The benefits of fireweed or willow-tea flowers are valued in folk and traditional medicine. They have a pleasant sweetish aroma and a lot of nutrients in their composition. Flowers are used fresh and dried in cooking, cosmetology, and treatment. In order not to pass by such a find, we will find out what the flowers of ivan-tea look like and how they can be useful.

Description of the Ivan-tea flower

Narrow-leaved fireweed or ivan tea grows in open and sunny places, chooses dry land. From mid-June, flowering begins, a bunch of small buds appears at the top of the stem. The color of willow tea flowers ranges from light pink to snow-white. Most often, petals of a delicate purple hue are found, which is why fireweed from afar can be mistaken for lavender. The flowering period lasts a month; in conditions of moderate temperatures, the petals do not fall until 45 days.

What does a Ivan-tea flower look like:

• four-membered bud, divided into four petals, the same number of stamens and sepals
• each flower is no more than 3.5 cm in diameter
• petals not pubescent, oval in shape, sometimes pointed to the outer edge
• all buds are placed on the upper brush of the stem, the length of such a brush reaches 45 cm

Ivan-tea flowers are honey plants, in the center of the bud there is a row of pollen grains. When touched, they leave a light yellow trail. The flowers of willow-tea fall off by the end of August, in their place are boxes with seeds.

At the peak of flowering, narrow-leaved fireweed produces a honey-floral aroma. After collecting and processing, the smell of inflorescences is slightly muffled and changed. When dried, fireweed flowers acquire a herbaceous aroma with tropical notes. Due to this property, willow tea flowers are widely used for brewing as an alternative to traditional tea.

Interesting fact: during the collection, fireweed can be confused with plakun-grass. Her inflorescences are also placed closer to the top of the stem, the shade of the flowers is similar, the height of the plant coincides with Ivan-tea. You can distinguish them by the number of petals: the fireweed has 4 of them, and the weeping herb has 5-6 petals. In order not to collect useless herbs, study the photo of ivan tea flowers.

All parts of narrow-leaved fireweed are used for recreational purposes. The green parts contain a lot of iron, vitamin C and B vitamins. Ivan tea flowers contain hanerol, a high molecular weight compound that is used to fight inflammation. The same substance is being tested in the field of cancer treatment.

Nutritional value of fireweed per 100 grams:

The chemical composition of Ivan tea flowers:

• B vitamins: B9, B12, B6
• vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• vitamin K
• retinol
• iron
• magnesium
• molybdenum
• potassium
• manganese

In addition to vitamins and minerals, fresh petals contain mucus, flavonoids and fiber. They help with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cleanse the intestines and improve its motility. B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, improve the cognitive functions of the brain. The positive effect of taking fireweed for mental disorders has been proven by the Russian Scientific Center of Neurology. Depending on how the willow-tea flower looks like, the composition may vary. For example, white petals contain fewer vitamins, but more mucus, and purple petals contain more iron.

Useful properties of Ivan tea flowers for the body:

• for the nervous system: have a sedative effect, improve sleep, reduce anxiety
• for the genitourinary system: reduce inflammation, are used for prostatitis and cystitis, normalize the menstrual cycle
• for the gastrointestinal tract: envelop the mucous membrane, reduce pain in gastritis and ulcers, have a mild laxative effect
• for the cardiovascular system: strengthen blood vessels and heart muscle, magnesium in the composition of ivan tea improves heart function
• for the whole body: used as a natural antioxidant, remove free radicals, increase the supply of vitamins

There are not many contraindications for Ivan tea flowers. It should not be taken if an allergic reaction is detected, with low blood clotting, urolithiasis. During pregnancy, against the background of gastrointestinal dysfunction, before taking Ivan tea, you need to consult a doctor. For some chronic diseases, it is forbidden to take medicinal herbs on your own, check with your doctor if you can take Ivan tea. Children under 6 years old are not recommended to give fireweed flowers.

Interesting fact: In Canada, a pharmaceutical company patented the substance enotein B, which local scientists isolated from willow-herb inflorescences. The component showed a good anti-inflammatory effect with practically no contraindications. Today, this substance is isolated from the flowers of fireweed for the creation of medicinal cosmetics.

The use of willow-tea flowers

Beautiful and fragrant flowers of ivan tea are used as a decoration, an additive to tea, and a medicine. For 4 days, cut brushes with inflorescences will stand in water and will not lose their aroma and appearance. But, given the mass of useful properties, fireweed flowers are rarely used for decoration; in most cases, a decoction is prepared from them or dried for harvesting.

Decoction of fresh flowers

If you cook fresh fireweed petals in a water bath, you get a medicinal decoction with anti-inflammatory and sedative effects.

