Galega officinalis.

Galega officinalis

A perennial herbaceous plant of the legume family, up to 1 m high. The stem is powerful with odd-pinnate compound leaves, which are supported by lancet stipules from below. Blooms from June to September.

The flowers are irregularly shaped, moth-like, collected in multi-flowered racemes. The flag of the flower is violet-blue, the wings and boats are white. The fruit is a multi-seeded erect bean with greenish-yellow seeds.

Begins to ripen in June.

Galega officinalis is widespread in the European part of Russia and the Caucasus. It grows along the banks of rivers and canals, streams, near roads, along ravines, among bushes, in mountain steppes, beech forests, on forest edges and wet subalpine meadows.

It is a good honey plant and insecticide.

The aerial part of the plant serves as the medicinal raw material. Tops up to 20 cm long are harvested during flowering.

Dry under a canopy or in a well-ventilated attic. The raw material is considered ready if the stems do not bend when bent, but break. Store in a closed container for 1 year.

The aerial part of galega contains carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, vitamins, saponins, phenolcarboxylic acids and their derivatives, nitrogen-containing substances (galegin, etc.), fatty oil and higher fatty acids (palmitic and linolenic).

The herb infusion has a diuretic, lactogenic, antibacterial and anthelmintic effect.

It reduces blood sugar, so it is prescribed for mild forms of diabetes.

To prepare the infusion, 2 tablespoons of the raw material are poured into 0.5 liters of hot water, kept in a boiling water bath in a closed enamel container for 15 minutes, filtered through two or three layers of gauze and the volume is brought to the original volume with boiled water. Store in the refrigerator for 3 days.

The dose of the infusion is determined individually, based on the patient’s well-being.

It is known that increased thirst and excessive urination indicate an increase in the amount of sugar in the blood. In this case, galega infusion is taken 1/3 cup 3 times a day with meals.

If necessary, the dose is increased or decreased depending on how you feel. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a physician, periodically checking blood and urine values.

The herbal tincture is prepared with 70% alcohol in a 1:1 ratio.

Take it 15-20 drops 3 times a day after meals. The drug improves heart function and significantly reduces blood pressure.