Hellebore

Hellebore Lobel

Hellebore Lobel. Veratrum lobelianum Bernh. Lily family.

A perennial poisonous plant, up to 1 m high. The rhizome is cylindrical, obliquely ascending, black-brown outside, with remnants of sheaths of dead leaves and numerous white adventitious roots. Stems are straight, rounded, pubescent at the top. The leaves are alternate, amplexicaul, broadly elliptical, pointed. The flowers are greenish, small, in paniculate inflorescence. Blooms in July-August. The fruit is an ovoid triangular capsule.

Distributed in the forest and forest-steppe zones, mountain forest and subalpine belts throughout the region. Grows in wet meadows, sparse forests, subalpine meadows.

The plant contains resinous, sugary, mucous, tannins, dyes, organic acids, a large number of alkaloids, among which the especially poisonous protoveratrin. The roots are richest in alkaloids.

Recently, the hypotensive effect of protoveratrin, which is used to treat hypertension, epidermophytosis and inflammatory processes, has been discovered. New drugs Loverat A, Loverat 2 and 3 have been received.

In folk medicine, it is used externally against neuralgia, gout; rheumatism, scabies and lice.

Hellebore preparations are widely used in veterinary medicine and agriculture as an insecticide. It is necessary to use the drug very carefully: when more than 1 g of hellebore is ingested, strong arousal, salivation, sweating, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes death occur.

Medicinal raw materials - rhizomes and roots - are harvested in autumn, dried in a ventilated room. When drying, you should wear a bandage of four rows of gauze moistened with water, since hellebore (especially dry) can cause severe irritation of the mucous membranes.

Hellebore black

Hellebore black. Veratrum nigrum L. Lily family.

Perennial herbaceous plant with a thick vertical rhizome and cord-like roots. The stem is straight, 70-130 cm high. The lower leaves are broadly elliptical, narrowed towards the base, glabrous, the upper ones are linear-lanceolate.

The flowers are black-purple, located in a branched paniculate inflorescence. Blooms from late June to July. The fruit is an ovoid capsule.

Distributed in areas of forest, forest-steppe zones and mountain forest belt. Grows in pine, birch and fir forests, floodplain meadows, meadow, rarely stony slopes, forest clearings, among shrubs.

The plant contains steroid-type alkaloids, amino acids, vertramarin glycoside, sugars, fat, starch, triterpenes, resins, gum, dyes and tannins, mineral salts. Of the alkaloids, pervin, rubinervin, verazin were found in the roots, and iervin in the leaves (Antsupova, 1967).

The use in folk medicine is similar to hellebore Lobel. In Siberian folk medicine (Utkin, 1931) it was used for headaches, root tincture was drunk for pain after childbirth, or dried root was eaten for the same purpose. The plant is used as an insecticide.

It is necessary to use the plant and preparations from it very carefully, as they contain poisonous alkaloids.

Krylov G. N., Stepanov Z. V. Green Pharmacy of Kuzbass. Kemerovo. 1979

A photo: . Zdoroviegizn.ru, Beauty-things.com

Veratrum nigrum L., 1753 Class Monocots - Liliopsida Liliaceae family - Liliaceae Category and status: V - Vulnerable on the territory of the region Eurasian nemoral species.

Description and difference from related species A rhizomatous plant with a leafy stem, soft-hairy in the upper part, and felt-pubescent in the area of ​​​​the inflorescence. Stem leaves vaginal, glabrous, folded; lower - broadly elliptical, bare; upward, the leaves decrease and become narrower. Numerous blackish-violet flowers are collected in a paniculate inflorescence or raceme, with pedicels equal to or longer than the perianth. Lobel differs from hellebore in flowers, which are yellow-green or brownish-green.

Information on biology and ecology Perennial up to 100 cm tall. Blooms in June - July; fruiting in July. Propagated mainly by seeds. It grows in shrubs, forests and slopes.

Distribution and occurrence The area covers the Baltic States (Latvia, as a cultivated and wild plant); Center (south of the Upper Dnieper; Upper Volga - along the Oka; Volga-Don); West (Carpathians; Dnieper; Moldova); General distribution: Zap. and Vost. Siberia, Far East, Central Asia (north-east); Central Europe, the Mediterranean (Balkan Peninsula), Japan-China. - In hellebore black is known from Belgorodsky (occasionally through forests), Gubkinsky (Yamskaya steppe: at the bottom of dens and the lower part of the northern slopes; "Bald Mountains": in glades, edges - rarely), Novooskolsky, Yakovlevsky (Shopino); Ivnyansky (near Ivnya), Rakityansky (Terebrinsky forest tract); Shebekinsky (Bershakovo, shady oak-elm-maple forest) districts.

