Family Rosaceae.

Parts used. Rhizomes with roots, aerial part.

Botanical description. River grass - (Geum rivale) - herbaceous perennial 25-80 cm high. Its stem is reddish, the leaves are tripartite, slightly reminiscent of the leaves of some buttercups. The flowers are cream, with dark red veins, bell-shaped, drooping, inconspicuous. A widespread plant in central Russia. Common in damp places - in damp forests, floodplain meadows, along the banks of rivers, lakes and streams. Blooms in May-June. The fruit is a composite of nut-shaped achenes. Often found in garden plots as a weed. It grows quickly thanks to its branched rhizome. A modest, not very noticeable plant, but endowed with many useful properties.

Collection and preparation. The grass and roots of the plant are collected and dried in the sun.

Active ingredients. The roots of river gravilate contain tannins, essential oil, and the leaves contain vitamins: carotene (37 mg%) and vitamin C (up to 117 mg%).

Pharmacological properties. In folk medicine, the hemostatic, tonic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and soothing properties of river gravilate are known. An infusion of rhizomes with roots helps with diarrhea, uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding, scurvy, headaches, insomnia, and allergic phenomena. It is also prescribed as a general tonic for physical fatigue and after serious illnesses.

Application. Gravilat is popularly known as a food plant. Young leaves of the plant are added to vitamin-rich salads and used as a dressing for vegetable soups. Gravilata rhizomes, washed in cold water and dried, are a substitute for cloves in cooking. They are added to foods and drinks (they add homemade kvass and beer), to which they impart a spicy, “clove” smell and resistance to souring. It should be noted that the roots retain their spicy taste and aroma for a short time. The aromatic bitterness contained in the rhizomes of gravilat ("clove root") is used in liqueur and brewing production. In industry, red-brown dye is extracted from them; they are suitable for tanning leather. The stems of the plant are readily eaten by goats and sheep, and to a lesser extent by horses and pigs. The plant has insecticidal properties.

Gravilat blooms for a long time (up to 40 days), so it serves as a constant source of nectar for bees. The nectar secreted by one flower per day contains about 5 mg of honey. On some days, the hive becomes 1.5 kg heavier if the bees “work” on gravity. According to beekeepers' terminology, gravilat provides early summer maintenance honey flow.

In folk medicine, decoctions of the rhizomes of river gravilate are readily used. The decoction is used for enterocolitis accompanied by diarrhea, heavy uterine, hemorrhoidal bleeding, hemoptysis, as a general tonic for serious illnesses and various nervous disorders. It is used externally in the form of baths for joint and muscle diseases, dislocations, and also for rinsing with bleeding gums and sore throats; powder of crushed and dried roots - for headaches, insomnia, eye diseases, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, as a tonic after serious illnesses, for uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding, malaria, scurvy, for inflammation of the kidneys, gall and bladder, as an additional remedy in the treatment of tuberculosis, bronchial asthma and cough, as a means of increasing potency; externally (powder) – for sprinkling on purulent wounds and ulcers. The drugs are effective against snake venom and reduce the spastic effect of barium chloride. Crushed fresh roots are applied to calluses to remove them.

The aerial part of the plant is used in folk medicine as an infusion for periodontal disease, stomatitis, and laryngitis.

Infusion of rhizomes with roots: 2 teaspoons of raw materials per 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse for 1 hour. 1 tablespoon three times a day before meals.
Infusion of rhizomes with roots (external): 2 tablespoons of raw materials per 400 ml of boiling water. Leave for 1 hour. For local washing, rinsing, baths and compresses.
Infusion: 2 tsp. rhizomes with roots in 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 1 hour in a sealed container, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day before meals for headaches and insomnia.
Decoction: 2 tbsp. l. rhizomes with roots in 2 cups of boiling water, boil, strain. Use for local baths, washing, rinsing.
Infusion: 5 tablespoons of crushed root, pour 500 ml of wine, infuse for 7-8 days, filter. Prescribe 1 tablespoon an hour after meals as a general tonic for various nervous disorders.
Dry powder of rhizomes with roots (1 g) with honey, take 3-4 times a day for insomnia, as a general tonic for various nervous disorders, pulmonary tuberculosis, impotence.
Powder from the rhizomes of river gravilate: prepared in a wooden mortar. Take 0.05-0.1 g 3 times a day before meals, washed down with water, but without chewing. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.

