Medicinal plants

   Now in our pharmacies have a large selection of different medicinal plants. But if you decide to collect them yourself , remember that this is necessary to have knowledge , experience and intuition . Collector should know all the characteristics of plants and collection time , when it has the greatest healing power , for example , the leaves of lily of the valley , collected 2-3 weeks before flowering , twice glycosides richer than those collected during flowering. And sometimes the medicine is made from raw material collected at inopportune time , may be harmful.The collection and harvesting of medicinal plants must follow certain rules . Do not collect plants in the city and other localities , as well as several agricultural crops and plantations , as they are treated with pesticides. Collect medicinal plants, especially grasses, should be away from businesses , roads , etc. You can not " hack at the root of the plant ," it is necessary to collect only those parts that are needed. When harvesting flowers and inflorescences should always leave a few plants untouched , then the next year there will be new growth . Roots, tubers and bulbs are dug selectively and only after ripening and shedding seeds. Aerial parts of plants ( grass ) were collected after the dew on a sunny day . Best time collecting grass - flowering period before or at the beginning of it , the roots ( tubers) - fall, spring less ; bark - in early spring , before bud , leaves - before flowering period or during ; kidney - before blooming , the flowers - at the beginning of blooming , seeds and fruits - full maturity .

   The collected materials should not be stored in the container more than 3-4 hours (and sometimes more than 1-2 hours) , as it compressed, self-heating and spoiled.

   Different species demand different drying modes : containing essential oils - at a temperature not exceeding 30-35 ° C, Vitamin C - 80-90 ° C, glycosides - 55 -60 ° C. Juicy fruits and roots were dried in an oven ( or special ovens ) at a temperature of 40-60 ° C.

   Can be dried in the sun , only a few species of plants . Basically, they are dried in closed , well-ventilated areas .

   Dried plants stored in a dry place, as a rule, no more than two years, signed ( plant name and date of collection ), paper bags , wooden boxes , in bags made of natural fiber or glass jars ( the best storage) . If the grass " out of date" , they can always be used for baths.

   Do not store your plants in plastic containers, as essential oils come with them in hazardous compounds .

   Attention! In the absence of pharmacy scales chopped raw material metered spoon water - glass . Teaspoon holds about 5 g, dessert - 10 g , dining room without top - 15 g, with the top - '20 glass of water - 200 ml .

And a few words about how we can make medicines from plants.