Rubia root

Description

A perennial herb with a long creeping brown rhizome. The stems are four-sided, branching, climbing, with prehensile curved spines on the ribs. Leaves are whorled, lanceolate, hard, rough, four to six in a whorl. The flowers are small, yellowish-green, with troctolite five-lobed сorolla. There are five stamens, a pistil with two stigmas and a lower ovary. The flowers are collected in axillary branched cymes. Fruits are juicy, spherical, black. Height 60 – 100 cm

The time of flowering. June-August.

Distribution. It is found in a wild state in Central Asia and in the South and South-East of the European part. Occasionally cultivated as a medicinal plant on the black sea coast of the Caucasus. Motherland — the Mediterranean countries.

Habitat. It grows in wet places, on the banks of rivers and irrigation channels (ditches) and on wet shrubs. It is bred on plantations.

The part used. Rhizomes with roots.

The time of collection. The spring and autumn.

Chemical composition

Rhizomes contain citric, malic and tartaric acids, mineral salts, various sugars, proteins, pectin substances and coloring substances: alizarin, rubiadin, and purpurine.

Application

Infusion of rhizomes and roots has diuretic, choleretic, antispasmodic properties and a special ability to dissolve various salts (phosphoric, oxalic, urea) and promote their rapid elimination by the body. The aqueous extract of the rhizomes and roots of madder are used in folk medicine of different countries for kidney stones and gallstones. Extract from the rhizomes and roots of madder in was tested clinically and allowed for medical use as a promising tool for the treatment of kidney and gallstone diseases.

In folk medicine, the Madder rhizome infusion is also taken for jaundice, constipation, rheumatic pain in the lower back, joint diseases, children's "tabes", rickets and as a diuretic. In folk medicine of Central Asia, madder rhizomes with honey are used for jaundice and "memory loss". In German folk medicine, rhizome infusion is used for kidney and gallstone diseases, diseases of the kidneys, bladder, spleen, night involuntary urination and ailments associated with menstruation. In the past, madder was cultivated in Europe to produce red paint in various colors. In the republics of Central Asia, they still use resistant madder paints to paint carpets.

Method of application

1 teaspoon of dry rhizomes and madder roots infuse for 8 hours in 1 cup of cooled boiled water, strain the rest of the infuse for 10 minutes in 1 cup of boiling water, strain; mix both infusions. Take 1/2 cup 4 times a day.