Place in your flowerbed a beautiful, unpretentious perennial with an unusual name - gravilat. A resident of cold regions and the temperate zone, widely distributed in Siberia and the Caucasus, the Far East, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, and other parts of Russia and European countries.

The perennial is distinguished by its hardiness and attractive appearance. Erect stems are crowned with large single flowers or panicle inflorescences. The trifoliate leaves have pronounced stripes-veins, with teeth along the edges.

How to care for gravel in open ground

Gravilat is planted in sunny areas, near water bodies. The plant tolerates partial shade and light short-term drought. However, it still prefers regular, abundant watering.

The main maintenance requirements are loosening the soil, weeding, sufficient watering and fertilizing. It is advisable to feed at least two or three times per season with organic or complex mineral fertilizers. Thanks to this attention, gravilate will delight you with luxurious flowering and bright, thick leaves.

Growing gravilate from seeds at home

Gravilat seeds can be planted on seedlings or directly in the ground, in spring or autumn. Let's take a closer look at each of the options.

Growing gravilat seedlings

When to plant gravilat for seedlings? They start sowing in early March, trying not to delay, but you can plant until the beginning of April.

• Prepare seedling boxes or containers with mandatory drainage holes in the bottom.
• Fill with loose nutrient soil. You can use soil from the store for flowering plants.
• Make shallow grooves, up to 1-2 cm, place seeds in them at a distance of 3-4 cm. The distance between the rows is 4-5 cm. Cover the seeds with soil.
• You can scatter the seeds on the surface of the ground, press them with your palm and lightly sprinkle the soil on top.
• Moisturize moderately, using a spray bottle.
• To speed up germination, you can cover the container with the seeds with a plastic bag.
• When shoots appear, the bag is removed.

• As soon as the seedlings produce two or three true leaves, they are carefully dived into separate cups with a diameter of about 7 cm. Help yourself with any sharp object (fork, toothpick, the back of a teaspoon) to pry up the seedling along with the root and a lump of earth. This way you can replant the plants painlessly and they will hurt less.
• 10 days after picking, feed the seedlings with complex fertilizer for flowering plants to stimulate growth.

How to plant gravilat seedlings in the ground

Gravilat seedlings are planted in the ground from mid-May to early June, provided there are no night frosts. Two weeks before planting, the seedlings are hardened off by leaving them outside, starting from several hours a day, and increasing the stay time to a full day. In this case, planting will be painless, the plants will quickly take root and begin to grow.

Plants grown from seeds will bloom only in the next season, in the month of July. They are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other.

How to sow gravilat seeds in the ground

in spring

Spring sowing begins as early as possible, as soon as the soil ripens. They loosen the bed, dug up since the fall, and level the ground with a rake. Make rows at a distance of 15-20 cm, sow the seeds shallowly, up to 2 cm, level the ground with the back of the rake.

It is advisable to predict the weather before the rain, then you won’t have to water. If the weather is dry, the bed is moistened with a watering can, but not flooded, so as not to create an earthen crust. It is better to water a little every evening than to water occasionally.

When the shoots appear, the bed is weeded to remove weeds and the gravel itself is thinned out, leaving at least 5 cm between plants. When the seedlings rise to 10-15 cm, they are transplanted to a permanent place. The distance between the bushes is 40 cm.

in autumn

The timing of sowing will depend on the region, the main thing is that after sowing there is no prolonged heat, which is why the seeds may sprout in the fall. Gravilat is usually sown before winter around October, when it is already quite cold. The bed should not be specially insulated: the seeds will not freeze, and natural stratification will benefit them, and the plants will sprout together in early spring.

