Ivan tea medicinal properties and contraindications: what it treats and what it helps with, tips for use

A trendy Russian superfood, a plant with a thousand-year history, a beautiful weed, a counterfeit of real tea or a healthy drink? We could simply answer “yes” to all these questions, but we decided to write a really big article for you with comprehensive information. Read this text to the end - and you will know everything about fireweed.

A little history

It is known that this drink was popular back in the 12th century. Then it was also called fire grass, skrypnik, mother plant, plakun, fireman, Ivanov. Both ordinary peasants and noble people drank it with great pleasure.

Plants that serve as raw materials grew everywhere, but the tea harvest is called “Koporye”, since monks from the village of Koporye first began to produce Ivan tea. After English sailors once visited this place and tried the broth, it became famous not only in Russia, but also in Europe.

At the end of the 19th century, unable to withstand competition with tea from the plantations of India, the Russian infusion was forced out of the world market. Fortunately, today they are talking about it again, because its benefits are not only not inferior, but even exceed the usefulness of many Chinese and Indian products.

You might want to know...

...one more interesting thing about Ivan tea.

• The fireweed is the official symbol of the Canadian Yukon Island and is depicted on its coat of arms.
• “Koporka” is not a synonym for fireweed, but an old name characteristic of one specific producing area.
• Fireweed is not always fireweed; this family includes many different types of similar herbs.
• The raw material for fireweed tea in bags is the same quality leaf as for the loose product.
• Fireweed is a very tenacious weed that is the first to colonize burnt areas.

Do you drink Ivan tea?

Broadleaf fireweed

Chamerion latifolium is found in northern regions. It is characterized by leaves 1-10 cm long with rounded or pointed ends with hairs. This plant is valued by the Eskimos, who take it as a healthy food supplement. Used raw, as an ingredient in salads, or made into an infusion. In addition, fiddlehead flowers are one of the national symbols of Greenland.

Regular use helps strengthen the immune system, normalize metabolism, and reduce the risk of cancer.

What is fireweed

Fireweed, also known as fireweed, is a herb that grows in the temperate climate of the Eurasian continent. Some species are common in North America. Mainly found in forest-steppe and steppe zones.

Most often, fireweed can be found in coniferous forests. In Russia, it grows not only in the middle zone, but also in Siberia.

It is curious that in the American style the name of the grass sounds like Fireweed, which means fire weed. Fireweed earned this name because of its ability to restore devastated soil after fires. It prepares the earth for the emergence of new plants.

The grass can reach from 50 cm to 2 m in height. It has a bare, erect stem, sessile leaves, pointed upward and jagged along the edges. During flowering, large flowers with 4 petals appear. They can be white, red or pink. The plant has fruits in the form of oblong boxes with many seeds inside.

The chemical composition of narrow-leaved fireweed makes it incredibly beneficial for the human body. The plant contains:

1. Flavonoids that cleanse the body and have a choleretic effect.
2. Tannins with anti-inflammatory, disinfecting effects.
3. Mucus that relieves spasms and relieves pain.
4. A small amount of alkaloids that accelerate metabolism and improve blood circulation, thinning the blood.
5. Pectin, which increases the shelf life of tea and helps control appetite.
6. Vitamins A, C, which improve vision, skin and hair condition, and strengthen the body.
7. Organic acids and polysaccharides that improve the functioning of enzymes and metabolic processes in the body.

To watch a video about the plant:

Plant species

A variety of fireweed species grow along the European part. In total, the plant has about two hundred varieties. Among them are especially distinguished:

1. Narrow-leaved - grows in the European part of Russia, in Siberia. Used for medical and decorative purposes. It is from the narrow-leaved variety of grass that Koporye tea is made.
2. Broadleaf is the national symbol of Greenland. Lover of harsh climatic conditions. Lives in arctic and subarctic zones.
3. Small-flowered fireweed - used for medicinal purposes. The plant was registered by Germany in the pharmacopoeia in the 70s.
4. Hairy, or shaggy, with slight pubescence along the entire stem. It is used mainly in everyday life as a honey plant.
5. Colchis, or otherwise Caucasian, is a mountain creeping subshrub.
6. Dodonea is a species common in Europe, Asia, and North America.
7. Swamp - with a thin stem and narrow leaves. Found in swampy areas and tundra zones.

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Compound

The drink has many valuable components: vitamins A, B1-B9, C, PP, macro- and microelements. Among them:

• phosphorus;
• potassium;
• manganese;
• calcium;
• titanium;
• zinc;
• sodium;
• copper;
• magnesium;
• selenium;
• iron;
• molybdenum.

Energy value per 100 g: 103 kcal (24.3% proteins, 31% fats, 44.7% carbohydrates).

Beneficial features

The elements contained in this fragrant herb tone the body, make bones and tooth enamel stronger, reduce the likelihood of seizures, optimize hematopoietic processes, help strengthen the spine, and prevent heart disease.

Vitamins contained in angustifolia fireweed

Fireweed contains large amounts of microelements, vitamins and antioxidants:

• Vitamin C (fireweed contains 6.5 times more vitamin C than lemons);
• Carotenoids;
• B vitamins;
• Polysaccharides;
• Pectins;
• Chlorophyll;
• Tannins;
• Phytosterols;
• Organic acids;
• Flavonoids;
• Coumarins;
• Triterpenoids;
• Alkaloids;
• Iron;
• Copper;
• Manganese;
• Potassium;
• Sodium;
• Calcium;
• Magnesium;
• Boron;
• Nickel;
• Titanium.

