Astragalus wooliflorum.

Astragalus wooliflorum

A perennial herbaceous plant of the legume family, up to 40 cm high. The stems are numerous, erect, erect. The leaves are alternate, compound, odd-pinnate, silky-shaggy.

Blooms in May - June. The flowers are yellow, collected in dense inflorescences. The fruit is a bean.

Ripens in June - July.

Astragalus wooliflora is common in steppe and forest-steppe regions of the European part of Russia. It grows in open places, mounds, old cemeteries and open clearings in the forest.

Can be cultivated in the garden. Propagated only by seeds. Prefers fertile soils of average mineral composition.

The area for sowing is prepared in the fall. For digging, add 2 kg of manure, 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 30 g of superphosphate and 10 g of potassium salt per 1 square meter.

Seeds are sown in early spring in rows or holes to a depth of 2.5-3 cm, 10-20 plants per 1 linear. m. The distance between rows should be at least 45 cm.

Seed germination is usually low (9-16%), but increases sharply when seeds are scarified with sandpaper. Their germination can be accelerated by placing them in concentrated sulfuric acid for 30 minutes and then rinsing thoroughly with water. Heat treatment also accelerates seed germination.

To do this, the seeds in a gauze bag are immersed in boiling water for 20 seconds, and then in cold water for the same time.

In the first 1.5-2 months. Plants develop slowly and require good care.

In the 2nd and subsequent years, astragalus is fed with ammonium nitrate and granulated superphosphate at the rate of 10 and 20 g per 1 m2, respectively, or with diluted slurry.

The medicinal raw material is grass, sometimes roots. The grass is collected during flowering, cutting off the plants at a height of 5-7 cm from the ground.

When collecting, do not damage the roots, as this leads to the death of the plants. Dry in the attic, under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area, laying out a layer of 5-7 cm and turning over periodically. Store in bags in a dry place for 1 year.

The herb contains triterpene glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, organic acids, essential oil, steroids, coumarins, vitamins, tocopherol, large amounts of iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and there is also silicon, manganese and other trace elements. Astragalus selectively accumulates selenium.

The infusion of the herb has a hypotensive, diuretic and sedative effect, enhances heart function, dilates the blood vessels of the heart and kidneys.

It is used for chronic heart failure, angina pectoris and vascular diseases of the kidneys. It has a positive effect in all stages of hypertension and can be used as an additional treatment. Under the influence of astragalus, blood pressure decreases, headaches, dizziness and pain in the heart area disappear.

The infusion is used to rinse the mouth and throat for periodontal disease, sore throat, stomatitis and other inflammatory diseases. Locally it has a wound healing effect.

To prepare the infusion, pour 4 tablespoons of the herb into 1 glass of hot water, boil for 5 minutes and leave for 3-4 hours.

Take 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day with meals.

A decoction of the root is used as an expectorant and diuretic for general weakness and cardiac dysfunction. To prepare it, pour 6 g of crushed roots into 1 glass of hot water, boil in a water bath in a sealed container for 30 minutes, cool, filter and bring the volume to the original volume.

Take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day before meals.

For chronic and acute inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, not accompanied by edema, a positive effect is exerted by the collection of astragalus herb and chamomile flowers, taken 30 g each, horsetail herb, corn silk, knotweed herb and hernia herb - 10 g each. 1 tablespoon of this collection is placed in thermos, pour 3 cups of boiling water, leave for 8-10 hours and filter.