Reproduction of gravilat by dividing the bush

The gravilata bush can be divided if it has grown well. This is done in spring or autumn. The plant is completely dug up and cut into several parts with a sharp knife, with at least two or three growing points.

The cuttings are planted in pre-prepared holes, trying to maintain the same level of the root collar. It is advisable to place a couple of handfuls of humus at the bottom of the hole; this will give the plant a good charge for several years.

When planted in spring, plants can bloom the same year, you just need to try to divide the bush as early as possible so that the gravilate has time to take root before the flowering season.

What flowers to plant gravilat with? Beautiful combinations and popular companions

Gravilate goes well with irises, forget-me-nots, cereals, peonies, and goldenrod, bluebells, etc.

The chaotic plantings of these plants against the background of decorative stones look beautiful. You can plant low ground covers nearby, for example or,.

Types of gravilate with description and photo

Hybrid gravilate Geum x hybridum

Beloved by gardeners, the hybrid gravilate has absorbed the best features of its parents, the wild forms: Chilean and bright red. Lush double flowers and powerful, beautiful stems will be a magnificent decoration for any corner of the garden, flower bed or pond.

Popular varieties:

• ‘Fire Opal’ - orange-red double flowers;
• ‘Princess Juliana’ - orange-yellow inflorescences;
• ‘Gladys Perry’ - scarlet flowers.

Mountain gravilate Geum montanum

Widely distributed in the mountains of Europe. A low perennial reaches a maximum of 30 cm in height. Small flowers up to 2.5 cm are cup-shaped and yellow in color. Tolerates severe frosts, prefers sunny areas.

River gravel or rivulet Geum rivale

River gravilate grows near rivers and reservoirs almost everywhere: in the European part of Russia, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Western and Eastern Siberia. The plant reaches a height of about 70 cm, and over many years of life it grows a powerful rhizome. The stems are erect and dark red. Flowering occurs in the month of May; the flowers are small, inconspicuous, and pale pink. This is a good honey plant, loved by bees for the abundance of sweet nectar. Reproduction occurs exclusively by seed.

The seed fruits have tenacious hooks, thanks to which they cling to animal fur and spread far from the mother plants. The seeds germinate next spring. In the first year the bush is very small, only a few leaves at the rosette. The first leaves die off by autumn, being replaced by rounded leaves that overwinter under the snow until spring. And only after a year the plant begins to bloom.

Due to its rustic appearance, the plant is rarely planted in gardens; only two varieties are preferred:

• Lionel Sox - yellow flowers.
• Album - white flowers

Ross Gravilat Geum rossii

It was brought to Europe from North America, where it grows widely in the Arctic tundra, as well as on rocky areas and meadows. The perennial forms a continuous dense carpet 30 cm high, covering the clearings with bright yellow clouds of flowers during flowering. Blooms in summer. Prefers soil without stagnant water and has high winter hardiness.

Geum triflorum

Gravilatum triflorum originated from moist, damp places along rivers in the vastness of North America. Only 30 cm tall, very hardy and winter-hardy. It blooms with either yellow-scarlet or lemon-purple flowers.

Gravilat Chilean Geum quellyon

As the name suggests, it was imported from Chile, South America. The height of the plant is decent, up to 60 cm. The leaves are collected in a basal rosette. It begins to bloom in June and produces flowers for about 50 days.

Terry varieties of gravilata are especially loved by flower growers:

• Lady Stratheden - yellow flowers;
• Mr J. Bradyshaw' - 60 cm tall, double orange flowers, blooms in July, continues to bloom for approximately 30 days.
• Fireball is only half a meter high, luxurious lush flowers of bright orange color, flowering lasts 50 days.
• Goldball - yellow flowers.

Bright red or red-flowered Geum coccineum

Terry gravylate bright red variety Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ photo

Found in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and Greece. The perennial has pubescent stems topped with large bright red flowers. The leaves are tripartite.

A unique winter-hardy variety with long flowering from June to September is popular: the flower is called “Borizin”.

A simple and modest meadow dweller, less often a forest dweller, also living in rural settlements. Common name: ruffled grass, Benedict's grass, vyveshnik, water incense, chistets, comb, clove root, charm herb.

