2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Hoof / Asarum europaeum L. / is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Aristolochiaceae - Hoofed. In our country the plant is known by many names. He is most often called a hoof, but he is also recognized as a lover, a sweetheart, a secretive and others. About 100 species of this genus are known, distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Only a few of them are grown as ornamentals.
The ungulate has a creeping branched rhizome. Its stems are 2-5 cm long, recumbent or ascending. The leaves are 5-10 cm wide, kidney-shaped to rounded, entire, leathery, with stalks up to 10 cm long. The flowers are solitary, apical, with a simple bell-shaped, three-part perianth, about 1.5 cm long, purple-brown. The stamens are 12 in number. The fruit of the ungulate is a six-nested box. The ungulate blooms from March to June. The herb is found in moist shady deciduous (most often beech) forests in the mountains. The ungulate grows throughout the country from 300 to 1200 m above sea level. Apart from Bulgaria, the ungulate is also found in the whole of Europe (excluding the extreme northern parts).
Types of ungulates
The genus Hoof is composed of about 60 species of plants. Other well-known species besides Asarum europaeum L, also known as European ungulate, are Asarum ibericum Stev. ex Ledeb./, Asarum sieboldii Miq and Asarum caudatum.
The Georgian ungulate is a herbaceous perennial plant of the ungulate family. The stem of the herb reaches 15 cm. The Grozina ungulate blooms in May and forms seeds in June. The species is widespread in Russia.
Asarum sieboldii Miq is a herbaceous plant of the ungulate family, distributed in moist mixed forests in the southern part of the Far East. This decorative species is distinguished by its gray-green leaves. The plant blooms in late June, and its flowering lasts about three weeks.
Asarum caudatum is also an ornamental species of the Kopitnikov family, native to North America. Its rhizome reaches 8-9 cm. This plant has relatively large, light green, overwintering leaves. Asarum caudatum blooms in late May - June.
Composition of ungulates
The ungulate contains 1% essential oil with main ingredients azarone (phenylpropane derivative) and diazarone. These two compounds in the essential oil are about 30%. They are volatile poisons. In addition, the essential oil contains azaryl aldehyde, pinene, eugenol, methyleugenol and bornyl acetate. The rhizome also contains tannins and mucous substances, carbohydrates. Allantoin and two flavonoid glycosides were isolated from the plant. Azarone is believed to have a narcotic effect.
Hoof breeding
The ungulate used in shady rock gardens and as a ground cover plant. Decorative are mostly ungulate leaves, which make a dense cover of the soil. Flowering is rather inconspicuous, in early spring in April. The aroma of the flowers is pleasant and reminiscent of vanilla. The ungulate is a typical forest plant that grows successfully in shade and partial shade.
It grows favorably on soil, moist, rich in nutrients, with an alkaline reaction. The ungulate is propagated by seeds, which are sown in the spring. The goal is to form a dense green carpet. You should not be worried about ants. They collect the seeds to consume their flesh, but their germination is still preserved.
Collection and storage of ungulates
For medical manipulations are collected flowering aboveground part and rhizome of ungulate(Herba et rhizoma Asari). The stems together with the rhizomes are harvested during flowering - from March to June. The collected material is cleaned of accidental impurities, waste and soil. The herb is then dried in the shade.
Drying is most successful in an oven at a temperature of up to 35 degrees. The dried drug has a green color on the stalks and brownish on the rhizomes, odorless and bitter taste. The permissible humidity is 13%. From about 7 kg of harvested plant 1 kg of dried is obtained. The processed herb is stored in bales. The shelf life of the whole plant is 3 years, and cut - 1 year and 6 months.
Benefits of ungulates
The ungulate is an herb that is used as a traditional medicine in Bulgarian folk medicine. The drug has a expectorant, diuretic, laxative and sedative effect. The ungulate is used in heart disease - chronic heart failure, palpitations, ulcers, urination, neurosis, migraine, lumbago. The herb works effectively for radiculitis, dropsy, cough, mushroom poisoning, anti-drunkenness and more.
Added to wine, the crushed drug causes vomiting and unpleasant sensations, which is applied to the refusal of people suffering from chronic drunkenness. In Bulgarian folk medicine, the ungulate is also used against headaches, irritability, hysteria, dysentery, edema and more. Externally in the form of a fine powder was applied to sprinkle the skin with scabies and purulent wounds. The plant soaked in brandy serves for abrasions in rheumatism and neuralgia.
The expectorant effect of the drug is due to the presence of essential oil in the hooves. The essential oil contains the compound azarone, which is characterized by narcotic properties - this probably determines the sedative effect of ungulates, scientists analyze. The herb and extracts derived from it are recommended to facilitate the release of tough secretions obstructing the airways.
Folk medicine with ungulates
Our folk medicine strongly recommends the infusion of ungulate as an effective remedy against alcoholism and hangover. One teaspoon of the herb is boiled in 400 ml of boiling water for 5 minutes.
After cooling, strain. Take 1 tablespoon before meals three times a day.
According to another Bulgarian folk recipe against alcoholism, add a teaspoon of ungulates and a teaspoon of green walnut shells in 2 liters of red (homemade) wine.
Our folk medicine offers the following decoction with hooves against cancer: Two teaspoons of the drug are put in 1 liter of water and boil until it remains half. Strain and allow to cool. Pour into a dark bottle. It starts with taking 1 drop on the first day. Drop one more drop into the glass of water every day until it reaches 40 drops. The dose is then reduced by 1 drop. The procedure is repeated several times until complete healing. The poison has been shown to kill cancer cells.
Harm from ungulates
You should always consult a specialist before using ungulatebecause in large doses, the plant is poisonous. Equine poisoning is characterized by vomiting. It should also be noted that the herb is contraindicated for patients with angina.
