Field bindweed.

Bindweed: A Medicinal Plant With Wide Potentials

Field bindweed is a perennial herbaceous plant of the bindweed family that grows everywhere from the White Sea to Central Asia. Although this plant is often found in fields and gardens as a weed, it has a wide range of medicinal uses for both humans and animals.

The stems of field bindweed are numerous, thin, curly, twisted in a spiral, entwining neighboring plants, and the taproot, branching, goes into the soil to a depth of 2 m. The leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptic or oblong, located on petioles. The flowers are white or pink, funnel-shaped with longitudinal dark stripes, with a weak but pleasant aroma, located in the axils of the leaves.

One of the features of the flowers of field bindweed is the clear frequency of opening of the inflorescences depending on the time of day and weather changes. The fruit is a smooth, egg-shaped capsule with small seeds.

All parts of bindweed contain flavonoids, vitamins C and E, bitterness, as well as toxic alkaloids convolvin and convolomin, which determine the laxative effect of bindweed. Medicinal raw materials are stems and roots, less often flowers and seeds. Fresh raw materials are much more active than dry ones. It is collected during the flowering period, most often during weeding.

In folk medicine, field bindweed is used as a laxative, diuretic and wound-healing agent. It is also recommended for the treatment of asthma, lung, liver and spleen diseases. Experimental studies on animals have proven hypotensive, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, local anesthetic and mucosal irritant effects.

To prepare an infusion of field bindweed, pour 1 tablespoon of the raw material into 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, cool, filter and bring the volume to the original volume. Take 1/4 cup in the morning and evening. An alcoholic tincture of the herb can also be used internally and externally. To obtain it, the raw materials are poured with 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:5, kept for 2 weeks and filtered. Take 1/2 - 1 teaspoon 3 times a day before meals as a diuretic and laxative.

However, it must be remembered that the use of bindweed for medicinal purposes should be discussed with a doctor, since improper use can lead to negative consequences. It is also not recommended to use bindweed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, since its effects on the body have not been fully studied.

In addition to medicinal purposes, field bindweed is widely used in folk crafts, as a material for weaving baskets, carpets and other products. Also, some types of field bindweed are used in cooking as a seasoning for dishes.

In general, field bindweed is an amazing plant that has many beneficial properties and application possibilities. However, before using it for medical purposes, you should consult your doctor.