Aggressive marketing of Indian tea producers spoiled the business, and over time, Ivan tea began to be forgotten around the world, and then in our country.
If you go out onto a wide city street and look around, you can see a lot of people hurrying about their business with a squeezed cup of coffee in their hand, occasionally coffee replaces strong black tea. Ivan-tea has become a symbol of rural regularity, a rare evening comfort, and sometimes a diligently healthy lifestyle. Something you don't remember every day.
In this article, we would like to tell you more about this valuable drink and why you should remember it more often.
Ivan tea: useful properties and contraindications
Ivan tea or fireweed can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In Russia, you will most often meet him near coniferous forests in the European part and Siberia.
Did you know that earlier, in addition to tea, fabrics were woven from this plant and even pillows were stuffed? Pillows were stuffed, however, not with Ivan-tea itself, but with fluff, which is formed during its flowering.
It contains so many useful substances and vitamins that Ivan-chai can be safely called a Russian superfood. The amount of vitamin C in this plant is 5-6 times higher than in citrus fruits. And a lot of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, boron, copper and other elements.
- The use of Ivan tea helps blood formation and raises hemoglobin.
- Ivan-tea improves the functioning of the digestive tract and improves metabolic processes. Fermented tea helps to cope with dysbacteriosis and get rid of discomfort in the stomach.
- Ivan tea is a natural antiseptic, surpassing even other plants in its properties. With infections and inflammations, such an assistant will come in handy. As the sleigh is prepared in the summer, so will Ivan tea - for the autumn blues and colds.
- Ivan tea relieves stress! It's true :) It relieves stress and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. It is good to drink a cup of Ivan-tea shortly before bedtime, so that you can sleep soundly later. Maybe it's not for nothing that this drink is associated with cozy village evenings by the stove?
- Ivan-tea reduces aggressiveness and positively affects the work of the heart.
- Ivan tea is a great helper for men's health. It is even sometimes referred to as "male grass".
- Ivan-tea improves lactation, and it can be drunk by pregnant women. It's also good for kids.
- This plant has antitumor properties, it is also a natural antioxidant.
- Ivan-tea does not contain caffeine.
- Well, what we could not fail to note is that Ivan tea improves skin condition. It helps relieve the effects of allergies, fights free radicals, stimulates collagen synthesis, heals wounds and nourishes the skin with useful elements.
Ivan-tea has no direct contraindications. It is recommended to drink it for both children, even the smallest (but in small quantities), and adults. Remember, a few centuries ago, no one knew about black and green tea. Then, infusions from various herbal preparations and ... Ivan tea were considered everyday drinks - therefore they drank it regularly.
Ivan tea should be used with caution in people with bleeding disorders and varicose veins. In addition, it is worth alternating this drink with others - after a month of continuous use of Ivan tea, a gastrointestinal upset is possible.
You need to work a little before enjoying the pleasant tart taste of Ivan-tea. Harvesting of this plant occurs during the flowering period - that is, from the end of June until autumn. Leaves and young buds are used. Ivan-tea seeds do not have healing properties, and fluff in the drink is also not useful!
Young leaves are the most useful and tasty. Ivan-tea leaves cannot be wetted and washed, otherwise the subsequent fermentation of tea will fail. The fact is that for this process it is important to preserve the microorganisms (prebiotics) that are on the surface of the leaf. Therefore, Ivan tea is not harvested in the rain and after it. Not all leaves are suitable for making tea - only the cleanest, dustiest and healthiest of them go to the basket.
After harvesting, you can begin to ferment the leaves - at this time, the process of oxidation and reproduction of beneficial microorganisms takes place. This is a very important step, because during fermentation it is determined how the taste and depth of the finished drink will turn out. If the leaves are fermented weakly, green tea will come out, stronger - black.
For fermentation, vegetable raw materials are well ground and twisted so that juice comes out of the leaves.
It is even important in what form we ferment the leaves: the more the leaf is twisted, the more juice is obtained and the stronger the fermentation processes occur. Therefore, tea in granules has a richer taste - in it the leaves are twisted much more strongly, and ordinary tea is velvety and delicate.
Then everything is tightly collected in a container and left alone for a day or more. The later Ivan-tea was prepared, the longer fermentation lasts. The fact is that young leaves are easily amenable to this process, and late leaves are rougher and denser, so they need more time. During the fermentation process, the leaves acquire a pleasant fruity aroma. After that, the mixture can be sent to dry.
Drying the leaves at a temperature of about 100 degrees stops the fermentation processes. From time to time the leaves are stirred so that they dry evenly. In the end, a fragrant tea is obtained, which is already ready for use.
Ready Ivan tea is similar to regular black tea with a herbal flavor and fruity aroma - it sounds delicious, right?
