What is rhododendron and its healing properties? Caucasian species of rhododendron: use in medicine, medicinal and preventive properties

Rhododendrons are plants from the heather family.

Golden rhododendron is an evergreen shrub reaching one meter in height. Its trunk spreads along the ground and is mostly curved. The bark of this plant has a dark brown color, the branches are covered with glandular-fluffy scales. The leaves of golden rhododendron are placed on short petioles. They are alternate, completely outermost, dark green above, lighter below. The leaf shape is obovate or elliptical. Inflorescences of this plant consist of several flowers and resemble umbrellas located at the ends of the branches. The fruits of golden rhododendron are cylindrical boxes with opening flaps, inside of which there are seeds.

The rhododendron variety in question grows in Altai, the North Caucasus, the Far East, Sakhalin, the Sayan Mountains, and the Northern Kuril Islands. It is found mainly in mountainous areas located at an altitude of 1.5 to 3 thousand meters above sea level.

Caucasian rhododendron is a shrub whose height is 60-120 cm. The bark of this plant is dark brown, the branches are inclined and creeping. The leaves have an elliptical shape and a short petiole. They are dense to the touch, leathery, thick, dark green on top, gray-green below. Flowers Caucasian rhododendron with a diameter of 2-5 centimeters, five to ten pieces are collected in umbrella inflorescences. Their color can vary from white to pink or yellowish-cream, with reddish specks in the center. The fruits of this plant have the form of five-celled boxes in which small seeds are located.

Caucasian rhododendron grows mainly in sunny areas, in the foothills, mountains in Southeast Asia, the Caucasus, Siberia, and the Far East.

The Qinghai rhododendron is small sizes an evergreen shrub containing many branches.

The Daurian (Siberian) variety of rhododendron is a deciduous shrub with branches sticking up. It can reach two meters in height. Its distribution area is the territory of Eastern Siberia, the territory of Transbaikalia, the south of the Far East, as well as certain areas of Northern Mongolia, Korea, and Northeast China.

Preparation and storage

IN medicinal purposes apply various varieties plants, in particular Daurian, golden, Caucasian, Indian, as well as Metternich rhododendron. As a rule, traditional healers use the leaves of this plant when preparing medicines. They are collected from two- and three-year-old rhododendrons during the flowering period. The raw materials are dried under sheds, in warm rooms, ovens, special dryers (at a temperature of 50-60 degrees) or simply in the open air, excluding direct sunlight. In this case, the leaves are laid out in a thin layer and mixed periodically.

Household applications

Today, rhododendrons are actively used in ornamental gardening, in the production of furniture, carpentry, turning products, as well as in the perfume and leather industries.

Medicinal properties

1. Preparations prepared from rhododendrons have an analgesic, bactericidal, antipyretic, diaphoretic, and calming effect.
2. The plants in question have a positive effect on the heart. They remove excess fluid from the body, relieving shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, edema, increase cardiac activity, lower the level of arterial (Daurian rhododendron) and venous pressure ( golden variety plants).
3. The leaves are used to treat rheumatism, chronic colitis, colds, vegetative neurosis, and epilepsy. They help relieve bronchitis, cough with phlegm, have a calming effect on the lungs, and alleviate asthma.
4. Tea brewed from flowers reduces sore throat and headaches.
5. The plants in question act as bactericidal agents. They are effective against pathogenic microorganisms of the gastrointestinal tract, streptococci, staphylococci.
6. Therapeutic baths based on Dahurian rhododendron are indicated for nervous disorders, neuralgic pain, radiculitis, and salt deposits.
7. An infusion of flowers is recommended to be taken as a sedative and hypnotic. It should also be used for cardiovascular diseases, in particular myocarditis, pain in the heart area, and colds.
8. A decoction of the flowers of these plants is drunk for gastrointestinal diseases, including enteritis, gastroenteritis, gastritis, and as a diuretic for kidney stones.
9. Tincture of rhododendron leaves and flowers should be rubbed into damaged areas for sciatica, neuralgia, polyarthritis, and osteochondrosis.
10. In homeopathy tincture fresh leaves prescribed for mercury vapor poisoning, for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, headache, diarrhea, runny nose, as well as for people suffering from difficulty urinating, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.

Use in folk medicine

Here are the recipes medicines based various types rhododendron.

