Setwell
Valerian - a pretty high plant - 1 meter and above, the stem ribbed, hollow inside, branching in upper part, leaves neparnoperistorazdelnye; flowers small, white or slightly pinkish, fruit - achene. Medicinal raw material is a rhizome with the roots. Freshly dug roots are bright, slightly yellowish, no smell, dried turn dark brown and gain flavor. The range covers all of Europe and Asia. Valerian does not grow only in Kamchatka, Chukotka, Kolyma and northern Karelia. Valerian can be found in forest meadows and water meadows, along rivers and on hillsides, in the steppes and sedge swamps on the burned areas and in pine forests. This ability to colonize and persist in a variety of conditions is truly amazing ... and yet, despite this, nearly universal, valerian rarely forms large thickets.
Valerian - prefabricated form. Some of its varieties differ in the number of shares of leaf pubescence and the root system, but they are all usable. Etymology (origin), the Latin name is unclear: some authors attribute the origin of the name with the name of the Roman physician Pliny Valerian, while others believe it comes from the Latin verb "Valerie" - to be healthy, that in itself speaks about the popularity of valerian. She still goes into all the world's pharmacopoeia, and it is no accident: valerian - one of the few herbal remedies that can calm an excited nervous system. Species identification confirmed its medicinal value. Obihodnoe Russian name valerian - "Maun", "cat grass", "cat's root ... - Is not given in vain: the cats really love this plant.
In valerian root contains a set of compounds from essential oils and ending valepatriatami. Pharmacological action is due to the entire complex of biologically active substances. Roots are used for making teas, extracts, tinctures and are part of sedatives fees.
Use of valerian with cosmetic purposes quite diverse and is based mostly on its antibacterial and soothing properties. It is used for dermatitis, particularly of nervous origin, and other skin diseases.
Best time to collect the roots of valerian - autumn, when the faded stems pobureyut and wither. Re-logging on the same site can be conducted not earlier than 2-3 years. And dig all plants in a row, too, is impossible: small specimens do not need to touch - let it grow, and be sure to leave 1-2 large strong plant in each 50 - 100 square meters. In addition, dig the plant, shake off the formed hole its seeds. Then the roots carefully shake off the ground, cut the entire aboveground part and quickly wash: How long to keep the roots in water, it is impossible - they lose the active ingredients!
term storage of raw materials for 3 years.
valerian Demand is so high that in many countries it is introduced into the culture. Valerian drug propagated by sowing seeds into the soil. You can sow in 3 periods: the late autumn - a winter, spring and summer.