Boil 3 tablespoons of flowers in 0.5 l of water in a water bath for 15 minutes. Then cover and set aside to cool slowly in a warm place. Strain the cooled broth through clean cheesecloth or a fine strainer.

How to use : for insomnia and headaches, drink 100 ml of broth 30 minutes before meals. For sore throat, gargle the throat with broth 3-4 times a day. Use the broth slightly warmed up.

Infusion of dried flowers

Such a drink will bring both gastronomic pleasure and benefits to the body. If desired, willow tea leaves can be added to the dried petals.

Boil 250 ml of water and leave to cool slightly for 10 minutes (water should be + 80-85 degrees). Pour 2 teaspoons of dried willow-tea inflorescences with hot water and cover tightly. Leave the mixture to infuse for 15-20 minutes. It is not necessary to filter.

How to use : drink 1-2 cups a day for ulcers, gastritis, enteritis. For sound sleep and for colds, take 250 ml warm before bedtime.

Most people with a healthy lifestyle are well aware of what willow-tea flowers look like and how they are useful. Small purple inflorescences with four petals are a treasure for the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and immunity. The sooner you get to know this plant, the more benefits you can get from it.

A source

Wikipedia: Ivan tea narrow-leaved

Video "How to collect Ivan tea flowers"

Fireweed (ivan-tea)- a perennial shrub covered with bright pink or lilac flowers (see photo). During flowering, the shrub emits a pleasant, fairly strong aroma. Fireweed is found throughout Russia. The plant is a representative of Cyprus. The popular name for the bush sounds like "down jacket", although in most cases it is known as ivan tea. Fireweed has become popular as a tea drink. Ivan tea was good not only for tea, it was customary to stuff pillows and mattresses with it, the plant even began to be called a "down jacket". The fact is that the flowering of the plant is accompanied by a lot of fluff.

Fireweed was one of the most important plants in Russia. In old chronicles, scientists have found more than one mention of this herb. Before tea appeared in Russia, people used to tea with the so-called Russian tea, which was brewed leaves of fireweed. Russian tea was revered not only in Russia, but throughout Europe. Fireweed was delivered abroad, it was also served at the imperial table. Russian tea was so popular that the recipes for its brewing were equated with a family secret and passed down from generation to generation as the greatest value. For the first time, Russian tea was tasted by residents of the village of Koporya (Petersburg province). This wonderful drink was discovered by local monks, but soon the whole district began to drink tea. Once the tea was tasted by English sailors, who by chance ended up in Koporye, they liked the drink so much that they brought it to England, where it also became very popular. Tea very quickly conquered Europe and began to displace from the market the products of Great Britain, which at that time owned valuable "tea" territories, such as India and Ceylon. The popularity of fireweed is also evidenced by the fact that it occupied an honorable place in foreign trade and was ahead of even traditional Russian products, for example, honey. Today heroic tea is undeservedly forgotten, which was promoted by the intrigues of competitors and the revolution of 1917.

How to collect and dry?

It is better to collect Ivan tea during its flowering period. The plant blooms from late June to autumn. For medicinal purposes, the leaves and flowers of fireweed are harvested, although sometimes stems and rhizomes are collected. By autumn, the plant begins to form fruits that look like beans, inside they contain fluff. When preparing willow-tea, the fluff should never get into the grass. If the roots are not needed, then the plant is cut in half, and the roots are left in the ground, since the plant is perennial. Leaves are dried in a cool place, stored in paper bags.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of willow tea (fireweed) were known to our ancestors, who considered the drink from this plant a remedy for all diseases. The plant contains a large amount of vitamin C, even more than rose hips. Fireweed contains more ascorbic acid than the well-known citrus fruits Thus, lemon contains 6.5 times less, and oranges - 3 times less. Vitamin C is important for the maintenance of many processes in the body, it prolongs youthfulness, as it is a strong antioxidant. The aerial part of Ivan tea is rich in carotenoids, B vitamins, tannins, flavonoids and phytosterols, as well as chlorophyll and pectins.

The leaves and flowers of the plant contain a large amount of iron, copper, manganese. These minerals are essential for hematopoiesis and metabolic processes. Also, fireweed has a significant content of potassium, sodium, calcium, nickel. It should be noted that it does not contain harmful substances such as caffeine, oxalic acid, which means that ivan tea does not disrupt metabolic processes in the body.

Regular consumption of tea improves blood composition and even increases hemoglobin levels. In addition, the presence of chlorophyll promotes wound healing, and chlorophyll molecules are similar to those of human hemoglobin. The plant restores the acid-base balance of the blood, the content of ascorbic acid, iron and other useful substances improves the hematopoietic function. Fireweed improves fat and carbohydrate metabolism, the absorption of nutrients from other foods. Flavonoids provide choleretic as well as diuretic effect.