After drying, tea is packaged in jars or containers, closed with a lid and stored in a dry and dark place.
Another feature of willow-tea is that day after day its taste only improves: even during storage, dry fermentation processes continue in the leaves. It remains only to choose the right strength of tea: granulated or rolled leaf, light or strong fermentation.
In summer, more delicate and mild varieties, such as lightly fermented velvet tea, are best suited.
In winter or before the cold season, you can brew stronger tea - granular dark, medium or deep fermentation.
Ivan tea is drunk not only in its pure form, but also with the addition of dry raspberry leaves, currants, mint, dried rowan and cherry berries - this makes it even tastier and more comfortable.
With careful handling, the shelf life of Ivan-tea is 3 years. In the form of tiles, tea leaves can be stored much longer, and during this time the drink does not lose its healing qualities.
A teapot with willowherb can be used for several days: harmful substances are not formed in the tea leaves, and it does not deteriorate - this is another advantage of willowherb tea over classic black tea. By the way, if desired, Ivan-tea can be drunk with milk - it remains just as tasty, only a light herbal aroma appears.
In addition to the drink, the dry leaves of the plant can be used to make natural face masks or add to steam baths - do you remember about its healing properties for the skin?
We would like to introduce you to the manufacturer "Our Ivan-chai", which is engaged in professional harvesting and production of tea from eco-friendly places in the Tula region. They are real masters of their craft and know how to properly collect plant materials, which leaves to select, which ones not, how to properly dry them. They have studied all the nuances of fermentation inside and out - and as a result we get a simple and tasty drink for every taste.
The company is engaged in the preparation of both leaf and granulated tea.
Unfortunately, even such a drink as Ivan-tea has fakes - too crushed leaves that are difficult to identify. The granules of this brand are very tightly twisted, but still a leaf of tea, so Nash Ivan Chai can definitely be trusted.
You can choose from lightly fermented velvety tea with a delicate, mild taste, or granular tea, which has a richer color and aroma.
An excellent pair of Ivan-tea is made up of natural additives - raspberry leaves, dried berries and fruits and even carrots. You can also give “Our Ivan-Tea” - tea is packaged in beautiful craft bags and festive tubes.
It turns out that Ivan tea is not even a "village" drink, as we usually imagine it, and easily fits into modern city everyday life. It protects against the effects of daily stress, improves digestion - and therefore helps to cope with not quite healthy food, and slows down Negative influence cities to our health.
It is a perennial rootstock herbaceous plant family of Cyprus. Its scientific name is narrow-leaved fireweed, and people call it Ivan-tea, mother liquor, plakun, fire flower, fireman, willow grass, dremukha, etc. Our ancestors knew healing properties plants and used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. It can replace the use of drugs, drugs and have a positive effect on the human body. In the 13th century in the St. Petersburg province in the village of Koporye, the monks began to harvest and produce tea, later called "Koporsky". He was appreciated not only in Russia, but also in Europe (England, Germany, France).
Ivan tea: types and varieties
There are more than 14 plant species, the most widespread are:
- Ivan tea is broad-leaved - it is found mainly in the North, grows on rocky soil, in the mountains and among stones. Withstands low temperatures, blooms with purple-pink flowers (there are white). It is used as food by the Eskimos and for brewing tea. It is used as an anesthetic and for poisoning.
- Caucasian - grows in the South Caucasus, Adygea and the Stavropol Territory. The plant is not tall (up to half a meter), with a creeping stem and purple flowers. Mainly used as ornamental plant.
- Colchis - found in the Caucasus region, forming meadow thickets. It grows up to 40 cm tall and has a bright pink color of flowers. It is used as an ornamental plant and for brewing tea.
- Ivan-tea narrow-leaved - has found wide application both in scientific and in folk medicine.
What does Ivan-tea angustifolia look like?
Description: The plant reaches two meters in height. On the stem are long and narrow leaves of a greenish color. The flowers are collected in a brush at the top of the stem and have a lilac color. In place of each flower, fruits appear that look like beans. They ripen, open up and the seeds of Ivan-tea with downy plumage fly out.
Where does it grow in Russia? - the plant is found in almost all regions of the country. Prefers forest clearings, clearings, edges, dried-up peat bogs and wastelands. Likes dry sandy soil, not afraid of low temperatures.
Ivan tea: how to collect and dry
When to collect Ivan-tea? - the plant blooms in June and blooms until September. It is necessary to collect a plant for harvesting for the winter when the brush with flowers has blossomed halfway. They choose dry weather and cut off the upper part (stems, flowers and leaves), stepping back from the soil 10-20 cm. Ivan-tea root is not harvested, since it is rarely used in treatment. Choose healthy plants without damage and away from sources of pollution (enterprises, roads, landfills). You can harvest very young shoots in the spring, they make excellent Koporsky tea.