Benefits of Ivan tea: what is useful, what heals

The complex of minerals and vitamins contained in the infusion are easily digestible and help:

• for overexertion, anxiety, stress;
• improve mood and relax;
• increase efficiency and productivity;
• normalize sleep, make it deeper, more effective, facilitate the process of falling asleep;
• get a boost of energy during loss of strength, exhaustion and recovery from illness;
• cleanse the body, restore acid-base balance, eliminate excess salt deposits;
• support healthy intestinal microflora;
• in case of intoxication after drinking alcohol;
• against colds and viral diseases, for vitamin deficiency;
• activate the immune system;
• during hypertensive crises;
• improve the condition of blood vessels, prevent stroke and heart attack;
• reduce the toxic effects of drugs during oncology treatment;
• soften the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, prevent ulcers and gallbladder diseases;
• reduce the frequency of headaches;
• improve the condition of the skin and mucous membranes, alleviate inflammation.

Ivan tea and its healing properties: how it helps men

The infusion has a positive effect on the prostate gland, problems with which often arise due to low activity, sedentary work, and bad habits. Regular use of the decoction allows you to avoid adenoma and prostatitis, as it has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. When the function of the reproductive system decreases, the fiddlehead helps improve the situation. It is especially recommended for use after 50 years.

How to support women's health

Most of all, girls value fireweed for its beneficial effects on skin, nails, and hair. The collection also reduces the feeling of hunger, which promotes weight loss, normalizes metabolic processes, saturates the body with useful micro- and macroelements with a low calorie count. Tea also regulates mood, helps control emotions and calm down. During menopause, it helps alleviate unpleasant symptoms.

Urinary tract infection and the role of herbal remedies in its complex therapy

Urinary tract infection (UTI; synonyms: urinary system infection, urinary tract infection) is a collective term denoting an infectious-inflammatory process in the urinary system without indicating its location and nature of the course. Based on localization, infections of the lower urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis) and upper urinary tract (pyelonephritis, abscess and carbuncle of the kidney, apostematous pyelonephritis) are distinguished.

Based on the nature of the course, UTIs are divided into uncomplicated and complicated. Uncomplicated UTI usually develops in people without obstructive uropathy and structural changes in the kidneys and urinary tract, in the absence of underlying diseases. Complicated infections occur in patients with obstructive uropathy, urolithiasis, polycystic kidney disease, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), against the background of bladder catheterization and/or instrumental (invasive) research methods, as well as in patients with concomitant diseases such as diabetes diabetes, gout, other metabolic disorders.

Based on their occurrence, they distinguish between community-acquired (occurring in an outpatient setting) and nosocomial (developing after 48 hours of the patient’s hospital stay) UTIs. At least 40% of all nosocomial infections are caused by UTIs, caused in most cases by bladder catheterization [1–3].

Based on the severity of clinical manifestations, UTIs are often classified as afebrile (predominantly lower urinary tract infection), febrile (predominantly upper urinary tract infection), and asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB). BD is a bacteriological diagnosis that is established by examining urine collected with maximum sterility and delivered to the laboratory in the shortest possible time. According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), BD is isolated bacteriuria in a urine sample obtained under conditions that exclude contamination and in the absence of symptoms of urinary infection [4]. The diagnosis of BD can be made:

• if in two consecutive urine tests in women without clinical signs of UTI, the same strain of microorganisms was isolated in an amount of ≥ 105 CFU/ml;
• if in a urine test in men without UTI symptoms a bacterial strain was isolated once in an amount of ≥ 105 CFU/ml;
• if in a urine test obtained during catheterization, in both men and women, a bacterial strain was isolated in an amount of ≥ 102 CFU/ml.

In the structure of infectious morbidity, UTI ranks second, second only to respiratory infections. Among the adult population, women are 30–50 times more likely than men to suffer from a UTI, and up to 60% of women will experience an episode of a UTI during their lifetime. In every fourth patient in this age group, UTI recurs within a year [5]. In elderly and senile age, the frequency of UTIs in women and men is gradually becoming equal, which is due to the development of BPH in almost 100% of cases, which disrupts urodynamics. In general, UTIs, including pyelonephritis, are reported significantly more often in women than in men. The prevalence of UTI in the pediatric population is 20–22 cases per 1000 children and, over the age of one year, occurs in girls tens of times more often than in boys.

In the structure of nosocomial infections, the share of UTIs can reach 40%.

Etiology

The main causative agents of UTIs are gram-negative bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family, and of them predominantly Escherichia coli (E. coli). In uncomplicated UTIs, E. coli and other representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae family account for up to 90–95% of all cases, while in complicated UTIs, the share of E. coli in the etiological structure decreases to 30–50% and Proteus spp., Pseudomonas spp. are much more common. , Klebsiella spp., mushrooms (mainly Candida albicans). A feature of complicated UTIs is a large proportion of microbial associations in the etiological structure (Table 1).

UTI treatment

The mainstay of treatment for UTI is antibiotic therapy. As with other bacterial infections, the sensitivity of pathogens to antibiotics is critical when choosing a drug for empirical treatment of UTI. Uncomplicated UTIs are most treatable.

