Mane Karagana: medicinal properties and contraindications

For the deciduous shrub, caragana shafts, people came up with a few more names, they call it a manor, a camel's tail, or just a mane. And all these words were inspired by the shape of the branches of this plant, which botanists belong to the legume family. The appearance of the karagan is quite outstanding, but it has a lot of useful qualities.

Chemical composition

Each part of mane's caragana contains a whole set of substances useful to humans.

1. So, in the branches and leaves there are tannins, or tannins, which have a beneficial effect on digestion: they help the body solve all intestinal problems, remove various toxic deposits and better absorb beneficial substances.
2. The roots of the plant are rich in saponins. These complex compounds related to glycosides have an expectorant effect, acting excitingly on the respiratory system, accelerating the formation of mucus, which contributes to the speedy cleaning of the bronchi and getting rid of the infection. In addition, saponins have diuretic and laxative effects, stimulate the synthesis of hormones and help cleanse the blood of cholesterol, which forms plaques on the vascular walls.
3. The aerial part of the plant contains a number of useful substances, and the first flavonoids in this series are quercetin, myricetin and isoramnetin, which are distinguished by the ability to activate the activity of enzymes involved in digestion. In addition, they are excellent antioxidants and anticarcinogens. They help nourish tissues and organs with oxygen, strengthen blood vessels and relieve swelling, have immunomodulating, vasodilating and vasodilating effects.

Such overdriven caragana components, such as alkaloids, in case of overdose are dangerous with a negative impact on the mental state, but at the same time, at acceptable doses, they perfectly perform the function of protecting the human body from harmful bacteria that cause diseases. They participate in the development of the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. These substances are effective in the treatment of malignant tumors.

The coumarins plants present in the branches and leaves have a whole list of beneficial effects, in particular they kill the pathogenic flora - microbes, fungi, bacteria and viruses, therefore they can be used both for the treatment of bacterial pathologies and viral diseases. Coumarins are characterized by the ability to dilate blood vessels, soothe pain, remove toxins and toxins, and soothe deranged nerves. In addition, coumarins are considered a good tool for solving cancer problems, since they inhibit the development and division of cancer cells.

Another ingredient in caragana is organic acids. These are recognized antioxidants. In addition, they actively improve intestinal function, slowing down the development of the decaying bacterium, reducing fermentation in the thick sections of the digestive tract, stimulating its peristalsis, thereby normalizing stool, and also “boost” the formation of gastric juice.

Sugars are also part of the plant, they give the body energy.

The next important component of a medicinal plant is sterols.Their shortage in the human body very quickly makes itself felt by a weakened immune system, a significant deterioration in the condition of teeth, nails and hair. With a lack of sterols, a person feels exhausted, the nervous system is exhausted, which is manifested by sudden mood swings or complete apathy, the first signs of early, premature aging appear. Lack of sterols can also cause atherosclerosis.

Of the vitamins in caragana, carotene and ascorbic acid should be noted.

How it looks and where it grows

At first glance, it seems that growing upward, slightly curved, like sabers, and not branching trunks are densely strewn with leaves. When examined in more detail on dark gray branches-trunks, in addition to young leaves, one can see often located, already dead petioles from the leaves that have remained from last year. They are sharp, like thorns, sometimes reach a length of 7 cm.

Leaves from the “underside”, that is, from the underside, pubescent and whitish, from the front side - a dense green color. Small leaves arranged in pairs of 4-6 pieces are collected in larger leaves.

Single flowers of the plant are surrounded by stipules, which, like the leaves, are covered with white hairs. The flowers themselves have bell-shaped tubular cups, they are usually pink, yellowish and white, not too large in size - about 3 cm. The plant blooms in June-early July, then the fruit ripens - a hairy bean up to 4 cm long, 5 to 7 wide mm, with a hard and sharp tip. Round seeds are located inside, their ripening occurs in August, by which time they acquire a brownish-brown color.

