Heather: therapeutic properties and contraindications

Heather is a plant that is not officially considered pharmacopoeial. However, in folk medicine it is very successfully used to treat a variety of diseases.

Chemical Composition

The medicinal properties of heather are due to the chemical composition of its flowers and shoots. In folk medicine, the roots of the plant are sometimes used, but most often - its above-ground part. The most valuable raw materials are considered flowers, which grow on the tops of the shoots. They contain:

1. Flavonoids (mainly - quercetin and its derivatives), which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
2. Phytosterols, that is, plant hormone-like substances (in this case - having properties to replace steroid compounds).
3. Organic acids, mainly chlorogenic and caffeic acids. The former reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, has activity against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, and has hepatoprotective and antitumor effects. At the same time, caffeic acid has anti-inflammatory as well as immunomodulatory properties. It also inhibits carcinogenesis.
4. Glycosides, mainly arbutin, which is a natural antiseptic. In cosmetology, it is also used to lighten the skin, but in decoctions and infusions of heather, it contains exactly enough to just return a healthy complexion.
5. Tannins, vitamins, minerals involved in various biochemical processes in the body.

The upper parts of the shoots can also be used as medicinal raw materials. They contain the already mentioned flavonoid quercetin and herbacentin, which has similar properties. They also contain tannins. It contains shoots and organic acids, but mainly citric acid and fumaric acid, which are inferior to caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid.

What it looks like and where it grows

Heather in the wild is a relatively low, creeping shrub. It is only 30-100 cm in height. The leaves of this plant are small, triangular in shape, their width is about 2 mm, and they reach 2.5 mm in length. There is no petiole.

Heather blooms very beautifully, its bell-shaped flowers gathered in a one-sided brush. The flowers may be pale purple or deep purple or white in color but even white heather is rare (which is probably why it was reputed to have some special magic powers in ancient times).

The fruit of heather is a small box that contains many small seeds. However, this plant is propagated not by seeds, but by division of roots, which appear on the side branches of the shrub. When they break off, they put down roots and become independent shrubs after a while.

Most people associate heather with England and Scotland. Indeed, the heathlands of the United Kingdom are very picturesque (and, incidentally, are unique ecosystems). But in the wild, heather grows in other European countries, as well as in North Africa, in parts of Greenland, in North America and even in Asia. In Russia, under natural conditions, it is found in Siberia and the European part of the country. But today heather is often cultivated in gardens in a deliberate manner.

In nature, however, it is rarely found in heathland, but rather likes dense thickets, pine forests and mossy peatlands.

Species

It should be noted that botanically, the common heath is the only representative of the genus Heather. But the genus itself belongs to a rather large family, which includes about 4,000 shrubs, trees and even herbs.

All species of heather found in gardens today are specially bred varieties that differ in height, petal color and flowering time. For example, they include:

1. Heather ornamental, which reaches 50 cm in height. Its flowers can be purple, lilac or white. This is a low-growing shrub, and it is often grown indoors - in such conditions it blooms from autumn to January.
2. Heather is more of a tree, although it resembles a bush. Its height can be up to 5 m. It blooms in March-April with white inflorescences that have a pleasant fragrance. It is one of the oldest garden varieties, bred as early as 1658.
3. Heather rose is a beautiful shrub which can be up to 50 cm in diameter. It does not reach more than 90 cm in height. Its trunk is thin and its branches are stiff. It blooms in April-June with bell-shaped flowers in long, deep red or pink tassels. It is considered an excellent honeybee.
4. Heather is an elegant heather. It is native to South Africa. This is a small (50 cm) shrub. Its flowers are cup-shaped and numerous in an inflorescence which looks more like a ball. This variety does not tolerate frosts well and is more often grown in the winter garden.

Popular varieties also include Carmen and Hamilton heather. The first of these varieties is characterized by pink-purple flowers and is among the low-growing plants - its height does not exceed 40 cm. Hamilton is an English variety introduced in 1935. It is also considered low-growing, and its main difference is the macrose structure of the flowers. In total, there are more than 300 varieties of this plant.

Gathering and storage

As a medicinal raw material, the above-ground part of the plant is collected. The inflorescences are said to have the strongest medicinal properties. But usually they are cut off together with the top of the shoots, for which use pruning shears. Raw material should be collected during the active flowering period of the plant, in most varieties it is August.

Raw materials must be sorted and then dried by spreading a thin layer on a cotton cloth or paper (but not on newspapers, so that the petals do not get caught in the printing ink). It is better to dry the raw material in the open air, but in the shade. An attic room will also do (provided that it is well ventilated). After a few days of drying florets and leaves will easily shake off the branches. They are the most valuable raw materials. Later it should be stored in paper bags or cloth bags in a dark and dry place.