Ivan tea possesses powerful anti-inflammatory properties, in efficiency it surpasses oak bark, bear ears. The plant relieves inflammation in a short time due to the presence of flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids, vitamin C. The anti-inflammatory effect is ensured by the presence of tannins in the plant. Vitamins A, B, C, K, P strengthen the vascular walls and normalize the functioning of the nervous system. These substances improve the condition of the skin.

The plant is especially useful for the male body, to improve the function of the prostate gland, effectively increases potency... Fireweed has long been considered a herb useful for men, and used to treat diseases of the genitourinary system and male impotence. The plant prevents the degeneration of adenoma into an oncological state. Ivan tea also has a diuretic effect, which will be beneficial for people with high blood pressure.

Tea has positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, it envelops the stomach, protects the mucous membrane, heals ulcers. In addition, Ivan tea relieves constipation and improves the intestinal microflora. Tea is also effective against food poisoning. The plant can be used for flatulence, ulcers, gastritis, colitis and simply to improve digestive processes.

Cooking use

In cooking, fireweed is used in different ways.

Young shoots and leaves of the plant are great for making salads. Before cooking, the leaves are thoroughly washed, then scalded with boiling water and finely chopped.

In the Caucasus, the rhizomes of this plant are also eaten. Flour is obtained from the rhizome of fireweed, which is then added when baking bread.

However, in Russia from time immemorial, fireweed was used to brew healing tea. This drink quenches thirst well and has a tonic effect. It can be taken both hot and cold. Fans of Ivan tea claim that a properly brewed drink from it is several times superior to Ceylon or Indian tea of ​​the highest grade. Unlike traditional tea drinks, "heroic tea" retains its useful and taste qualities for 2-3 days when brewed.

How to brew?

Fireweed tea is brewed using a special technology. First you need to collect young leaves, then dry them, scald them, grind them in a trough and dry them again (traditionally, this was done in a Russian oven). After drying, the leaves should be re-grinded. For one serving of tea, it will be enough to pour 3 tablespoons of the resulting mass with boiling water and insist for half an hour.

The benefits of fireweed (ivan tea) and treatment

The benefits of Ivan tea were known to Russian healers. The plant is useful for people with vegetative-vascular dystonia, as well as those suffering from headaches and migraines. Drinking this drink regularly is good prevention of peptic ulcer, cystitis, malignant tumors... Since tea does not contain caffeine and substances harmful to the body, it can be consumed by pregnant women and children. Plus, tea boosts immunity. For medicinal purposes, they also use bee honey from fireweed.

"Heroic tea" is used to normalize blood pressure, relieve headaches. A cup of tea will perfectly cope with alcohol poisoning, insomnia, calm the nervous system... Tea is good for digestion, it contains mucus that relieves inflammation, pain and cramps. The plant is recommended for use by people with cancer, at one time the pharmaceutical industry even produced the drug "Hanerol" from the inflorescences of this plant, the drug had an antitumor orientation.

The harm of fireweed (ivan tea) and contraindications

Ivan tea can harm the body with individual intolerance. The drink has no strict contraindications, it can be taken by pregnant women and children.

Mother Nature gave people many plants that are able to maintain health and treat various ailments. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical drugs are so actively promoted and advertised that people often do not bother to inquire and learn about those natural healers that grow right under their feet, do not contain any "chemistry" and do not require fabulous money to be able to use them. Meanwhile, there are a lot of such medicinal plants. One of them is ivan tea, the properties, use and contraindications of which are discussed in this article.

Name

The plant is considered mysterious, about which legends are known. It is called differently, depending on the area where it grows. For example, the names "Kuril tea", "Koporsky tea" and, of course, the famous "Ivan-tea" are known. Scientifically, he is a narrow-leaved fireweed.

The origin of the name "ivan-chai" has different versions. According to one of them, it was widely known among the peoples of the Far East, where it was used as a medicine for male problems. Therefore, I received this name. Another version is more mercantile: according to it, traders mixed fireweed leaves into black tea, thus increasing their profits.

Consider what the herb ivan tea is, its medicinal properties and contraindications, as well as recipes for its use.

Description

This plant has been known to everyone since childhood. It stands out with pink flowers in the meadow. Some types of fireweed can be confused with each other (for example, shaggy fireweed cannot be used), so it is important to know exactly what willow tea looks like. Its useful properties are found throughout the plant. Even the roots can be used as medicine. But the most valuable are flowers and leaves.

