Devětsil lékařský is one of those herbs that will fascinate us in the spring and also delight you with its flowers. Then they seem to have disappeared from the world. When we walk around a mountain stream in the summer with a flood of large umbrella-shaped leaves, it does not occur to us that it is the same plant as the one whose special flowers we admired in the spring. In addition, the mysterious nine-year-old is a great helper for traditional ailments.

In early spring, this versatile herb begins to grow from the ground, which in ancient times attributed a healing effect in the fight against the plague epidemic. It is popularly called the horse's hoof or burdock.

The perennial plant grows to a height of up to 50 centimeters. At the time of the fetus even up to 130 cm. It is most often found on the banks of rivers and streams, but it also grows in ditches on the edge of forests. It occurs basically everywhere where it is damp. However, mostly in the mountains and foothills. It has a very strong rhizome, from which it expels thick, hollow, deep red, scaly stems at the beginning of March. The nine-year-old is well recognizable, especially during the flowering period, when it is wearing white to pink flowers that grow in the upper parts of the stem in the shape of a grape and have a pleasant smell. The leaves grow only after the flowering of the plant. They reach large dimensions, often up to 50 cm. They are one of the largest leaves of our plants. At the end they are irregularly serrated. The fruit of the nine-strong is a nažka with a dirty white hairy tuft.

The root can be dug early in the spring, but it is very difficult. The flowers are collected in sunny weather in May, when they are fully outside. The leaves are ideal to collect in full growth before reaching the largest dimensions.

Healing effects

The most effective part of the nineteen force is the root. Due to its poor collection in the wild, it is easier to collect flowers and leaves that have almost the same healing effect and ingredients. Dried root can be purchased at herb stores. All three medicinal parts of the herb contain essential oils, bitters, tannins, inulin, choline, sulfur compounds, mineral salts, acids and other beneficial substances for the body.

Devetsil is a medicine that is forgotten. The name itself suggests the nine powers that the herb abounds. It has beneficial effects in stomach cramps, urinary tract and gallbladder pain. It also has anti-rheumatic effect, diuretic and also helps with constipation. It helps in soothing irritating cough, is also effective in asthma, relieves fever. Fresh, slightly knocked leaves can then be used as cladding for abrasions, sprains or varicose veins. In the past, the root was used to treat intestinal parasites.

Taking

Externally it is used as leaf cladding for rheumatic pain, for inflamed veins, swelling of the sprains and various muscle pains. Steamed and slightly crushed leaves are applied to skin diseases, ulcers, wounds, abrasions and psoriasis. Internally, the herb is used as a tea for painful menstruation, cough, epilepsy and intestinal parasites. It cleans the blood, has a flood and diuretic effect.

Tip - healing poultice of leaves nine

Did you sprain your ankle or rub your legs? Easy and quick help will bring you just herbal butter.

Wash the young, juicy leaves of sufficiently large height, dry them and tap them with a meat mallet on a cutting board. Lay on the affected area, cover with plastic wrap and bandage. Leave on for a few hours or overnight. We can repeat the treatment several times, always with new leaves.