you know, it is prothrombin that enhances blood clotting.

To prepare a hemostatic infusion from the cat's paw 1 tbsp. herbs of the plant are poured with 100 ml of boiling water, infused for half an hour, filtered and taken in a tablespoon every hour and a half, until the bleeding stops completely. This infusion can also be used as a tampon three times a day to stop uterine bleeding.

Decoctions and infusions from the cat's paw will help eliminate leucorrhoea, normalize menstrual cycle, cure menorrhagia, relieve inflammation.

Contraindications

The only contraindication to the use of cat's paw preparations is individual intolerance.

But! Since the cat's paw is a strong hemostatic agent, it should be taken with extreme caution by people with thrombophlebitis. In addition, long-term use of preparations based on this plant is not recommended for people with high blood pressure.

Recipes with a cat's paw

Decoction for inflammation of the liver and gallbladder

2 tbsp flowers, as well as the herbs of the cat's paw, place in a thermos and pour one glass of boiling water, after which the remedy is insisted, shaking occasionally, for half an hour. The resulting infusion is poured into enamelware and put on fire. The boiled product is cooled, filtered and drunk in a tablespoon three times a day, before meals. It is necessary to drink the decoction for ten days, and then a week break is taken. If necessary, the course continues.

douching

For colpitis, leucorrhoea, as well as acute vaginitis and itching, douching is indicated twice a day, as well as tampons from a decoction (250 ml of decoction from a cat's paw are diluted in one liter of boiled water).

Decoction for bleeding

10 g of leaves and flowers of the cat's paw pour 250 ml of boiling water, boil over low heat for 15 minutes, strain, squeeze, bring warm boiled water to the original volume and take one tablespoon for bleeding of various origins. The same decoction can be used for compresses to help get rid of skin rashes.

Collection for mastopathy

Ingredients:

• aloe leaf juice - 180 ml;
• serpentine mountaineer rhizomes powder - 2.5 tbsp;
• nettle leaves - 1 tbsp;
• St. John's wort flowers - 2 tablespoons;
• cat's paw flowers - 2 tbsp.

Collection pour 600 ml of dry red wine, then add 0.6 kg of honey. The resulting mixture is thoroughly stirred and infused in a sealed container in a boiling water bath for two hours, stirring occasionally. Strained tincture is taken 30 drops 2-3 times a day. Before use, you should consult with a specialist.

"Cat's paws" is a perennial of the Compositae family, has a direct

stem with creeping shoots. In height from 10 to 20 cm. This grass with leaves is bare at the top and felted at the bottom. The flowers are collected in baskets, they look like cat's paws, hence the name. Color can be white and pink. The flower has five stamens and a fruit (the part used in medicine). The flowering period is from May to June. "Cat's paws" is a grass that grows in the temperate zones of Asia, North America and Europe, as well as almost throughout Russia, especially in the Urals, Siberia and the Caucasus. It settles on dry soils, mainly on sandy meadows, in mixed and pine forests, on dry lawns and clearings.

"Cat's paws": collection and harvesting, cultivation

Grass in bloom or a flower in a basket is harvested throughout the summer from June to September. Flowers should be picked before they open. Dry in an open space under a canopy. Dried grass should be stored in a dark and dry place for no more than a year. unpretentious plant, surviving droughts, in poor soil. The only condition for its growth is an open sunny place. Seeds should be sown in a greenhouse in the spring, pressing them into the soil shallowly.

Flower "Cat's paws": composition and application

Since the plant contains tannins and resin, vitamins B, C, K, as well as saponin and phytosterols, it is actively used in medicine. The plant is not poisonous, so an overdose is excluded. It is mainly used for blood loss, as due to its properties it helps blood to clot better than adrenaline and hematemesis, postpartum hemorrhage, hypertension, female diseases and many other ailments successfully cure "Cat's paws" in the form of a powder or decoction in folk medicine. With convulsions, they use a flower decoction and an infusion of leaves, as with jaundice, they wash themselves with it. In children's skin diseases (diathesis, eczema, skin tuberculosis), children are either bathed in a decoction of flowers, or they are given water. Moreover, it is used for hepatitis and cholecystitis. But tinctures from the leaves of the plant cope with high blood pressure. The plant acts like depressant, helps with sleep disorders, is used as a sleeping pill. But for wound healing and with furunculosis, an ointment made on the basis of a thick decoction of leaves and flowers will heal.

"Cat's paws": recipes

Gastrointestinal bleeding

For 1-2 st. l. dried flowers use 200 ml of water. It is necessary to boil for five minutes and let it brew for half an hour. Use 1 tbsp. l. for every 10-20 minutes to Also cook and use as a choleretic agent.

We take 10-20 grams of dry grass and flowers, pour 200 ml of boiling water. Then insist about five hours and filter.

Contraindications for use

Use with caution in thrombophlebitis, as "Cat's paws" contain substances that can clot blood. In addition, with high blood pressure, avoid long-term use.

