Marsh wild rosemary
Content:
In this article, we will take a closer look at what a plant called marsh rosemary (ledum palustre) is. The reader will be able to find out in more detail what medicinal properties this plant has, as well as what contraindications and warnings exist in the use of wild rosemary as a medicine. We will note such moments as the subtleties of production and procurement of raw materials, as well as the preparation of some medicines, where the main ingredient is the wild rosemary plant. We will also dwell in more detail on how to correctly apply this tool.
Marsh wild rosemary: a description of what it looks like and where it grows
Wild rosemary marsh plant: photo ledum palustre
Common wild rosemary (in other words - marsh wild rosemary) is an evergreen plant that grows in the form of a shrub. Belongs to the Heather family, it is very common today in our country. The rosemary also has several other names - fragrant bagun, bogweed, forest rosemary, wild rosemary. Marsh wild rosemary received all these names precisely due to its external characteristics, as well as due to some internal properties, including because of its aroma and appearance.
In general, the medicinal marsh rosemary is a very spreading plant, the height of which can be from half a meter to 80 centimeters, sometimes a little higher. As for the root system, it is quite developed, it can grow to a depth of forty centimeters. Ledum's stems are recumbent, over time they also grow into the soil and take root in it, while a fairly large number of vertical shoots of wild rosemary are formed on them, some of which can be removed, since the wild rosemary also sometimes needs sanitary or formative pruning, or at least in pinching some shoots of marsh rosemary. The bark of the youngest shoots is slightly pubescent, has a rusty or brown color. The old branches, on the contrary, are bare, have a grayish or brown tint, and it is from external signs that one can immediately understand how old the plant is as a whole.
Leaves of marsh rosemary are quite typical - they are narrow, oblong, more reminiscent of a ruler in shape. The tip can be either obtuse or slightly pointed, much depends on what kind of rosemary belongs to. The upper part of the leaf of marsh rosemary is much richer and darker than the lower one, it is leathery, and can sometimes wrinkle slightly. The inflorescences are collected in umbrella-shaped tassels, are located at the very tips of the branches, they generally look quite decorative, although in general the purpose of this plant is far from decorative or decorative. Each tassel can contain up to about twenty snow-white or slightly reddish flowers. From them comes a persistent and pronounced aroma, which many compare with intoxicating. The calyx of the marsh rosemary flower itself consists of five rounded teeth; in general, it also looks quite interesting and attractive.
The flowering of medicinal marsh wild rosemary begins at the very beginning of May, and ends around July, but even at this time the gardener manages to enjoy both the rather attractive appearance of the plant and its incredibly charming and persistent aroma.Although there are those gardeners who just say that they absolutely do not like the scent of wild rosemary, but they like its appearance. The seeds of wild rosemary are very small, have a pale, slightly yellowish color, while they are flat, but it is not difficult to collect them at all. The fruiting period of the medicinal marsh rosemary begins in July and ends in August, just after the flowering of the marsh rosemary has ended and the plant is ready to produce a certain amount of seeds.
Marsh rosemary: plant photo
Marsh rosemary: medicinal properties
Basically, marsh rosemary grows well in marshy areas, as well as on peatlands and the tundra zone, as it feels best there. It is also worth noting the fact that wild rosemary belongs to mycotropic plants, which means that the plant develops due to the mycotic contact that occurs in the plant with fungi. You can also propagate medicinal marsh wild rosemary with the help of seeds or due to the fact that shoots can be separated from the plant, especially if its mother part has already been sufficiently developed. In order to use wild rosemary for medicinal purposes, you should pre-harvest young shoots of wild rosemary, as well as use wild rosemary flowers. The entire terrestrial part of the plant also differs in that it is quite rich in various components and essential oils of marsh rosemary, which can also increase in quantity as the shoots of marsh rosemary reach their peak of growth and activity. The older the wild rosemary becomes, the less essential oils it contains, and from this it also becomes less useful. So one should not miss the moment when the plant is gaining a large amount of strength and energy and concentrates in itself all the most useful and necessary substances for human life.
The essential oil of marsh rosemary, which is found in the terrestrial part of the plant, consists of almost 65-70% of the so-called sesquiterpene alcohols. These are substances such as ice and cymola, as well as many others, thanks to which the rosemary stands out for its bitter taste and incredibly attractive balsamic aroma. Also, the plant contains substances such as flavonoids, arbutin, which also have an excellent effect on the general condition of a person, increase his immunity and have an antiseptic targeted effect, therefore, ledum in general seems to many to be an absolutely irreplaceable remedy in solving many health problems.
Of course, it makes sense to list all the variety of pharmacological actions that wild rosemary possesses, all its medicinal properties, because of which the plant is especially appreciated by modern man:
- antibacterial effect on the skin and on the body as a whole
- mucolytic, expectorant effect for respiratory tract diseases, acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections, flu and colds
- vasodilating effect, thus rosemary is simply irreplaceable for people who have diseases of the cardiovascular system
- antiviral effect, and if you use the tinctures on wild rosemary as a prophylaxis in time, then the risks of catching any infections are generally reduced, the immunity becomes very high.
It is also worth noting that wild rosemary is a hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and diaphoretic, which is great for both adults and children. It is not addictive, as well as allergic reactions, due to which it becomes completely safe for a person of any age, showing various reactions to certain natural drugs.Ledum is excellent for diseases of the lungs and upper respiratory tract, copes with pain during varicose veins and varicose veins, can easily prevent or fight viral infections, and also generally has an excellent effect on the intestinal microflora, restoring it, making it more balanced, so a person can forget about any manifestations and diseases in this area for a long time. In general, wild rosemary also fights skin infections and diseases that can be caused by a bacillus such as Staphylococcus aureus. The most important thing is that there are practically no side effects from this plant, although a little below we will dwell in more detail on possible contraindications, since nevertheless any natural substances and plants should be used in accordance with the norms, not to abuse them and not expose our own health and life to any -or dangers.