One of the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of UTIs are fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, etc.), which are indicated in many international guidelines as the drugs of choice in the treatment of UTIs. However, there is currently a rapid increase in the resistance of uropathogenic E. coli to drugs in this group. It is believed that when the level of resistance in the population is more than 10%, restrictions on the use of drugs are introduced. In Russia, the level of resistance of uropathogenic E. coli to fluoroquinolones, according to various studies, ranges from 4.3% to 12.9%, averaging about 7–8% [1, 2, 6, 7].

For the treatment of UTIs in pregnant women and children, as well as in other categories of patients with intolerance to fluoroquinolones, the drugs of choice are amoxicillin/clavulanate, cephalosporins of the second and third generations, fosfomycin trometamol, nitrofurantoin [8]. The advantage of using amoxicillin/clavulanate is not only its high activity against E. coli (the level of resistance is lower than for fluoroquinolones), but also the absence of teratogenic effects, which makes its use possible in the first trimester of pregnancy [9, 10].

The effectiveness and safety of the use of third generation cephalosporins in children and pregnant women in the treatment of uncomplicated and complicated UTIs has been proven [7]. A distinctive feature of third generation cephalosporins is their high activity against microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family, resistance to the action of beta-lactamases, and a long half-life [11].

The use of nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoins has certain disadvantages due to the need to use these drugs 3–4 times a day, as well as the weak activity of nitrofurantoin against Proteus spp., and nalidixic acid against S. saprophyticus [12].

The duration of antibiotic therapy depends on the characteristics of the UTI. As a rule, in the absence of risk factors, antibiotic therapy is prescribed for 3–5 days for acute lower urinary tract infection, and for 10–14 days for upper urinary tract infection. For acute complicated UTI or in the presence of risk factors, the same antimicrobial drugs are used as for uncomplicated UTI, but the duration of therapy is increased to 7–14 days or more [13].

A feature of the treatment of UTIs in childhood is longer antibacterial therapy compared to adults with a mandatory course of anti-relapse treatment.

An important problem in the treatment of both complicated and uncomplicated UTI is antibiotic resistance. Thus, there is a high frequency of resistance of community-acquired E. coli strains to ampicillin (uncomplicated infections - 37%, complicated - 46%) and co-trimoxazole (uncomplicated infections - 21%, complicated - 30%), therefore these drugs are not recommended for use as drugs of choice for the treatment of UTIs [8]. In addition, microorganisms that have colonized the uroepithelium are capable of producing polymeric substances, creating a biofilm, into which the entry of antibiotics and mucosal protective factors is difficult. This allows them to “escape” the immune response and largely determines resistance to antibacterial drugs [14, 15].

Therefore, despite the successes in the creation of new antibacterial drugs, the treatment of UTIs, especially complicated and recurrent ones, remains an urgent task, often requiring the prescription of a combination of drugs or their sequential change, long-term anti-relapse courses. This inevitably leads to an increase in the incidence of adverse drug reactions of therapy, and also forms a vicious circle, since frequent and long-term use of antibiotics leads to an increase in the population of microflora resistant to them.

In recent decades, there has been a significant revival of interest in herbal medicine as a component of complex therapy for UTIs. The medicinal properties of plants were well known to ancient doctors; traditional medicine of almost all nations and countries uses them to treat various diseases. The effect of herbal medicines in the framework of modern research appears to us in a new light, primarily from the point of view of overcoming antibiotic resistance and the ability to destroy microbial biofilm on the mucous membrane of the urinary tract.

In the complex therapy of UTIs, herbal medicines are used that have anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and hemostatic effects, which is important in the development of hematuria.

Herbal preparations can be used as separate infusions or herbal preparations. Components of various plants are also included in the composition of industrial medicines.

The most widely used medicinal plants for UTI are presented in Table. 2, and are also described below [16, 17].

Goldenrod (life-giving herb, heartwood) is widely used in folk medicine in various countries. In Germany, goldenrod infusion is recommended primarily for chronic inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, crystalluria and urolithiasis, as a diuretic. Goldenrod herb preparations have a hypoazotemic effect. Goldenrod grass contains flavonoids, saponins, organic acids and essential oils that contribute to the destruction of bacterial cell membranes, carotene, ascorbic and nicotinic acids.

Bearberry (bear ears) - contains arbutin, which is broken down in the body into hydroquinone (an antiseptic that has an antibacterial effect in the urinary tract) and glucose. Used in the form of decoctions (30 g per 500 ml) 2 tablespoons 5-6 times a day. Bearberry exhibits its effect in an alkaline environment, so taking the decoction should be combined with ingesting alkaline mineral waters (Borjomi) and soda solutions. To alkalize urine, use apples, pears, and raspberries.

Horsetail - has anti-inflammatory, diuretic and hemostatic effects. Used for UTI, crystalluria and urolithiasis. Due to the high content of silicon compounds, decoctions, infusions and extracts of horsetail have a pronounced healing and vascular strengthening effect, promote the dissolution of salt crystals in the urine, and accelerate the removal of lead from the body.

Lingonberry leaves have antimicrobial and diuretic effects. The latter is due to the presence of hydroquinone in lingonberry leaves. Used as a decoction (2 tablespoons per 1.5 cups of water). Prescribed 2 tablespoons 5-6 times a day. Just like bearberry, it works better in an alkaline environment.

Knotweed (knotweed) - contains avicularin glycoside, tannins, essential oil, carotene, ascorbic acid. Used as a diuretic, hemostatic and astringent. Has an antispasmodic effect on the urinary tract. Widely used in folk medicine and is part of various herbs.

Garden parsley is rich in flavonoids and essential oils. It has a direct effect on the renal tubules, thereby achieving a diuretic effect. It has an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscles of the urinary tract and blood vessels.

