Leuzea: useful properties and contraindications.

Leuzea is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family. It is also known by the names raponticum, stemacantha, bighead, Chinese ginseng, as well as maral root or maral grass. Maral deer dig up the roots and eat the stems and leaves of leuzea during the rutting period or when wounded.

Tips for gathering, secrets of application, interesting facts about leuzea, given below, can convince everyone in the unconditional usefulness of the Siberian plant.

Chemical Composition

All parts of leuzea are rich in useful substances. The roots, stems and leaves contain such components:

1. Essential oil, which is successfully used in diseases of the respiratory system.
2. Performance-enhancing alkaloids that help overcome stress.
3. Inulin, helps absorb and distribute vitamins and minerals in the body, protects and restores the liver.
4. Micronutrients, including manganese and iron, which contribute to the production of red blood cells and support thyroid function.
5. Organic acids that maintain the body's acid-alkaline balance and aid in digestion.
6. Ratibol, a substance that has a stimulating and tonic effect.
7. Flavonids, which have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, reduce harmful cholesterol, prevent blood clots.
8. Steroids (ectidestrone), which stimulate muscle tissue growth, strengthen cartilage and bones, increase hemoglobin, burn fat.
9. Sterols, plant fats, help reduce "bad" cholesterol in the blood, support heart function.
10. Tannins, which have anti-inflammatory, hemostatic properties.
11. Carotene, which has a positive effect on eye health, as well as helping to smooth the skin, reduce peeling and microcracks.
12. Ascorbic acid, essential for healthy skin, teeth, bones, maintaining immunity, healing wounds and helping many other organs.

The flowers contain phytoecdysone, which in its action is an anabolic, a substance that enhances protein synthesis and helps build muscle mass.

What it looks like and where it grows

Leuzea saflorovidnaya is known to the population of Siberia and Altai since ancient times, where it is valued for its medicinal properties. Most often it can be found on the slopes of the mountains at an altitude of about 2000 meters. Its active use by the population has led to the fact that in natural conditions it is practically no more, and it has been included in the Red Book. Since the middle of the XX century Leuzea has been cultivated in various regions of Russia and Europe for industrial quantities of drugs and cosmetics. Many gardeners throughout Russia successfully grow it on their garden plots.

The useful properties of Leuzea have been known since ancient times, not only in the Sayan Mountains, Siberia, Lake Baikal region and the Altai Mountains. Chinese sailors took the rhizomes of the herb on voyages to replenish vitamins and restore strength. It is also popular in China for its ability to speed up the metabolism and is used as a weight-loss remedy. Maral root was also known among the Mongols, its traditional regular use may have been the reason for the rare endurance and fighting spirit of Genghis Khan's warriors. Several species of leuzea grow in North Africa and Australia.

Maral root resembles thistle and milk thistle in appearance. The shrub can grow to a height of up to two meters. Its upright, tough stems are densely covered with large, pointed leaves, topped with a single flower. The plant survives the winter and can give birth to new shoots for about 20 years.

Harvesting and storage

Gather the herb in late summer or in autumn, when the fruits are fully ripe, in dry weather. It should be remembered that not all leuzea bushes are equally useful: the maximum concentration of valuable substances is present in plants older than three years. Also, do not harvest plants damaged by pests or bad weather conditions. Roots suitable for drying should be brown on the outside and yellow on the cut, the smell - resinous, the taste - sweet.

At the time of collection, some of the bushes should be left in the ground, so that the herb plantings will recover as quickly as possible. The next collection in the same area is allowed to be made not earlier than two years later.

When collecting, the plant is dug up with a pitchfork along with the roots, cleaned from the ground, and washed. Cleaning should be done quickly, as a long rinse can lead to leaching of useful substances. Thick rhizomes can be cut into several pieces before drying. Harvested plants are dried in natural conditions for 2-3 days, and then brought to the desired condition in a special dryer heated to a temperature of 40-50 degrees Celsius. Roots ready for storage should break with a crunch. Harvested red deer grass is stored in cloth bags or paper bags in a room with free access to air. Shelf life of dried maral root - up to three years.

Cultivation of St. John's wort

Maral root is grown in open places with good drainage. In acidic waterlogged soils, the plant will not grow well and may die.