In dried form, it acquires taste. Therefore, from the beginning of the nineteenth century, it easily replaced expensive teas from China and India. They drank it much more often than kvass, fruit drink, sbiten and boiled water. But for some reason, over time, they forgot about him.

Composition

This medicinal plant contains a large amount of tannins, especially in its leaves and roots. It also contains tannins (which are derivatives of tannin), pyragol (from ten to twenty percent). Leaves are known to be healthier than whole leaves when crushed. This is due to the combined effect of plant mucus, the percentage of which reaches fifteen, and tannins.

In addition, Ivan tea contains flavonoids such as kaempferol and quercetin, as well as organic acids, which contain P vitamins.

Where grows

The willow herb is found in almost all latitudes. Medicinal properties and contraindications are known to healers, wherever they live. The main places where this grass grows are meadows, roadsides and forest edges, that is, he prefers sunny and open areas.

Its height reaches one and a half meters, turning the plant into pleasant bushes with pink flowers. Then you can start collecting it. In the middle lane, such a time begins from the end of June and lasts until the beginning of autumn, when they collect willow-herb, narrow-leaved fireweed.

The beneficial properties of the plant, however, are not known to everyone. Sometimes, when he appears in the garden, they try to get rid of him like an ordinary weed, instead of using it as a medicine or just a drink.

The narrow-leaved fireweed is distinguished by its special endurance. For example, it can be the first to start growing after a fire. But in damp and humid places, on acidic and loamy soils, it will not appear.

Collection and preparation

Only one invigorating aroma will cause a burst of strength and energy if you accidentally find the grass Ivan-tea somewhere on the edge of a forest or a lawn! Its medicinal properties and contraindications, in addition to its pleasant smell, have long been known. Therefore, many people decide to grow the plant on purpose. It is quite possible to implement the idea, since it is unpretentious, is not afraid of any drought and, moreover, will remove weeds.

Its leaves and flowers are harvested before the onset of fluff (which usually occurs from mid to late August), otherwise they will become unusable. Procurement of ivan tea is not difficult at all for medicinal purposes. But if it is going to be used as tea, then the leaves, in addition to drying, must be fermented. Then the taste will improve significantly.

When collecting flowers, they are simply plucked from the inflorescences and put in large bags, and the leaves are best used from the middle of the stem, without capturing the lower and upper ones.

In the open, the plant is dried in the shade or in the sun, spread evenly in a thin layer on paper or cloth. It is advisable to stir the raw materials by hand from time to time.

The prepared drug is stored in paper bags or fabric bags for up to two years.

The willow herb is also sometimes dried in the oven.

Healing properties

Both contraindications and indications must be known and taken into account when using it.

In fact, all the old collections of herbs contained this medicinal plant in their composition. It can be considered universal in the treatment and prevention of a wide variety of diseases. The most famous medicinal properties that fireweed exhibits are as follows:

• significantly affects the increase and strengthening of immunity;
• useful for men (enhances potency);
• used to treat and and adenoma;
• heals the digestive system;
• helps with disease and prevention of endocrine diseases;
• effective for gastritis, colitis and ulcers;
• increases hemoglobin and regulates its balance;
• promotes abrasions, quickly stops bleeding;
• used as an antipyretic agent;
• relieves the condition of the child with chickenpox and measles;
• heals the nerves and helps stabilize the psyche;
• increases efficiency, improves mood and invigorates;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• removes toxins and toxins from the body

And this is not the whole list of the beneficial effects that Ivan tea can have. Its medicinal properties and contraindications are confirmed by official medicine. In addition to them, the plant also has a lot of properties that have not been confirmed by professional healers. But we can definitely say that Kuril tea, or Ivan tea, Koporsky tea, has a beneficial effect on health.

Contraindications

Any medicinal plant, according to traditional medicine, has not only indications, but also contraindications. However, there is an exception to this rule. We are talking about a plant like willow tea. The only thing doctors warn about is that excessive use of it for more than two weeks can cause diarrhea. But this, in the opinion of many people who took it, is a rather controversial statement, since sometimes, on the contrary, fireweed is used to get rid of this problem.

Application

Ivan tea, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which are so disproportionate, is one of the few herbs that can be freely consumed during pregnancy.

If a cold is just beginning, then by drinking a decoction or tea from the plant, you can forget about the illness. However, in the acute phase, it is unlikely to be effective enough.

Ivan tea is often used as a sedative, although it will not act as a normal sleeping pill, as it has a mild effect. With constant use, it will help not only normalize sleep, but also strengthen the nervous system.

There are even known cases when, when taking it, the development of cancer cells stopped. Therefore, it is also known as an antitumor agent, which is also used for the prevention of metastases.

The plant copes well with various diseases of the genitourinary system, not only for men, but also for women.

