White Mistletoe refers to shrubsFamily Mistletoe. Mistletoe grows on trees, being partly a parasite, as its roots penetrate deep into the wood. Most often, white mistletoe is found on deciduous trees, such as oak, acacia, plums, apples, pears. Less often, mistletoe can be found on coniferous trees such as fir and pine.
Description of the plant
White mistletoe is an evergreen perennial,reminiscent of its form shrub. Externally, it looks like a ball, with a diameter of up to twenty centimeters, consisting of long, woven branches, green, sometimes with a brown tinge. They are very fragile. On tips grow thick, oval five centimeter leaves with a pale green shade.
In early spring, white mistletoe blooms.She has yellow-green flowers. At the beginning of autumn the fruits ripen - these are false berries, with a diameter of about one centimeter, oblong in shape. Mistletoe seeds are carried by birds. Plants grow quickly, only the seeds penetrate into the crack of the bark of the tree, as from there grows mistletoe.
Mistletoe has many other names. For the form of her nicknamed witch nest. Also her name is oak berry, cross grass, grass kisses, bird hazel, winter seeds.
How to harvest raw materials
Из-за уникальных свойств омелу белую используют в traditional medicine. It is collected in the fall and winter. At this time, the balls are clearly visible on the treetops. For therapeutic purposes, harvested leaves, fresh twigs, berries: they simply break off along with the twigs.
The collected material is dried in a warm place, spreading it on paper or on a thin layer of fabric. You can dry the raw materials in special dryers at a temperature not higher than 40 degrees.
Harvested material is stored in bags without access to direct sunlight with good ventilation. Harvested mistletoe is stored no more than two years, but it is better to collect fresh raw materials every year.
The plant is found on the territory of central Russia, in the Caucasus, in some CIS countries.
Some myths and legends
Many stories and legends are associated with mistletoe.It is considered a magical gift of nature and has always been valued highly. In ancient legends, the plant was called the golden branch. Druids collected raw materials in compliance with a special tradition: they cut the branches with a gold knife or sickle. In their opinion, plants growing on sacred oaks had a special value. Druids believed that mistletoe drink is a universal antidote.
Древние считали, что свойства омелы белой help resist evil forces, as this plant has mysterious energy. From branches twisted amulets that help in the continuation of the species and giving well-being. The shrub is considered a universal master key, capable of opening any doors.
In the Scandinavian countries, there was a custom:when meeting the enemies under the trees on which mistletoe grew, it was necessary to lay down their arms. The branches of the plant decorated the doors of the houses, which was considered a symbol of the world, protecting the owners from thunder, lightning, and evil forces.
The healing properties of mistletoe were described inthe writings of Pliny. He described the plant as a way to get rid of epileptic seizures, dizziness. In the Middle Ages, the plant was used to treat wounds, abscesses, ulcers, to stop bleeding.
The chemical composition of the shrub
According to reviews, therapeutic properties and contraindicationswhite mistletoe is necessary to know, as the wrong dosage can lead to poisoning. This is possible because of the constituents of toxic substances: improper dosage leads to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Also, according to reviews, the healing properties of white mistletoe are impressive. In this plant there is an alkaloid viscotoxin, which is active in the treatment of cancer pathologies, and also enhances the body's defense.
Triterpenic saponins have a hemolytic effect that can increase hemoglobin.
Choline, vitamins of group B, help in the treatment of pathologies of the digestive tract, cardiovascular system.
Acetylcholine is indispensable for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
White mistletoe contains many organic substances, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, oleic, linoleic and other acids.
The plant contains histamines, vitamins, terpenoids, alcohols, vegetable flavonoids, rubber, minerals and other useful elements.
How is the plant used in traditional medicine
According to reviews, mistletoe helps to normalizethe work of the heart, to cope with vascular pathologies, including hypertension. This plant copes with atherosclerosis. Prepared on the basis of raw materials help to reduce blood pressure, dilates blood vessels, normalizes sleep, improves the overall condition.
Mistletoe has a positive effect on the nervous system, can reduce excitability. Medicines prepared from the plant help with hysteria, hypochondria, epilepsy, with convulsions.
Mistletoe has a strong hemostaticaction. Because of this property, the plant is used for uterine, pulmonary, and gastric bleeding. It can be applied externally to the treatment of wounds, ulcers, various types of boils. It has anti-inflammatory effects. Mistletoe ointments help with dermatitis, muscle soreness, radiculitis.
Good, according to reviews, mistletoe for weight loss,as it is able to improve intestinal motility, has diuretic properties. Also, the plant is used in the treatment of pathologies of the kidneys, including nephritis.
Mistletoe in traditional medicine
Numerous studies have shown thatdrugs based on raw mistletoe helps to fight malignant cells, prevents the development of metastases. Because of this feature, it is often used in the treatment of neoplasms.
Infusions, decoctions and other folk preparationsused in the treatment of female diseases. In alternative medicine, freshly squeezed juice is used to help treat infertility. Using trays with the addition of mistletoe helps to fight hemorrhoids and various pathologies of the genitourinary system.