The site for growing leuzea should be well lit, a layer of nutritious soil should be at least 30 centimeters.

Propagate the plant by seeds or division. Seeds are collected in early autumn, dried and stored until spring, as sowing before winter can lead to death in frosts. One month before sowing, the seeds are washed and kept in the refrigerator at about zero temperature. This allows for better germination. Seeds should be planted densely and if necessary, replanted after sprouting. After sowing in spring, the seeds will germinate within three weeks. The seedlings should be planted in warm time, at the end of May, to a depth of about 3 cm.

Leuzea is not demanding to care and watering, but it is important to remove weeds in time, which can especially harm the plant of the first year. In midsummer, you can fertilize with nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizers. Also has a positive effect on increasing the yield of the roots is a fertilization with a mixture of peat and manure.

Watering should be regular, but not too intense. It is also necessary to periodically loosen the soil and conduct pest control measures. In one place grass can grow up to 20 years, gradually growing wide.

In the first year the grass does not flower or produce fruit, only a rosette of leaves develops. Beginning in the second year, in mid-summer, flowers and then seeds appear on the leuzea. If you leave the shrubs to collect seeds, you should protect the plant from birds, which are attracted to the tall stems and the fruit on them. Once harvested, the seeds remain germinating for three years. A single family usually does not need large quantities of dried roots to use for treatment and prevention purposes. Therefore, it is possible to keep a few large bushes of leuzea on the plot, dig them up, separating a small number of roots and leaving the main part of the plant.

Leuzea is often grown for decorative purposes. Dense thickets of leaves, topped with bright flowers, decorate both dacha plots and city parks.

Therapeutic properties of the herb leuzea

Leuzea leaves and flowers are used for preparing teas, roots and rhizomes are used for infusions, decoctions and tinctures. The native inhabitants of Siberia believe that maral grass helps rejuvenate people and cure 14 diseases. In Oriental medicine, it is used to treat kidney diseases, fevers, lung diseases, and oral cavities.

The most common use of maral root in diseases of the nervous system, chronic feelings of weakness, reduced performance, depression.

The main active ingredient of the herb is ecdysones, which are strong stimulants. They have adaptogenic effect, helping to adapt to increased stress, a change of time zones or climate. These substances also contribute to the growth of muscle fibers, the growth of hemoglobin in the blood.

For women

Leuzea has a beneficial effect on women of all ages. It helps relieve pain syndrome in case of cycle disorders, is used as part of complex therapy in the treatment of secondary infertility. Leuzea is also useful to women in the postpartum period. It helps to cope with the symptoms of postpartum depression, restore libido.

Maral root activates the metabolic processes in the body, so it can be used for weight loss. By itself, the use of maral root will not reduce weight, but in combination with exercise and a healthy diet will give a tangible positive effect. Women who train hard to lose weight and get in better shape can use it to speed up recovery after workouts and increase muscle mass while burning fat.

For Men

Leuzea helps to fight the loss of strength, it is effective in asthenic disorders. If due to accumulated fatigue men have problems with potency, maral root helps not only to restore efficiency, but also to support potency. Improvement of health, including a positive effect on potency, is achieved after taking the tincture for two weeks.

For men who have faced dependence on alcohol or other stimulants, leuzea is useful because it helps to get out of a depressive state, reduce the manifestations of withdrawal syndrome. If against the background of alcoholism developed problems with potency, then after treatment with maral root, there is an improvement in the sexual sphere as well.

Problems with potency, which have arisen due to inflammatory, infectious and other problems of internal organs, leuzea can not cure, complex therapy with other drugs is required.

For children

Maral grass has strong stimulating properties, has a tonic effect and intensely affects all systems of the body. Therefore, it is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Leuzea in medicine

The use of maral herb for loss of strength, apathy, neurosis, nervous exhaustion, decreased libido, fatigue and other problems of the nervous system has a positive effect. The result of taking medication with Leuzea lasts for 2-3 months, even if the course of treatment did not exceed 10-14 days. The components contained in leuzea are used in military and space medicine.