Recipes

The herb is usually used to make alcoholic tinctures and teas. To get a great taste, it is necessary to use the fermentation method when drying. Then you get the famous Koporye tea. To do this, the freshly harvested leaves are tamped tightly into a jar and closed with a lid. The container is exposed to the sun, and when the leaves in it change their color to dark brown (usually it takes several days), the fermentation process will be completed. Then they are cut and dried in the usual way. Koporye tea will turn out to be really tasty. It is not without reason that under tsarist Russia, fireweed (ivan tea) was exported in large quantities. The properties and contraindications indicated above must be taken into account when using it as a drink.

Here are some recipes that can be used for medicinal purposes.

• For prostatitis, take one tablespoon of the herb and insist for two hours in a glass of boiling water. The remedy is consumed four times a tablespoon a day for a whole month. You can also mix it with regular tea and drink two to three glasses a day with the addition of honey. In this case, it is taken longer: from four to six months.
• The first described recipe for combating prostatitis can also be used as an antineoplastic agent.
• In addition to decoctions, teas and tinctures, you can make oil from the herb. For this, a glass of fresh flowers is poured with a glass of vegetable oil and infused in the sun in a closed glass container for three weeks. The prepared product is used to heal wounds, ulcers, burns and cuts.
• The healing properties of the herb Ivan-tea perfectly manifest themselves in which it is so useful that healers advise to use it even for patients with diabetes mellitus. They have long been treated for leukemia, painful menstruation and inflammation of the bladder.
• The herb is actively used for cosmetic purposes. It works well for acne and other skin inflammations. You can use, for example, a decoction from it. For this, three tablespoons are poured with boiling water and insisted until cooled. From the resulting funds, make daily lotions lasting two hours, periodically moistening a napkin in it.
• Also effective will be ice from a decoction of willow tea, which need to wipe the face every day.
• In addition to the skin, the plant will also help the hair. To do this, prepare a tincture and periodically moisten the hair roots with it.

Official medicine about Ivan-tea

Medicine is no longer so rarely began to turn to folk methods. This speaks to the common sense of today's doctors. After all, it is clear how much health-improving chemical drugs, on the one hand, can harm health with their numerous side effects. In addition, it would be illogical to discard the facts that indicate the elimination of various diseases. Ivan tea, about the medicinal properties, the contraindications of which were discussed, are increasingly recommended by doctors as an addition to traditional treatment. And with ordinary people, it is becoming more and more popular.

Ivan - tea or fireweed is also known as a lurker, a plakun, Koporsky tea, Russian tea, a miller, a bread-bin, a mother-to-be. This plant has many names, its benefits are enormous, but what does this flower look like - ivan tea? The photo below just demonstrates it in all its glory:

For your information: in the centuries before last, Russia supplied all of Europe with them.

Ivan tea - photo and useful properties.

The first and most important property of fireweed or ivan tea is that it is not addictive and has a positive effect on our body, unlike overseas drinks (meaning all kinds of teas and coffee). In the photo - fermented ivan tea (left) and dried leaves of ivan tea (right):

Ivan tea plant, photo(you can clearly see the structure of leaves and flowers of fireweed):

Ivan tea composition.

Ivan tea contains a very large number of various substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body. The presence of chlorophyll stimulates wound healing, improves metabolism in the body. Flavonoids have a choleretic, diuretic and antispasmodic effect. There are also vitamins B, C and iron, which support hematopoietic function, tannins and pectin substances, starch, carotene, essential oils, coumarins and sugars.

Properties of willow tea.

Fireweed, has an excellent effect on the blood - with regular use, it restores the acid-alkaline formula, increases hemoglobin. Has analgesic properties. Due to the high antioxidant content of the willow herb, it has gained success as an anticancer agent. Also, the beneficial properties of ivan tea are that it slows down early aging of the skin, makes it elastic and elastic. And yet, this plant has the ability to increase potency, heal prostatitis and prostate adenoma.

It is recommended to drink ivan tea like regular tea, brew with the addition of other herbs, flowers, berries - no contraindications have been found. However, it should be noted that fireweed should be used with caution if you are using any other anti-anxiety or antipyretic drugs (it is better to consult your doctor).

.

To begin with, the leaves need to be wilted, rolled, then fermentation and drying takes place.

Withering.

Leaves need to be evenly scattered 4-5 centimeters thick and periodically stirred, not allowing the top leaves to dry completely. Withstand a day until they become lethargic.

Twisting.

The leaves should be twisted between the palms into small thumb-sized sausages until the leaves darken from the emerging juice.

Fermentation.

