How correctly to collect herbs?
Despite the success of chemistry, which has given medicine highly effective remedies, plants continue to occupy an important place in the general arsenal of medicines. However, when collecting medicinal herbs independently, you must adhere to clear deadlines and collection rules, because only at a certain time the plant has the necessary properties for treatment, besides, it can only be saved if properly collected and stored.
The number of active principles contained in the medicinal plant varies in different periods of growth and development of the latter, and therefore the collection time of medicinal herbs is timed to the time of the greatest content of active substances in them. So, if the whole plant goes to work, it is collected at the beginning of flowering; in the same time, plants are also collected, from which all the above-ground parts are used. Collection of leaves is usually made before flowering, except for mother-and-stepmother, which is harvested after flowering. Roots, rhizomes and tubers are harvested in autumn, after cessation in the plant sap flow, or early spring before its onset. Seeds and fruits - during their full maturation, with some exceptions. The collection of the above-ground parts of the plant, especially flowers, must be carried out in dry weather after the dew descends, as only under this condition it is possible to preserve the natural color of the plant parts and to prevent them from self-heating (bacterial and fungal decomposition processes); the result of which is often the loss of the plant active principle.
Rules for the collection of individual parts of plants
The kidneys are harvested early in the spring, during the swelling period, before the appearance of green leaves, since buds of medicinal value do not represent buds. When harvesting pine buds with them a sharp knife cut 2-3 mm shoots of last year; Small buds (for example, birch) are cut with branches. Dry, spreading a thin layer, in well-ventilated areas. The dried branches are threshed or the kidneys are cut off by hand.
The bark is harvested during the period of intensified spring sap movement, before the leaves blossom. Make two half-ring incisions with a knife at a distance of 20-30 cm, join with two longitudinal incisions and rip off the bark in parts in the form of grooves. The bark is removed from the trunks and branches (buckthorn), and from the oak tree - only from the branches. Dry the bark in the sun, under canopies or in closed ventilated areas.
The leaves are collected during budding, flowering plants, sometimes in the fruiting phase. Thick juicy petioles, which do not contain useful substances (mother-and-stepmother), are removed, as they make it difficult to dry. Small leathery leaves (cowberry) are cut together with twigs, and then the leaves are separated. Dry in the shade under canopies, in closed rooms, laying out a thin layer.
Before you go for medicinal plants, you need to familiarize yourself with them, learn to recognize certain types of plants that are to be collected, and distinguish them from similar, but not subject to harvesting, low-value or even poisonous species. It is necessary to know which parts of the plant are harvested and in what timeframes, the places of its mass growth, the general rules and technique of collection, as well as the methods of primary processing of harvested raw materials. Especially it is necessary to remember the precautions when collecting poisonous plants.
The flowers are harvested at the time of full bloom, sometimes in the budding stage. Dry in the shade, sometimes in a darkened room (cornflowers).
Grasses are harvested in the period of full flowering or budding, cutting off the entire above-ground part at the level of the lower leaves, in plants with stems (wormwood, string), separate leaves and flowering tops. Dry in thin beams, suspended in a draft, or lay out a thin layer in the shade on. a well-ventilated place, for example in an attic.
Fruits and seeds are harvested at the time of full maturity, and sometimes slightly unripe (dog rose) in the event that when fully ripe, the fruits crumble or become soft and crumple when collected. Juicy fruits are picked up in the morning or in the evening, as during the day gathering in a strong heat they quickly deteriorate. Before drying, they wilted in the sun for 1-2 days, and then dried at 70-90 ° C in ovens. Please note: you can not wash fruits before drying. Before drying, the raw materials are sorted, removing accidentally caught parts of the same or other plants. Lay the plants in a thin layer, mix 3-4 times a day (except flowers). Raw materials should remain green, do not dry out. Drying is finished when the leaves and flowers are easily ground into powder, the stems break with a characteristic crack, the roots break, but do not bend, the berries crumble in the hand, do not give stuck clots.
Save utility!
The best container for storing dried medicinal raw materials - opaque glass jars, cardboard boxes, paper bags. Sacks of fabric are not suitable - they are poorly preserved flavor, but it absorbs moisture well. The storage location must be dry, dry and ventilated. The apartment is quite suitable kitchen cupboard, in the country - a dry shed. As for the cold, it does not bother the dried grass.
Odorous medicinal plants should be stored separately from odorants. Dry berries are hygroscopic, so it is better to keep them in a dry place in a draft in paper bags. Raw materials should be kept separate from substances with specific odors - kerosene, naphthalene, etc. Usually the storage terms of flowers, grass and leaves do not exceed 1-2 years, and roots, rhizomes, bark - 2-3 years.
The newspaper "Let's be healthy!" № 5 2008