Lovage officinalis (love potion) - mainly the roots of the plant are used for medical purposes. Contains essential oils, organic acids, coumarin, tannins. It has a pronounced diuretic and antibacterial effect. Used for inflammation of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal disorders. As a rule, it is part of combination drugs and fees.

Creeping wheatgrass contains essential oils, saponins, inulin, ascorbic acid, carotene. It has a diuretic effect due to inulin, essential oil provides antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Cranberry juice, fruit drink (contains sodium benzoate) - has an antiseptic effect (synthesis in the liver from benzoate of hippuric acid increases, which, when excreted in the urine, causes a bacteriostatic effect). Take 2–4 glasses per day.

Forest pine - essential (turpentine) pine oil has a pronounced bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effect.

For chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections, various herbal mixtures are used. They are prescribed, as a rule, for a long period, alternating mainly bactericidal and diuretic preparations. However, self-treatment with medicinal plants is fraught with some dangers. Components of many medicinal plants in large dosages can be potentially toxic and have a pathological effect on the functioning of individual organs. Therefore, from a safety point of view, in the complex treatment of UTIs, preference is given to factory-produced drugs, the correct dosage of which ensures high efficiency while maintaining complete safety.

One of the most widely used herbal medicines for the treatment of UTIs is Phytolysin. Phytolysin contains an extract of a mixture of plants (goldenrod, horsetail, wheatgrass, knotweed, birch leaves, lovage, wheatgrass, parsley, sage oil, mint, pine and orange, fenugreek seeds), due to which it has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic effect, reduces crystal formation , promotes the dissolution of crystals and stones and their excretion in the urine.

The drug is in the form of a paste for preparing a suspension, which makes it easy to dosage and use. Adults are prescribed 1 teaspoon of paste orally, dissolved in 1/2 glass of warm sweet water, 3-4 times a day after meals. Phytolysin can be used in the complex treatment of UTIs together with antibiotics or after their use at the stage of anti-relapse therapy. The drug is widely used as a prophylactic for chronic inflammation of the urinary tract. The course of therapy with Phytolysin is 2–6 weeks and can be extended if necessary.

The effectiveness of medicinal plants in the treatment of UTIs has been proven by centuries of experience among the peoples of the world. Modern combined herbal medicines, such as Fitolysin, occupy an important place in the complex therapy of UTIs and make it possible to increase the effectiveness of antibacterial therapy by overcoming the pathogen's resistance to antibiotics, shorten courses of antibiotic therapy, and reduce the frequency of adverse drug reactions of their use.

Literature

1. Gales AC, Jones RN, Gordon KA et al. Activity and spectrum of 22 antimicrobial agents tested against urinary tract infection pathogens in hospitalized patients in Latin America: report from the second year of the SENTRY antimicrobial surveillance program (1998) // J Antimicrob Chemother. 2000; 45:295–303.
2. Mazzuli T. Resistance trends in urinary tract pathogens and impact on management // J Urol. 2002; 168:1720–1722.
3. Ruden H., Gastmeier P., Dascher FD, Schumacher M. Nosocomial and community-acquired infections in Germany. Summary of the results of the First National Prevalence Study (NIDEP) // Infection. 1997; 25: 199–202.
4. Nicolle L.E., Bradley S., Colgan R. et al. Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in adults // Clin Infect Dis. 2005; 40: 643–654.
5. Lindsay EN Managing recurrent urinary tract infections in women // Women's Health. 2005; July, 1: 39–50.
6. Gridnev O. V. Clinical and pharmacological aspects of rational antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections (clinical and economic multicenter study). M., 2006. P. 124.
7. Rafalsky V.V., Dovgan E.V., Ostroumova M.V. et al. Cefixime: clinical pharmacology and place in the treatment of urinary tract infections and gonococcal infections in women // Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2008, No. 6, p. 70–74.
8. Practical guide to antimicrobial chemotherapy. Ed. L. S. Strachunsky, Yu. B. Belousov, S. N. Kozlov M.: Borges, 2002; With. 384.
9. Sweet RL Bacteriuria and pyelonephritis during pregnancy // Semin. Perinatol. 1977. No. 1. R. 25–40.
10. Pasechnikov S.P., Ventskovskaya I.B., Nikitin O.D, Zagorodnyaya A.S. Modern approaches to the treatment of urinary tract infections in pregnant women // Medical aspects of women's health. 2012, No. 2 (53), p. 13–18.
11. Forti IN Medicina (B. Aires). 1994, pp. 439–458.
12. Moiseev S.V. Practical recommendations for antibacterial therapy and prevention of urinary tract infections from the perspective of evidence-based medicine // Infections and antimicrobial therapy. 2003, vol. 5, no. 3.
13. Maringhini S., Corrado C., Leone F., Pavone G. Controversies in the antimicrobial treatment of urinary tract infections // J Chemother. 2006, May; 18 Spec no 3: 16–20.
14. Bondarenko V. M. The role of opportunistic bacteria in chronic inflammatory processes of various localizations. Tver: Triad, 2011.
15. Erman M.V. Herbal medicine in the treatment of urinary system infections in children // Effective pharmacotherapy. 2014, no. 2 (16), p. 18–22.
16. Okorokov A. N. Treatment of diseases of internal organs: A practical guide. Volume 2. Minsk, 1997, 360 p.
17. Lavrenova G.V., Lavrenov V.K., Onipko V.D. For all diseases (medicinal plants of fields and forests). Directory. Donetsk: MP "Fatherland", 1994, 523 p.