An infusion of Caucasian rhododendron leaves, used for sleep disturbances, increased irritability, headaches, cramps, premenstrual syndrome

Pour boiling water (200 ml) over dry leaves of the plant (2 g), leave for ten to fifteen minutes. After the product has been filtered, consume it three times a day, one tablespoon at a time.

Tincture of Caucasian rhododendron, recommended for use for shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, venous stagnation, edema, hypertension

Pour crushed leaves and flowers of the plant (20 grams) with vodka (200 ml), keep in a dark place for 14 days, strain. You need to drink the composition twice - three times a day, 20-25 drops, diluting with a small amount of drinking water.

An infusion of Dahurian rhododendron leaves, taken for poisoning, inflammation of the mucous membranes, headaches

Pour boiling water (250 ml) over the crushed dry leaves of the plant (1 tsp), let the product cool. Take it three to four times a day, one teaspoon. The resulting composition allows you to get rid of excess fluid in the body, reduces shortness of breath, and normalizes heart rate.

An infusion of Rhododendron Adams leaves used as a sedative.

Dry plant (1 tsp) pour boiling water (1 l), leave for 30 minutes. You should drink the infusion one third of a glass before meals three times a day.

Rhododendron Adams infusion used for headaches, colds

Pour dry crushed raw materials (2 g) into a thermos and pour boiling water (250 ml). The composition should be infused for two hours. After this, it is filtered and drunk one tablespoon twice or three times a day.

Tincture of golden rhododendron leaves, which has a bactericidal effect

Fill the container one-fifth with dry leaves of the plant in question, fill it to the top with vodka or alcohol, and let the composition brew for 14 days. Then strain the product and drink 10-15 drops, adding them to 100 ml of water.

Infusion of golden rhododendron leaves, which has an antipyretic effect

Pour boiling water (200 ml) over dry crushed leaves of the plant (1 tsp), leave for an hour. After straining, use the mixture in warm one tablespoon three times a day.

Contraindications

Preparations based on rhododendron should not be taken:

• during pregnancy,
• during breastfeeding,
• people with tissue necrosis and serious kidney diseases.

In addition to its visual appeal during flowering (live or in photos), the shrub has medicinal and preventive properties. It is customary to brew tea from rhododendron. Its range of uses is wide, but before use it is important to remember the contraindications.

Description of Caucasian rhododendron

Rhododendrons are evergreen shrubs that belong to the heather family. The distribution area of ​​the Caucasian species is the mountains of the same name. The culture grows at a level from 1.6 to 3 thousand m above sea level. Flowering occurs in last days May and lasts approximately 1 month. At this time, the mountain meadows are covered with a pleasing carpet of light colors. The shrub has the following characteristics:

• height - from 1 to 1.5 m;
• the stem spreads along the surface;
• bark - dark brown;
• leaves are oval, dense with a red felt covering on the back side;
• flowers - umbrellas of 8-10 corollas;

Rhododendron in the Caucasus mountains

• the diameter of one flower is about 3 cm;
• color - white, cream or light pink.

Attention! Another name for this type of rhododendron is Caucasian azalea.

Beneficial properties of Caucasian rhododendron

It is this type of shrub that is distinguished by its high content useful substances, which provide therapeutic effect on the human body:

• essential oils;
• tannins;
• vitamin C (in high concentration);
• organic acids;
• sugar.

Preparations based on Caucasian azalea are used for the prevention and treatment of:

Advice. Additional property preparations based on rhododendron - decrease high temperature bodies. Therefore, they are also used as an antipyretic.

A decoction of fresh leaves of Caucasian rhododendron has an antitoxic effect. Therefore, it can be used for poisoning. For example, when mercury vapor enters the body. It also successfully kills staphylococci, streptococci and other pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract.

How to brew rhododendron tea: recipe

Tea from Caucasian azalea is very aromatic. As ingredients for it, use 2 fresh or 4 dried leaves, water and a glass of milk. The recipe is simple:

• place the leaves at the bottom of a metal container;
• pour a glass of boiling water;
• put on low heat and simmer for 5 minutes;
• remove from the stove and leave to brew under a tight lid for 5-6 minutes;
• add milk room temperature and return the mixture to the fire;
• boil again.

Advice. Tea, of course, must be served hot and preferably fresh. Before using, add a little salt and hot pepper. This drink is a great tonic. First of all, it is very effective for colds, coughs, and sore throats.