Appearance

• Perennial plant, height from 30 to 80 cm or more.
• The stem leaves are large, dissected and pinnate, located near the root, whole small leaves are located at the apex.
• The flowers are open, looking up or in the form of bells collected in inflorescences of up to 10 pieces. Predominantly in white, yellow and pink. The calyx and corolla are free, five-membered.
• The fruits are spherical heads with a thick covering of hairs.
• The rhizome is bright brown.

Kinds

This plant has about 50 species, 7 of which grow in different regions of Russia.

The most common:

• - an ordinary species, distributed along small reservoirs and in villages. Sometimes it forms thickets in large areas in river beds. Height 25 – 80 cm.
• , despite the name, grows in rural areas near hedges, on roadsides and wastelands. Grows from 30 to 60 cm.
• Hybrid gravilate– crossed varieties of river gravilate, Chilean and bright red. Blooms from June. This hybrid is not intended for treatment. It is from 25 to 60 cm in height.
• - originally from Chile, where the Indians used it for medicinal purposes. Grown to decorate flower beds and flower beds. Outwardly it looks like a poppy.

River gravilate looks "modest"

Urban gravilate has bright yellow flowers

Chilean gravilate will be a worthy decoration for your garden

Hybrid gravilate delights with its delightful flowers

Where does it grow?

Distributed on all continents with an average climate. Gravilat grows in abundance in the northern and temperate zones.

Method of making spices

• Harvesting aboveground part of the plant, as soon as the gravilate blooms. Cut to 15 cm up from the root and hang dry in bunches, or in the air without exposure to the sun. Shelf life is no more than a year, in an airtight container.
• The underground part of the plant dig in early spring before flowering, or in the fall after. It is better to dig in the second year. The collected rhizomes are dried in places with good ventilation, or in dryers up to 45°C. Store for up to 3 years in an airtight container to prevent the smell from disappearing. This part of the herb is used more for medicinal purposes.

Gravilata root can be stored for up to 3 years

Peculiarities

• amulets are made from dried roots
• rhizomes have a spicy clove smell
• some varieties are used in landscape design
• any type is an excellent honey plant (the flower produces 2-5 mg of sugar in the nectar, which is 80 – 120 kg/ha of its productivity)

Calorie content

Calorie content per 100 grams: up to 20 kcal.

Chemical composition

• The root contains: tannins, bitter substances, oil, glycoside, starch, resins.
• Leaves contain: vitamin C, carotene.
• The seeds are rich in fatty oils.

Gravilata root is very useful

The seeds are rich in valuable oils

Leaves contain vitamin C

Beneficial features

• diaphoretic;
• choleretic;
• antivirus;
• tonic;
• expectorant.

In addition, the following properties are distinguished:

• antiseptic;
• pain reliever;
• wound healing;
• antitumor;
• hemostatic.

Gravilate repels mosquitoes with its smell. Gravilate is very useful; it has a general strengthening effect on the body, which is why it is used in many countries around the world.

Contraindications

• individual intolerance
• low blood pressure
• persistent constipation
• thrombophlebitis
• thrombosis

Oil

The dried underground parts of the plant contain essential oil. It is viscous with a bitter taste and clove smell. It is used in the perfume industry and cooking.

Gravilat oil is used both in perfumery and in cooking.

Application

In cooking

• A tincture of orange zest and rhizome will give light, low-alcohol drinks a vermouth flavor.
• for tinting fruit drinks, lemonades, etc. (gives a dark cherry color)
• added to kvass to protect against souring, also in beer
• as a spice for any side dish and baked goods
• in the form of tea

Seasoning: The dried parts of the rhizome are ground into powder and consumed up to 10g per serving. Keep in a dark sealed container.

Green salad: 50g of the above-ground part of the gravilat, 1 egg, 80g of herbs (dill, onion, parsley) and 25g of mayonnaise. The gravilate is washed, scalded for 5 minutes and cooled. Then chop with the rest of the ingredients and season.

