Mother and stepmother is a plant that blooms in early spring. Yellow inflorescences appear first, and then large green or reddish leaves. It is found almost everywhere and has long been used to treat many diseases. Mother-and-stepmother has many other names, for example: two-faced, mother grass, butterbur, periwinkle grass.
Instructions
Step 1
Mother-and-stepmother belongs to perennial plants of the Aster family. Its height is 10-25 cm. The plant got its name due to the fact that the upper part of the leaves is cold and smooth (stepmother), and the lower part is light and soft to the touch (mother). The leaves have a rounded shape with irregular ragged pointed edges, their size does not exceed 25 cm. The coltsfoot flower is yellow, has a single inflorescence in the form of a small golden-yellow basket with a round flat center.
Step 2
Mother-and-stepmother grows on clay soils, hills, dry lowlands and the outskirts of roads. The roots of this plant are creeping, branchy. The stalk of the coltsfoot resembles scales with a pointed upward. Coltsfoot inflorescences close after the flowering period, at night and during rain. This plant blooms all spring until summer comes. After, the inflorescences turn into white fluffy heads with seeds and are carried by the wind, like a dandelion.
Step 3
Mother-and-stepmother contains inulin, essential oils, tannins, malic, ascorbic and tartaric acids, a large amount of trace elements. It has an active anti-inflammatory effect, it is used for diseases of the respiratory tract, decreased immunity, diseases of the skin, toxicosis, cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the thyroid gland, prostate gland and gastrointestinal tract.
Step 4
For use in treatment, coltsfoot leaves are harvested. Away from the roads and walking cattle, in late spring. Inflorescences cut in April are used less often. The roots and stems have no medicinal properties. Mother-and-stepmother is used in the manufacture of juice, tinctures and decoctions. Contraindications to the use of coltsfoot are under 2 years of age, pregnancy and lactation, liver disease. With prolonged use of infusions and decoctions of this plant inside, harmful substances begin to accumulate.
Step 5
With the help of a mother and stepmother, you can make a tonic to treat problem skin. To do this, 2 tablespoons of leaves are poured with a glass of boiling water and put on fire for 5 minutes. Then the broth is cooled and 2 tablespoons of vodka are added to it. This tonic is used 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening. The juice of coltsfoot is applied to wounds and ulcers, this stimulates local immunity and helps to speed up healing. A decoction of coltsfoot flowers, frozen in ice cubes, will help the skin stay youthful and elastic longer.