How to dry a plant? - the collected material is dried in a well-ventilated and dark place, spread out in a small layer and periodically turned over. Store dried raw materials for 3 years.
What is useful Ivan-tea
The chemical composition of the plant is determined by the content of the following useful substances in it:
- Vitamin C;
- B vitamins;
- tannins;
- Micro and macro elements (iron, copper, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, potassium);
- organic acids;
- pectin;
- gallic acid;
- Slime;
- Tannin;
- Fatty and essential oils;
- vegetable fibers;
- Flavonoids.
Herb Ivan-tea: medicinal properties and contraindications
The benefits of Ivan-tea for the human body are important, it has the following therapeutic effects:
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Antispasmodic;
- soothing;
- Painkillers;
- Antiseptic;
- Diuretic;
- Cholagogue.
Contraindications: with excessive and prolonged use, problems with the gastrointestinal tract may occur. It is not recommended to use Ivan tea for people prone to increased thrombosis. With long-term treatment, a short break should be taken so that addiction does not occur and side effects in the form of rashes and diarrhea.
Ivan tea - indications for use
Ivan-tea treatment is effective for the following diseases:
- Nervous disorders;
- causeless headaches;
- Sleep disturbance, insomnia;
- atherosclerosis;
- Blood diseases (anemia, anemia);
- Eye diseases (conjunctivitis);
- Diseases of the upper respiratory tract (laryngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis);
- Inflammation of the genitourinary system and ureter (cystitis, prostatitis, adenoma);
- Skin ailments (dermatitis, rashes, skin inflammation);
- Diseases of the intestines, liver, stomach (gastritis, enterocolitis);
- Women's disorders (menopause, menopause, failure of the menstrual cycle);
- Various poisonings;
- Immune problems.
Characteristics of the plant Ivan-tea
Each part of the plant contains many useful substances:
- Stems - contain vitamin C (the vitamin content is higher than in oranges), B vitamins, nicotinic and folic acid, which helps to activate the brain, metabolic processes, and digestion.
- Ivan-tea leaves - contain a considerable amount of mucus, which has an enveloping effect and tannin, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. The plant fibers contained in the leaves have a positive effect on the functioning of the stomach and intestines.
- Flowers and leaves - included in their composition a large amount of iron. It raises hemoglobin, normalizes the nervous and digestive systems. Macro and microelements help the work of the heart and muscles, support the structure of bones, the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Ivan-tea root - contains proteins, tannins, starch, polysaccharides, cobalt.
Health benefits and harms: the plant has a healing and healing effect on the body and is shown to both adults and children.
From what diseases it helps - the anti-inflammatory and enveloping property will help alleviate the condition with diseases of the stomach (ulcer, gastritis, enterocolitis). It has a sedative effect, normalizes the intestinal microflora, cures flatulence, diarrhea. Stimulates the work of the digestive tract, metabolic processes. It cures heartburn, dysbacteriosis, normalizes stool.
The antiseptic property of the plant helps with skin diseases such as dermatitis, eczema, relieves psoriasis, and is used to treat infectious diseases.
The sedative property will help improve the mental state, cure nervous excitement, headaches, and insomnia.
Pain-relieving property alleviates the condition with allergic reactions and skin lesions.
The plant has a tonic effect, similar to valerian.
Releases the body from waste products, raises vitality, gives vigor and improves mood.
The plant is non-toxic and will not cause harm to health if used correctly.
Ivan tea fermentation at home
To prepare fermented Ivan-chai, it is necessary to grind the dried raw materials (leaves and flowers) by hand and place in a container, which is covered with a cloth moistened with water. Keep at room temperature 1.5 days, at this time the raw material ferments and acquires a dark green color and a floral aroma, then it is dried in an oven at a temperature of at least 80 degrees. Take out, stand for 30 days and the fermented tea is ready. The raw material is a powdered mass from which Koporye tea is brewed.
How to brew Ivan tea correctly
You need to know the methods of application and the rules of brewing in order to preserve the beneficial properties of the plant. Proper Ivan tea is prepared in two ways:
- First - a teaspoon of crushed raw materials is placed in a glass of boiling water, steamed for half an hour and drunk during the day.
- The second - place a tablespoon of fresh raw materials in a glass of boiling water, hold in a water bath for half an hour. Strain the infused tea and drink throughout the day.
How to drink Ivan tea? - Properly brewed tea retains the healing properties of the plant well. It is desirable to use it freshly prepared and slightly cooled. It is not recommended to add sweeteners, it has a pleasant taste and aroma.