Rules for harvesting rhododendron. Contraindications for use

Flowers and leaves are used in the formulation of infusions, tinctures and decoctions. It is important to collect and prepare them correctly so as not to lose them. beneficial features:

1. The bush must be at least 2 years old.
2. Plant elements are collected during the flowering period.
3. To dry leaves and flowers, spread them in a thin layer on the litter. Direct hits are undesirable sun rays, and excessive humidity and air stagnation.

A delicious and healthy tea is prepared from rhododendron leaves.

Contraindications to Caucasian rhododendron are mainly related to incorrect dosage. Do not deviate from the recipe of the infusions, otherwise you may end up with harm instead of benefit. Azaleas contain natural poisons. It is also not recommended to be treated with rhododendron:

• during pregnancy;
• nursing mothers;
• if allergic reactions occur.

Advice. For severe or chronic diseases before taking medications based on this plant, it is better to consult with your doctor. It will help establish optimal norms, dosage and course duration. Be especially careful if you have kidney problems.

Caucasian rhododendron is as useful as it is beautiful. It is widely used in folk medicine. The key to obtaining all the beneficial properties of a plant will be its correct preparation and proper preparation.

Caucasian rhododendron: video

Varied healing properties has a beautiful evergreen shrub Caucasian rhododendron. This plant is not easy to cultivate; it can be found in mountainous areas; large plantations of the crop grow in the Republic of Abkhazia and in the mountains of the Caucasus Range. In addition, the plant can be found in Chechnya, Dagestan, North Ossetia, Siberia and the Far East.

The beautiful, evergreen shrub Caucasian rhododendron has a variety of healing properties.

Rhododendron belongs to the heather family, an evergreen shrub that grows up to 100 cm in height. Its leaves are dense, oval in shape, with pointed ends. The leaves are endowed with dark green, With reverse side they have a rusty tint to them. The stem of the crop grows horizontally, its bark is brown in color. The flowers of the shrub are collected in inflorescences, which are formed in the form of an umbrella. Their color can be pure white, soft cream or pink. The flower size reaches up to 4 cm in diameter, their shape is funnel-bell-shaped. Flowering of the planting begins in June; in nature, flowering is abundant. The aroma of flowers is light and pleasant.

The fruit of the plant is formed in the form of a box, its size does not exceed 3-3.5 cm. Mountain rhododendron develops slowly, favorable places are those where moisture is retained for a long time and there is no scorching sun.

The medicinal shrub reproduces by seeds and is often used as ornamental plant, planting in flower beds. It looks beautiful in group and single plantings. How cultivated plant known since 1803. For successful development The plant needs an acidic and moist nutrient substrate. The shrub does not tolerate stagnant soils.

Procurement of raw materials for medicinal use must be collected when the bush is flowering. Valuable parts of the plant are flowers, stems, leaves, and sometimes rhododendron roots are used to prepare a healing potion.

The genus Rhododendron includes nine species of plants, one of them is the azalea shrub, which is deciduous and evergreen.

Gallery: Caucasian rhododendron (25 photos)

How to plant rhododendrons (video)

Beneficial and harmful properties of the plant

Medicinal properties Caucasian rhododendron has been known to people for a long time. Preparations containing the mentioned plant have excellent bactericidal properties and have a diaphoretic and antipyretic effect. They can relieve pain and have a calming effect. In the leaves of a bush summer period located a large number of ascorbic acid, polysaccharides, ketones and other important components.

The plant has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system; medical products created on the basis of this herbal product remove excess fluid from the body and eliminate shortness of breath. It is worth noting that the leaves of the bush contain the organic compound andromedotoxin. This component inhibits the central nervous system person, at the same time acts on the work gastrointestinal tract and hearts. Andromedotoxin belongs to the group of neurotoxins; it interferes with the functioning of cellular receptors. Its action is two-phase, initially the drug excites and then depresses the human nervous system.

Andromedotoxin can affect animals; sheep and other large-horned animals that graze in the mountains are most often poisoned. Dried rhododendron leaves do not lose the irritating and narcotic ingredient andromedotoxin. Death can occur within a few hours after a certain amount of foliage enters the animal or human body.

Need to remember: medicinal shrub is a good honey plant, but the pollen contains a dangerous component andromedotoxin. This organic compound gets into honey along with nectar.

