Avran Medicinal: properties, use and contraindications
Avran officinalis (lat. Chamaenerion angustifolium) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Norichinaceae family, which is common in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Siberia and Kazakhstan. It grows in flooded meadows, damp sands, damp hollows, swamps, river banks and drainage ditches.
Avran officinalis reaches a height of up to 60 cm. The rhizome is brown, jointed, horizontal. The stem is erect or ascending, tetrahedral at the top. The leaves are opposite, sessile, lanceolate, with three longitudinal veins. The plant blooms in June - August with yellowish-white flowers, solitary, axillary, on long stalks. The fruit is an ovoid capsule with numerous seeds, which ripens from the end of July.
Avran grass is used as a medicinal raw material, which is harvested from the entire above-ground part of the plant. Dry in the shade or in a room with good ventilation, laying out in a thin layer. The finished raw material should be green and consist of leafy stems with flowers and some fruits. It tastes bitter. Store in a dry place in bags for 3 years.
Avran grass contains toxic glycosides graciosides (graciolin and graciotoxin), saponins, organic acids and other substances. Avran has a laxative, choleretic and anthelmintic effect. This is a very active, but toxic drug. Large doses of this plant can cause bloody diarrhea and cramps, so they should only be taken under medical supervision.
However, in small doses, auran can have beneficial effects on the human body. Avran infusion can be used to treat heart and liver diseases. To prepare it, pour 1/2 teaspoon of herbs into 1 glass of hot water, boil in a water bath for 15 minutes, cool for 45 minutes at room temperature, filter through two or three layers of gauze and bring the volume to the original volume. Store in the refrigerator. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day after meals.
To obtain a choleretic effect, an infusion is prepared from equal parts of the leaves and roots of avran from 1 glass of boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes, strain and take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.
In addition, avran is used in folk medicine to treat hemorrhoids, bronchitis, cough, hemoptysis, urolithiasis, dysentery, metrorrhagia and other diseases. However, the use of avran as a medicine should only be carried out under the supervision of a physician, since improper use can lead to serious consequences.
Despite its beneficial properties, avran has a number of contraindications. It is not recommended to take it during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in the presence of gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, colitis, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, renal failure, acute infectious diseases, allergic reactions to plant components and other diseases.
In general, Avran officinalis has valuable medicinal properties, but its use requires caution and supervision by a physician.