How to make Ivan tea
Ivan tea at home is consumed in the form of infusions, decoctions, alcoholic tinctures and teas.
Infusion - for its preparation 20 gr. dry raw materials are placed in a container with a glass of boiling water, infused for half an hour, filtered and drunk in two doses. Infusion of Ivan tea has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system, normalizes blood composition, increases hemoglobin.
Decoction - a tablespoon of crushed raw materials is placed in a glass of boiling water and infused over low heat for 20 minutes. Strained and consumed in 2 doses per day. It cures disorders of the stomach and intestines, alleviates the condition of gastritis and stomach ulcers.
Alcohol tincture - take 500 ml. vodka and add 50 gr. crushed flowers. Keep in a dark place for two weeks and filter. It should be taken in a tablespoon 3 times a day. It will help with inflammation of the genitourinary system (cystitis, inflammation of the kidneys, ovaries). Ivan-tea tincture is effective for prostatitis.
Tea - place a dessert spoon of raw materials in a container with 250 ml. boiling water and leave for half an hour. Consume during the day, preferably warm. Tea calms, helps to normalize heart rate and pressure, relaxes, improves sleep.
Does Ivan Chai Raise or Lower Blood Pressure? - the plant has a calming effect on nervous system and mental state of a person. It normalizes the work of the heart and heart rhythm, restores and strengthens blood vessels, has a diuretic effect and frees the body from excess fluid. All these properties help to normalize the activity of the body and all its organs, which in turn can stabilize blood pressure: lower at high and increase at low blood pressure.
Ivan tea for children - at what age can Ivan tea be used? The use of the plant by babies is not recommended until they reach 2 years of age. In the future, with the permission of the pediatrician, children can be given to drink Koporye tea in an amount of no more than 100 ml. in a day. The use of this tea will help calm the child's nervous system, activate the body's defenses against infectious and colds, and strengthen the immune system.
Useful properties for women
Ivan-tea narrow-leaved renders positive effect in the treatment of female diseases (menstrual pain, menopause, endometriosis, cystitis, myoma, thrush). It has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland and the endocrine system. It has a rejuvenating effect on the body and skin, due to the content of proline in the plant, which synthesizes collagen and makes the skin healthy and elastic, smoothes fine wrinkles, helps to keep youth longer and undergo less age-related changes. Due to the presence of flavonoids, the elasticity of blood vessels is maintained and the aging process of the skin is delayed.
Anti-aging and anti-inflammatory mask - will help maintain youthfulness and healthy skin. Recipe: you need to take 2 tablespoons of dry grass, previously infused with vodka, add half a teaspoon of salt and oatmeal. Mix and apply on the face, hold for 15 minutes and remove the residue with a cotton pad.
Ivan-tea for weight loss - glutamic acid, which is part of the plant, normalizes redox and metabolic processes, cleanses from toxins and toxins, which helps to maintain a slim figure. Normalizes the work of the stomach and intestines. By adding thyme to the drink, the processes of weight loss are accelerated, excess fluid comes out, swelling is removed and the appearance improves.
Can Ivan tea be given to nursing mothers and pregnant women? - according to the doctor's prescription, the plant can be included in the diet of women during pregnancy and nursing mothers. It will help speed up lactation during breastfeeding, increase the amount of milk and improve its beneficial properties.
Contraindications Ivan-tea for women - the plant has practically no contraindications for use. Pregnant and lactating women should take medications in consultation with their doctor.
Therapeutic actions of Ivan-tea and contraindications for men
The plant included in its composition many vitamins, flavonoids, minerals, alkaloids, which is beneficial for the male health system.
Ivan tea contains amino acids that can keep men healthy and young. So isoleucine builds up muscle mass and increases stamina, very useful for large physical activity and athletes. Alanine normalizes the metabolism of carbohydrates and maintains the normal functioning of the prostate, which helps to have a full sexual life and improves potency. It activates blood circulation in the genitourinary system, increases erection. Able to relieve a hangover after alcohol abuse, cleanse the body and reduce cravings for alcohol.
Ivan-tea for potency - the plant maintains the normal physical and sexual functions of the body. Effective for the treatment and prevention of inflammation of the prostate gland and prostate. It activates the production of hormones and testosterone, makes sexual activity saturated.
Contraindications - with proper use, side effects do not appear. Ivan tea can be drunk for a long time (up to 2 months or more), but in courses of 2 weeks, then take a short break and repeat the treatment.
Finished medicinal products
Ivan-tea extract - widely used in cosmetology, has an antibacterial and healing effect. Also, the drug has a diuretic property, improves blood structure, increases hemoglobin, stimulates the sexual activity of men. Price for 125 ml. - 300 rubles.