In natural conditions on the territory of the Russian Federation, the plant can be found in Buryatia, Eastern Siberia - in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Transbaikalia, in Altai, in the Sayans, in Yakutia, in the Republic of Tyva and in the Far East. It grows in the territories adjacent to Russia - in the countries of Central Asia, in Tibet, in Mongolia, China, Bhutan, Nepal and India, as well as in a number of North American states.

The height of the caraganan grows from 30 to 100 cm. It prefers sunny places and does not tolerate shade, grows on dry and rocky, sandy or clay soils. Usually it is located on the slopes of hills, mountains, in high mountain steppes, coniferous forests, in bushes, in pebbles near rivers. The plant is distinguished by its extraordinary endurance and thirst for life; it is reborn after a drought.

Mane Karagana is classified as a rare and endangered plant, so it is listed in the Red Books of a number of regions, in particular the Irkutsk Region and Buryatia.

Views

According to various sources, there are from 70 to 80 species in the genus Caragana. Mane Karagana is considered one of the tallest, it usually grows to 1 m. And this is the only one of all species used for medicinal purposes. Some traditional healers even specially grow it in their personal plots to use for medicinal purposes.

But much larger than its caravan tree-like. This species can be a deciduous shrub, and a tree, reaching a height of 4 to 7 m. In the XIX century it was called pea pea, pea acacia, Siberian acacia. Its habitat is the forest territories of Altai, Sayan, the Southern Urals, the Caucasus, including the regions of Georgia. It is easy to meet her in the territory of Central and Eastern Kazakhstan. Unlike the maned, the tree-like caragana is quite tolerant of light shade, therefore, it grows on the edges of forests, in parks and undergrowths.

This type of caragana is more decorative due to rather large yellow flowers; during flowering, because of them, leaves are literally not visible, therefore the plant looks completely yellow. During this period, all bees flock to the shrubbery from the nearest okrug, this plant is valued by beekeepers and beekeepers for their melliferous qualities. And because of its decorativeness, it has taken root in gardens and parks, gardeners have learned to cut it well, and beautiful thick hedges are made from it. Moreover, such hedges can even strengthen the slopes with their roots.

There is another area of ​​application of this variety of caragana: thanks to strong and flexible wood, its branches are used to weave baskets and various crafts, and brooms and brooms are made of it.

Karagana is Scythian. This type of plant is low - no more than 40 cm. It is less prickly than its relatives, and much more branched, and its branches are thin and flexible. Scythian caragana is growing in the south of Eastern Europe - in Moldova, the Black Sea regions and the Lower Don. As a soil, she usually chooses stony calcareous rocks, but is also found on chernozems, soils with a high amount of salts. It tolerates drought, but is very susceptible to insect pests, so it is not widespread.

Shrub Karagana grows spherical shrub, reaches 2 m in height. Its bark is very peculiar in appearance: it is yellowish-gray or greenish-gray in color and is completely covered with thin light, almost white stripes. It is quite common throughout the European territory of Russia, as well as in Siberia, the Far East, the countries of Central Asia and in some states of America. Usually it occupies large areas on which it grows solidly, preferring forest and forest-steppe zones and mountainous terrain.

Ussuri karagana is also a bush plant, but more compact than a shrubby species. It does not rise above 1 m. The process of its flowering is very interesting: at first, yellow inflorescences acquire almost a red color. In natural conditions it is found in one place - on the territory of Russia, in Primorye.

Dwarf Caragana. Its name speaks for itself: this bush with thin delicate branches can not be higher than 1 m. It blooms for a long time, almost four months - from May to the end of August. Another of its features is a shiny, smooth golden bark and leaves, which have a lighter shade than that of related plants. Its homeland is the Altai Territory, here this shrub occupies mountainous gravelly slopes along mountain streams.

Prickly Karagana. This bush is of medium height, about 1.5 m. Its branching shoots are often dotted with thorns up to 5 cm long. It grows on stony soils, sands, salt marshes, found in the mountainous regions of the Altai Territory, in the Sayan Mountains, in the southern territories of Buryatia, and settles on stony slopes or gravel.