Limiting factors Haymaking, grazing, Collection of plants for bouquets, trampling.

Necessary security measures Protection of habitats, control of populations of the species.

Conservation Measures Taken Inclusion in the list of protected plants and protection within the reserve "Belogorye".

Sources of information:. Mayevsky, 1964: 662; Flora of the European part of the USSR. T. IV, 1979: 209; Gubanov et al. T. 1, 2002: 466; Sukachev, 1903: 215; Levitsky, 1957: 122; Zolotukhin, 1995: 42; Gusev, 1999; Kolchanov, Prisny, 1999: 21; Elenevsky et al., 2004: 29. Herbarium collections. Compiled by: text - A.F. Kolchanov, E.V. Maslov's maps - A.F. Kolchanov, M.Yu. Tretyakov Photo: A.S. Tolstykh

Hellebore is a perennial herbaceous plant that has thick and short rhizomes and a mass of cord-like roots. There are two main types of this plant: hellebore Lobel and hellebore black. Hellebore Lobel blooms with small white or yellowish-green flowers throughout the summer, and black hellebore blooms with black-purple small flowers. This plant bears fruit with small, multi-seeded fruits that have a yellowish-brown color. Hellebore grows up to 170 cm. This plant is often called a hellebore, puppeteer, hellebore root and chermis.

Beneficial features

For medicinal purposes, the roots of the plant are usually chosen. It is believed that it is the root of the plant that has healing properties, because this part of the plant contains approximately 2.5% alkaloids.

It should be noted that hellebore contains a fairly large number of various alkaloids, however, amino alcohols have a pronounced beneficial effect on the body. Certain hellebore alkaloids help lower blood pressure, normalize the work of the heart and excite sensitive nerve endings.

Also, the healing properties of hellebore are due to the action of ash, tannins, resins and various macro- and microelements that are part of this plant. Here are just some of the trace elements found in hellebore: calcium and potassium, iron, magnesium.

Treatment

Medicinal raw materials (hellworm roots) are harvested in the fall. The collected rhizomes are cleaned from the ground and dried in the fresh air (preferably under a canopy, for example, in a gazebo). For ease of use, the roots are crushed to a powder state. When processing hellebore roots, it should be remembered that this is a poisonous plant, so precautions should be taken, that is, protect the face and respiratory canals with a gauze bandage. The fact is that the dust from the roots of the plant, which has fallen on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and eyes, causes severe irritation and leads to repeated sneezing, resulting in nosebleeds.

Dried raw materials should be stored for three years in cloth bags in a well-ventilated area.

• painkillers;
• antifungal;
• annoying.

In addition, against the background of the use of hellebore, the tone of skeletal muscles increases, blood vessels expand and the nervous system is excited.

Thanks to such multifaceted properties of hellebore, it is used as an anesthetic in the treatment of these diseases:

• neuralgia;
• gout;
• radiculitis and arthritis;
• muscle pain;
• various diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

In the treatment of hellebore use:

• decoction;
• alcohol tincture;
• ointment;
• water based tincture.

Hellebore tincture can be used as the main or auxiliary remedy in the treatment of the following diseases:

• eczema;
• pediculosis (fleas, lice);
• scabies mite;
• seborrhea;
• dandruff;
• arthritis and rheumatism;
• neuralgia.

Hellebore from alcoholism

Hellebore is often used in folk medicine for alcoholism, but such use of this plant is not approved by traditional medicine. According to most scientists, the use of hellebore for alcoholism is inappropriate, since this poisonous plant cannot be an effective way to rid patients of alcohol addiction. However, such an unequivocal opinion of scientists does not prevent traditional healers from actively using this plant in the fight against alcoholism. So, when treating hellebore for alcoholism, an alcohol tincture of vodka is prepared, for this, 20 g of roots are infused in 200 g of vodka for 10 days (this mixture is infused in a cool and dark place). After the tincture is ready, it is added to the alcoholic's food, starting with the minimum dose, 1-2 drops, and gradually increasing the dosage. With such treatment, an alcoholic develops unpleasant "hangover symptoms": nausea and vomiting, dizziness. It is believed that such an unpleasant condition will induce the alcoholic to give up drinking - this is the principle of treating alcoholism with hellebore.