Even grandparents knew that the cat's paw or, as it is also called, pink immortelle in folk medicine is a cure for a number of diseases. Cat's paw grass can reach a height of 30 cm. This plant can be used as a remedy for a number of diseases, from stomach ulcers to severe eye pathologies. However, in practice, the plant is often used as a very effective hemostatic agent. Grass cat's paws and its active use in gynecology has been practiced since ancient times, when she repeatedly saved the fairer sex after childbirth with incessant bleeding.

Even grandparents knew that the cat's paw or, as it is also called, pink immortelle in folk medicine is a cure for a number of diseases.

plant essence

Medicinal herb received 1 more name Antennaria - dioecious plant. In one of the so-called houses, staminate flowers are located, and in the other, pistillate flowers feel quite comfortable. That is why this flower is also called as a dioecious cat's foot.

Among the people, this healing herb has a lot of alternative names. It is also called cat's eggs due to the soft fluff that covers the healing herb. Someone calls pink immortelle pectoral grass, due to its ability to quickly cure colds. Another name for grass is nechuevik.

Pink immortelle grows in the Land of the Rising Sun, Asia and Northern Kazakhstan, central and northern Europe, and North America. This is due to the fact that as a habitat, the cat's paw prefers coniferous forests, sandy shores of water bodies, and dry moss-lichen tundras.

Flowers of cat eggs are represented by several baskets. At the same time, the upper one is the largest and reaches a diameter of about 6 mm. Thus, the apical basket is the so-called hat. Since the pink immortelle is dioecious, it contains both male and female baskets. Depending on gender, baskets may vary in color and shape. For example, men's baskets have petals white shade, while women's are pink. It is also curious that women's baskets do not look like a hat, but resemble a bowl, as they are distinguished by an oblong shape.

What is catnip for?

Gallery: grass cat's paw (25 photos)

Cat's paw (video)

What diseases can be treated?

healing plant in its composition contains a large number of complex nitrogen-free organic compounds, which are called saponins, resin, vitamin K, tannins, phytosterol. Therefore, pink immortelle has a great effect on the circulatory system, contributing to faster clotting. Experts recommend using the plant for uterine or hemorrhoidal bleeding, hemoptysis. However, it is forbidden to independently determine the dosage. This should only be done by a doctor.

The plant will help:

• very quickly and very effectively stop the flow of blood;
• use in gynecology implies the ability to normalize menstrual bleeding;
• remove stones formed in the bladder;
• cure the inflammatory process;
• improve visual ability;
• reduce the size of a malignant neoplasm;
• expand blood vessels;
• relieve the pain that occurs with gout;
• bring down blood pressure;
• put the nervous system in order.

Healing properties have all parts of the plant located above the ground, including the stem, leaves and hat.

The medicinal plant in its composition contains a huge amount of complex nitrogen-free organic compounds, which are called saponins, resin, vitamin K, tannins, phytosterol

How to collect miracle grass?

Only the aerial part of this plant can be used as a remedy. The collection of the plant is carried out, taking into account the timing of its flowering and maturation. As a rule, cat's paws begin to bloom from mid-May and continue until the end of July. The appearance of the fruits of the plant in July - August.

And in order to benefit from a medicinal plant, you should collect it during the flowering period. At the same time, if it was not possible to collect in such a way that the cap of the plant remains intact, then you can collect and dry individual flowers. Quite often, pink immortelle is dried naturally in the air. It should be taken into account that the dried stem, leaves and cap of the cat's paws are stored and have the value of their medicinal properties for only 1 year.

Medicinal properties of horse sorrel

How to use the plant?

Currently, a huge number of traditional healers, and even a doctor, use this plant to treat many pathologies. This remedy is especially effective in case of increased convulsive states, convulsions, infectious disease tuberculosis, hematemesis, and various complications after childbirth. Using given plant, it is possible to cure increased blood pressure and gynecological diseases.

If the patient will regularly wash his face with a decoction of the cat's paw, then jaundice can be cured. This remedy will be very useful for children with diathesis, eczema, if you add a decoction made on the basis of cat's paws to a bath for bathing.

The decoction can be used as a choleretic agent. To make it, you need to pour 8 g of a dried plant into a glass of boiled water.

The leaves and stems of the medicinal plant can be used orally for the treatment of cancerous tumors, hernias, uterine pathologies, with heavy periods. If bleeding develops against the background of hemorrhoids, then medicine prepared from cat's paws, it is necessary to take it inside and make external lotions.

Nature has already given mankind such beautiful plant, the main thing is to use this gift correctly in the fight against many pathologies

Medicines made on the basis of cat's paws can treat cholecystitis, broken stools, liver and gastric pathological conditions. Using cat paws, it is fashionable to achieve the removal of bile and stones. To improve visual ability, cure glaucoma and cataracts, you can use infusions prepared on the basis of pink immortelle. Such an infusion can be used to stop bleeding. Helps to cope with bleeding from the nose of the lotion. An abscess can be cured, or hyperthyroidism, eczema, or hardening of the mammary glands can be alleviated by applying poultices using this herb. By the way, if there is a need for such a healing herb, and it is not possible to grow or collect it somewhere, then you can purchase it by contacting a phytopharmacy.