Salad with meat: 50g of boiled beef, 30g of potatoes, 30g of fresh and pickled cucumbers, 1 egg, 20g of green peas, 50g of gravy leaves, 40g of herbs (dill, onion, parsley), 25g of mayonnaise. Everything is cut into strips, peas are added, and seasoned.

Drink: 50g gravilate, 1l water, 50g sugar. Bring the finely chopped rhizomes and water to a boil, and add sugar. Take after 4 hours.

In medicine

Suitable for making medicines: Chilean, river and urban clove roots. Below is a basic but incomplete list of problems that are treated with gravilate.

• Gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, colitis, dysentery, diarrhea, vomiting.
• Throat and mouth: weak gums, scurvy, sore throat, stomatitis, periodontal disease, pneumonia, bronchitis.
• Urinary and biliary organs: nephritis, cystitis, cholecystitis.
• Female and male genital organs: hemorrhoids, uterine bleeding, impotence.
• Other problems: C-vitaminosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, neurosis, helminthiasis, scrofulosis, rickets, insomnia, sweating.

The plant is used separately or in herbal collection.

Infusion for cholecystitis: 2 tsp herbs or rhizomes + 200 ml of boiling water. Brew for 2 hours and take half a glass in the morning and evening before meals.

Infusion to calm the nerves: 1 tbsp. herbs + 200 ml of hot boiled water. The mixture is left to stand for 2 hours. Filter and accept.

Infusion for gastrointestinal diseases (flatulence, diarrhea, vomiting): 2 tsp rhizomes + 200 ml of water. Fresh roots are brought to a boil. After 2 hours, filter and drink 1/2 glass in the morning and evening, half an hour before meals.

Decoction for diseases of the throat and oral cavity: 2 tsp fresh clove root + 200 ml boiling water. The mixture is simmered over low heat for 15 minutes. After straining after 2 hours, gargle 5 times a day.

Tincture for neuroses: 1 tbsp. fresh gravilat roots + 100 ml vodka. The mixture is infused for a month. Afterwards, consume ¼ tsp. 3 times a day before meals, diluting a little with water.

Tincture for stomach cancer: 5 tbsp. clove root + 500 ml vodka. Fresh rhizomes are covered with vodka and left for 15 days. Afterwards, drink 1/2 tsp. morning and evening an hour after meals.

Dry gravilate (cough, wounds, ulcers): Dry roots are ground into powder and taken before meals in the morning, afternoon and evening. 1 gram of raw material per dose, washed down with water. The course is a week.

In cosmetology

The rhizomes of this plant are also used for the beauty of the face and body.

For example, its decoction is added to the bath, this allows you to normalize and regulate sweating.

A decoction of gravilate will help normalize sweating

Face mask (for oily skin): 1 tsp dry raw materials are brewed in 200 ml of boiling water and filtered after 30 minutes. 2 tbsp. Potato starch and broth are mixed to the consistency of sour cream. Let the resulting mass sit for 15 minutes and wash off with the remaining broth. After half an hour, wash with water.

A mask with gravilate will be useful for oily skin

At home

• as an insecticide
• for treating hides and leather against rotting
• to obtain dark red and black paint
• for coloring fur (gives a greenish-red tint)

After dyeing with gravilate, the fur acquires a greenish-red tint.

Varieties

Popular varieties include:

• gladis perry – with red buds
• Princess Juliana - with orange-yellow buds
• fire opal – with orange-red buds

Growing

Flowering of gravilata begins only in the second code and continues from late spring to August, and the fruits ripen from June to September.

The plant prefers sunny areas with well-drained and non-acidic soil. It is frost-resistant and easy to care for.

Selecting a location

Gravilat can be grown in any soil that drains well. Only acidic soils are not suitable for this plant.

Although gravilat “likes” light, the plant develops well in shady conditions.

Gravilat is often used to decorate streams, ponds and other bodies of water on the site or in the garden. It is combined with perennial plants of medium height, so the most common varieties of gravel for garden plots are low-growing. They are distinguished by the presence of basal rosettes of leaves. These bright green rosettes look very impressive.

