Snake-head - dracocephalum l.

Family Gubovitnye - Lamiaceae

Botanical characteristics. A perennial or annual herb plant with a height of up to 50 cm.

The root is thin with thin subordinate roots. Stem erect, tetrahedral, branching. Leaves opposite to oblong-ovate or oblong-lanceolate. Flowers large light blue or pale violet, collected in a racemose inflorescence. Blossoms in July, bears fruit in August.

There are several species. The most common and curative are:

• The Ruysch's snakehead is D. ruyschiana L. A perennial plant 10-40 cm high. It grows in meadows, glades, river banks, steppe rocky slopes, rocks, to the middle belt. Flowers are pale violet, as a rule, in the inflorescence of 13 flowers. Leaves oblong-lanceolate.
• The Moldavian snakehead is D. moldavica L. An annual herbaceous plant 10-50 cm high. It grows on steppe slopes, near shelter, in kitchen gardens, parks. The flowers are light blue, larger in comparison with the previous species, in the inflorescence of 3-5 or more. Leaves oblong-ovate, upper oblong, smaller than others.

Both species have medicinal properties, are close in chemical composition, for therapeutic purposes they can be used similarly.

Used parts of the plant. Medicinal raw materials are the aerial part of the plant, less often the roots and seeds. Raw materials are collected during flowering and dried in the usual way outdoors in shade or dryers at a temperature of 30 ° C.

Chemical composition. All parts of the plant contain essential oil, in its composition: citral (most in the aerial part), tannins, vitamins, coumarins, flavonoids. Seeds contain fatty oil, in its composition acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic. Roots contain trace elements.

Application. In folk medicine, the snakehead has long been used as an astringent, spasmolytic, with diseases of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, headache, respiratory infections, as a restorative, enhancing potency; Externally in the form of compresses - with rheumatism.

In addition, the Moldavian snake-maker is used as a sedative, with fainting, female diseases; In Transbaikalia - with jade, gastroenteritis; In the form of rinsing - with stomatitis.

Decoction of the aerial part of the plant in clinical trials with pyelonephritis in children gave positive results, recommended for treatment. Tincture in the experiment increases tone and increases the amplitude of intestinal contractions, dilates the vessels of the mesentery and increases the rate of blood flow. The extract shows antibacterial activity. Essential oil has a protistocidal effect. The nectar of the flowers of Ryuysh's snakehead is active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Seeds have astringent and sedative properties.

In Tibetan medicine, the snakehead is used for stomach ulcers and esophageal diseases; In Mongolian medicine - with diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, as haemostatic, wound-healing; Flowers - with scurvy and its complications, arthritis, ascites, as an antipyretic; In collections - as a sedative and with gastric colic; Externally - with purulent, long-term non-healing wounds, fungal skin lesions, scabies.

Essential oil is suitable for use in perfumes and cosmetics. The snakehead is a source for obtaining citral. Cultivated in the central regions of the European part of Russia. Young leaves and seeds are used as a seasoning for dishes, for conservation.

Preparation

• For broth take 20 g of the aboveground part of the plant or seeds, pour 200 ml of boiling water, insist on a boiling water bath for 30 minutes, cool 10 minutes, filter. Take 1/3 cup 3 times daily before meals
• For infusion of 15 g of flowers or leaves, pour 200 ml of boiling water, put on a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, cool for 45 minutes, filter. Take should be 1/3 cup 2-3 times daily before meals.
• Tincture from the roots can be prepared on 70% alcohol at a rate of 1:10, insist 12-15 days in a dark place, filter. Take 30-40 drops per reception 3-4 times a day before meals. Gradually, the dose can be increased to 50-60 drops per reception.