Fireweed tincture angustifolia - will cure nervous disorders, stomach disease and ulcers, tonsillitis, migraine, relieve inflammation of the genitourinary system. Ivan-tea tincture will help with prostatitis and adenoma. You can buy a bottle of 100 ml. for 160 rubles.
Ivan-tea granulated - it is obtained by grinding after fermentation. Tea in granules has a smaller volume and quick brewing. Can be purchased in an assortment in combination with other herbs. Price for 100 gr. about 160 rubles.
Dried Ivan-tea flowers - infusions and decoctions can be prepared from raw materials. Fireweed drinks have all the beneficial effects inherent in the plant. The cost of 100 gr. is about 300 rubles.
Ivan-tea Koporsky is a large-leaf tea for brewing a drink, it has a tart and sweetish taste, tones and activates all the vital processes of the body. Average price 100 gr. - 390 rubles.
Ivan-tea green - included in its composition fermented narrow-leaved fireweed and green tea. The drink protonizes the body, improves immunity, normalizes digestion, relieves inflammation, nervous irritation, improves falling asleep and sleep quality.
Black Ivan tea with rose hips is a vitamin drink with a wonderful aroma of herbs and a pleasant taste of Indian black tea and rose hips. You can buy a pack of 100 grams for 350 rubles.
Ivan tea with mint leaves - a drink with the taste of fireweed leaves and mint. It is recommended to use for healing the body, stimulating the immune system, and improving the work of the gastrointestinal tract. The price of 75 grams of raw materials is about 200 rubles.
Ivan-tea in bags is a herbal tea for convenient brewing and tea drinking. It replenishes the body with useful substances, trace elements and vitamins. A package with 30 filter bags costs 80 rubles.
What helps Ivan tea: folk recipes
Ivan tea for prostatitis - 30 gr. Place crushed raw materials in a container with a glass of boiling water, insist on a water bath for 1 hour, then add liquid to the original volume. Strain and consume throughout the day. The infusion prevents the growth of adenoma, helps with impotence.
Plant for nervous diseases - 20 gr. crushed raw materials placed in 220 ml. boiling water, let it brew and consume three times a day. Ivan tea will help relieve fatigue, irritability, normalize sleep.
Ivan tea for gastritis - crushed raw materials in the amount of 40g. brewed with boiling water in the amount of one glass, aged in a water bath for half an hour and taken in 50 ml. three to four times a day.
Ivan tea for pancreatitis - steam 220 ml of chopped raw materials in the amount of a tablespoon. boiling water, let it brew and take during the day.
Ivan tea for diabetes medicinal properties Plants are good for diabetics. After the recommendation of the attending physician, it is taken for the treatment of diabetes. different type. To do this, prepare a decoction of 20 grams of raw materials and 0.3 liters of boiling water, insist for half an hour and drink in three doses, you can add honey. Helps to normalize metabolism and metabolism, will have a stimulating effect on the endocrine system, lower blood sugar. By adding chamomile, dandelion and blueberry leaves to the decoction, you can increase its effectiveness in the treatment of diabetes.
Ivan tea for colds - use a collection of fermented Ivan tea, berries and raspberry leaves. The ingredients are taken in equal amounts and brewed like regular tea. Used to relieve symptoms of the disease and increase the immune forces of the body.
How to use Ivan tea in combination with other plants:
- Ivan-tea with thyme (thyme) - combined use will enhance the antidepressant effect, improve mood and sleep. Diuretic action will help remove excess fluid, reduce swelling and reduce weight.
- Ivan tea with mint - mint tea with fireweed will calm the nervous system, improve well-being and mood, and speed up the process of falling asleep. The collection will have an anti-inflammatory effect in bronchitis and tonsillitis, a choleretic and antibacterial effect in diseases of the stomach and liver.
- Ivan-tea with ginger - will help to cope with colds and infectious diseases, relieve inflammation, warm the body, increase its resistance. Also, the collection will have a fat burning effect and help with weight loss.
- Clover, Ivan-tea - the collection has an antitoxic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. It will help with bronchitis, asthma, headaches, colds. A decoction of plants taken in equal amounts is used as a general tonic.
Ivan-chai refers to unpretentious plants that can be found in glades, edges, river banks in many other places. In the photo of the plant you can see how beautiful it blooms more amazing plant. However, in addition to its external attractiveness, Ivan-tea has unusually beneficial properties for the body. Its medicinal properties were noticed even by our ancestors. However, in modern folk medicine, the plant has not lost its popularity and is successfully used to treat various diseases.