The curled leaves should be laid in a layer of 4-5 cm, in a tray or bowl, covered with a wet cloth and left in a warm place (25-28 ° C) for about 8-12 hours to ripen. At high temperatures, fermentation takes place faster, but this is highly undesirable, just like overexposure, fireweed can turn into hay, only odorless and tasteless. The end of a successful fermentation process is characterized by the acquisition of a floral-fruity smell by the leaves.

Fermentation of Ivan-tea, photo:

The fermented leaves should be finely chopped, spread on a baking sheet in a layer of about 2 cm, the baking sheet should be covered with paper and dried in an open oven at a temperature of 100 ° C for about an hour. During the drying process, the fireweed needs to be stirred, it will gradually acquire a dark color and decrease in volume. The main thing is not to overdo it in the oven, otherwise its taste may change, and not for the better.

Ready tea should be poured into a dry glass jar, closed tightly, allowed to stand for several weeks and can be brewed.

Ivan tea flowers can be harvested in the same way as leaves. The difficulty in fermenting flowers is that it is difficult to determine the end time of fermentation. In addition, there is an easier way to harvest this wonderful plant, both leaves and flowers. You can simply dry it in the shade or with a dehydrator (30 - 40 ° C). But it will be just grass or flowers of willow-tea. The famous Koporye tea is obtained precisely by fermenting the leaves of the Ivan tea plant. Photo below:

When to collect Ivan tea?

It is usually harvested from July to September, during the flowering of the plant. Flowering times can vary depending on weather and climate conditions. The leaves are harvested while the willow tea is blooming, and as soon as it begins to fluff, the leaves are no longer worth picking. It is better to collect fireweed in the morning in dry weather. You need to collect only healthy, beautiful plants without defects. Of course, it is better not to sweep away the bushes entirely, but to take a little from different places or cut them at a height of 10-15 cm from the ground. The stem itself must be clamped in your hand and held with your hand from top to bottom. You can collect both leaves and flowers of willow tea.

An additional recommendation for collecting willow tea - if you find a piece of land with young shoots of fireweed, cut off the tops from it. Then the plant will start up new shoots and more leaves can be harvested from it. And from the tops plucked, you will get ivan tea of ​​excellent quality.
If you come across young shoots of willow tea, you can use them for salad as spinach or nettle, this is also quite tasty and healthy. You can also use finely chopped roots of fireweed in a salad.

Most often, fireweed is found near various bodies of water, moist soil gives it strength for growth. Deforestation, forest edges, and not dense forest are also the favorite habitats of fireweed. Ivan tea, photo - where does it grow?

Tea from this plant can be used for weight loss and even to get rid of a double chin, which is formed as a result of malfunctioning of the salivary glands. To do this, add a little salt (a pinch) to the brewed willow tea and drink it 150 g each before eating (about half an hour).

Enjoy your tea!

The medicinal properties and contraindications of willow tea have been studied throughout Europe, especially in Germany and Russia. The medicinal value of the herb is recognized in scientific medicine. In addition, it is also a fodder, food, decorative, phytomeliorative, soil-protective, fibrous plant. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the famous Koporsky tea (ivan tea) was drunk everywhere in Russia, it was used as a brew after fermentation and drying, and was exported to European countries. In the old days, they ground flour from fireweed and baked bread, prepared alcoholic beverages. Salads were prepared from spring leaves and stems, they were added to the first courses, from fibers they made strong twine, and from fluff they made yarn.

Features of the medicinal plant Ivan-tea

What is the botanical description of the herb? Where to find it, how to collect and dry? For what diseases is this medicinal plant most effective? Are there any contraindications for Koporye tea?

Growing area

Ivan tea is a herb of the Eurasian continent, although some species are found in North America. It grows in different parts of Europe, in the forest-steppe and steppe zones. It grows more often in coniferous forests, loves forest clearings, places of fire, however, after the appearance of shrubs, it gradually disappears. Prefers moist soils in the forest-steppe zone, develops well and reproduces on sandy soils in coniferous forests. In Russia, this plant is well known not only to the inhabitants of the middle lane, but also to Siberia.

Botanical characteristic

What does Ivan tea look like? Depending on climatic conditions, soil, age, the plant can be from 50 cm to 2 m in height.

• Root. It develops vertically and horizontally, is distinguished by a thick, creeping rhizome with many buds (for vegetative propagation).
• Stem and leaves... Stem weakly branched, glabrous, erect. Leaves are sessile, alternate, pointed, with matte veins, jagged edges, dark green above, shiny, and below they are gray, light pink or purple.
• Flower . It is four-membered, wide open, can be up to 3 cm in diameter, it is purple, bright pink, less often pale pink. The inflorescence is a conical raceme.

It propagates vegetatively and with the help of seeds, which ripen in August-September.