Traditional healers They suggest using rhododendron not only during the treatment of serious diseases, but also for the prevention of various ailments. Healing tea is prepared from leaves, branches and flowers; this drink was drunk by the Circassians in ancient times. Currently, this delicious and aromatic product is consumed by fishermen and hunters. This tea stimulates and increases the body's ability to resist. In order for tea to be beneficial and not have a detrimental effect on the human body, it is important to know how to brew it correctly. For 200 ml of boiling water, use no more than two leaves of the plant. Rhododendron tea can be drunk with milk, cream, salt, and pepper. Additional ingredients are added to the drink to taste.

Not only tea can be prepared from the plant, but also infusions that can be used to treat stomatitis, sore throat and other problems with the throat or gums. The drink is taken hot. Drinks made from raw materials of medicinal shrubs are suggested to be drunk with reduced immunity to normalize blood circulation and for colds.

Regardless of which plant or herb is used to treat a disease, it is important to remember that they all have not only positive properties, but also contraindications, which you can find out about from your doctor.

Rhododendron Caucasian (video)

Attention: all parts of the Caucasian rhododendron are poisonous! We recommend that you think carefully before purchasing!

Caucasian rhododendron (Rhododéndron caucásicum) is an evergreen creeping shrub that is sometimes used in ornamental gardening.

Stems up to 1 meter long, decumbent, dark brown bark. The leaves are oval, dense, leathery, with red pubescence on the underside.

Caucasian rhododendron blooms in June-July, sometimes twice a year. The inflorescence is a small umbrella. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, petals white or yellowish. The sepals, peduncle and ovary are covered with brown hairs. The flowers emit a faint pleasant smell.

In nature, it is endemic to the Caucasus and Transcaucasia and is not found anywhere else. In the Caucasus, rhododendron often forms continuous thickets. Used in floriculture since 1803.

Biology

Lifespan: more than 30 years. There is no more accurate data.

Winter hardiness: high.

Light requirements: shade-tolerant.

Moisture requirements: moisture-loving

Soil requirements: prefers moderately loose soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.

Caucasian rhododendron has both varieties with clear names and descriptions, and simply decorative forms– it is unknown who brought them out and when, but they are popular. Below we will describe both.

Cunningham`s White is a well-known variety (obtained as a result of crossing with Rh. ponticum). main feature- absolutely white corolla without the slightest shade of yellow.

Pictum is a variety of Caucasian rhododendron with tall (up to 50 cm) shoots and pink flowers.

Christmas Cheer is a hybrid form, which was bred using R. caucasian. Externally very similar to the original form. The petals are white with a slightly pinkish edge.

Chevalier Felix de Sauvage is a hybrid form obtained by crossing the Caucasian rhododendron with another hybrid form. The main feature is bright pink flowers. Blooms in April-May.

Decorative forms of Caucasian rhododendron:

• f. rosea-alba- white and pink flowers;
• f. splendens – dark pink flowers, early flowering;
• f. flavidum - golden yellow flowers with greenish spots on inside petals;
• f. stramineum - golden yellow flowers with red spots on the inside of the petals.

Where to buy Caucasian rhododendron?

There are problems with buying seedlings in Russia. Some things can be bought on rhodo.ru, some on gardening forums. A specialized online store that would offer big choice there are no decorative forms in Russia. But there are in the USA, Great Britain and Germany.

Planting and care

Landing

Caucasian rhododendron grows well in light, moderately moist fertile soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Stagnation of water, prolonged drying out and liming are extremely dangerous for plants.

Most often, planting is carried out in the spring. Standard sizes landing pit– 70*50 cm. For planting, prepare a soil mixture - high-moor peat: coniferous litter: humus sand 2:2:1:1 The recipe is not strict: it can be changed depending on what is available. The main thing is to maintain acidity.

An important point when planting R. caucasian is the deepening of the root collar. It should be located slightly above ground level. After planting, the plants are watered abundantly and mulched with peat, pine bedding or sawdust. The thickness of the mulch layer is 5...6 cm. The use of mulch can significantly reduce moisture loss, reduce the number of weeds and protect the root system from late frosts (however, for most rhododendrons frosts are not dangerous).

Care

Caring for Caucasian rhododendron comes down to removing weeds, loosening, watering and occasional fertilizing.

Loosening of tree trunk circles should be done carefully so as not to damage the surface root system of plants. It is also better to remove weeds by pulling them out rather than digging them up. However, weeds hardly get through good mulch.