Less commonly, roots are used as a medicinal raw material. But if you need them, they are dug up at the end of October. Act carefully so as not to damage the rhizome. The roots themselves are cleaned from the soil, washed, then dried in the usual way.

What is the difference between heather and juniper?

In fact, heather and juniper are two completely different plants. Externally, they are quite dissimilar, and the confusion arises because in many regions the ancient Slavic name of juniper - heather - is still in use.

Juniper is a coniferous plant. In warm climates it can bloom twice a year, then cones appear on it, which have a characteristic aroma and a bluish tint. Its needles are dark green and each one measures 5-25 mm in length so that they are even longer than the leaves on the heather.

Heather's medicinal properties

Heather has medicinal properties, many of which have been confirmed by scientific research. In particular, it has been found that the plant:

1. Promotes the excretion of excess uric acid, which is very useful for gout.
2. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, which allows taking it for pyelonephritis and other kidney diseases.
3. It has the properties of a mild diuretic, which allows it to cope with edema.
4. It has expectorant and diaphoretic properties. Because of this, decoctions and infusions of heather can be used for acute respiratory infections and diseases of the respiratory tract, which are accompanied by coughing.
5. Improves blood clotting.
6. Has a mild sedative effect and struggles with sleep disorders.

Tannins present in the composition of this plant, as well as some other compounds have astringent and coating properties. Therefore, in the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to produce various medicines, including those intended for the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, due to its fairly high glycoside content, heather is used as a raw material for medicines that stimulate the cardiovascular system. Its extract is also used to treat inflammatory diseases of the mouth.

For women

For women, heather is interesting because it contains many antioxidants, including provitamin A and anthocyanins (they give the purple flowers their characteristic color). All of these substances help stop the processes of premature aging.

The anti-inflammatory properties of heather also help its use in the treatment of certain pelvic diseases.

Phytosterols contained in the flowers make this plant an excellent remedy for menopause or painful periods (most often this raw material is brewed in such cases in the form of tea).

For men

As we know, members of the stronger sex are more often faced with such a disease as gout. It is caused by excessive production of uric acid and is accompanied by very excruciating pain in the small joints, especially in the toes. The peculiarity of heather is that it suppresses excessive production of uric acid, that is, eliminates the very cause of the disease. And at the same time has analgesic properties, which improves the condition of the patient.

In addition, the organic acids in the composition of heather inhibit the growth of tumors, which is very important in diseases such as adenoma and prostatitis.

When pregnant

Expectant mothers often face the problem of swelling, as well as kidney problems caused by the fact that the growing uterus squeezes all internal organs. In such cases, it is dangerous to drink ready-made pharmaceuticals, because they can negatively affect the condition of the baby. But heather has no contraindications, at the same time relieves inflammation and has a mild diuretic effect, which allows you to fight pyelonephritis and eliminate swelling.

For children

It is not recommended to give infusions and decoctions of heather, as well as honey, to avoid provoking the development of an allergic reaction. Begin familiarity with these means can only be when the child is at least 3 years old. Then heather tea is given to excitable children as a mild sedative. It is used to treat respiratory diseases.

Heather in folk medicine

Although official science continues to study heather and does not yet include it in the list of medicinal herbs, it has been used in folk medicine since ancient times. This includes the use of heather for such ailments:

1. Inflammations of the bladder and kidneys, chronic pyelonephritis. In this case, the decoction is prepared as follows - 2 tsp. Spoonfuls of dry crushed raw materials pour a glass of just boiling water and insist for 15 minutes in a water bath, and then leave under a lid until it cools. The remedy is drunk a little at a time during the day.
2. Pathologies of the joints having an inflammatory nature (arthritis, rheumatism, polyarthritis). You can drink a decoction prepared according to the above recipe. But for the treatment of these pathologies are used and compresses. For them, take 1 tbsp. dried flowers for 300 ml. boiling water (that's a cup and a half) and insist this remedy in a thermos for 2 hours. The compress is made from folded in several layers of gauze, which is immersed in a warm infusion, squeeze slightly and applied to the affected joints, secured with an elastic bandage and cover top woolen cloth or scarf. Compress leave for 30-60 minutes. The procedure is repeated daily.
3. Stomatitis, inflammatory diseases of the gums or tongue. The decoction is prepared as follows - 2 tbsp. Spoonfuls of dried flowers pour 0.4 liters of boiling water, kept on a water bath for 15 minutes and allowed to cool. Thus, the method of preparation will be the same, but the decoction will be more concentrated. With this remedy, rinse your throat and mouth every 2-3 hours. You can also do dental baths, simply by taking the liquid in your mouth and holding it for 3-5 minutes (then you spit it out, get a new portion and repeat the procedure).
4. Angina, tonsillitis, other throat diseases. Also use warm decoction of heather for gargling.
5. Bronchial asthma and inflammation of the respiratory tract. Heather tea is prepared as follows - 1 tsp. leaves and flowers brewed with a glass of boiling water and infused for 10-15 minutes. Although it is believed that it is better to drink a cup of such tea in the evening because it has a soothing effect, you should not do it just before going to bed (the drink has a diuretic effect). It is better to drink tea a couple of hours before going to bed.
6. Colitis, diarrhea, abdominal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome. In such cases, also drink heather tea - no more than a cup a day.
7. To achieve a diuretic effect, use 100 ml of heather honey, prepared according to the recipe described below. This remedy is also considered effective for the removal of stones from the bladder and kidney, but only if the concrements are small in size.
8. Nervous system disorders, skin diseases, arthritis and rheumatism. Baths based on heather are recommended. They require an infusion in large quantities and at the same time a high concentration. For preparation, take half a cup of dried floral raw materials for 5 liters of hot water, just recently boiled. Insist this product for half an hour, then pass through a gauze filter and pour into the bath. The duration of the water treatment should not exceed 20 minutes. It is best done in the evening, you can even do it every day, as it has no side effects.
9. Skin diseases. Dry heather powder can be used for treatment. For it take both flowers and leaves, grinding them almost to dust. Such a powder is sprinkled on a wound that does not heal for a long time, and a sterile bandage is put on top. Heather powder acts as a natural antibiotic. The procedure is repeated daily until the wound heals. Also, this powder can be mixed into the composition of medicinal ointments that are used to heal burns.

The compresses described above are also used for allergic rashes, dermatitis and eczema. They are considered an effective remedy for herpes, burns, superficial wounds.

Heather honey (a bee product, not a plant-based drink) can act as a soothing remedy, just take it 1 tsp. a day, preferably in the evening.

In folk medicine, heather juice can also be used, which is not obtained from dry but from fresh raw material. It is used mainly for gargling the throat and in the treatment of stomatitis and gum diseases. At the same time, it is also taken internally - it is considered a good remedy for normalizing blood sugar levels. But it can also be used as an external remedy, including for the treatment of conjunctivitis.

Types of medicinal compositions

Heather is used mainly in the form of water and alcohol infusions, as well as as a decoction or tea (they differ in different concentration).

Infusion

This is a universal remedy that helps with any inflammatory diseases. It is prepared as follows - take 10 grams of dried flowers and pour a glass of boiling water. The remedy is heated in a water bath on low heat for another half hour, then poured into a thermos for another hour, then filtered. It can be used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, gastritis, other inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines. Drink 20 ml four times a day before each meal.

Tincture .

For an alcoholic tincture more often take the roots of the plant. Prepare it this way - for 10 g of raw materials 50 ml of medical alcohol. The remedy is left for 2 weeks in a dry and dark place, periodically the container with it is taken out and shaken. The finished tincture must be filtered. It is taken in the treatment of prostatitis and tuberculosis, 30-40 drops 3-4 times daily, immediately before meals, preferably diluted with a little water. This remedy can also be used as a general tonic for colds or bronchitis.

Decoction .

In classic form, it is prepared as follows - take 2 tbsp (20 g) crushed dried leaves or flowers and pour a glass of boiling water. Decoction is kept on a water bath for 15 minutes, but do not bring to a boil (this is important, otherwise contained in the raw material of medicinal substances will be destroyed). The finished product is cooled for 40-45 minutes, then passed through a filter. The dosage depends on the exact disease for which it is used. For example, if there are kidney stones or liver disease, the total volume is divided into 3 equal portions and drunk half an hour before meals 2-3 times a day.

Tea

Heather tea is not always used for medicinal purposes. Sometimes it is drunk simply for pleasure, and then the heather in its composition is well combined with other plant components, such as dried berries of strawberries, cranberries, raspberries or even rose hips. But you should remember that the latter increases the diuretic effect of heather, so be fond of such a drink is not worth it.

For therapeutic purposes, heather tea is brewed in the classical way, that is, take 1 tsp. A spoonful of dried flowers per glass of steep boiling water and insist for a short time, literally 10-15 minutes, and be sure to filter before use.