Knowing the healing properties and contraindications of whitemistletoe, you can get rid of many diseases. This plant helps to fight hyperthyroidism, asthma, headaches, pathologies of the joints, medicines prepared from it remove parasites, relieve diarrhea, and help to get rid of pancreatic diseases.
Contraindications
There are white mistletoe contraindications, becausewhich it should be taken with caution. This plant is very toxic, funds made from it cannot be taken for a long time. When treating mistletoe, it is important to follow the courses of therapy and dosage, as it contains toxins that can accumulate in the body, poisoning it. If you can not cope with the pathology in one course, then you need to take a break of several weeks.
Mistletoe can not be used for pregnant women, as well as:
- hypotension;
- hypothyroidism;
- with liver pathologies.
To know for sure whether a plant can be used, it is necessary to consult a doctor, it will help determine the course of treatment and the exact dosage.
Recipes of traditional medicine
There are a huge number of very differentrecipes of traditional medicine to help cope with pathologies. For each of them, healers, druids, herbalists use certain dosages and special methods of preparation of the medicine. To find out if this dosage and treatment method is suitable, you should consult with a specialist.
From hypertension
To get rid of hypertension, you need to taketwo teaspoons of the twigs and pour half a liter of boiling water over them. Night remedy is infused. It is taken in two tablespoons in small sips twice a day before meals. The treatment lasts no more than three weeks, then a seven-day break is taken and the course is repeated.
In violation of blood circulation
Fights ten grams of shoots, everything is poureda glass of boiling water, put on the fire. You need to warm up just a couple of minutes, then let it stand for half an hour. Take the remedy in violation of bleeding in a tablespoon after meals three times a day.
Prostate adenoma
There are several ways to make mistletoe medicine.
- Seven hundred grams of the jar placed the leaves of the plant and poured half a liter of vodka. The composition is infused for three weeks, then filtered. Taken twenty drops three times a day.
- Take a tablespoon of shoots and poureda glass of alcohol. Means infused for two weeks in a dark place. Periodically the composition is agitated. After straining, take fifteen drops three times a day.
Mistletoe for weight loss
The lack of significant, according to reviewscontraindications of mistletoe allows the plant to be used to remove toxins, improve metabolism. This plant is used with linden as follows:
- First day. Four spoons of lime blossom are taken and filled with a liter of boiling water. The composition is infused for two hours. The resulting decoction is taken during the day.
- Second day. Brew three spoons of mistletoe and insist, just like linden on the first day.
- Third day. In a liter of water brewed in equal parts of mistletoe and linden.
- Day four. The infusion is prepared as on the third day and a spoon of honey is added to it.
- Fifth day. In a liter of water, two spoons of mistletoe and linden are brewed, and the same amount of honey is taken. The juice is added to one lemon.
For longer than five days, mistletoe can not be taken for weight loss. A repeated course of purification is allowed to be carried out not earlier than in a month.
Methods of making mistletoe medicines
Mistletoe is made of teas to help raisevitality. For their preparation you will need a teaspoon of raw materials to brew with a glass of boiling water and let it brew for ten minutes. It is taken in a cup once a week.
To prepare the tincture is taken capacityvolume of 0.7 l, in which mistletoe shoots are placed. They poured vodka to the edge. The remedy is infused for three weeks in a dark place. Periodically the composition is agitated. Before using the composition, it is filtered. Accepted with different pathologies of 15-30 drops, 2-3 times a day.
Mistletoe is used to make powder.It is used to treat gynecological pathologies in oncology. Before use, the powder is mixed with honey in equal quantities and balls are rolled out of gruel; their size should not be larger than a pea. Take these balls one three times a day (the weight of the ball - no more than two grams).
With mistletoe make lotions, compresses.It helps to fight warts, lipomas, treats boils, gout. To make a medicine, take a spoonful of raw materials and brew a glass of boiling water. The composition is infused under the lid an hour, then filtered. They wetted gauze, folded in several layers. It is applied to a large place for 20-60 minutes twice a day.
Douching with mistletoe infusion
With cervical erosion, discharge is necessarytake three spoons of raw materials and pour them with a liter of water. The composition is cooked over low heat for fifteen minutes, then infused for half an hour. It is added half a liter of warm boiled water. This remedy is doused 1-2 times a day.
Mistletoe baths
When female pathologies, hemorrhoids are recommended.mistletoe bath This tool helps with heavy menstruation, uterine fibroids, early menopause. For the preparation of the bath, the mistletoe is first made For it will take three tablespoons of raw materials to pour a liter of water and simmer for five minutes. Then the composition will give infusion twenty minutes, drain. The broth is poured into the basin with warm water. A sitz bath is taken for fifteen minutes.
White mistletoe is not for nothing called a witch plant,after all, in case of overdose and incorrect intake, it can cause severe poisoning. Therefore, it can not be used uncontrollably, but only on the recommendation and under the supervision of a doctor. Otherwise, recovery can not wait.