Broad-leaved fireweed.
Mountain fireweed.
Small-flowered fireweed.

Other medicinal species

There are about 220 types of fireweed. The most famous among them are narrow-leaved fireweed (ivan tea), broad-leaved, mountainous, pink, shaggy, glandular. The distribution area of ​​most species is the entire European part. Some are found in Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, Altai, southern Siberia, and North America. Most often, small-flowered fireweed is used for medicinal purposes. For example, in Germany, since the 70s of the twentieth century, this plant has been registered in the pharmacopoeia. The herb is useful for men, it is prescribed for diseases of the prostate, to increase potency. Some healers claim that the herb prevents the development of prostate cancer. Also, small-leaved fireweed is used instead of tea with a calming effect.

Procurement of raw materials

How to prepare ivan tea in order to preserve all the nutrients in the grass? First of all, it is necessary to choose an ecologically clean area - away from roads and industrial zones, fields and crops that are treated with pesticides and other agricultural pesticides. It is also important to adhere to the rules for collecting and preparing willow tea.

• How to collect Ivan tea... The entire aerial part of the plant has healing properties - flowers, leaves, young shoots, stem. Therefore, they cut off the entire aerial part of the grass, remove the thick stems.
• When to collect Ivan tea... The best time is the flowering period. It can be in July or August, depending on the climatic zone. The fireweed blooms for a month.
• How to dry. Drying in natural conditions is recommended, but not in direct sunlight. Dry, ventilated attics and verandas work well. The grass is laid out in a thin layer, from time to time it is turned. After completely drying, the flowers turn blue.

The beneficial properties of willow tea are preserved for 2 years. The grass is packed in wooden boxes, closed glass containers, protected from excess moisture and light.

Healing action

The healing properties of fireweed:

• antineoplastic;
• decongestant;
• enveloping;
• antiviral;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antiallergic;
• sedative;
• emollient;
• wound healing;
• diaphoretic;
• hematopoietic;
• anticonvulsant.

What causes the medicinal properties of Ivan tea? It contains:

• flavonoids;
• tannins (many tannins);
• alkaloids;
• vegetable fibers (cellulose);
• proteins (lectins);
• slime;
• high content of vitamin C and rich mineral composition;
• pectins;
• tannins;
• Sahara.

In the course of laboratory studies, such beneficial properties of fireweed (willow-herb) have been scientifically proven - antitumor, antiviral and anti-inflammatory. For example, in the USSR, in the laboratory at the oncological center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, the anticancer drug "Hanerol" was taught from grass inflorescences.

List of indications

Under what symptoms and diagnoses do they drink ivan tea, given its contraindications?

• Colds, ARVI, influenza... For colds, viral infections and flu, the herb acts as a diaphoretic, antipyretic agent. In addition, the effectiveness of the action of narrow-leaved fireweed in the herpes virus has been proven.
• Genitourinary sphere... Why is the herb so popular in urology and nephrology? This is due to its anti-inflammatory properties, the most powerful of all medicinal plants. Therefore, the herb is prescribed for prostatitis, prostate adenoma, inflammation of the kidneys, ureters, urinary tract. With these diagnoses, another effect is also important - antitumor, resorption and analgesic. Fireweed is a radical folk remedy for male ailments, in which scientific medicine has believed. Traditional healers believe that venereal diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea) can be treated with grass. However, in this case, traditional medicine does not believe in miraculous treatment and calls for a full course of therapy with a venereologist.
• Nervous system . The herb affects conditioned reflex activity. It is beneficial for functional disorders of the central nervous system - neuroses, insomnia, headaches, migraines, depressed mood, apathy. The remedy relieves emotional and muscle tension, has a moderate sedative effect, but enhances the effect of other sedative and narcotic drugs. Also, the herb is prescribed for epilepsy. Healers claim that it saves fireweed from alcoholism, helps with alcoholic psychosis, and reduces aggression. However, applying the herb on its own can be harmful. Treatment is possible only under the supervision of a narcologist.
• The cardiovascular system... There are positive reviews about the benefits of the herb for hypertension and anemia. Fireweed stimulates blood circulation, has a beneficial effect on the state of blood vessels, heart function, hematopoiesis.
• Digestive system... The herb is useful for the liver, stomach and intestines, as it contains a lot of mucus and tannins. Ivan tea infusions help against hemorrhoids, colitis, stomach ulcers, diarrhea, which are caused not only by the inflammatory process, but also by psychosomatic causes.
• Endocrinology. In the form of an aqueous infusion, the herb is drunk for diabetes mellitus, to restore hormonal levels, metabolic processes in the body, and to lose weight.
• Gynecology. It has been proven that the herb is beneficial for women's health: it relieves inflammation, resolves benign tumors of the ovaries and uterus, adhesions in the fallopian tubes, and stops uterine bleeding. Most often, Koporye tea is prescribed in the premenopausal period to harmonize the psycho-emotional background.
• Dermatology. The medicinal properties of the herb ivan tea are widely used in modern dermatology. It is useful to drink infusions for psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, scrofula and other skin problems of an allergic nature. Also, the affected skin is treated with aqueous solutions.
• Local treatment. Indications for use - otitis media, tonsillitis, stomatitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, nasopharyngeal inflammation. It also treats burns, frostbite, ulcers, boils, eczema, psoriasis. In addition to aqueous solutions, dry powder is used, which is sprinkled on damaged skin areas. Lotions and compresses from alcohol tincture are applied to sore joints.

