Acacia White.

Acacia White

A large tree of the legume family, 15-20 m high. The crown is spreading. The trunk is gray-black or gray-brown with longitudinal cracks.

Young branches and shoots are green and smooth. The leaves are ovate or longitudinally ovate, arranged oppositely on petioles of 7-21 pieces. The upper surface of the leaves is green, smooth, the lower surface is gray-green, velvety.

The flowers are white, moth-like, with a pleasant aroma, collected in drooping racemes. Blooms at the end of May. The fruit is a flat, dark brown pod with 4-6 bean-shaped seeds. Ripens in June.

White acacia is native to North America and acclimatized in southern Russia. Grows in gardens, parks and along roads.

Used to strengthen the slopes of ravines and railway slopes. Fragrant oil from flowers has found use in perfumery. Wood is an excellent finishing material.

Acacia is a good honey plant.

Flowers, leaves and bark of young shoots serve as medicinal raw materials. Flowers are harvested during flowering. They are collected in a half-bloomed state. Dry in a well-ventilated area at a temperature of 40-50°C.

The bark and leaves are collected throughout the growing season.

Essential oils containing heliotropin, methyl anthranilate, salicylic acid esters and tannins were found in the flowers; flavonoids and their glycosides (acacetin, acacia, and to a lesser extent robinin) were found in the leaves; toxic robinin, tannins were found in the bark of young shoots and partly in the wood. fatty oils, phytosterol and stigmasterol.

In European medicine, white acacia is used as an expectorant and mild laxative, in folk medicine - as an expectorant, antispasmodic, diuretic and antipyretic.

In cases of exacerbation of gastritis and peptic ulcers, an alcoholic infusion of leaves and young shoots, as well as a hot decoction of the bark, are prescribed.

To prepare a decoction of flowers, 1 tablespoon of fresh or dry raw materials is poured into 0.5 liters of water, boiled for 3 minutes, filtered and brought to the original volume. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day before meals.

When using bark, 1/2 tablespoon of crushed raw material is poured into 0.5 liters of water, boiled for 20 minutes, filtered while hot and brought to the original volume. Take in small portions for 2 days.

Leaves and young shoots are infused with 40% alcohol in a ratio of 1:10 and kept for 15 days, shaking occasionally. Take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day before meals.

When using black locust, care must be taken due to the toxic substances in the plant, especially the alkaloid robinine, and dosages must be strictly followed.