Content
The medicinal properties of rauwolfia and contraindications are of great interest. A rather rare tropical plant helps with serious ailments, but belongs to the category of poisonous and can cause severe harm.
What it looks like and where it grows
Rauvolfia serpentina (Rauvolfia serpentina) is an evergreen shrub from the Kutrovy family with a curved and very long taproot up to 3 m long. The underground part of the plant is brown on the surface and light at the break, not fibrous, with a bitter taste and odorless. It is the root that is most valued in folk medicine, since it contains the maximum amount of nutrients.
The leaves of the shrub are glabrous and shiny, dense, oval or oblong in shape with a slight sharpening. They are located on short petioles in whorls of up to five pieces, sometimes they can grow in a regular or opposite order. The plant produces tubular regular flowers with a white or pink corolla. The flower stalks of the buds are bright red, the fruits are two fused to the middle of the drupe.
Rauwolfia is found naturally in China, Thailand, Indonesia, India and other Asian countries. It is located in tropical forests, usually at the edges.
Chemical composition
Snake rauwolfia contains a huge amount of alkaloids. Mostly they are concentrated in the roots of the plant. In particular, the underground part contains:
- serpentine and reserpine;
- indobin and corinanthine;
- aymaline;
- yohimbine;
- aricin;
- rescinamin;
- serpentinine;
- deserpidine.
These and many other substances belong to the category of dangerous toxins and, in case of an overdose, pose a great danger to humans. But in homeopathic amounts, they are beneficial and contribute to the medicinal value of Rauwolfia.
The healing properties of rauwolfia
Medicinal rauwolfia has many valuable properties. When consumed in minimal dosages, the plant:
- has an antimicrobial effect and helps to remove worms from the intestines;
- helps to lower blood pressure;
- has a relaxing effect on the nervous system and helps relieve stress;
- eliminates insomnia;
- serves as a natural antifungal agent;
- fights any inflammation;
- normalizes the cardiovascular system;
- helps with epilepsy and seizures.
Rauwolfia is used for arrhythmias, intense stress and respiratory problems.
Indications for the use of rauwolfia in homeopathy
Homeopathy uses rauwolfia root extracts and drinks based on them to treat many ailments. The plant is used:
- with reduced concentration and depression;
- with headaches of any nature;
- with cramps in the legs and stiff back muscles;
- with insomnia or excessive sleepiness;
- with tremors and increased heartbeat;
- with belching and nausea;
- with arrhythmia and hypertension;
- with pain in the joints;
- with scanty menstruation in women and with discharge from the mammary glands.
Rauwolfia normalizes metabolic processes, has a beneficial effect on vision. You can use funds based on its root for diarrhea.
Preparation and application methods
Basically, traditional medicine uses water decoctions and infusions of dry leaves or powder obtained from the roots of rauwolfia. Since the plant is found only in the tropics, it is almost impossible to obtain fresh plates and flowers in temperate climates.
Decoction
Rauwolfia decoction is prepared from powder or whole dry root. Prescription requires:
- pour 10 g of medicinal raw material into an enamel container;
- pour a glass of water and bring to a boil;
- boil on the lowest heat until the volume of liquid is 50 ml.
The finished product is removed from the stove and filtered. It is taken in small sips at intervals of several hours throughout the day. In the absence of contraindications, such treatment can last up to several months, until recovery from a particular ailment.
Infusion
In case of gastrointestinal and nervous disorders, rauwolfia infusion has a good effect. They do it according to the following algorithm:
- 1 g of roots or ground powder is poured with a glass of boiling water;
- leave covered for 20 minutes at room temperature;
- passed through cheesecloth to filter.
The resulting product must be divided into three equal portions and taken during the day, shortly before meals. If side effects do not appear, the dosage can be slightly increased and used to prepare the infusion of 2 g of the medicinal root.
Fresh Juice
If fresh leaves of a tropical plant are available, natural juice can be used to heal wounds and burns. Plates are used like this:
- grind the plates with a mortar or turn into gruel using a blender;
- the green mass is carefully squeezed out through cheesecloth to obtain juice.