Karagana is orange. A low plant, not more than 1 m in height. It differs in that during the blooming of leaves they have a yellow-green color, and then acquire a natural green tone. The flowers of this type of caragana are yellow with an orange tint, hence the name. It forms dense thickets on the river pebble banks of the north-west of China and in the Tien Shan mountains. Gardeners and landscape designers use orange caragana for decorative purposes.

Turkestan Karagana varies in height from a meter to 2 m. Outwardly, it is very similar to mane, except for the color of the bark: green shades are clearly visible in Turkestan. Wood masters use hard, dense, heavy wood of this type of plant for inlays, and also make turning products from it. The Turkestan caragan grows high in the gorges: in the Pamirs and Altai, in the west of the Tien Shan, in the northern and western regions of China.

Karagana tree-like weeping (pendula). This is a view obtained by gardeners by grafting a shrub with flexible graceful branches onto a stump. It is unusually beautiful both in May, when it is yellow from flowers, and in winter, when its branches are covered with a hat of snow. A weeping caragana is capable of withstanding shading and is not whimsical with respect to the composition of the soil.

The tree-like Karabana Lorberg is another species obtained through the work of gardeners. It is considered a shrub, but most often cultivated on a stem, grows up to 3 m. Its crown is very similar to a bowl, on the edges of which flexible branches hang. The leaves of Lorberg’s caragana are long and thin, like larch needles. In general, the crown looks light and airy, there is practically no shadow from it. For its general appearance, this plant is sometimes called the northern palm.

Collection and storage

As a medicinal raw material, all parts of mane's caragana are used - both aboveground and root. Plants are harvested at any time of the year, even in the winter months. But the most valuable is the raw materials collected in the spring, in those two weeks when the caragana blooms, and in the fall, when it has accumulated additional useful substances.

The root is taken, slightly digging on one side of the plant, cutting off a small piece and digging the hole back. The harvesting of the root should be treated with special care, because it depends on it whether this species listed in the Red Book will continue to grow or die. On the spine you can see small white balls-growths. This is normal; nitrogen accumulates in them. Such a root is absolutely healthy and quite worthy of becoming a medicine. It is shaken off the ground, washed thoroughly under running water and laid out in a thin layer in the shade of a draft on the grates, so that the raw materials are blown and dried from all sides simultaneously.

Regarding how to collect twigs with leaves, there are two opinions. Some herbalists say that it is not necessary to use metal tools, others are carefully cut with a pruner or knife, stepping back from the ground so as not to harm the root. Then the cut raw materials are tied into small bundles, which are hung on ropes in a room where it is warm, dry and a good breeze walks.

Having assembled the plant with your own hands, you can be sure that this one, the correct caragana is maned, and not yellow acacia, which unscrupulous sellers sometimes offer in the markets.

The medicinal plant retains its healing properties for a year - provided that it is stored in a dry place in a cotton bag.

The healing properties of mane's caragana

Official medicine does not apply mane-caragana, and it is not listed in the Russian Pharmacopoeia due to insufficient study, as well as the lack of data on clinical trials. But it has long been used by traditional Tibetan medicine, as well as traditional healers. For a wide range of medicinal properties and a strong healing effect, the Mongols called this plant a gold carrageen.