Landing

Dividing the bush

The bush is divided either in the spring or after the gravilate seeds have ripened (August/September).

Using a shovel, the bush is carefully dug up and divided into parts so that each contains roots, at least 1 growth bud, and a rosette of leaves.

Parts of the bush are planted in a prepared place (peat or compost is added to the soil, and it is also watered) so that there is a distance of 20-30 centimeters between them.

Gravilat can be propagated by dividing the bush.

Propagation by seeds

Gravilat can be propagated not only by dividing the bush, but also by seeds. They are planted in open ground in the spring, or in greenhouses or greenhouses. Seeds are planted to a depth of 10 mm.

Since our country is characterized by frequent frosts in the spring, it is better to sow seeds for seedlings.

To create the moisture the seedlings need, they should be covered with glass or film. Ventilate the seedlings periodically and water them carefully.

When the leaves appear, the gravilate needs to be dived. Such seedlings need to be transplanted to a permanent place in the second half of summer. They bloom only the next season.

In greenhouses, gravilat also reproduces well by seeds

Seedling

Cultivation of gravilat is often carried out using seedlings. Experienced gardeners sow gravilat seeds in the spring (late March or early April) in boxes or containers filled with soil substrate. The thickness of the substrate should be 2-2.5 centimeters.

After compacting the soil, it must be covered with thermal film. Remove the film after the sprouts appear, briefly ventilating the planting for a while beforehand (the film is opened slightly, gradually lengthening the ventilation).

Plants are transplanted for the first time in a greenhouse. When the third leaf appears on the sprout, it is ready to be transplanted into the ground. The soil should be prepared by adding peat and compost. The soil for replanting should be well heated. Gravilat is usually planted in flower beds in May or June.

These plants will bloom next summer.

Gravilat blooms from May

Plants delight with their attractive flowers for a long time, starting to bloom in May.

If August and September are warm, new flowers may appear on the stems.

By selecting several varieties of gravel, a gardener can get flowering all summer long. When flowering is complete, a nut-like fruit appears at the top of the gravilata stem, which can be seen from afar.

Care

• When the weather is dry, the plant needs to be watered additionally, but make sure that water does not stagnate. You also need to weed the gravel, trim old shoots and remove wilted flowers (this way you will avoid self-seeding). In addition, it is recommended to mulch the soil, especially in autumn.
• There is no need to cover the gravilat for the winter, since the plant can withstand temperatures down to minus 30 degrees. Only those varieties with double flowers do not tolerate low temperatures well, so they are covered with spruce branches or dry leaves for the winter.
• Gravilat responds well to feeding, so it is recommended to feed all types of plants twice a season using complex fertilizers. The plant is renewed after 3-4 years by dividing the bush. This will ensure long flowering and an attractive appearance of the plant.
• Gravilat is highly resistant to pests and diseases, so preventive spraying with chemicals is not necessary.

Gravilat is beautiful and unpretentious - an ideal plant for growing in the countryside

If the soil is waterlogged, root rot may occur. In this case, diseased plants are dug up along with the ground and burned, and the remaining gravilate is treated with a fungicide.

River gravilate is a wild plant with healing properties. Infusions from its roots are taken orally for various diseases.

River grass is a perennial wild plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. People have many other names for this representative of the flora: snake root, burdock, fence grass, marsh fieldfare and more than a dozen others.

Description of the plant

To grow, river gravilate chooses places where it is humid and damp: it can be found on the banks of reservoirs and in swampy areas, in flooded meadows. The plant is widespread in Russia, Central Asia, Europe, and China.
The rhizome of fence grass is brown in color, thick and creeping. It is located shallowly and is most often simply covered with lower leaves.
The stem of the river gravilate is erect and powerful. May branch slightly. Coloring is dark burgundy. The tips of the branches are crowned with inflorescences. Grows up to 70-100 centimeters.
The leaves of the snakeroot are drooping and pinnate. Basal ones - on a long petiole, stem ones - trifoliate, short-necked. Green color.
The plant blooms from May to June for 20 days. The flowers resemble a bell with a diameter of up to 1.5 centimeters. Bisexual, five-membered. There can be from 2 to 5 inflorescences at the top of the stem. The calyx of the gravilata flower is brown, the center is cream with dark veins.
The plant produces fruits in July-August that are pea-shaped and act as achenes.