A. V. Malkoch1, Candidate of Medical Sciences N. N. Filatova, Candidate of Medical Sciences

GBOU DPO RMAPO Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow

1 Contact information

Read more about medicinal properties

It was not just the pleasant taste and aromatic characteristics that made this collection so widespread in Russia back in the Middle Ages. It does not contain harmful elements such as caffeine, purine, which is quite common in other tea varieties. The drink is not only immunostimulating and general strengthening, but also truly healthy.

For prostatitis

Systematic use stops inflammation processes. Doctors recommend using it as an adjuvant for prostate problems (both chronic and acute).

To make a healing collection you will need 2 tbsp. l. dried fireweed herb. It must be filled with 0.2 liters of hot water, covered with a lid and kept in a water bath for 15 minutes. After this, you need to leave the tea for 45 minutes. and strain it. Boiling water should be added to the resulting volume until it reaches 200 ml again.

The tea should be consumed warm, 3 times a day, half a glass half an hour before meals. The course lasts 2 weeks.

For the stomach

A positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract is achieved due to the content of tannins, pectin, polysaccharides, and vitamins in willow tea. If you have problems with the digestive system, the following medicinal properties of the plant will help:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antibacterial;
• astringent;
• choleretic;
• hemostatic;
• pain reliever;
• enveloping;
• antiallergic.

For gastritis with high acidity

This type of disease is associated with increased secretory function, producing too much hydrochloric acid. The process produces the following symptoms:

• bloating;
• heartburn;
• aching pain on the left;
• intestinal disorder.

Drinking the drink during an exacerbation of the disease can only be done in consultation with a doctor. You should not self-medicate, since different forms of inflammation have their own limitations in the use of tea.

In the absence of contraindications based on the decision of a specialist, fireweed tea helps to improve the health of the mucous membrane and alleviates inflammation.

For gastritis with low acidity

In this case, hydrochloric acid is produced in the body in insufficient quantities, which entails:

• bad breath (putrid);
• burping;
• intestinal problems;
• gases and bloating.

The protective mechanisms of the stomach are reduced, the microflora deteriorates, and food is poorly digested. Fortified Koporye tea will become an additional source of valuable substances during the diet, which is required by the owners of this disease. However, here too you should remember the dosage and not self-medicate.

For hypertension

Directly, fireweed does not contribute to either an increase or decrease in blood pressure. The chemical micro- and macroelements included in its composition normalize the condition of the body in both hypertension and hypotension.

For high blood pressure:

• has an anti-stress effect;
• creates conditions for a sufficient flow of oxygen;
• eliminates excess cholesterol and fluid;
• systematizes intracellular metabolic processes;
• calms down.

With low pressure:

• improves the functioning of the vegetative system;
• maintains normal tone of the walls of blood vessels;
• provides sufficient oxygen to cells;
• is an antianemic and antioxidant agent;
• gives strength.

For pancreatitis

To treat this disease, antioxidants are extremely important, of which there are plenty in the collection. They help the pancreas block the action of free radicals, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, protect the mucous membrane and resist inflammatory processes. Tannins reduce the risk of complications. At the same time, there are restrictions on the use of the infusion in the acute phase of the disease: it should be weakly brewed and without sugar, so as not to overload the diseased organ with alkaloids and glucose.

Medicinal properties of fireweed in the treatment of cystitis

The following will help ease the symptoms of problems with the genitourinary system:

• anti-inflammatory phytoncides – natural antiseptics that eliminate pathogens;
• organic acids that stop the development of inflammation;
• vitamin C, which promotes the balanced functioning of organs and reduces heat when fever occurs;
• alkaloids, which are excellent painkillers;
• magnesium has a calming effect.

You can brew the infusion not only to get rid of the disease, but also as a preventive measure.

An original Russian herb that Tolkien wrote about

They say that a decoction of the herb, known to us under the name Ivan tea, was drunk in Rus' back in the days when such a thing as “official medicine” did not exist at all. And even then, fireweed helped our ancestors cope with various ailments.

All this is true, but there are nuances.

Firstly, in Ancient Rus' the name “Ivan-tea” simply did not exist. There was no tea itself, our usual drink made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. At that time, people drank kvass, jelly, compotes, infusions and decoctions. Moreover, infusions were prepared not just for pleasure, as we now brew tea for ourselves, but most often for a specific medical purpose. Ivan tea was then called differently depending on the region: willow grass, creaking grass, fire grass, weeping grass, red color, etc. Behind each name was hidden some special feature characteristic of this plant. For example, it was called fireman and fire grass for its ability to be the first to sprout on ashes, weeper and creaker - for the characteristic “crying” sound when pulled out of the ground, and was compared to willow due to its long thin leaves.

Scientifically, this plant is known as narrow-leaved fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium, or Epilobium angustifolium). And the name Ivan tea came into the Russian language no earlier than the 18th century, when ordinary Chinese tea appeared in our latitudes. This story deserves special attention, and we will definitely tell it below.

What is Ivan tea

A tall perennial herb with pink flowers and long thin leaves - this is what the plant, which today is called fireweed, usually looks like. At the beginning of summer, the tops of its stems are completely covered with small inflorescences, but the closer autumn is, the fewer of them remain. So fireweed can be considered a kind of natural calendar, measuring warm days.