1. In Tibet, from ancient times, a healing plant was used as an antipyretic, and they also liquefied blood. For herbalists of Buryatia and the Irkutsk region, caragana is indispensable for the treatment of inflammatory processes of various origins, the simplest of which are inflammation of the oral cavity, gums and throat, skin and mucous genital organs. It is used externally for fistulas, severe bruises, and skin diseases are treated in this way - such as eczema, pustular rashes, acne, as well as neurodermatitis and dermatoses. Karagana will not only eliminate these problems, but will also prevent scars and scars from forming in the wound site.
2. Influenza, acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis and tonsillitis - all these diseases that people who are far from medicine are used to associate with colds, are also treated with caragana.
3. The anti-inflammatory and wound-healing abilities of the culture in the treatment of gynecological diseases proved to be excellent. With the help of a healing plant, erosion of the cervix and benign formations in the uterus, adnexitis and endometriosis, menorrhagia are cured, it is prescribed to get rid of whitewash, restore the regularity of menstruation and solve other delicate female problems. In particular, traditional healers prescribe medicinal products prepared from this plant to women for an early pregnancy, as they not only help get rid of sluggish inflammatory processes that cause infertility, but also establish hormonal balance in the female body.
4. In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties of caragana, the mane has an antitumor and analgesic effect, as well as a radioprotective effect - that is, the ability to protect the body from side effects of treating cancer problems. The plant is especially effective for tumors of the organs of the reproductive, digestive and respiratory systems. Therefore, compositions based on caragana mane are recommended as additional to the main treatment with pharmaceutical preparations prescribed by an oncologist.Experienced oncologists, as a rule, welcome the use of infusions from this medicinal shrub during intensive cancer treatment, when they undergo radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
5. The root of the plant is recommended for arranging the work of the blood supply system - it can be used to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow.
6. The healing plant is recommended for diseases of the digestive tract associated with disorders of the mucous membranes and inflammation, such as stomach ulcers or duodenal ulcers. In some cases, the treatment is so successful that it is possible to stop the development of the disease in the initial stages only by means of mane-caragana, without pharmaceutical pharmaceutical preparations.
7. Karagana is prescribed to relieve fatigue, raise morale and restore performance. And thanks to the sedative effect, the plant is useful for people of intellectual labor and athletes experiencing high mental and physical stress. It enhances immunity and improves the body's ability to withstand diseases, which is especially valuable in the spring and autumn periods of colds and viral diseases, and can soothe toothache.
8. Experiments conducted by animal scientists have also revealed hepatoprotective abilities of caragana. Therefore, it is considered promising to continue the study of medicinal plants as a method of curing hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Mane Karagana in folk medicine

With a number of problems - for example, such as wounds and abrasions - the formations of mane-caragana are used only externally, with a stomach ulcer - only inside. And for some diseases, herbalists recommend a combination of internal and external use of preparations prepared on the basis of caragana.

From sciatica

Put in a glass of water 2 large spoons of finely broken branches of caraganes, send to the stove and simmer for 4-5 minutes over low heat, then leave for one hour. Filter and drink before eating a quarter cup 3 times a day. In addition to sciatica, the infusion helps to calm the nerves, establish a normal sleep, reduce pressure with hypertension.

For colds

Grind 10 g of roots of hurricanes, pour them into a glass of water and put on fire. Boil over low heat for 5-6 minutes, insist hour and filter. It is recommended to drink for colds, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, influenza according to the scheme: 3 times a day, regardless of the meal regimen - a couple of tablespoons. Continue treatment for at least a week.

With sepsis

The recipe is very similar to the previous one, but instead of the root you need to take branches of caragana. Pour 10-12 g of raw material into 200 ml of water, bring to a boil and boil for 7 minutes, then insist an hour, strain and drink three times a day before meals - 2 tablespoons. It helps with sepsis as an anti-inflammatory agent, it is used as an adjunct to the main drug treatment.

From stomatitis

You need 2 large tablespoons of chopped root medicinal plant pour 300 ml of boiling water. Under a tightly closed lid, insist for two hours, wrapped in a warm towel. Strain and use to rinse the mouth with stomatitis, gingivitis. You can use this composition to treat laryngitis, pharyngitis and tonsillitis. To gargle, you need to heat the infusion to a warm state, rinse the procedure every half hour for at least three days.

As a local remedy, it is used for inflammatory problems in the genitals, as well as to eliminate skin problems.

From running hemorrhoids

Prepare a broth of caragana mane: pour in a ladle on the fire with 250 ml of boiling water 1 tablespoon of finely chopped twigs. Boil for 10 minutes, insist for one and a half hours, wrapping the ladle with a scarf for warmth.Strain and divide the resulting liquid into 3 servings, which to drink, distributing evenly for the whole day. At the same time, you can make lotions from such a decoction: moisten a soft cotton rag in healing liquid and apply for 15-20 minutes to the sore spot.

