Where did the coltsfoot get hertitle? This plant belongs to one of the oldest healers. Even Hippocrates (ancient Greek physician) used it for boils in the form of poultices. And Dioscorides (the doctor of ancient Rome) prescribed him to be sick as a decoction for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and advised him to inhale the smoke from his leaves when coughing. And it is precisely the leaves of coltsfoot that relate to its name. The fact is that the top plate of the sheet is almost naked, and therefore cold, like the look of a stepmother. And below the sheet - whitish-felt, warm, like the hands of his own mother.
Coltsfoot refers toherbaceous perennials. It has a creeping long rhizome, due to which the plant multiplies very quickly and forms real thickets. The plant is widespread, prefers clay and sandy soils. Therefore, it usually lives on clay cliffs, in ravines, along the banks of streams, rivers and ditches. It is very sensitive to the first spring sunshine: snow has not melted everywhere yet, and here and there one can see a coltsfoot. The flowers are bright, golden yellow, they look like dandelions. With the onset of the evening the flowers begin to close. They can also act as a barometer. In cloudy weather, if rain is foreseen, they are sure to close.
Coltsfoot refers to thoseplants that bloom before the first leaves. And there are quite a few of these. After flowering, on its long petioles, basal leaves develop, which have an angular, rounded-heart-shaped form and are first covered with soft white hairs. But by the end of May, they are fully developed and become the “stepmother” from above, and the “mother” from below.
Coltsfoot in its leavescontains polysaccharides, carotene, glycosides, ascorbic, tartaric, malic and gallic acids. And her inflorescences are rich in essential oils, steroid compounds, coloring and tannins. The plant has anti-inflammatory, softening, expectorant and disinfectant action. It is successfully used in the treatment of angina, asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia and many other diseases. For the treatment of small ulcerative lesions and boils used lotions, compresses and wet dressings of infusions and decoctions of the leaves of the plant. If your hair falls out or there is seborrhea, then a decoction of coltsfoot and nettle will cope with them perfectly.
In addition to medicinal use, this plantused as food raw materials. Its leaves are cut into strips and added to salads or served along with traditional side dishes. And if you add honey to the infusion of leaves, you get a wonderful tonic and healthy drink. Also, the crushed leaves of the plant are mixed with jam or jam.
If you want to make some leaves for yourselfcoltsfoot, it should be done in early summer, when they are not so big. The leaf is trimmed with part of the stem. Absolutely young leaves and those beginning to turn yellow cannot be taken. They need to be dried in attics, laid out in a single layer on plywood. In the first days it is advisable to turn each piece of paper so that they dry evenly. You can also use a dryer for this, a good result is obtained at a temperature of 50-60 ºC. Ready-made raw materials are best kept in cloth bags.