R. caucasian does not tolerate prolonged droughts. In dry weather it should be watered weekly. The amount of water should be sufficient to wet a clod of earth to a depth of 50 cm.

Feeding is needed every 2..3 years. It is enough to add a small amount of humus to trunk circle. Can be used complex fertilizers For flowering bushes in recommended doses.

Reproduction

In the practice of decorative floriculture, both seeds and vegetative propagation of Caucasian rhododendron are widely used.

At seed propagation seeds are sown in early spring in flat pots and bowls. Optimal composition soil mixture- acidic peat: sand: turf soil 3:2:1. To germinate, seeds need light - so they are not buried, but simply laid on the ground.

Shoots appear in about 10...15 days. After their appearance, the bowls are transferred to rooms with an air temperature of 10...15 degrees. In the first years, Caucasian rhododendron grows very slowly, growing by about 1 cm per year. Starting from the 3rd year, it is recommended to “train” the seedlings - take them out to open air, starting in May. For summer placement of seedlings, areas protected from wind and direct sunlight, but at the same time well-lit, are suitable.

Seedlings usually bloom in 5…6 years. At this age, they can be planted in nurseries, and after a few more years - in a permanent place.

For vegetative propagation layering, green cuttings and dividing the bush are used.

When propagated by layering, full root system in new plants it forms in the second year. Around September of the second year after creating the cuttings, new bushes can be separated from the mother ones.

When propagating from green cuttings, additional treatment of the cuttings with indolylbutyric acid or other root formation stimulants is required. Even in this case, not all cuttings take root.

Diseases and pests

Diseases and pests of Caucasian rhododendron are typical for most types of rhododendrons. You can read about them in the section “Diseases and pests of rhododendrons”.

Caucasian rhododendron is an evergreen shrub with a height of 100 to 120 cm. The bark has dark brown color, stem and branches are recumbent, inclined.

The leaves of this plant are oblong-oval in shape. The leaves are dense, thick, dark green, covered below with light red fluff.

The root system is very sensitive, but shallow, only 30-40 cm.

Fragrant flowers are collected in inflorescences of 8-10 pieces. The diameter of the flower is about 3 cm. The color of the petals can be white, yellow-cream and soft pink. Flowering occurs at the end of May and lasts about a month. Caucasian rhododendron is an excellent honey plant.

Photo

Spreading

The habitat of this species, as the name implies, is the highlands of the Caucasus. This plant can be found in the foothills of North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Abkhazia. It grows at an altitude of 1700-3000 meters.

Medicinal properties

Rokavkazskaya refers to medicinal plants. People have been using the beneficial properties of this plant for a long time.

Rhododendron contains tannins, essential oils(this is evidenced by strong smell leaves and flowers), vitamin C, sugar, organic acids.

Preparations made from parts of this plant have antipyretic, bactericidal, and antiseptic properties.

• Cardiovascular diseases. Preparations obtained from the leaves and flowers of this plant normalize blood pressure, increase blood flow, eliminate shortness of breath, and help cope with increased heart rate.
• Rheumatism. For this disease, an infusion of leaves is used.
• For diseases of the oral cavity. Leaf extract is used for rinsing in the treatment of gingivitis, stomatitis, and gum diseases.
• In case of mercury poisoning. A decoction of fresh leaves can help cleanse the body when exposed to mercury vapor.
• For insomnia. Tincture of flowers is used as sedative and for sleep disorders.
• Joint diseases. An infusion made from leaves and flowers is recommended to be rubbed into damaged joints for polyarthritis and osteoporosis.
• Upper respiratory tract diseases. Preparations from the leaves are excellent for coughs, bronchitis, sore throats and relieve asthma attacks.
• For weight loss. The root reduces the absorption of fat by the body and promotes weight loss.

Recipes

Tea

This drink combines benefits and a delicious aroma. To prepare it you will need dried (4 pieces) or fresh (2 pieces) leaves, a glass of water and a glass of milk. The leaves are brewed with boiling water, boiled in a sealed container for 5 minutes at minimum temperature. Now the tea should stand for 5-6 minutes under the lid, after which it is combined with milk and boiled again. Tea is served hot with salt and pepper.

Procurement of medicinal raw materials

Used to make tinctures and decoctions azalea leaves and flowers. Collection occurs from bushes older than 2-3 years, in late spring and early summer. Leaves for drying are laid out in a thin layer and mixed if necessary. Drying occurs away from sunlight in a well-ventilated area or under a canopy.