To strengthen the heart muscle

Cut the branches of plants or break them very finely. Take 2 tablespoons with the top of this raw material, add to a mug with 250 ml of water and bring to a boil over low heat. When it boils, boil for 5 minutes. Remove the mug from the heat, wrap in a warm towel and insist for an hour. Filter and take orally once a day, 50-60 ml, preferably at night. You need to drink the drug and go to bed immediately, so that after taking the drug there is nothing to eat for 8 hours. This tool will help not only to strengthen the heart muscle, but also to reduce pressure during hypertension and establish sleep disturbed by stress. The duration of treatment is selected individually for each patient as necessary.

To treat skin problems

It is necessary to prepare alcohol tincture of caragana, for which add 100 ml of good 40 ° vodka to crushed raw materials (10 g). Insist in a warm and dark room in a closed opaque ceramic or glass bowl for 8 to 10 days, stirring the contents 2-3 times a day. To lubricate acne, ulcers or skin affected by dermatitis, dilute the tincture with water in a ratio of 1:10. The same diluted remedy will help with angina, stomatitis, gingivitis or periodontal disease, you need to rinse your throat or mouth after each meal and again at night.

With infertility

If the cause of infertility is a sluggish inflammatory process, you need 2 large tablespoons of dried and finely cut root of manganese caragana pour 300 ml of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Then strain the infusion and use for douching. It is better to be treated on weekends or during vacations, while at home, since you need to repeat the procedure 4-5 times a day. The course of treatment is 10 days.

Antipyretic

Infusion caraganes can be used for colds if the temperature rises. It should be prepared like ordinary tea: rinse the teapot with boiling water, pour 2 tablespoons of the medicinal raw material into it (you can use both roots and branches). As it is infused for 20-30 minutes, you can pour and drink with honey.

If the temperature is very high, when brewing, you can add lingonberry berries (pieces 10-15) or goat bark to the teapot. Elevated temperatures will drop quickly.

Types of healing compounds

Infusion

1. With a stomach ulcer. The healing effect will have an infusion prepared from 10 g of dry chopped branches of caragana and 200 ml of boiling water. Pour the medicinal plant, insist for half an hour in a water bath, then strain immediately. Take 1 tablespoon after eating (3-4 times a day).
2. From heartburn. Grind 2 tablespoons of dried leaves. Pour them with 250 ml of boiled water and leave for 2 hours under a tightly closed lid to insist. Then carefully filter and drink 2 tablespoons 2 to 3 times a day.

Tincture

From hemorrhoids. For 100 ml of alcohol with a strength of 70%, you need to take 10 g of dry finely broken branches of caragana. Pour the healing plant with alcohol and insist in a dark glass dish for 10 days. Drink 30 drops a quarter hour before meals, diluting them with a small amount of water.

You can use tincture to rinse the oral cavity, lubricate the skin with it if it is affected by acne, ulcers, dermatitis. To do this, the product must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15.

Decoction

With hypovitaminosis. To prepare the broth, you need dried bark and plant roots. Pour 10 g of finely chopped raw materials with a glass of freshly boiled water and put on fire. Boil the composition for 8-10 minutes, leave to insist for 3 hours. Strain. Before taking the product, it must be heated to be warm. The treatment regimen is half a glass 2 times a day, regardless of food intake.Drink liquid in small sips.

Contraindications

There are no special contraindications for taking caravans mane. It may not be suitable for some patients due to an allergy, although such cases are extremely rare, or individual intolerance to the substances that are components of the plant.

Due to the fact that the formulations based on a medicinal plant reduce pressure, with the internal use of decoctions, infusions and tinctures, careful attention should be given to patients with hypotension.

It is recommended that you wait for pregnant women and nursing mothers to take caragana - in order to avoid the appearance of allergic manifestations in babies.

In any case, before starting treatment, you should consult your doctor.

Photo of Caragan