1. Taking a tincture twice a day at 20-30 drops before meals tones and stimulates the nervous system and brain function.
2. Decoction and infusions of Leuzea to restore energy and stimulate brain function are taken twice a day, in the first half of the day. The intake should be limited to 2-3 tablespoons to avoid overstimulation and other negative side effects.
3. Leuzea teas, tinctures and decoctions are excellent to support the immune system when taken as a course from fall to spring. In summer, their use for preventive purposes is inappropriate.
4. To overcome depressed moods and reduce hangover syndrome use an infusion of leuzea in combination with ginseng.
5. For elderly people, leuzea products help maintain and partially restore cognitive functions.
6. Leuzea helps to heal wounds, accelerates recovery from bruises, relieves inflammation in the joints.

The herb should not be used on open wound surfaces or wounds with purulent inflammation. A compress of fresh leaves or decoction of leuzea is used on cauterized areas of wounds.

When bruises and sprains compress with tincture of lozenges will help dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow to the injured area, relieve inflammation and swelling. Such compresses are applied before bedtime, the duration of exposure - 2-3 hours.

Anti-inflammatory effect also works in diseases of the oral cavity. Gargling with a tincture of Leuzea diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1 can help to cope with inflammation and reduce bad breath. The procedure should be repeated for a week, 3-4 times a day.

In diseases of the cardiovascular system, including pressure spikes, leuzea improves vascular health, has a positive effect on the peripheral circulatory system, removes "harmful" cholesterol from the blood vessels. 25 drops of tincture, diluted with 50 ml of water, should be drunk 2 times a day before meals. The last intake should be no later than 16 hours to avoid overexcitation. The course of taking the remedy should be carried out within a month, then take a break for 10 days and repeat one more time.

Maral grass helps to reduce blood sugar levels by speeding up the absorption of glucose. Leuzea decoction should be used for a month, 3 tablespoons after meals, twice a day. After a course of treatment, sugar levels stabilize and decrease.

Like other medicines, Leuzea should be taken as recommended by your doctor in accordance with the prescribed dosage. Before starting a course of treatment or prevention, you should make sure on taking a low dose of the remedy that there are no allergic reactions or other side effects.

How to Take Leuzea in Bodybuilding

Infusions and other remedies from Leuzea have the properties of anabolics, promoting the growth of muscle mass. Because of this, preparations of maral root are often used in strength training. Consumption of maral root helps:

• increase endurance, provide a burst of strength,
• increase protein synthesis,
• improve blood flow,
• increase concentration,
• improve coordination,
• reduce recovery time after workouts.

At the same time, leuzea is not on the list of banned substances and does not cause addictive and withdrawal symptoms. That is why athletes often take it before important starts. If you take maral root regularly, blood vessels expand, reserve capillaries open. This helps to reduce the load on the heart, helps to increase the efficiency of training, speed up recovery after exertion.

Athletes use red deer grass in the form of tinctures or in the form of tablets. Reception of funds is carried out with meals, at the rate of about 15 mg of herbal raw materials at a time. The exact dosage should be discussed with the supervising doctor.

For bodybuilders and others with intense exertion, taking alcoholic tinctures is preferable to tablets, since the latter may have a toxic effect on the liver. After one month or more of taking medication with leuzea, side effects may begin to appear, including dizziness, headaches, insomnia, shortness of breath. After that, you should immediately stop taking the remedy and take a break for at least 10 days.

Athletes can combine preparations of maral grass with other active supplements and medicinal substances. Prepared compositions of active supplements with Leuzea often include vitamin C, calcium and other trace elements. Leuzea remedies are not addictive or withdrawal-inducing.

Types of medicinal compositions with Leuzea

Maralov root is presented in all known forms of release. On sale you can find powder, tablets, liquid extract, tinctures, oil, honey. Infusion, tincture, decoctions and tea can be prepared at home.

Infusion

Aqueous infusion is less effective than alcoholic tinctures, but it has a smaller list of contraindications and restrictions for use. Leuzea can be combined in infusions with other herbs and essential oils, make simple infusions only from the maral root.

Dried roots (10-15 grams) pour boiling water in a ratio of 1:10, cover tightly and leave in a warm place, covered with a thick cloth. Allowed to use a thermos. After the infusion cooled to room temperature, it should be stored in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator.