What are the contraindications for fireweed? The official instructions indicate that ivan tea is prohibited during pregnancy, lactation, and individual intolerance. Despite the absence of strict and extensive contraindications, medical advice is required for any chronic diseases. In case of overdose and long-term use, Koporye tea gives a number of side effects on the part of digestion.

Dosage forms and methods of preparation of narrow-leaved fireweed

What is the use of Ivan tea at home? What dosage forms can you prepare yourself? What can you buy at the pharmacy?

Decoction and infusion

How to brew fireweed? There are two main ways - boiling (decoctions) and infusion (infusions). Broths can be boiled over low heat or kept in a water bath. During the season for decoctions and infusions, you can take fresh flowers and leaves of ivan tea.

Decoction recipe

1. Take 1 tbsp. l. chopped dry grass.
2. Fill with a glass of water.
3. Soak in a water bath for 15 minutes.
4. Insist 1 hour.
5. Strain.

Take before meals 4 times a day for 1-2 tbsp. spoons.

Preparation of infusion

1. Take 1 tbsp. l. raw materials.
2. Pour a glass of boiling water over.
3. Insist 2 hours.
4. Strain.

The dosage is the same as when taking the decoction. Weak infusions and decoctions are taken orally for all of the above symptoms and diagnoses.

Preparation of infusion for external use

1. Take 3 tbsp. l. herbs.
2. Pour a glass of boiling water over.
3. Insist in a thermos for 5 hours.
4. Strain.

With this infusion, you can gargle the throat, treat the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, make compresses and lotions from it for joint and muscle pain, for resorption of tumors. Also, a strong infusion is used in cosmetology for hair and face skin care. Fireweed is used as a natural anti-inflammatory lotion: it relieves irritation and inflammation, disinfects acne, acne, boils, and improves complexion.

Tincture

Alcohol tincture can be prepared from fresh flowers or dry herbs. Applied externally and internally. For local treatment (rinsing, compresses, lotions, baths), it is recommended to dilute the product with water.

Preparation

1. Take 3 tbsp. l. herbs.
2. Pour in ½ liter of vodka.
3. Insist 14 days in a dark place.
4. Strain.

Take 1 tsp. 3 times a day before meals. The tincture is especially useful for women in the premenopausal period, for men with inflammation and tumors of the prostate gland.

Herbal tea

The package contains 20 filter bags of 1.5 g each. It is useful to drink to normalize metabolism, with ulcers, inflammation of the stomach, intestines, kidneys, urinary tract, prostate gland, as well as with high blood pressure. How to brew and take herbal tea?

• Universal dosage: take 1 cup of boiling water for 1 tea bag.
• You can prepare a concentrated drink: 2 tea bags for 1 glass of boiling water.
• Tea is infused for 15 minutes.
• Take 1 glass 2 times a day, with meals.
• The course of treatment is 30 days.

Honey plant

Ivan tea is a plant with high honey productivity. Perhaps, among the grasses of the forest zone, he has no equal in these indicators. In fruitful years, 600 kg of honey is obtained from 1 hectare of grass. Fireweed honey has the same medicinal properties as the herb. Useful for adults and children, especially with ARVI, flu, colds. It is famous for its tonic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, enveloping properties. It has a pleasant delicate taste, it is liquid, transparent, with a greenish tint, crystallizes quickly, in the form of white grains. The nectar of fireweed flowers has a high content of glucose and fructose, although their level largely depends on weather conditions.

Narrow-leaved fireweed (ivan tea) is a medicinal plant of first choice for diseases of the genitourinary sphere, especially in men with prostatitis and prostate adenoma. Also, the herb is used externally in otolaryngology, dermatology, dentistry. It is prescribed as a sedative for neuroses, as an anti-inflammatory for stomach ulcers, colitis, gastritis. The herb has been scientifically proven to have anti-tumor properties. It is included in the complex therapy of oncological diseases.