Marsh wild rosemary: how to collect and where it grows?
Of course, the question immediately arises of how best to properly collect the wild rosemary plant, in order to use it in the future. So, young and leafy shoots of marsh wild rosemary are harvested from early May to mid-July, while flowers are not removed from them. With the help of a secateurs or a knife, you should carefully cut off no more than ten centimeters from the total shoot, which will become our future workpiece. Shoots should also be carefully sorted out, tied in small bunches and dried. Experienced gardeners say that drying can be done by hanging bundles on a rope in a warm, dry, moisture-free room. In this case, the room must be ventilated, otherwise rotting processes will begin in the bundles due to high humidity, and the workpieces will simply be spoiled. You can also simply send the twigs to a specialized automatic dryer, where the temperature should not be higher or lower than forty degrees, but this method is suitable only for those who have such a specialized dryer in stock. Others will have to spend some time in order to implement their plans and get high-quality blanks.
What does marsh rosemary look like: photo of a plant
When the raw material is harvested, it can be shredded or left directly in bundles. Then the rosemary can be stored separately from food, as well as from medicinal raw materials. In this case, it is also best to tightly close the container in which the wild rosemary is stored so that it does not lose its taste and aroma properties. In general, when a gardener deals with wild rosemary and its preparations, it is recommended to use gloves, and also not to inhale the rosemary aromas too deeply, since in this form it may not always be useful, and may even lead to the development of an allergic reaction.
The grass Ledum Marsh, as a rule, is used either in folk medicine or in medicine at the official level. In addition, wild rosemary is excellently used in homeopathy, as it has a large number of nutrients and components that are incredibly useful for human life and health. Also, the medicinal marsh rosemary can be used for the following purposes - to make up a variety of perfume compositions. Fight insects and pests that are deterred by the scent of wild rosemary and its essential oils can be completely poisonous for some pests; dressing of leather and its subsequent tanning, processing; landscape design, creation of unique flower and garden compositions, planting wild rosemary in single and group plantings, drawing up flower beds; sometimes wild rosemary can also be used to collect honey.In general, of course, do not forget that wild rosemary is a plant belonging to the class of poisonous, therefore it can be used for medicinal and other purposes, but this should be done with extreme caution and be sure to be under the supervision of a doctor. It must be remembered: any attempts at self-medication can lead to completely opposite consequences and can also be very dangerous to human life and health. So do not experiment and risk your health using a variety of herbs, even if they initially have a medicinal effect.
Of course, like any plant, the wild rosemary herb also has some contraindications. We will devote the next part of this article to them.
Contraindications to the use of wild rosemary
If suddenly a person has an overdose of a remedy based on wild rosemary, then some side effects may develop and appear. This is an allergic reaction, and increased irritability of a person in a stressful situation or everyday life, and difficulty in breathing, paralysis of the heart muscle, and dizziness. If one of these signs appears, then you should immediately stop using this substance and consult a doctor.
Ledum is a whole genus of plants, which also includes several species. Each species differs not only in name, but also in some characteristics and properties. So, the most common types of wild rosemary are such as marsh, Columbian, prostrate, glandular, large-leaved and the largest marsh ledum. All of them have approximately the same purpose, while they may differ in zoning and in the time during which these ledums grow and develop in the territories.
Marsh rosemary: photo
Planting of Ledum marsh is usually carried out in the spring, right in early spring. But if suddenly the gardener decided to plant the wild rosemary in a pot, then he can do this at any time convenient for him. In order for the plant to germinate correctly and develop correctly in the future, it is necessary to make a hole about forty centimeters deep in a previously prepared soil composition, no more. If the planting is not single, but group, then it is also worth leaving a distance of about 50 centimeters between future shrubs. Ledum is dried either indoors (in basements or in attics), or in drying machines. After drying, you need to try to break the plant in your hand - if this worked out, it means that it was properly dried and ready to further prepare infusions from wild rosemary, solutions, tea from wild rosemary. When the marsh rosemary plant is drying, it is better not to be near it, as due to evaporation, nausea or dizziness may appear, which, of course, will negatively affect the general condition of a person.
Thus, wild rosemary is an excellent medicinal plant that is perfect for restoring the human body and fighting a wide variety of infections and diseases. You can grow wild rosemary on your own personal plot, while the agricultural technology itself is completely simple, and any gardener, even a beginner, will cope with this process. In drying and preparing materials, it is also worth observing some conditions and, of course, any recipes can be found on the open spaces of forums, the Internet and social networks. Ledum is widespread throughout the territory of our country, since it is completely unpretentious in care, and does not require any special attention to itself. Therefore, in general, it takes root in any area, even where climatic conditions are unstable and may not be quite suitable for the growth of some other crops. In addition, wild rosemary is quietly grown on its own windowsill, and then there is absolutely no difference what the weather conditions will be on the street. The desire of the gardener, the observance of agricultural technology - and we get an excellent plant that has not only medicinal properties, but can also be used as a planting for decorative decoration of a personal plot, flower bed or garden. Ledum gets along well with many other plants and flowers, and therefore, in general, it is not whimsical and unpretentious, and does not cause any harm to neighboring plantings.