Ivan tea grows mainly on dry, not very fertile soil, preferring northern latitudes. In Russia, it is especially abundant in the Urals and Altai region.

Ivan tea belongs to the fireweed family, which includes several hundred different species, but as a rule, only one is used as raw material for tea - angustifolia fireweed. This is the name that appears in the “Ingredients” line on packs of herbs intended for brewing.

Sometimes, much less frequently, other types of fireweed are used as a basis for fireweed - broadleaf, Colchis, etc., but they are much less popular.

Many manufacturers today call Ivan tea an original Russian product, but is this really so? Not really.

Yes, angustifolia fireweed has long been growing in Russia, but in the same way it can be found in many other regions of the northern hemisphere - in the USA, Canada, Scandinavian countries. It also grows in Great Britain, and therefore was mentioned by J. Tolkien in his trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” - as a plant that sprouted at the site of a fire in the Old Forest near the Shire.

Our ancestors probably respected angustifolia fireweed, but did not exalt it more than other herbs. Perhaps it would have remained an ordinary useful plant, like wormwood or chamomile, but in the 18th century traditional Chinese tea gained enormous popularity in Rus'. Demand for it increased, and so did prices. And not every merchant could afford to purchase such a product. Just as not every Russian person wanted to fork out for real tea. The emergence of a cheaper and more accessible substitute was inevitable, and it was Ivan tea. When dry, it was almost indistinguishable from the Chinese original. At least for inexperienced beginner tea drinkers.

The founder of this “substitution” was the landowner Savelov, whose name, unfortunately, history has not preserved. It was Savelov, who visited China and was inspired by the tea business, who came up with the fresh idea of ​​offering the Russian population dried fireweed instead of Camellia sinensis. It was not a matter of implementation: very soon the enterprising landowner gave up entire fields in the area of ​​the village of Koporye near St. Petersburg for the cultivation of “Russian tea”.

The new product quickly became popular: merchants began to mix “pork” into Chinese tea and also sell it separately. The Russian people, of course, were not fools and soon realized that the taste of “koporka” was very different from real tea. However, not everyone could afford a foreign product, so they often agreed to a compromise - less tasty, but more affordable. And if “koporka” had always been sold as a separate product, and not tried to replace the original tea with it, perhaps everything would have turned out differently. But... the temptation was too great to mix fireweed with camellia sinensis and pass it off as a 100% Chinese product. So at some point, the reputation of the “koporka” was expectedly damaged. And, as soon as tea began to be grown in Russia, the fireweed “surrogate” was consigned to the outskirts of history.

In the 21st century, fireweed turned out to be the very new thing that is well forgotten and old. Manufacturers of healthy food products have revived the fashion for it, since it became clear that the composition of this plant (and therefore the drink) is worthy of all attention. This trend was also picked up by the state: it provided financial and ideological support to Ivan tea producers throughout the country.

Useful properties of Ivanchai: features and methods of harvesting

All parts of the herb, from flowers to roots, are considered medicinal.

How and when to collect

The top of the plant is removed when flowering begins, but the buds should not be completely open. Young shoots are cut off in May, and roots in late autumn.

Fermentation

The inflorescences are cut and laid out on a cloth, then rolled into a roll and the juice is squeezed out. Next, it is taken to a dry place at 20-25° for 8-10 hours, after which it is dried in the oven.

The remaining parts of the plant are cleaned of contaminants and dried in a thoroughly ventilated area. The finished dry brew is kept in a shaded place in a tightly closed container.

Varieties: what is found in nature

Like many other crops, fireweed has its own varieties. It is worth considering them separately so that the acquaintance will be more intimate.

Mountain fireweed

The stem stands upright in one instance. In the upper part it is drooping, has a slight branching. Grows up to sixty centimeters. The leaves are egg-shaped, with teeth of varying lengths along the edges. It blooms with small flowers 5-10 mm in diameter. They have white, pink and purple tints.

The fruit looks like a box 7 cm long. If you need to collect the flowers of the plant, it is better to go for them in June and July. For seeds, the time falls at the end of July - August.

Swampy fireweed

The stalk in this representative grows singly and has a regular cylindrical shape. Reaches eighty centimeters in height. The trunk is fluffy at the top.

Leaves are short-petiolate. The length of the leaves is from two to 9 cm. The flowers are united in a small brush that grows at the very end of the stem. Shade of pink. The fruits sit in a spindle-shaped box. The seeds are small. It blooms in July and continues to delight with flowers until September.

Mountain fireweed

Where does it grow and how does it differ from other fireweed?

Interesting representative. Its stem has the shape of a cylinder, while the trunk itself is branched and erect. It is not smooth, but covered with hairs along its entire length. An adult plant grows up to one hundred and fifty centimeters.

Finely serrated leaves are classified as short-petiolate. The flowers are dark pink. The fruit is a capsule up to ten centimeters in size. There are a lot of seeds. They are small and ovoid in shape. The plant begins to bloom at the beginning of summer and ends towards the end.

Small-flowered fireweed: type, features, how to identify

The stem of this species is single and erect, covered along its entire length with small soft fibers. The leaves are oblong, may be narrowed towards the top, oval in shape. The lower leaves are opposite, and the upper ones are alternate. The flowers are not large in size, only up to one centimeter, their color is soft pink.

Fireweed small-flowered

Fireweed angustifolia

The trunk extends up to two meters. It's straight and juicy. The root is a creeping type, developed, with numerous shoots. Purple flowers are always open wide. The leaves have a very short petiole. They have an elongated shape with a sharp tip.