Tincture .

Tincture is considered the most effective and potent remedy due to the fact that herbal extracts dissolved in alcohol are more quickly absorbed and better assimilated. In addition, the tincture has a longer shelf life compared to the infusion and other types of remedies.

Maral root in the composition of tinctures is recommended to take in all cases where it is necessary to treat with its components, except in situations where the use of alcohol is contraindicated (in alcoholism, pregnant and lactating women, people who drive machines and complex mechanisms, children, etc.).

Recipes for tinctures:

1. A simple recipe: 100 grams of dried roots are crushed and pour 0.5 liters of vodka. The tincture should be in a dark, cool place for three weeks.
2. Two parts of the rhizomes of maral root is added to one part of the root of elecampane, one part radiola, two parts nettle leaves and one part corn fiber. The mixture is placed in a glass jar of such volume that the herbal mixture filled its third. The remaining volume is filled with 70% alcohol. To prepare the tincture requires about three weeks. Then it is filtered and stored in a dark cool place.
3. As a means to strengthen the body in general, to maintain immunity and tonic effect leuzea tincture is often mixed with Eleutherococcus tincture (in equal parts).

Decoction

Decoction of maral root is used before meals to improve appetite, with headaches to reduce their intensity, with fatigue and depression. Prepare it from the roots and rhizomes, at the rate of 10 grams of plant material for 200 ml of water. It should be consumed before a meal, not more than two weeks in a row.

Depending on the needs of the body, decoction can be prepared from a complex of herbs:

1. A mixture of leuzea with nettle will strengthen the immune system, support the cardiovascular system.
2. The combination of leuzea with ginseng will help to give vigor and strength, will charge with energy.
3. St. John's wort added to the decoction of maral grass will enhance the effect of stimulating the production of sex hormones, will help in the treatment of prostatitis, will reduce cramps.

The use of decoction is allowed when driving a car, but pregnant women, children and people with diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous or digestive system in the acute stage is not recommended to drink it.

Tea

Brewing leuzea tea is similar to making a tincture, but it is quicker. You can consume the roots poured in boiling water after 2-3 hours. The use of such tea helps to recover from fatigue, increase efficiency, give the body strength. To achieve a stable effect, the tea should be drunk in two courses of 5 days each, with a break of 10 days. It is important to remember that this drink tones and can cause insomnia if consumed in the afternoon.

The roots of maral grass can be combined with other ingredients. For example, you can add sea buckthorn or rose hips to strengthen the immune system, lavender to eliminate headaches, currant leaves, apple tree fruits or leaves, and cranberries to flavor and normalize digestion.

Leuzea can also be found in other food products. For example, its extract is present in "Baikal" and "Sayana" lemonades, giving them a tonic effect. It is also present in some wines and balsams.

Oil of maral root: properties and uses

Oil of maral grass has a pale yellow color and a light fruity aroma. It blends well with other oils: frankincense, anise, thyme. It contains psychostimulants, phosphorus and other substances that support and enhance the health of the body.

Inhaling the vapors of Leuzea essential oil supports the health of the nervous system: it improves concentration, promotes mood, and helps you recover from stresses. Application:

1. Add it to the bath for relaxation and stress relief; it is not recommended to add the oil to water in its pure form. It should first be diluted in vegetable oil, milk or honey. After the bath, take a shower to wash off the remaining active ingredients.
2. Use in aroma lamps to stimulate brain function, eliminate neurosis, improve memory, restore sleep.
3. Addition to massage oil to relieve tension, headache and other pains (when massaging an area with pain syndrome). Other ingredients for massage are avocado and lavender oil.
4. Inhalation with the addition of chamomile, leuzea and thyme helps relieve inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
5. When intoxicated with alcohol, a drop of Leuzea oil is added to salted tomato juice or kefir to relieve symptoms of acute poisoning. The same mixture can also be used for hangover syndrome.
6. In combination with 50 grams of honey for 5 drops of Leuzea oil can be consumed before meals to strengthen the cardiovascular and digestive systems of the body.
7. Applied to the skin in dermatitis or neurodermatitis in the form of a compress (5-7 drops of Leuzea oil per 10 ml of olive oil or other vegetable fat). One can also wrap affected areas with a cloth soaked in water with oil (100 ml of water per 1 drop).
8. Apply to the skin after insect bites to eliminate itching and burning, relieve swelling.