Beneficial features

River gravity is used for medicinal purposes. The most valuable part of the plant is the rhizome. It contains tannins, essential oils, resins, and flavonoids. Preparations containing extracts from the plant have hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound-healing effects. Infusions and decoctions from the roots are used for bronchitis, dysentery, eating disorders, headaches, tuberculosis, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. Their effect on increasing male strength is known.
On the farm, the roots are used as a spice, and young leaves are used to prepare salad and soups.
The use of river gravilate for medicinal purposes is possible only after consultation with a doctor. Self-medication can be dangerous to health.

The plant is listed in the Red Book of the Krasnodar Territory.

River grass or stream grass is a perennial herbaceous plant. Belongs to the Rosaceae family. According to the botanical description, it is similar to urban gravilate.

Often used in folk medicine. River gravity has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, tonic, diaphoretic effect, accelerates wound healing, and stops bleeding. Due to its appearance, the plant is also popularly called water bergenia, mighty, snake root, vixen, odal-grass, devil's heads.

Description

River gravel can be seen near swamps, ditches, rivers, various bodies of water, as well as in thickets of bushes or meadows. The plant prefers moist, fertile soils with a weak acidic reaction. Distributed in North America and central Asia, China, Russia, and European countries. River gravilate reproduces by seed and by dividing shrubs.

Some people grow gravilate as an ornamental crop. In flower beds it is combined with other plants, for example, peonies and phlox. The Alba variety has whitish inflorescences, Lionel Cox has yellow ones.

The root system of gravilat is thick and has a brown tint. Is creeping. It lies shallow in the ground, sometimes even covered not with soil, but only with fallen leaves. When cut, the root has a yellowish color and a characteristic clove aroma.

The stem is straight, branching, powerful, and has a dark red tint. Round in cross section. There is hairiness. The height ranges from 25 cm to 1 m.

The lower leaves are lyre-shaped and pinnate. They are located on a long petiole. The rest are sessile or attached to the stem with a short petiole. They are tripartite.

Flowering begins in May and lasts until June, on average about 3 weeks. The inflorescences are bisexual, drooping, up to 15 mm in diameter. They are located on the tops of the stems in 2-5 pieces, which straighten after the end of flowering.

Fruits appear in mid to late summer. They look like a reddish achene with a hook at the end. The seeds cling to clothes, shoes, wool, and therefore spread quickly.

The plant is included in the Red Book in the Irkutsk and Saratov regions, so the preparation of raw materials for medicines must be carried out carefully. The roots are collected 2 times a year - in spring and autumn. After digging, they should be shaken off the soil, remove impurities and rinse with cold water. Then dry in the fresh air and dry in the oven at a temperature of no more than 40-50°C. Aboveground parts must be collected when flowering begins. They are dried in the fresh air under a canopy or in a well-ventilated room. Raw materials should be stored for no more than a year. Keep it in closed containers so that the aroma does not dissipate.

Useful properties and contraindications

The beneficial properties of gravilate are due to its unique composition. The rhizome of this herb contains the following substances:

• tanning compounds;
• organic acids;
• flavonoids;
• alkaloids;
• bitter compounds;
• essential oils;
• gein (glycoside);
• resinous compounds;
• carbohydrates.

The roots contain red dyes, so they are often used to obtain paints, or used in tanning sheepskin coats. The above-ground part of the plant contains ascorbic acid, provitamin A, tannins, and fatty oils.

The medicinal properties of river gravilate are used in folk medicine. The benefit of the plant is that it:

• has an astringent effect;
• eliminates inflammatory processes;
• relieves pain;
• stops bleeding;
• is a natural antiseptic;
• accelerates the healing process of wounds and scratches;
• has a diaphoretic effect;
• tones;
• has a mild sedative and hypnotic effect.