The flowers delight with their wide opening and bright color. They are collected in tassels at the top of the stem. The seeds of this species have a tuft and fluff. They can fly over long distances. The grass blooms from the middle of the first summer month until August, and the fruits appear at the end of July.

Preparation

There are several different methods for brewing fire herb.

• Fireweed tea poured with boiling water at 95-100°C is left in a teapot for 10-15 minutes. Then the infusion is shaken, thereby saturating the drink with essential oils.
• Skrypnik can also be prepared in the Chinese way - by pouring it. For a 150 ml gaiwan you will need 1 tbsp. l. dry plant. Several spills should be made every 30-40 seconds of settling (in total, the tea leaves can withstand about 5 spills).
• Skrypnik can also be boiled by pouring dried shoots into a saucepan and filling with cold water. The liquid should cover them by 5-10 centimeters. Bring the broth to a boil over low heat, then remove the container and leave for 15 minutes. under the lid.

Application in home cosmetology

The benefits of products prepared from the herb fireweed have been noticed for weakened, dull hair. They are also used to improve the condition of facial skin, restore elasticity, velvety and pleasant color.

For face

Ivan tea is successfully used for the face if nourishment for dry, dull skin and additional hydration are required:

1. A teaspoon of dried fireweed is kept in 100 ml until cooled. boiling water
2. Strain.
3. Add egg yolk and 1 tbsp. l. heavy heavy cream.
4. The mass brought to a uniform consistency is left on the face for 15 minutes.
5. Wash off with cool water.

The procedures are performed every 6-7 days. Gradually, the skin acquires a healthy color, tightens, and becomes more elastic.

For oily skin:

1. Place dried fireweed flowers into a glass container, filling half the volume.
2. Pour vodka up to the neck.
3. Leave under a tight lid for seven days in a kitchen cabinet.
4. For the mask, combine 2 tsp. tinctures of fireweed tea with a small pinch of medium table salt.
5. While stirring, add oatmeal, calculating the amount so as to obtain a homogeneous mass similar to sour cream.
6. Distribute over skin.
7. Wash off the mask after 15 minutes.

Such sessions are performed every three to four days. The oiliness of the skin gradually decreases and acne is eliminated.

To strengthen hair

Ivan tea is used for hair in different versions. This is due to the ability of the medicinal plant to strengthen curls, add volume, restore silky shine, eliminate dandruff, and reduce greasiness.

A universal rinse aid is prepared from a liter of boiled water and 5 tbsp. l. ground dry fireweed. Keep the mixture under the lid for 30-40 minutes, and then strain through cheesecloth.

Apply after washing to rinse strands. Systematic use of fireweed tea significantly improves the condition of curls of various types.

To moisturize thinning, dry hair:

1. 4 tbsp. l. Leaves and flowers of fireweed are kept in 500 ml. vodka for a week.
2. For the procedure 20 ml. settings are mixed with half a glass of natural curdled milk.
3. Distribute the mask over clean strands, which should be dry.
4. After 20 minutes, wash off the remaining product with warm water.

Gradually, thanks to fireweed, the curls acquire softness, become manageable, and become less tangled.

With the help of fireweed tea, the oiliness of the hair is reduced. You will need to turn the dried fireweed leaves into powder using a mortar:

1. 50 g in a ceramic cup. red clay is diluted with hot (80-85 degrees) water until it becomes sour cream.
2. With active mixing, add the previously obtained powder - 1 tbsp. l. and dry mustard - 1 tsp.
3. The mass brought to homogeneity is distributed over damp hair.
4. Leave for 15 minutes and wash off.

Perform every 4-7 days. It is recommended to continue the procedures until a positive result appears. Then the sessions are stopped so as not to dry out the hair.

Medicinal decoctions: application

The list of diseases that fireweed effectively fights (and is used as a preventive measure) is long. For example, with regular use of the infusion, you can cope with the following ailments:

• mild poisoning;
• migraines and other headaches;
• chronic fatigue and anemia;
• hypertension of the first and second degrees;
• problems of the spleen and gallbladder;
• cystitis;
• gynecological diseases;
• prostatitis;
• stomatitis.

Growing and care on the site

Ivan tea can be grown in a summer cottage. This plant is famous not only for its medicinal properties, it is also visually attractive. There are two popular methods of growing fireweed.

From seeds

You can buy seeds or prepare them yourself. Collection time is early autumn, 1-2 months after the perennial blooms. The seeds must be thoroughly dried, removing fluff from them. Store in a dry, dark place.

For seedlings, seeds are sown in boxes in early spring. The seeds are very small; if they are sown immediately in the ground, they will be washed away by rain or blown by the wind. The soil for planting needs loose, light soil. Mix river sand, humus and peat in equal proportions. It is not recommended to deepen the seeds; it is better to scatter them over the surface of the soil substrate and “water” them generously from a spray bottle. Cover the box with glass or film and place in a warm place (the temperature for germination should be at least +20 degrees). The first shoots will hatch in about five days.

The seedlings dive when two true leaves appear. Planted in open ground in the first days of summer. Before planting, the seedlings are hardened off by placing them in fresh air for 3 days.

Tip: seedlings should be planted on a cloudy day (preferably in the rain). In the sun, young plants will wither and may even die.

Vegetatively

A simpler method, unlike the previous one. The perennial grows in forest clearings, along roads, and near reservoirs. You can dig up its roots and plant it on your site.