In order to cure alcoholism, you can also use a decoction that is prepared every 2 days and stored in a cold place. In the process of such treatment, one should be aware of the toxic properties of this plant and use it in the recommended quantities. With an overdose of hellebore, diarrhea and vomiting appear, and if you use a decoction or infusion of this plant in too much quantity, it can even lead to death. Therefore, representatives of traditional medicine clearly do not recommend using decoctions and infusions of hellebore for ingestion, either in the treatment of alcoholism or in the treatment of other diseases. To prevent poisoning with this plant, it should be used for medicinal purposes only externally!

Hellebore is a rhizomatous perennial herb with a strong, erect stem. The thickened root is close to the soil surface. A lot of filiform processes up to 3 mm thick depart from it to a great depth. The height of the ground part is 50-150 cm. From the ground itself, the shoot is covered with large sessile leaves, which are arranged in a spiral. Oval sheet plates have smooth edges and a pointed edge. Relief veins are visible over the entire surface of the sheet. Its length is 25-30 cm. In the lower part there is a dense, felt pubescence.

Hellebore grass lives for more than half a century, but also blooms quite late. The first inflorescences appear at 16-30 years of age. They form at the top of the stem. Yellow, white or greenish flowers with a diameter of about 1 cm tightly cling to the stem. The buds open in mid-July and remain until the end of summer. Pollination occurs with the help of insects or wind. In August, the first fruits appear - flattened seed pods with soft walls. They contain long brownish seeds.

All parts of the plant are poisonous. Children and animals should be restricted from access to hellebore, and hands should be washed thoroughly after working in the garden. Hives should not be placed near the flower. Even if the bees survive, their honey will be unusable.

Popular types

The hellebore genus includes 27 species and several hybrid varieties. 7 of them grow on the territory of Russia. The following are the most popular:

The plant is common in coniferous forests from the Caucasus to Siberia. The variety has medicinal properties due to the high content of alkaloids, mineral salts, amino acids and vitamins. Herbaceous perennial grows up to 2 m in height. A powerful stem is covered with large folded leaves of a bright green color. Yellowish-green flowers are arranged in paniculate inflorescences up to 60 cm long.

The species can be found in alpine meadows or open mountain slopes. It is used in folk medicine because of the high content of alkaloids. This plant does not exceed 1.2 m in height and is distinguished by a particularly fleshy rhizome. The length of the lower leaves is 30 cm. Closer to the top, they become smaller and narrower. At the top of the stem is a branched panicle consisting of small white flowers.

The height of the stem can reach 1.3 m. Large folded leaves at its base grow 40 cm in length. They are arranged next in a spiral. The apical leaves are grouped in 3. Dark red flowers with brown stains are collected in a paniculate inflorescence. The diameter of the corolla is 1.5 cm.

Reproduction of hellebore

Hellebore propagates by sowing seeds or dividing the bush. Seed propagation is considered less efficient and requires significant effort. Fresh seeds without prior preparation are sown in October-November immediately in open ground. Crops are sprinkled with a thin layer of earth and gently moistened. In the spring, the first shoots appear. The grown plants dive and transplant to a permanent place. Between seedlings, a distance of 25 cm must be observed. Young hellebore should be watered regularly and shaded from direct sunlight.

In regions with harsh and snowless winters, it is recommended to grow seedlings first. Seeds are sown in March, in shallow boxes with moist sandy-peat soil mixture. They are deepened by 5 mm, covered with a film and put in a refrigerator or other cool place. After 5-8 weeks, the boxes are moved to a heated room. With the advent of seedlings, the film is removed. Seedlings appear unevenly, germination may take several months. Seedlings are grown in a greenhouse until next spring and only then planted in open ground.

In April-May, hellebore can be propagated by dividing the rhizome. The plant is carefully dug up and freed from an earthy coma. It is important to keep thin roots. The roots with processes are cut into several parts so that at least one kidney remains on each. Delenki are immediately planted in a new place with a distance of 30-50 cm. At first, the plants need to be shaded and watered more often.

Growing Features

Hellebore care is quite simple. The main difficulty lies in finding the right place to land. It is advisable to choose a partially shaded area. You can plant hellebore under trees with a rare crown or near a fence that will hide the sun at noon.

The soil should be reasonably light and well-drained. Loams with the addition of compost and sand are excellent. The plant will not develop on acidic substrates. It is advisable to immediately choose the right place, because hellebore does not like transplants.

