Medicinal plant mother-and-stepmother

Where did the mother-and-stepmother get its name? This plant belongs to one of the oldest healers. Another Hippocrates (Greek physician) used it for vapors in the form of poultices. A Dioscorides (doctor of ancient Rome) appointed him sick as a decoction in the disease of the upper respiratory tract and advised when coughing to inhale the smoke from his leaves. And it is the leaves of the mother-and-stepmother that are related to her name. The fact is that the top plate of the leaf is almost naked, which means that it is cold, like the stepmother's eyes. And at the bottom of the sheet - whitish-felt, warm, like the hands of his own mother.

Mother-and-stepmother ordinary refers to herbaceous perennials. It has a long creeping rhizome, due to which the plant reproduces 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 sun rays: not yet everywhere has melted snow, and already here and there the mother-and-stepmother is seen. Her 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 expected, they will necessarily close.

Mother-and-stepmother ordinary refers to those plants that bloom even before the appearance of the first leaves. And there are very few of them. After flowering, on her long petioles, the basal leaves develop, which have an angular, round-serrate shape and are initially covered with soft white hairs. But by the end of May they are fully developed and become on top "stepmother", and from below - "mother".

Mother-and-stepmother in its leaves contains polysaccharides, carotene, glycosides, ascorbic, tartaric, malic and gallic acids. And its inflorescences are rich in essential oils, steroid compounds, coloring and tannins. The plant has an anti-inflammatory, softening, expectorant and disinfectant effect. It is successfully used in the treatment of angina, asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia and many other diseases. To treat small ulcerative lesions and boils apply lotions, compresses and moist dressings from the infusions and decoctions of the leaves of the plant. If hair falls out or there is a seborrhea, then the broth from mother-and-stepmother and nettle will perfectly cope with them.

In addition to medicinal use, this plant is used as food raw material. Its leaves are cut into strips and added to salads or served together with traditional side dishes. And if you add honey to the infusion of leaves, you will get a wonderful tonic and healthy drink. Also, the crushed leaves of the plant are mixed with jam or jam.

If you want to prepare for yourself the leaves of mother-and-stepmother, then you need to do this in early summer, when they are not so big. The leaf is cut off with a piece of petiole. Very young leaves and beginners can not be yellowed. Dry them in the lofts, spread out in a single layer on the plywood. In the first days it is desirable to turn each leaf to make them evenly dry. Also for this you can use a dryer, a good result is obtained at a temperature of 50-60 ºC. Ready raw materials should be better stored in tissue bags.