Digitalis (Digitális) is a grass of the plantain family. Distributed in the Mediterranean, is found in Asia and North Africa.
The chemical composition of digitalis
The composition of digitalis is replete with residues of organic compounds, which, in conjunction with carbohydrates, form glycosides. The plant contains five such compounds: digitoxigenin, gitoxigenin, gitloxigenin, digoxigenin and diginigenin.
The glycosides present in the composition of the foxglove are called cardinolides or cardiac glycosides (cardiotonic glycosides). The main ones are lanatozida A, B, C.
When chemical reactions, the interaction with water glycosides form new compounds: digitoxin, acetyldigitoxin, acetylgitoxin, acetyldigoxin, gitoxin, digoxin.
The plant also contains organic acids: flavonoids (luteolin), saponins. Foxglove leaves are rich in macro and micronutrients: magnesium, potassium, calcium, selenium, zinc, iron and ash.
Medicinal properties of digitalis
Digitalis has many healing properties. First of all, this plant helps with heart diseases such as acute heart failure.
Digitalis treats and eliminates circulatory problems. It is effective in hypertension and edema resulting from heart disease.
When treating digitalis, unlike many drugs, does not irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.
The digitalis in the composition of medicines can relieve shortness of breath, normalize the pulse and normalize the general condition of the body.
With this herb you can speed up the process of healing wounds.
The use of digitalis in traditional medicine
In official medicine, digitalis is used for problems with cardiac activity. Pharmacologists get digitoxin, gitoksin and kordinidov, which are used in the preparation of drugs from the leaves of digitalis purple and grandiflora.
For the preparation of drugs that stimulate the heart muscle, use woolly foxglove. In the leaves of the plant is Celanid and acetyldigitoxin, which are a component of such drugs.
On the basis of foxglove or with her participation, drugs are prepared for nervous disorders, hypertension, and preparations of healing action.
The most famous drugs from digitalis: gitalen, digipuren, lantoside, cordigid, digitoxin.
Did you know! From some sources it follows that digitalis as a medicine was known in the fifth century. However, the first written record dated 1543 year. The description is in the herbalist of the doctor Leonart Fuchs, who described the plant in detail.
Recipes of traditional medicine: treatment of various diseases with the help of digitalis
In folk medicine, medicinal decoctions and infusions of digitalis are widely used, as well as powder products.
Hypertension
For the preparation of remedies for hypertension Pour one gram of dry, finely chopped grass with a glass of boiling water (200 ml). Insist the mixture for forty minutes.
Take one dessert spoon three times a day.
Important! Children can take an infusion from only twelve years on one teaspoon.
Wound healing
Used for healing wounds powder. Dry grass leaves to powder.
Sprinkle the wound with them. You can cover with a light bandage, gauze is better, so that the skin breathes.
Nervous disorders
With problems with the nervous system is prepared tincture of foxglove on alcohol. Pour a dry mixture of foxglove leaves into a dark glass bottle, pour 200 ml of wine alcohol there. Capacity tightly close and insist in a dark place, occasionally shaking.
After a week, strain, pour into a clean container and store in a dark place. A single dose should not exceed thirty drops.
Heart failure
When heart failure is prepared infusion. One gram of crushed leaves is filled with hot water of 200 ml. After infusion, take a teaspoon three times a day. Children prepare a less concentrated solution - 0.5 gram per 180 ml of water.
Attention! Do not self-medicate and do not take the drug for a long time. Some components accumulate in the body and can cause poisoning.
How to prepare therapeutic raw materials from digitalis
They collect the foxglove for medicinal purposes in August - September. It is advisable to do the preparation of raw materials digitalis in dry weather in the evening.
Leaves cut without stem: it has no useful items. In the evening the foxglove contains the greatest concentration of useful substances.
The leaves on a production scale are dried in special dryers at a temperature of up to 60 degrees. During drying, the raw materials are repeatedly turned over for uniform drying.
The raw material is ready when the top plate takes on a red color. Store the product in fabric bags or cartons in a dry place for 24 months.
Contraindications and possible side effects
Glycosides, which are in the composition of herbs, tend to accumulate and are slowly eliminated from the body.
With the long-term use of funds from digitalis possible poisoning. The foxglove plant is a strong plant poison.
Interesting! In England, due to the increased incidence of poisoning, digitalis was excluded from practice. Rehabilitated the plant in 1756, William Withering, who discovered the ability of digitalis to treat heart disease.
Digitalis has a strict contraindication for such diseases: infectious diseases, coronary insufficiency, bradycardia, heart disease, myocardial infarction. With great care should be given infusions or decoctions for children.
With symptoms of poisoning (arrhythmia, diarrhea, blue lips and nausea, choking and vomiting), it is necessary to immediately flush the stomach with plenty of water and contact the doctors.
Being engaged in the treatment of digitalis according to the recipes of traditional medicine, do not forget about the official medicine. Any treatment should be coordinated with your doctor - it will save you from possible unpleasant consequences.
