2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Mursal tea / Sideritis scardica / is a beautiful perennial herbaceous plant, which is also known as Pirin tea, fragrant weed, shepherd's tea, alibotush, Macedonian tea and others. In the world the herb is known as Greek tea and Greek mountain teaas the Greeks had orientated themselves earlier to cultivate and export it.
The rhizome and stems of Mursal tea are hardened at the base. Flowering stems are straight or ascending, unbranched or branched. They reach up to 50 cm in length. The leaves of the plant are opposite, toothed or entire.
The lower ones are oblong, obtuse, and the upper ones are wide-hearted, sessile. The stem at the top is bipartite, one whole being wider and with its base enveloping the other shorter and blunt part. The whole plant is whitish, covered with whitish down.
Mursal tea is blooming from July to September. The inflorescences retain their attractiveness even after flowering.
The herb is found in dry stony calcareous places. It is resistant to drought and very low temperatures. Mursal tea is endemic for the Balkan Peninsula.
The largest localities on the territory of Bulgaria are at about 1800-1900 m above sea level - the area Mursalitsa in the Rhodopes, the Mugla deposit and the deposit above Trigrad. There are also several localities in Pirin, around Ali Botush peak.
There are also several deposits in Greece, Albania and Macedonia. Due to the mass and indiscriminate harvesting, the localities in our country are endangered. Picking the wild herb has been banned since 1996, and the species is listed in the Red Book.
History of Mursal tea
The healing properties of Mursal tea have been known to the Greeks since antiquity. The ancients believed that the miraculous plant could heal wounds inflicted by iron weapons. During grazing, Greek shepherds always carried a bottle of ready-made decoction of mountain tea.
To this day, this is the favorite winter drink of our southern neighbors, which has a beneficial effect on almost all ailments, especially colds, breathing problems, digestion, nerves and the immune system.
Types of Mursal tea
A cultivated variety of has also been created wild Mursal tea. The cultivated herb is for industrial cultivation in plantations. There are some small differences in the appearance of the two varieties.
The wild herb is smaller, with shorter classes, grows in small tufts and rarely reaches more than 20-30 cm in height, and the seeds have a very low germination - only 10%.
In the wild, the plant grows on shallow soils, on limestone rocks and karst terrain. The cultivated variety has a longer class, larger leaf mass and grows in larger tufts.
The selection, which is made for the creation of propagating material for industrial cultivation, is tested for the content of active substances and only then is registered.
Some scientists believe that the created selection of the cultivated herb has an even higher content of active substances than the wild plant, and the reason is the several-year selection of starting material.
Although wild Mursal tea occurs at high altitudes, the cultivated variety is easily adapted and grown in lower places.
Several plantations have been successfully established in Dobrudja, Velingrad, Kazanlak, Veliko Tarnovo, Zverino, Ignatitsa, Rzhana Mountain and a number of other localities and settlements.
Composition of Mursal tea
Mursal tea contains a bunch of useful substances. It contains flavonoids, phenylpropanoid glycosides, tannins, terpenoids, diterpenes and essential oils, phenols, iridoids, ursolic and oleic acid, many trace elements such as iron, copper, zinc, cobalt and selenium, as well as macronutrients and calcium macronutrients..
Russian scientists claim that the composition of Mursal tea is very close to ginseng. It is also believed that it contains all the elements necessary for the human body.
Collection and storage of Mursal tea
Mursal tea is picked from June to August. From the plant, the upper parts of the stems are used together with the leaves and flowers / Herba Silderitis scardcae /. The whole leafy above-ground part of the herb is harvested, removing any impurities that have accidentally fallen.
After cleaning, the collected material is dried in shady, dry and ventilated places or in an oven at a temperature not higher than 35 degrees. From 4 kg of fresh stalks 1 kg of dry ones is obtained. Dried Mursal tea is stored in dry and ventilated rooms, away from other herbs, so as not to give them its smell.
Benefits of Mursal tea
For healing properties of Mursal tea a lot can be said. Due to the high presence of flavonoids, the herb has antibacterial and antioxidant effects.
It has a expectorant, anti-inflammatory and emollient effect on inflamed mucous membranes. Recommended for all types of cough, bronchitis, bronchial asthma and others. It is considered the best Bulgarian herb for cough. Thanks to the elements that contains Mursal tea, it is effective in a number of diseases.
Cobalt, for example, is one of the important elements influencing infertility and potency. Selenium cures many modern diseases. Mostly tumor diseases, cardiovascular diseases, stress, blood diseases, anemia, depression. The herb has been shown to support the immune system.
Mursal tea provides health and longevity, slows down the aging process of the body. The herb acts as a natural defense against microbes and viruses, relieves inflammation, has a tonic, strengthening, reduces blood pressure, the risk of heart attack and stroke, prevents the development of cancer cells, atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.
The drug improves the elasticity and smoothness of the skin. It also protects against colds and flu, is used to treat liver and kidney diseases, stimulates mental activity. Mursal tea is a perfect diuretic and filter for toxins in the body.
There are reports that in the 1970s, 20 American and Russian astronauts accepted decoction of Mursal tea in preparation for the flight. At the same time, the herb was a privilege for the members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
Recently, the plant has gained popularity as the Bulgarian Viagra, because it protects the prostate of men and gives them sexual power, as it is a strong aphrodisiac. Demand for the herb has also grown significantly. Conditions for industrial growing Mursal tea in our country they are very good, and the market on which the production can be sold is getting bigger. In recent years, even Japan and Australia have shown interest in it.
Folk medicine with Mursal tea
Bulgarian folk medicine recommends a decoction of Mursal tea as a remedy for any ailment. Prepare tea by putting 1 stalk of the herb to boil for 5 minutes in 250 ml of water. Then strain the decoction and consume it. If desired, sweeten with sugar or honey. Tea is good for both adults and children.
You can prepare the same decoction by breaking 3-4 stalks of the herb into large pieces, put them in a glass jar with a lid and pour 250 ml of boiling water over them. Strain the cooled liquid, pour it into porcelain cups and dilute it with water.
Attention: It is not recommended consumption of Mursal tea by pregnant women!
The infusion has a slight mint taste. It is preferable not to sweeten. If desired, you can combine mursal tea with green tea. The drink prepared in this way is extremely toning and invigorating. It can also help you fight excess weight. The drink will help you lose weight and more importantly - to maintain the desired result. It is not recommended to take more than 3-4 cups of tea a day.
The benefits of Mursla tea are indisputable and proven many times over time. He is one of the favorites of folk medicine. It is known as a miracle herb and people who consume it regularly would confirm the truth of this statement. You can start your day with it or relax in the afternoon with a cup of fragrant and pleasant Mursal tea in hand.
If you are not a fan of hot teas, you can mix chilled Mursal tea with a little sparkling water and lemon. This combination will keep you in good health during the summer months.
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