Before applying the oil to the skin or taking it internally one should check the body's sensitivity to it, after the check at least 12 hours should pass. You should not use maral grass oil on the skin before going out in the sun, because under direct sunlight it releases toxic substances.

What is the usefulness of leuzea honey

Fresh honey from maral grass is translucent and colored yellow-white or yellow-green depending on the presence of impurities, conditions of collection and storage. Its high sugar content makes the leuzea honey crystallize within 2-3 months, but it is still quite smooth. The flavor of this honey is very sweet, and the aroma is strong and luscious, with a slight resinous tint.

Honey from maral grass with regular use helps with depression, loss of strength, improves memory, supports the immune system and promotes rapid recovery from colds and other diseases. Honey from maral root is useful for women who want to rejuvenate the skin, improve the condition of the hair.

Athletes use this honey to gain muscle mass, as it is quite caloric (about 300 kcal per 100 grams) and contains a lot of stimulating nutrients.

To preserve the useful properties of leuzea honey, it is necessary to observe the conditions of its storage: do not overcool, do not overheat, do not allow long exposure to direct sunlight.

Children under 12 years of age and pregnant women should be discouraged from using this honey, since it contains substances that can cause severe allergies or have an excessive stimulating effect.

Cosmetic uses

Maral grass is often included in creams, serums, lotions and other cosmetics due to the fact that it stimulates metabolism at the cellular level, promotes facial rejuvenation, smoothing cracks and wrinkles.

Alcoholic extract of maral root with the addition of essential oils of rose, jasmine, clove when used in a complex regular facial care helps to moisturize, tone the skin and improve its color.

Decoction of maral root can be placed in ice molds, frozen and wiped over the face. This method of care helps to make the skin firm and give it a healthy complexion.

The oil of maral restores skin elasticity, restores blood flow and metabolism, gives elasticity and a healthy color. In its pure form, oil of maral grass is not applied to the face to avoid burns or allergic reactions. Most often it is mixed in the proportion of 1 drop per 10 ml of vegetable oil or moisturizing cream. Recipes for facial masks:

1. For aging skin or after the negative effects of cold or heat, use a mixture of leuzea oil (diluted with a base product) with sandalwood and chamomile essentials (one drop each).
2. For dry skin add orange, grapefruit and almond oil (1-2 drops each) to the base mixture.

Exposure time should not exceed 15 minutes. After the treatment the mixture should be thoroughly washed off and moisturizing cream should be applied.

Leuzea oil is most useful for hair that is prone to greasiness, it helps to regulate the metabolism of fats in the tissues.

1. Mix 5 drops of Leuzea oil with 20 grams of vegetable oil and apply to the roots and hair, cover with a towel or a bag and leave on the head for 10-15 minutes. After that you should rinse your head thoroughly. Adding yolk to the mixture will help to give brilliance and strength to dull, weakened hair.
2. A mixture of oil of maral root, anise and frankincense (in equal parts) can be applied to the hair (but not on the scalp) and left for the night.

To give hair shine and strengthen their roots use decoction of maral root: 10-20 grams of roots and rhizomes put in a glass of water, bring to a boil and boil for 20 minutes. After decoction to cool, strain and rinse pre-washed hair with it. To enhance the effect of strengthening the broth can be added burdock leaves, hop cones or nettle. To give your hair more shine, you can add chamomile flowers to the decoction.

Contraindications for use

Infusions and other compositions with leuzea are contraindicated in the following cases:

1. Acute conditions with diseases of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.
2. Excitability of the nervous system, epilepsy, schizophrenia in the acute stage.
3. Acute infectious diseases.
4. Cardiovascular disease, including arrhythmia, tachycardia, hypertension.
5. Acute conditions with diseases of the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Acute conditions associated with alcoholism and other types of addiction.

If overdosed or used against a background of contraindications, blood pressure may increase, stomach pain and digestive upset, insomnia, irritability and headache. If these symptoms occur, you should stop taking leuzea remedies and seek medical attention.

Photo of Leuzea