Anna Timofeevna Borzova had not the slightest relation to the greyhound dogs and bore her husband's surname since she was married at the age of 14 to the neighboring village of Aksenkovo, where the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants were related to one degree or another and bore the name of Borzovs. And since surnames in Russia were given for a reason, it was easy to guess that in the village every man is a hunter, every dog is a greyhound to some extent. Anna Timofeevna's maiden name - Travkina, also spoke of a lot.
She did not graduate from institutes, only 3 classes of a rural school and then with grief in half, since she was in the eldest family, and, therefore, she nursed all the younger brothers and sisters, and there were no shoes. (We waited for the snow to melt, and barefoot). We met Anna Timofeevna (her and the locals were called by her patronymic, and not Nyurka, like others), when she had already raised 12 sons, and they scattered around the world, and together with their grandfather, Nikolai Petrovich ("people") remained to live - to live, but wait for children for the holidays. And we fell in love with Timofeevna so much that we seemed to have grown to Aksenkov: for more than 20 years, until her death, we came to the old people, as if they were relatives, and gathered their wits from them.
Timofeevna dried herbs in the attic, above the shed, which was filled with fragrant hay during the haymaking, and then everyone moved to sleep in the hayloft. Sleep there came instantly. Everything dissolved, immersed in the aromas of herbs, mice rustled somewhere, smelled of fresh milk and dung, you could hear the cow chewing diligently, and then sighed so heavily and drawn-out. "And what is she sighing about?" - I still had time to think and did not remember anything else. I even forgot to put the rooster in the barrel so as not to yell …
- "And why is it so you sleep in the hayloft?" - I asked my grandmother.
- "And you take the bouquets home and you will sleep in Moscow."
Oh, yes, I completely forgot that in the hallway under the roof there were many herbal wreaths hung, which everyone called "babin's bouquets." Among the dry greenery, I recognized the motherwort, the white caps of meadowsweet, and I felt valerian root through my nose.
I have not seen any other brooms. Much has been written about motherwort and valerian, but Anna Timofeevna did not know about the amazing properties of meadowsweet from books. She treated her wounds, colds, brewed teas and kept a clear mind, good eyesight until old age. Now I remember that in the hut, in addition to large pillows, there were many small ones filled with "woman's bouquets", and also hop cones. Now we would call all this aromatherapy. Call it what you want. Only a deep bow and blessed memory to Anna Timofeevna, for not hiding secrets, but giving out to people. And I shared with you what I remembered, let your grandmother's bouquets give you health and bring peace and tranquility to your home.
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Valeriana officinalis L
Valerian is one of the oldest medicinal plants, its healing properties were reported by the doctors of Ancient Greece and Rome. Its name originated in the Middle Ages from the Latin verb "valerie", meaning "to be healthy." The multifaceted effect of the valerian preparation on humans has been noted. It lowers excitability, reduces spasms of smooth muscles, regulates the activity of the heart, improves coronary circulation, and has a depressing effect on the central nervous system. Her drugs increase bile secretion, the secretion of the gastrointestinal tract.
From the roots of valerian, harvested in the fall, various dosage forms are prepared: for example, camphor-valerian drops. They are an integral part of the drugs valocordin, validol, cardiovalene. At home, you can prepare a decoction of valerian roots. To do this, pour 2 teaspoons of the crushed root with a glass of cold water, boil for 5 minutes, filter through cheesecloth, take 1-2 tbsp. spoons.
Motherwort (Leonuris Cordiaca L.)
It is often called common motherwort, deaf nettle, hairy motherwort, heartwort, hairy motherwort. In our country, 11 species of this plant grow, and only one of them - heartwort, or five-lobed motherwort has medicinal value.
For medical purposes, they use the aerial part of the plant, up to 40 mm long, collected during the period of mass flowering, when up to 2/3 of the flowers open in the lower part of the inflorescence. Motherwort herb in the form of infusion, tincture, and extract is used for cardiovascular neuroses, angina pectoris and hypertension.
To prepare the infusion, 15 g of dry raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, poured with a glass of boiling water, boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes, cooled, filtered, brought to 200 ml. Take 1/3 cup infusion, 2 times daily before meals.
In terms of its biological action, motherwort is close to valerian, in terms of its effect on the cardiovascular and nervous system, it surpasses valerian by several times.
Motherwort and valerian are often used in sedative preparations, including teas.
Tranquility tea, claim that this recipe is more than 3 centuries old: Take in equal parts and chop: valerian root, motherwort herbs, dill seed, caraway seed. Pour two tablespoons of the mixture into 1.5 cups of boiling water. Insist for 30 minutes, strain, drink half a glass before meals 3 times a day. Soothing tea "Rest".
1 part motherwort herb, 2 parts mint leaves, 2 parts oregano, 2 parts hop cones, 2 parts thyme herb. One tablespoon of the mixture per glass of boiling water. Insist 30 minutes, strain. Drink half a glass in the evening and before bedtime.
Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria
Meadowsweet is less familiar to the reader; it can be found in forest glades, clearings and forest edges from mid-June or early July. This is a tall plant up to 80 cm high, with white flowers with a strong honey smell. This perennial herb in different areas is called differently: meadowsweet or meadowsweet, whitehead, meadowsweet, oregano, marsh lizunka.
For therapeutic purposes, flowers and roots are harvested. One of the active components of meadowsweet flowers is salicylic aldehyde, which causes anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, anti-allergic, diuretic effects.
In folk medicine in many countries, for centuries, both flowers and roots of this plant have been widely used. Water infusion or decoction of roots at the rate of 10 g per glass of water (taken during the day) is used for enterocolitis, helminthic invasion, as a hemostatic agent for uterine, pulmonary and gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhoids.
A decoction of inflorescences or roots is also drunk with hypertension, diseases of the nervous system.
Meadowsweet root, infused with vodka in a ratio of 1:10, take 10-15 drops 2 times a day for epilepsy, neurasthenia and other neuroses. Wounds, burns, bedsores and diaper rash are covered with flower powder. Flower powder, mixed with fat in a 1: 4 ratio, is used for eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions. Hair is washed with a decoction of flowers to improve hair growth.
Some traditional healers note the strongest antiviral effect of meadowsweet, obtained in the treatment of diseases caused by the herpes virus, viral brain lesions, with shingles, and viral psoriasis.
The ability of meadowsweet has been shown to thin blood, cleanse blood vessels and activate cerebral circulation and thus improve mental activity and memory. Moreover, according to these indicators, it is several times superior to the foreign and expensive ginkgo biloba. Flowers used for these purposes do not like boiling. For medicinal purposes, 1 tablespoon of flowers is poured with 100 g of boiled water at room temperature, insisted for at least 8 hours, they drink 1/3 cup, 3-4 times a day, for 20 minutes. before meals.