What does the plant look like and where does Ivan-chai grow? Outwardly, Ivan-tea has light green oblong leaves and beautiful purple inflorescences. Unusual flowers can be easily seen in the photo of the plant. After the flowers fade, fluffy boxes form in their place, in which Ivan tea seeds ripen. Common places where grass can be found are forest clearings, meadows, river banks and populated areas.
among the people given plant also called "fireman". Ivan-chai received such a nickname due to the fact that the plant first appears in places after a fire. Also, many call it "fire grass". Due to the fact that the plant belongs to the fireweed family, the herb also has the name "fireweed".
plant composition
Ivan tea has an incredibly rich biochemical composition. The presence of many useful substances provides its benefits and effectiveness for the treatment of various ailments. So, the composition of fireweed includes the following components:
- vitamins;
- analogues of vitamin A - carotenoids;
- pectin;
- useful acids;
- flavonoids;
- tannins;
- alkaloids.
The description of the plant will not be complete without mentioning the presence of polysaccharides and phytosterols in it and a huge variety of vitamins and microelements that are extremely useful for the human body. The plant contains zinc, potassium, boron, nickel, calcium and many other substances.
Ivan tea has an extremely large amount of ascorbic acid. Here it is 5-6 times more than in lemons and oranges.
Fireweed has great beneficial properties for the human body. Tea not only has a beneficial effect on all human systems and organs, but also has an incredible taste. To date, varieties of Ivan tea are very wide. It can be found both in its pure form and with the addition of various other useful plants. So, what are the benefits of tea for the body?
- Regular consumption of tea has a positive effect on the immune system and overall well-being of a person.
- With this drink you can get rid of harmful substances such as waste products and toxins. Plant components have powerful antioxidant properties.
- With anemia, Ivan-tea is also indispensable. The drink significantly improves blood composition, increases hemoglobin.
- The use of tea allows you to normalize all the metabolic processes of the body.
- Fireweed also has a positive effect on the organs of the endocrine system.
With colds, drinking tea has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antiseptic effects. Tea is indispensable for both treatment and prevention of flu and colds. The properties of Ivan tea also include:
- Fireweed has a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional state of a person. Drinking a drink helps to relieve stress, calm down, get rid of worries, normalize sleep.
- For digestive system tea is also extremely beneficial. It has a diuretic, choleretic property, eliminates inflammation of the stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
- During the rise in temperature, you can take slightly warm tea, the drink helps to relieve the heat and saturate the body with useful vitamins.
- Fireweed works great for various pains. With a headache, toothache or any other pain, it is recommended to drink the remedy in a warm form 3-4 times a day.
- With sore throat, tonsillitis and various colds, it is recommended to gargle with a decoction of the plant 3-4 times a day.
plant collection
When to collect Ivan-tea? For independent harvesting of medicinal raw materials, the plant is plucked during its flowering period. For this, flowers and grass leaves are cut. Roots are recommended to be left in the ground. You can collect flowers and leaves separately. It is also worth noting that if you do not collect the plant during its flowering period, then it will not have useful properties.
Dry the plant in several ways. In the first case, flowers and leaves are laid out in a well-ventilated area on paper napkins or a regular newspaper. After drying, the raw materials are crushed and stored in bags made of natural fabric.
The second way is more complicated. To do this, the grass is slightly dried for 10-12 hours, then twisted into thin tubes, and placed in a bowl, covered with a wet cloth. In this form, the plant is left for a few more hours. The final step is to dry the leaves in a slightly preheated oven. After the raw materials are stored in bags or paper bags. It is not recommended to store the plant in glass or tin.
There is a plant similar to Ivan-tea (see photo). When harvesting grass, it is important not to confuse them with real fireweed.
How to brew tea?
The recipe for brewing fireweed is quite simple, but it still differs from making ordinary tea. So the procedure is as follows:
- Tea can be prepared both in glass and ceramic dishes. During the brewing process, you can feel the incredibly pleasant aroma of the drink and its amazing color.
- Grass at the rate of 2 tablespoons per 500 ml. water is poured with boiling water and left to brew under a closed lid for 10-15 minutes. A drink is considered ready when the leaves completely settle to the bottom.
- Water for making a drink should be of high quality, without the addition of various impurities. Various additives can affect the taste quality of a drink.
- Before pouring tea into cups, the contents of the teapot should be mixed again.
You can also make tea in a thermos. This method will allow you to feel even more strongly taste qualities plants. To do this, 2 or 4 tablespoons of grass are placed in a thermos with a volume of 0.5 or 1 liter and poured with boiling water. The lid of the thermos should be tightly corked and the drink should be left to infuse for 2-3 hours. You can drink tea with sugar or chalk to taste.
Traditional medicine recipes
In addition to brewing in the form of tea, fireweed is also used in some recipes. traditional medicine. The following are popular.