Oil

In this form, heather is used mainly for cosmetic purposes, as well as in the treatment of skin diseases. Take a glass jar, fill it to 2/3 fresh or dried flowers of heather and pour completely any refined vegetable oil (you can take not only olive but also sunflower). Insist the remedy for 15 days, shaking occasionally.

Cosmetic applications

An extract is obtained from the flowers, which is widely used in cosmetology because it contains flavonoids, tannins, organic acids and essential oils. Thanks to this, heather has wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties, in addition, it is able to slow down the aging process. It has also been proven that heather is a kind of natural photoprotector, as it can protect the skin from sunburn. And in general, it compensates for the effects of ultraviolet rays, which are often the cause of premature aging. That's as far as skin care is concerned.

But heather is also good for the hair. It is mostly valued for its antiseborrheic effect. After all, heather helps to normalize the production of sebum, including on the scalp, so it is very useful for oily hair, which after such a lotion looks healthy and shiny.

So, in cosmetology, products based on heather are used:

• for antibacterial protection;
• eliminate skin irritation;
• toning fading skin;
• stimulation of regenerative processes;
• The treatment and prevention of seborrhea;
• hair strengthening;
• As a cleanser, antiseptic and astringent for acne and other rashes.

In home cosmetology, heather can be combined with other ingredients. For example, with extracts and essential oils of lavender, wormwood, chicory, mint, and melissa, they are often used together for skin care. But in combination with decoctions of nettle, hops or burdock heather will be very useful for hair care.

In home cosmetology the plant is used as follows:

1. For the care of dry and fading skin use heather oil, prepared according to the following recipe - a glass container to 2/3 fill the flowers of the plant, then pour olive, grape or almond oil and insist for two weeks at room temperature. The oil is used for massages. It is used to lubricate skin rashes, eczema, wounds and burns.
2. With acne heather infusion is used, prepared according to the above recipe. It is used to wipe the skin instead of a tonic twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.
3. Heather decoction is used to make lotions that are applied to affected areas of the skin, for example, for eczema or rashes.
4. To combat seborrhea, rub heather infusion prepared in the manner described above into the scalp. This is done about half an hour before washing your head. When dry hair rubbed heather oil, but then it must be very carefully washed out.
5. To make hair shiny and healthy, use decoction of heather to rinse. It is enough to do this after washing your hair 1-2 times a week.

In stores you can buy heather hydrolat (that is, in fact - water extract), which is used to moisturize the skin and add to a variety of cosmetics - from masks and ointments to face and body scrubs.

In addition, decoction or infusion of heather is used to rinse the mouth - as a therapeutic and preventive agent against inflammatory diseases and bad odor.

What is heather honey good for?

As a rule, when people talk about heather honey, they mean a drink based on this plant - like the one mentioned in Robert L. Stevenson's ballad. Making homemade heather honey is quite a labor-intensive endeavor. But the result is worth it, because it is considered one of the best remedies for migraine, which is far superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in its effectiveness and safety.

Also heather honey has a calming effect, can even be used as a mild sleeping pill. It has a rejuvenating effect and gives a person a burst of energy.

The classic form of heather honey is prepared as follows. Take dried flowers of heather - 2 tbsp. spoon, mixed with 1 tbsp. flowers and flowers of ivy-herb and 2 tbsp. any flower honey. All this is poured 0.6 liters of boiling water and insist for two days.

The second version of the drink is prepared differently - take 3 handfuls of fresh heather shoots with flowers, pour 2 liters of spring (or very well purified water) and boil over low heat for a long time until the plant material is at the bottom. When the broth cools a little, strain it and add flower honey (this is done in the final stage, so that its useful substances are not destroyed). Honey is added to taste, so that the drink is not bitter. All this is mixed, cover the container with a clean cloth and leave in a dark place at room temperature so that the drink began to ferment. At first it will be cloudy, but after a few months it will be transparent - this means that it is ready. It is drunk with caution because it is highly intoxicating.

Some varieties of heather are excellent honeysuckles. Real heather honey, the one that is a product of beekeeping, is very useful. It has a beautiful reddish hue, a strong aroma, and a slightly tart taste. It can also be distinguished by the presence of many small bubbles in its structure. The real heather honey is considered an excellent antiseptic. It is also used for bronchial asthma and even pneumonia. Herbalists say it purifies the blood from toxins, and modern science has scientifically proven its antimicrobial properties (though it's no substitute for synthetic antimicrobials). Honey also has general restorative properties.

