2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Piraeus / Agropyrum repens / is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Cereal family. The Latin name agropyrum comes from the Greek word agros - levels or from agrios - wild and pyros - wheat, ie. wild wheat, as this genus is close to wheat. The herb is also known as ayrak, chenus, wheatgrass and creeping weed.
The weed has a long creeping, rooted in the nodes rhizome and flowering stems, reaching a height of 80-100 cm. The leaves of the plant are flat linear, 4-8 mm wide, with smooth bare or fibrous vaginas. The flowers of puree are 4-7, gathered in small spikelets, forming an elongated loose class. The fruit is a dry grain. Piraeus blooms in June and July.
It is found in Europe, Russia, Asia, North America, North Africa and others. In Bulgaria, weed grows in grassy and sandy places, pastures, in bushes, around rivers, meadows and more. It can be seen as a weed all over the country up to 1600 m above sea level. The plant weeds cultivated and uncultivated areas and is a big problem for many fruit species.
Types of weed
In the genus Piraeus about 25 species enter. In addition to creeping weeds, there are Agropyron litorale and Agropyrum intermedium.
Dense weed is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its stem is 40–100 cm high. The leaves are 2–6 mm wide, flat or curled inwards, the veins are convex and densely arranged. Dense weed is propagated by seeds or vegetatively. This species is widespread in the Mediterranean and Western Europe. In Bulgaria it is found in the region of Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Ravda, Pomorie, Poda, Gypsy Pier, Sozopol, Kavatsite, the mouth of the river Ropotamo, Maslen Nos and Primorsko.
Agropyrum intermedium is a perennial rhizome herbaceous plant. Its stem reaches 60-100 cm in height. The leaves are flat or curled inwards, and the veins are convex. This species is found in dry, stony or sandy places, on coastal sands.
Composition of weed
Piraeus contains essential oil, agropyrene carbohydrate, polysaccharide tricine, levulose, mannitol, glucovanillin, salts of malic acid, carotene, ascorbic acid, potassium, iron, silicon, magnesium and others.
Growing weeds
Like any weed, weeds multiply easily and adapt quickly to adverse conditions. Since the rhizomes of the plant are located mainly in the upper layer of the soil, the depth of their penetration also depends on the properties of the soil. They penetrate deeper into light, brittle soils than into heavy compacted soils. Thus loosened soil is the main reason for the rapid spread of this weed.
In the presence of sufficient soil moisture dormant buds of weed can develop throughout the growing season. Growth is facilitated by pruning the stems and especially by cutting the rhizomes during cultivation. Most dormant buds wake up when the rhizomes are cut into small pieces with 1-2 dormant buds. From them develop shoots that grow from the nutrients accumulated in the rhizome. The roots are formed after 2-3 weeks.
Collection and storage of weed
Rhizoma graminis rhizomes are used for medicinal purposes. They are dug in April-May, or later in August-October, after the seeds of the plant have matured. The excavated material is cleaned of soil, roots and aboveground parts, washed, drained and cut into pieces up to 15 cm long. When picking the puree should not be mixed with other species.
The cleaned material is dried as soon as possible in the sun, and in the evening it is put indoors. It is best to dry the herb in a dryer at a temperature no higher than 50 degrees. From about 3 kg of fresh herbs 1 kg of dry is obtained. Dried weed rhizomes are yellowish on the outside and greenish on the inside. They have a characteristic smell and their taste is sweet. The dried drug is stored in ventilated and dry rooms, protected from rodents and insects.
Benefits of weed
This seemingly unpleasant weed also proves to be very useful. Piraeus has an expectorant effect, it liquefies tough bronchial secretions. In addition, the herb has anti-inflammatory, laxative and diuretic effects. It is used for sand in the kidneys and bladder, inflammation of the prostate, stomach and intestines.
In our folk medicine, weed is also used for gout, infertility, liver problems, cough, rheumatism and others. The rhizome of puree is also used for urination, pneumonia, metabolic disorders. Externally, the herb is used for paws for skin rashes and swelling. It is successfully used for rickets, hemorrhoids and others.
Piraeus is full of so many nutrients that the water in which they are boiled darkens and despite its unpleasant appearance, for many years people drink the decoction as a spring tonic to feel more refreshed after the long winter months.
Piraeus is a great source of inulin, which is believed to help regulate blood sugar. Inulin is a polymer of fructose. It reduces toxic metabolites, lowers blood pressure and improves the absorption of minerals in the body.
Studies in humans have shown that the root of weed can stimulate the liver, produce bile. It turns out that weed is an herb that, when taken with a gradual increase in dose, cleanses the body of toxins through its mild laxative and diuretic effect.
In Russia and India, the drug is a common treatment for cancer. In North America, it is taken as a diuretic, a mild laxative, and is also used to purify the blood. Piraeus is also used to treat indigestion, loss of appetite, skin conditions, as well as to reduce the symptoms of gout, arthritis and rheumatism. The seeds are also used in skin diseases and as a diuretic.
Piraeus It is used by Western and Chinese healers as a detoxifying herb and is often combined with other herbs such as dandelion to balance its strong cleansing effect.
In addition to being used in traditional medicine, in some countries the dried and ground rhizome of weed is part of delicious and nutritious breads. When consumed as food, puree is a source of quite good amounts of some vitamins. In industry, the rhizome of weed takes part in brush production.
Folk medicine with weed
Our folk medicine utilizes the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of weed by offering it in the treatment of rheumatism, in inflammatory processes involving the urinary tract. Piraeus extract is also used to treat some metabolic disorders such as gout - it enhances the radiation of the increased uric acid content in the body.
Pour two teaspoons of finely chopped roots of weed with 200 ml of cold water and let them stand for about 12 hours. After straining the mixture, pour the herbs with a glass of boiling water. After ten minutes, mix the two extracts. The prepared dose is for one day.
In the 18th century, the decoction of the plant had the reputation of being the best remedy for breaking down gallstones and kidney stones. Decoction of finely chopped rhizome is drunk for gout, rheumatism, bile, cough, heart pain, gout, profuse uterine bleeding, for appetite.
Prepare a decoction of weed as follows: One tablespoon of the herb is boiled in 500 ml of water and the liquid is drunk 3 times a day in 1 glass of wine.
The decoction of weed, cob, cut grass and calendula is used for a sick stomach, and the infusion of weed, mallow, elderberry, wild poppy, garden rose, violet leaves, lilac, fruit from the dagger.
Cystitis is one of the most common diseases lately. To fight it, you need herbs with a strong antibacterial effect. To do this, prepare the following decoction: Mix well 100 g of horsetail (stalks), 60 g of weed (rhizomes) and 250 g of sorrel (roots). Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture with 1/2 liter of water and cook the herbs on low heat for 5 minutes. Then strain the cooled decoction. Take 75 ml 4 times daily before meals.
