Cocoa spear (nesospelka) - cacalia hastata l.

Family Asteraceae - Compositae

Botanical characteristics. Perennial herbaceous plant. Rhizome is powerful. Stem straight up to 1.5 m tall. Leaves petiolate, broad-cupped with triangular toothed lobes; Upper - broadly lanceolate, short-petioled. Flowers large, bisexual, yellowish-white, collected in baskets on the tops of stems, forming a paniculate inflorescence. Seeds with long flying. Blossoms in June - August, fructifies in August - September.

Spread. It grows on rarefied coniferous and small-leaved forests, on forest and riverine meadows, in mountains, along river valleys.

Used parts of the plant. Medicinal raw materials are roots, leaves, flowers, seeds. The above-ground part is harvested during flowering. Roots are excavated in autumn, washed from the ground, ground and dried, pre-kneaded, at a temperature of no higher than 50 ° C.

Chemical composition. The plant contains sesquiterpenoids: cocalonol, maturinol and their derivatives; Alkaloids: hastacin; Tannins, vitamins, flavonoids; Roots - inulin, microelements.

Application. In folk medicine, the plant is widely used for the treatment of arthritis, radiculitis, catarrhal diseases, in the treatment of purulent wounds, as a laxative . In Tibetan medicine, the aerial part of the plant is used as a hemostatic; In the Mongolian - in diseases of the liver, as wound healing. Fresh leaves in the form of gruel are applied to ulcers, abscesses, bruises. Fresh juice is used for ulcer of the stomach and duodenum and as choleretic. It has been established that hastacin has an antispasmodic effect, which is superior in activity to platyphylline.

In the experiment, preparations of lance spear serve to accelerate the healing of wounds, have an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect. The etheric extract shows antibacterial activity. Fresh juice has a protistocidal effect.

In the hot time, flower baskets emit a white substance "chewing gum" of sweet taste, which is used as a delicacy, which helps to strengthen the gums.

Preparation

• For infusion take 30 g of leaves and flowers, pour 200 ml of boiling water. Insist on a boiling bath for 15 minutes, cool for 45 minutes, filter. Take 1/3 cup 2-3 times daily before meals.
• For broth 20 g of raw material is poured 200 ml of boiling water, insisted on a boiling water bath for 30 minutes, cooled for 10 minutes, filtered. Take 1/3 cup 2-3 times a day.
• Tincture from the roots is prepared on 70% alcohol at a rate of 1: 5. Insist 7-10 days, filter. Take 30-40 drops per reception 2-3 times a day, regardless of food intake.
• Fresh juice of the plant take 1 teaspoon with a small amount of water 3 times a day before meals.
• Young stems and leaves are added to salad and other dishes.