Contraindications for use

Heather is considered a safe plant, it rarely provokes an allergic reaction, but it is impossible to completely exclude such a possibility. Therefore, if symptoms of individual hypersensitivity appear (rash, swelling, etc.), the use of the means will have to stop.

Infusions and decoctions of heather should not be used in constipation, because they aggravate the situation. For the same reason, these remedies are contraindicated for gastritis with low acidity - they will further reduce it.

In the presence of large kidney or bladder stones, it is not recommended to use heather-based remedies, because they will not cope with the removal of stones, but can only contribute to the blockage of the ducts.

Do not use heather and for gastritis and ulcers, provided that these diseases are in the acute stage. In general, it should be taken into account that before taking any of the above remedies, it is necessary to consult a doctor in advance.

Interesting facts about heather

Although the official symbol of Scotland is considered to be the thistle, in fact, most people associate this country with the heathland. This is not surprising, since it is a plant that the Scottish poet Robert Burns often sang about in his poems, and the heathland also appears in works by the Brontë sisters, like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, creating a romantic background for the dramas that unfolded in these books. But Robert L. Stevenson's heather honey ballad is the most famous.

For a long time, the recipe for such honey (or Scottish ale) was considered lost. In the twentieth century it was possible to restore the technology of preparation of the drink, it turns out the same fragrant and with a slight bitterness, which was described by writers and poets of the past.

Regarding the heather in Scotland, there is another legend. It says that on a barren land in the highlands no other plant wanted to settle except heather. But for this, God gave this shrub not only vitality, but also subtle fragrance and amazing beauty of flowers. Heather, in fact, is almost the only plant that blooms beautifully in sandy soil, even if it contains virtually no nitrogen or phosphorus.

In Scotland, however, these flowers were also used for practical purposes. They were used to make yellow dye for traditional chequered tartans.

Heather is believed to bring good fortune in Scotland. This is why it is often used in wedding bouquets. In addition, its sprigs are often carried with them for good luck.

Very popular heather in Norway. Here it is also considered a flower of good luck, even a symbol of youth and even immortality. In ancient times, it was believed that these flowers can stop even heavy bleeding.

Heather was used even in Slavic rituals. True, it was harvested long before flowering. It was necessary to cut young shoots on Easter Eve to burn them in the oven (for good luck). Sprigs were also used as a talisman, in which case they were embedded between the beams or hung from the ceiling.

Magic properties of heather

Like any herb, heather also has magical properties. It has long been believed that a girl who carries a sprig of this plant in her purse, happily avoid rape. You can cause rain if you ritually burn a bit of heather along with fern leaves, but you will most likely need this ability when you become a shaman of an African tribe.

In ancient times, heather was ascribed magical properties. It was supposed to protect against evil forces. In Celtic magic rituals, it was used to cleanse your yard and home of evil forces.

Celtic heather was also used to decorate altars and magical circles, which were created on certain pagan holidays - for example, on Brigitt's Day, that is, February 2, on Lammas, celebrated on August 1, and on Halloween (which the Celts called Samhain) - October 31.

In ancient times, white heather was believed to have special protective qualities. It was believed that it not only brings good luck, but also protects women from rape.

Ancient legends say that if a person is going to go somewhere, where he may be incurred a spell, you must put in your pocket a few sprigs of heather (only so that no one can see). The same ritual is done when it is necessary that a person at a meeting was accompanied by good luck. In some ancient books, it is said that heather should be carried in a purse, so that the amount of money in it will increase.

It was believed that if everything in the house was constantly broken, if it was impossible to air it (there was still a smell of mustiness), if it was regularly attacked by bedbugs and fleas, then it was visited by witchcraft. The only way to deal with it was to use heather - it was used to smother the room. It was believed that this should be done several times. The first time should be performed on the first night of a full moon, after that four more times - at two night intervals, that is, on the third.

In this way, the ritual is the following. Take several white plates, one for each room (even including the toilet, laundry and pantry). On each plate, a pile of dried heather is placed. They start from the front doors and move counterclockwise. Bring a saucer with heather into the room, set it on fire, and walk around the entire room three times, again counterclockwise. After that, leave the saucer with still smoldering heather in the rightmost corner (if counted from the door). Then the same procedure is done in the next room, and so on. Early in the morning, all these plates are collected, on which, by that time, only ashes of heather will remain. This ash is scattered in a field near the house. On the following days, the procedure described above is repeated.

It was also believed that heather could be used to cause rain. Believe it or not - it is up to each person to decide. But the medicinal properties of heather - this is an indisputable fact, proven by science.

Photo of heather