Treatment of the digestive system
For the prevention and treatment of diseases of the digestive system, it is recommended to prepare a concentrated infusion of the leaves and flowers of the plant. To do this, pour a tablespoon of herbs with a glass of boiling water and cover with a lid. Infusion time 20-30 minutes. Take the remedy for half a glass in the morning and evening.
Healing agent for burns and wounds
To prepare the medicine, st. l. plants and fill it with 500 ml cold water. On low heat, bring the product to a boil and cook for another 15-20 minutes. After cooling, the decoction is used for wiping and bathing.
Cure for psoriasis and other skin problems
Fireweed leaves (2 tablespoons) must be ground into powder and mixed with one tsp. vaseline. The ingredients should be thoroughly mixed and added to 10 drops of sea buckthorn oil. The resulting ointment is applied to the affected areas several times a day for 20-30 minutes.
Contraindications
In some cases, the use of Ivan tea and medicines based on it is strictly prohibited. Contraindications include:
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- Children under 6 years of age.
- People with personal intolerance to plant components.
- Patients with hyperacidity stomach.
Before drinking tea, it is very important to consult a specialist. This will help eliminate many complications and side effects.
Admiring the beautiful carpet of bright red, pale pink, yellow and white wild flowers, many do not even suspect that in front of them is a real Ivan tea. From this wonderful plant in dried and fresh medicinal teas are brewed and prepared medicinal tinctures from many ailments.
Now, knowing what Ivan-tea grass looks like in the photo, you will be able to recognize it yourself during a country walk and prepare it for the whole year.
What does Ivan tea look like?
The scientific name of Ivan-tea is fireweed, chamenerium or narrow-leaved chamenerium (Chamerion angustifolium). There are about a hundred synonyms among the people for this herb: the virgin grass, willow grass, magpie eyes, hoof grass, Koporsky tea, wild flax, wild violet, field cornflowers, field sage, sweet clover, shoemaker, wheatgrass, etc.
The leaves of this plant are like long knives. Botanists call such an oblong shape lanceolate (reminiscent of the shape of a medical scalpel or lancet).
The pointed shiny leaves are finely serrated at the tips, tapering towards the base. Leaf petioles are usually short. The leaves are two-tone. Their surface facing the sun is dark green, and back side may be bluish, purplish red, and sometimes pale pink.
Inflorescences are collected in brushes. The fruit of Ivan tea is a small pubescent box. The seeds in it are oblong, with thin long white hairs.
When collecting fireweed, mark the place where you found it. Why? Because this plant is a perennial, and next year you will find new glades of willow-herb here.
Its thick, juicy rhizome resembles a creeping mint or elderberry root. The straight thick stem is densely covered with leaves.
On favorable soils, willow-chai often reaches a height of two meters. On average, the height of its stem with inflorescences is about half a meter.
Where to look for Ivan tea?
Fireweed grows on dry, sandy soils, in light, unshaded groves, often in clearings and conflagrations. Therefore, the plant is sometimes also called the "fireman".
Chamenery spreads along country roads, highways, railway embankments.
Road workers plant this plant to strengthen roadsides and slopes. But you should not collect grass in such places, because its leaves accumulate dangerous substances from the exhaust gases of car and locomotive engines.
Chamenerium blooms in June-August. Its fruits suitable for medicinal fees, ripen in late summer-early autumn: in the south - in August, to the north - throughout September.
Tea plantation in the garden
if you have suburban area, then you can plant Ivan tea in your garden. To do this, dig fireweed together with a clod of earth and plant it in the garden along paths in well-lit places.
From this multi-colored grass you can create wonderful flower arrangements that landscape designers take note of.
Ivan-tea is characterized by increased activity of growth and distribution. Therefore, think in advance how to limit the spread of its roots.
In addition to teas, fresh young shoots and leaves can be used to make vitamin salads. And boiled shoots can be eaten along with vegetables.
Bees love to collect fireweed nectar because it contains a lot of fructose and glucose. Ivan-tea honey turns out to be unusually fragrant, watery-transparent in consistency, with a greenish tint.
Those who collected Ivan tea (fireweed) in the spring noticed that there are several more plants with which it can be confused. After the start of flowering, it is much easier to detect and recognize fireweed. And before flowering, some herbs are so similar that only a good acquaintance with fireweed does not allow them to be confused.
One such similar plant is Canadian goldenrod, the hero of this study. Goldenrod has leaves with a noticeable tooth along the edge, the leaf itself is yellower, the stem is more curved and thin than that of Ivan tea. There are other, much less noticeable differences as well. We had a question, what if, by chance, a few leaves of goldenrod fall along with fireweed? Moreover, the goldenrod has recently become more and more and it is already beginning to crowd out many other species, including Ivan tea. Therefore, we decided to take a closer look at this new plant neighbor.