The root system of the medicinal crop is spreading, so it is better to dig it up with a lump of earth. The rhizome is placed in a shallow hole, where humus, sand and ash are first added. After planting, water thoroughly. The top of the soil is mulched with straw or dried grass.

Fireweed transplanted in this way quickly takes root in its new location.

Caring for a flower is not difficult.

The rules of care are as follows:

• the place for growing perennials must be sufficiently lit;
• Water sparingly, depending on the weather. Once a week in the evening or morning during intense heat. A plant from a meadow usually gets enough rain;
• loosen the soil after watering once a month;
• One mineral fertilizing per season is enough;
• for the winter, the stem of the fireweed is cut off, leaving a petiole 15 cm long from the soil;
• A good place for planting is near a fence or outbuilding, in which case the plant will not be damaged by the wind.

Tip: Fireweed grows very quickly. To prevent it from extending beyond the designated area, it must be fenced underground. To do this, iron sheets or slate are dug along the perimeter of the flowerbed to a depth of about 1 meter.

Ivan tea blooms in the second year no matter how it is planted. Flowering period: end of June – mid-August. The pubescent seeds ripen after flowering. To prevent the seeds from being blown across the garden plot by the wind, they must be cut off before they ripen.

Insect pests do not grow on fireweed; it also has good immunity to diseases. Ivan tea improves the condition of the soil on which it grows.

Treatment with fireweed tea

Before we talk about existing recipes for preparing a healing drink, we will warn you once again that skrypnik is not an independent medicine. You should not self-medicate: consult your doctor and find out if you have any special contraindications.

What to treat with fireweed and how to prepare it: recipes

For gastritis and other inflammations in the gastrointestinal tract, 3 tbsp. Add a glass of boiling water. Then boil the mixture in a water bath for 10-15 minutes. Cool and strain. Drink 2 tbsp infusion. l. 3 times a day during meals.

In case of a hypertensive crisis, add 2 parts each of queen liquor, horsetail, mistletoe, dandelion, 3 parts of dry hawthorn, 5 parts each of marianberry, marsh grass, and motherwort into a teapot. Pour 0.3 liters of hot water into the herbal mixture and leave the resulting mixture for 4 hours. The drink should be consumed 100 ml three times a day with the addition of honey. The course lasts 3 months.

Other Applications

• You can drink the decoction to lose weight. To do this, after brewing, you need to add a pinch of salt to the tea. Take 150 milliliters half an hour before meals.
• The product is also recommended for those who abuse alcohol. In this case, you need to add dried thyme (5:1) to the fireweed herb. Drink 3-5 times a day when craving for alcohol occurs, adding honey.
• If you want to quit smoking, a collection of fireweed tea with mint will help. Per tsp. For both plants, pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave for about 15 minutes in a water bath. Then the mixture should be strained, squeezed and applied half a glass 5 times a day. Thus, toxins will gradually leave the body, and the nervous system will return to normal.

Botanical description

A perennial herbaceous plant, fireweed angustifolia reaches from 50 to 200 centimeters in length. The rhizome is formed thick and creeping. Many additional buds are formed on horizontal/vertical roots. They promote rapid and efficient vegetative propagation of the plant.

Content:

• Botanical description
• Brief etymological note
• Chemical composition of raw fireweed leaves
• Useful properties of the plant
• Alternative uses of the plant
• Plant effectiveness studies

The stem is formed erect, round, simple, glabrous and densely leafy. The leaves are alternate, sessile, and the development of a very short petiole is permissible. The leaves are pointed and narrowed towards the base in a wedge-shaped shape, less often rounded. The average length of the leaves reaches from 4 to 12 centimeters, and the width - from 0.7 to 2 centimeters. The edges of the sheets are dotted with glandular-toothed curves, in some cases they develop intact and intact. The shade of the leaves of the plant is dark green with a shiny tint, pale pink or purple-red.

The flowers of fireweed are pale pink or white. Their diameter ranges from 2.5 to 3 centimeters. The petals are collected in a sparse apical raceme, which can reach from 10 to 45 centimeters. The flowering period occurs in the second half of summer and lasts 1 month. Later, pollen grains form in the flowers.

They take the shape of a ball with a diameter of 4 to 8 micromillimeters. The formed fruit is a fluffy, slightly curved capsule, the appearance of which resembles a pod. The seeds are bare, oblong, decorated with fine white hairs on top. Full ripening of the fruit occurs in August-September.

Habitat

The plant prefers the Northern Hemisphere. It takes root best in dry sandy locations, in light forests, clearing areas, and forest edges. Fireweed grows well along railway embankments, ditches, and crops. The plant tolerates moisture well and can grow normally in damp soil.

Ivan tea is the first to populate the soil after cutting down and fires. As soon as other shrubs, trees and plants begin to populate the same soil, fireweed gradually dies out. It is considered a kind of diagnostic species that indicates the condition and fertility of the earth. Most often it grows in combination with raspberry bushes.

Ivan tea spreads across the lands very simply - its long-haired small seeds are carried by the wind to the most remote corners. The seeds “travel” over impressive distances, but remain viable for only a few years.

Contraindications

Fireweed preparations are contraindicated in the following cases:

• Gastritis with low acidity;
• Simultaneous use of sedative and antipyretic drugs;
• Known hypersensitivity to any biologically active component of the plant.

Before using fireweed, it is advisable to consult a doctor and follow his recommendations. Prolonged and uncontrolled use of fireweed tea can cause digestive system disorders.