Hellebore needs frequent watering with small portions of water. Although it is able to tolerate drought, it becomes the most decorative with regular irrigation. The soil should be constantly slightly moist, but waterlogging is unacceptable.

To maintain decorativeness, wilted flower stalks should be cut off. Shoots and leaves are not pruned for the winter. Cold-damaged parts are best removed in early spring. Hellebore has good frost resistance, because it grows to the very border with the Arctic. The plant does not need shelter for the winter.

Usage

Due to the large, corrugated foliage hellebore looks spectacular in flower beds or group plantings in the middle of the lawn. You can plant a plant along the banks of reservoirs. Against its background, the flowers look more expressive. The best neighbors will be eremurus, phlox or gladiolus.

A few decades ago, hellebore was used as an effective anthelmintic, diuretic and laxative. However, due to the toxicity today, doctors strongly discourage the use of plant-based preparations inside. Ointments and alcohol tinctures continue to be used externally for seborrhea, rheumatic pains, gout, pediculosis and fungal diseases of the skin and nails.

Veratrum nigrum L.
Melantiaceae family- Melanthiaceae

Status in adjacent regions. Included in the Red Books of the Tambov (category 3), Belgorod (5), Saratov (1) regions.

Spreading.

Eastern European-Siberian-Central Asian species, whose range covers Central Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, Zap. and Vost. Siberia, the Far East, the northeastern part of Central Asia, Japan and China. In the middle zone of European Russia, it is known from all regions of the Central Black Earth Region, as well as Kaluga, Moscow,

Penza, Ryazan, Saratov, Tula regions. In the Voronezh region: Repyevsky (near the village of Novosoldatka, ravine forest - VU: 1), Khokholsky (near Gremyachye - VOR: 1), Semiluksky (near the village of Russko-Gvoz-devskie Vyselki, Tochilsky ravine; n. s. Semidubravnoe - VOR: 2; 3), Olkhovatsky (ur. Kobizi western - VOR: 4), Gribanovsky (environment of the village of Upper Karachan) districts.

Description.

Perennial short-rhizome herbaceous plant 75 to 100 cm high. Stem straight, juicy, thick. The leaves are large, broadly elliptical, entire, with arcuate venation, longitudinally folded; glabrous below, located mainly in the lower half of the stem. The edge of the leaf sheaths of the lower leaves is wedge-shaped, which distinguishes the species in the vegetative state from Lobel's hellebore (V. lobelianum Bernh.), in which it is slightly curved. The flowers are dark red to black-purple (in Veratrum lobelianum Bernh. - yellow-green), on pedicels, almost equal in length to them. Perianth simple, six-parted. The inflorescence is a long dense apical panicle. The fruit is a box.

Features of biology and ecology.

Blooms in the 4-5th year of life. Blooms in July-August. Nectar and a strong (but unpleasant for humans) smell attract various representatives of the Diptera order, mainly carrion and black blowflies, as well as beetles. The fruits ripen in September. Propagated by seeds and, to a lesser extent, vegetatively as a result of the isolation of shoots during the decay of old generative individuals. Grows in deciduous forests, along forest edges, clearings, meadow-steppe and steppe slopes, among shrubs.

Number and tendencies of its change.

Information is not enough. It is necessary to carry out special studies to confirm the growth of the species in known localities and to identify new ones.

limiting factors.

Haymaking, overgrazing, uprooting of thickets of steppe shrubs.

Security measures taken.

It is protected on the territory of the Khopersky complex natural reserve.

Control over the state of known populations of the species, organization of protection of habitats of the species in Repevsky, Khokholsky, Semiluksky, Olkhovatsky districts in the status of protected areas.

Information about the preservation of the species in culture. Cultivated in the botanical gardens of Moscow (Moscow State University, VILAR, GBS RAS), St. Petersburg (VIN RAS), Omsk State University, Chita (Zabaikalsky branch of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Kirovsk (Polar Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute), Tomsk State University, Barnaul ( South Siberian Botanical Garden of Altai State University).

Sources of information: 1. Protoklitova, 1961; 2. Kamyshev, 1976; 3. Kamyshev, 1978; 4. Grigorievskaya, 2006; 5. Cadastre... 2001. Herbarium data - VU: 1. A. Krylova (1958); VOR: 1. Without manifold (1952); 2. S. V. Golitsyn (1934); 3. A. Fedoseeva (1933); 4. Kozyrkova, Bezmogarychnaya (1959). Compiled by: O. V. Prokhorova; photo: M. L. Zaitsev.