The first time I paid attention to the goldenrod was more than ten years ago. Near the area of the city where I live, there is a large field, where in the winter cars bring snow and dirt from the streets. As you know, sand and salt are often poured onto icy roads, so the soil on the field was not very pleasant for many plants, and usually nothing grew there except for a rare birch tree. But in that year the whole field rose tall grass with beautiful golden flowers. I had never seen such a plant before and therefore carefully examined it: very beautiful placers of flowers, a leaf and trunk that looked mediocre, giant growth and a carroty smell of a crushed leaf.
In the ten years that have passed since our first acquaintance, the goldenrod has ceased to be rare, and now it is familiar to everyone with us. In addition, the goldenrod has already been declared a persona nongrata, a foreign aggressor and an environmental problem not only in China and many other countries, but also in Belarus.
The goldenrod genus (in Latin Solidago, from solidus - whole, steadfast and ago - from make, "making healthy") has many species, and our new neighbor came from North America especially from Canada. He was brought in as garden plant to Europe as early as the 19th century, but became truly widespread at the end of the 20th. Goldenrod slowly and imperceptibly climbed out of the botanical gardens, front gardens and flower beds on wildlife. It is very undemanding to soils, watering and tolerates very coldy. Goldenrod produces a huge amount of small seeds and is carried with the wind (like willow tea) over great distances. Especially if the soil is sandy, permeable, and the place is sunny, then the goldenrod forms continuous thickets from a meter to two meters high. During flowering, it looks very beautiful: fields flooded with golden radiance, swaying in the wind. Goldenrod remains standing and shining with a silvery top, sometimes until the very spring.
Our regions know another such invader - Sosnovsky's Hogweed, which was bred specifically for feeding livestock, and then abandoned because of its poisonous properties for the skin. And the cow-parsnip, with a sedate step, captured huge spaces. Now it is found everywhere in the European part of Russia.
Unlike cow parsnip, goldenrod is not poisonous, and can even be used to treat certain diseases and strengthen the immune system. Goldenrod is mainly used either as an external remedy for cuts and wounds, or as an internal remedy for the treatment of the urinary tract and increasing the immunity of this area. Also known are such areas of its application as the treatment of prostatitis, the prevention of cancer, anti-aging effect, liver disease. Recently, scientists of the National Academy of the Republic of Belarus found that the goldenrod rhizome contains a large number of inhibitor proteins that inhibit fungi and bacteria of many human, animal and plant diseases.
Despite these positive qualities, rare pharmaceutical companies are engaged in the collection of the plant and the manufacture of something from it. No more useful application This plant has not yet been found. Therefore, it is spreading more and more. China has even declared war on goldenrod and is spraying it on a large scale with roundups. But I personally do not think that this will bring a positive effect. You cannot suffocate the whole goldenrod, and the remaining plants will quickly disperse, and the goldenrod will take its toll again. Now, if they learned to make gasoline from goldenrod, then people would push it out very quickly. In the meantime, we can only look at its expansion.
For willowherb growers, goldenrod fever threatens to reduce wild fireweed. Now this problem is acutely affecting Belarus, where in many places the goldenrod has already replaced the fireweed. And later, when goldenrod spreads even more, reaches Siberia, the problem of displacing fireweed will affect other producers of this delicious drink. It's just a matter of time. Therefore, the only good decision question for us seems to be the cultural cultivation of willow-tea. This will solve the goldenrod problem of displacing wild fireweed. It will also allow you to grow more willowherb in a smaller area and at lower collection costs. Such fireweed can be certified as grown in environmentally friendly conditions.
WHERE TO BUY IVAN-TEA IN PETERSBURG
But what if the best areas for Ivan Chai are already occupied by goldenrod? How to survive goldenrod from such lands? There are several ways to do this. One of them is the use of roundups - chemicals that are absorbed by plants through the leaves and inhibit their vital activity. Such substances usually do not persist in the soil and are safe for further cultivation (at least the manufacturer writes this on their packaging). The Chinese fight with goldenrod with such roundups. Despite the effectiveness of this approach, this method seems to us not entirely environmentally friendly and humane. We prefer to simply pluck the goldenrod bushes out of the ground (the goldenrod root pulls out without too much trouble) and burn the roots and stem in the spring. In this way, ash useful for Ivan-tea is obtained. Small plants produced from seeds can be weeded and effective microorganisms like Baikal EM-1 can be used to rot them.
Goldenrod is not a poisonous plant, and it's okay if a couple of its leaves get into the raw material when collecting willow-herb. However, the fact remains that it occupies more and more areas and loves to grow where fireweed has grown for centuries. We see that after some time more and more producers of willow-tea will grow it in an agricultural way. And we are already starting to do it today.