The medicated liquid can be used to treat cuts, wounds, and insect bites. Rauwolfia relieves pain, prevents the development of inflammation and accelerates healing.
Application in traditional medicine
You can use ready-made rauwolfia powder purchased from a pharmacy for therapy, or an extract obtained independently from the dry roots of the plant. In both cases, it is necessary to observe safe dosages of the drug and take into account the indications and possible side effects.
With hypertension
High blood pressure is good for reducing rauwolfia infusion. They do it like this:
- the dry root of the plant is ground into a homogeneous powder;
- measure out 1/4 of a small spoonful of the drug;
- pour raw materials with a glass of hot water;
- incubated for 20 minutes under the lid and filtered.
The liquid is divided into three servings and taken throughout the day between meals. Treatment can be continued up to 14 days.
With belching and heartburn
Dried rauwolfia leaves, when used carefully, soothe the mucous membranes of the stomach and esophagus and prevent gastritis. For heartburn, you can prepare the following remedy:
- dry leaves are ground with a mortar;
- measure out a large spoonful of medicinal raw materials and pour 250 ml of hot water;
- insist closed for an hour;
- filtered.
The finished product is divided into four portions of equal volume and taken on an empty stomach during the day.
For insomnia
In case of nervous disorders and sleep disorders, an infusion on dry leaves and roots of the plant helps. Prepare the drug as follows:
- parts of rauwolfia are mixed in equal proportions;
- measure 25 g of medicinal raw materials and pour water in a volume of 250 g;
- boil the components over low heat until half of the liquid boils away;
- cool under the lid and filter.
It is necessary to take the infusion once a day shortly before bedtime.
With alcoholic psychosis
Rauwolfia roots alleviate the condition of a person who is in excessive nervous excitement against the background of refusal from alcohol. The remedy is done like this:
- 10 g of dry plant roots are poured with 250 ml of water;
- boil after boiling over low heat until only 1/5 of the original volume of liquid remains;
- remove the product from the stove and cool.
The patient should drink the resulting broth on an empty stomach during the day. Every day, the drug must be prepared again. The remedy not only calms the nervous system, but also improves physical condition and serves as the prevention of seizures.
For snake bites
Rauwolfia is one of the best remedies for poisonous snake bites. To relieve pain and neutralize toxins, the following drug is prepared:
- 10 g of Rauwolfia root powder is mixed with 3 g of black pepper;
- pour raw materials 1 liter of water;
- bring to a boil and reduce the gas;
- simmer over low heat until half of the liquid remains;
- cooled to a warm state and filtered.
You need to drink the remedy in full during the day in several doses.
For painful periods
Rauwolfia roots have a strong antispasmodic effect and are beneficial for painful periods in women. The drug is prepared according to this recipe:
- Rauwolfia root is ground into powder;
- mixed with the ground part of the Ayurvedic Jatamansi plant in equal volumes;
- bring the components to homogeneity.
For medicinal purposes, it is necessary to take 1 g of the prefabricated agent twice a day. The powder is washed down with a little water or diluted in liquid before use.
With dysentery
Pure rauwolfia powder is beneficial for dysentery as it has an antibacterial and fixing effect. For treatment you need:
- chop the root of the plant thoroughly;
- measure out only 1/4 g of the resulting powder.
The extract is taken at the indicated dosage three times a day with water. Rauwolfia not only reduces the urge to defecate, but also eliminates pain in the intestines, and also stops bleeding.
Contraindications to the use of rauwolfia
The healing properties and contraindications of rauwolfia must be considered comprehensively. It is forbidden to use plant-based products:
- with peptic ulcer and colitis;
- with diverticulosis;
- with exacerbation of pancreatitis;
- during pregnancy and lactation;
- in children under 18 years of age.
Rauwolfia is prohibited for use simultaneously with alcohol and barbiturates. It cannot be used during the period of using antipsychotics and drugs for flu and colds.
Conclusion
The healing properties of rauwolfia and contraindications are related to each other. The plant is very toxic, but when used in microscopic dosages, it effectively relieves pain, improves bowel function and normalizes the emotional background.