As a general tonic, river gravilate is useful during the recovery period after serious illnesses. Helps with physical fatigue and vitamin deficiency. The plant cleanses the body of toxic compounds and effectively copes with snake bites. It is used for barium chloride poisoning.

Due to the fact that gravilate stops bleeding and has an astringent effect, it is used for hemorrhoidal and uterine type bleeding. Products based on this herb have a positive effect on the nervous system, helping with headaches, migraines, neuroses, nervous disorders, and sleep problems.

Due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects, gravilate is used in folk medicine for diseases of the digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. This is especially true for gastritis, nephritis, cystitis, cholecystitis, colitis, salmonellosis, and dysentery. Infusion and decoction help with respiratory diseases that are caused by bacterial and viral infections. For example, the drugs relieve coughs due to pneumonia, bronchitis, whooping cough, and help eliminate fever.

Fresh crushed roots of the flower are used externally in the form of compresses. They can be applied to calluses to soften the tissue and make it easier to remove. A powder is prepared from the dried roots, which is sprinkled on ulcers and purulent wounds on the skin. The decoction and infusion are used to rinse the mouth and throat for sore throat, pharyngitis, stomatitis and other inflammatory diseases. Compresses and baths help with pain in joints, muscles, gout, rheumatism, arthritis.

Usually, medications based on river gravilate are well tolerated by the body, but they cannot always be used. Contraindications include the following:

• flower allergy;
• thrombophlebitis;
• increased blood clotting;
• low blood pressure;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract at the acute stage;
• chronic constipation.

Gravilate should not be used during pregnancy and lactation or treated with small children.

Application

In folk medicine, the above-ground parts and rhizome of river gravilate are actively used for the preparation of various medicines. They are used both externally and internally. The most popular options:

1. 1. Decoction. You need to pour 2 tablespoons of crushed dried roots into 0.4 ml of boiling water. Then boil for 10 minutes and wait another hour for the product to infuse. Then filter the resulting liquid. This product should be used externally. For example, you can gargle and gargle several times a day. The decoction is also suitable for baths: the procedure helps to get rid of pain in muscles and joints.
2. 2. Water infusion. External use. Both above-ground parts of the gravilat and roots are suitable for preparation. It is best to prepare a mixture of them. Next 1 tbsp. l. raw materials should be poured with a cup of boiling water and wait an hour. Then strain. This infusion is also suitable for baths and rinsing the mouth.
3. 3. Alcohol tincture. To prepare such a remedy, you need to pour 15 g of dried roots into 100 ml of vodka. Next, the glass container with this mixture should be placed in a dark place for a month. You can shake the contents periodically. At the end, all that remains is to strain the liquid. The tincture is taken for fever, nervous disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, and loss of strength. The product also stops bleeding. The dosage is 15 drops, which must be dissolved in a small amount of water.

A special herbal mixture is prepared with river gravilate, which helps with gastritis. Necessary:

• mix 4 parts each of gravilate, burnet, plantain, thyme;
• add 2 parts each of hops and heather, 3 parts meadowsweet, fireweed, toadflax, coltsfoot, lemon balm, chamomile;
• when everything is thoroughly mixed and chopped, you need 1 tbsp. l. pour 300 ml of boiling water over this collection.

The product should sit for 6 hours. After this, all that remains is to strain it. You should consume 100 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. Therapy lasts a month. Then you need to take a break for 10 days and repeat the course again.

The roots and leaves of gravilat are used in cooking. When fresh, they are added to soups. The leaves are often used for salads. The dried root, ground to a powder, is an aromatic seasoning used in alcoholic beverages and baked goods. The taste is reminiscent of cinnamon and cloves.

River gravilate inflorescences are a source of pollen. One flower produces about 10 mg of nectar per day. Due to this, the plant is used for honey production. Bees from a plot of 1 hectare can produce approximately 80 kg of honey from such a flower. Ground parts are used as feed for goats, horses, sheep, cows, and pigs.