Catharanthus medicinal properties. Catharanthus plant

The flowers of the plant are simple, quite large (up to 3 cm), with five petals. Their color can be different: soft purple, white, pinkish. In the center of each flower there is a bright crimson or yellow “eye”. The aroma of the flowers is faint; they bloom continuously from May to October.

Amateur flower growers are more familiar with catharanthus as an indoor ornamental plant, a perennial, beautiful and unpretentious plant, which, with decent, very modest care, annual pruning and replanting every two years, constantly pleases with its abundant bright flowering and green shiny foliage (see care).

It's more difficult with his medicinal abilities. Their appearance you can’t define it, as they say, “you can’t even try it.” It’s absolutely not worth trying catharanthus especially “for the teeth”. The plant is poisonous. Even after pruning or replanting it, you should wash your hands, so trying it is out of the question. It is also necessary to protect the flower from animals, or rather, animals from it.

But, despite its danger, pink periwinkle brings great benefits to humanity. It is widely used both in folk medicine and in pharmacology. Its stems and leaves contain about eighty alkaloids.

Application of catharanthus

Decoction: add 200 ml of water to a tablespoon of dry raw material, boil for 1 minute and leave for about 30 minutes. After straining, it is recommended to take the decoction 2-3 times a day an hour before meals, diluting one teaspoon of the drink in 50 ml of water. For external use, you can add 2 tablespoons of dry herb to a glass of water.

Infusion: for the prevention of cancer, it is recommended to use a collection of catharanthus rosea, chamomile, mistletoe and celandine in equal parts. Pour a tablespoon of the crushed mixture into a glass of boiling water and let it brew for about half an hour.

ATTENTION! Due to the fact that catharanthus is a poisonous plant, treatment with drugs from it should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Despite the fact that decoctions, tinctures and ointments prepared independently have an effective therapeutic effect, they can also cause serious side effects - nausea, vomiting, baldness, skin irritation, although such symptoms do not occur in all people. In addition, the plant is contraindicated in patients with hypotension and vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Catharanthus pink

The homeland of this species of catharanthus is the island of Java, where in tropical conditions the plant grows along the edges of forests and is one of the most common weeds. IN medicinal purposes They use only its above-ground part, collecting raw materials during the fruiting period.

The leaves and stems contain very valuable alkaloids - vincristine and vinblastine, which are effective antitumor agents. Herbal preparations are also used to treat diabetes, psoriasis, fibroids, adenomas and hypertension.

Catharanthus is a perennial evergreen plant from the family Apocynaceae. “Immaculate flower”, this is how its name Catharanthus is literally translated from Greek.

When in the first half of the eighteenth century, catharanthus, having left the borders of Madagascar, began its victorious march through Europe, Asia, and America, decorating both flower beds and window sills, it was called completely differently - pink periwinkle or Madagascar periwinkle.

And no wonder. The “Tropical Guest” arrived in Paris to be propagated in the botanical garden in the form of seeds collected in Madagascar. And so, when the seeds sprouted, turning into flowering plants, then flower growers noticed that the “Madagascar traveler” is indeed very similar to the usual periwinkle, long known to all flower growers.

But in 1837, after careful study, scientists finally assigned the Madagascar or pink periwinkle to a completely new genus, Catharanthus. But botanists spent so long figuring out the “pedigree” of the Madagascar guest that flower growers managed to get used to the name periwinkle, and continued to call this beautiful flower that way.

But in addition to this name, the plant still has plenty of pseudonyms: “cayenne jasmine”, “pink perennial”, “lochnera”, “ light eyes", even "old maid" or "old maid's flower". And also many others, depending on the region.

The fact is that of the eight species belonging to the genus Catharanthus, only Catharanthus roseus is used in culture, and the remaining six are Madagascar and one asian look, growing in Sri Lanka and India, for some reason have not received much recognition from flower growers.

So what is this beautiful and completely unpretentious plant that can decorate any garden and home, turning it into a bright, colorful flower garden?

Pink catharanthus (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don. typus) is a branched subshrub, 20 to 60 cm high, belonging to the Kutrov family, perennial and evergreen. Synonym: Pink periwinkle (Vinca rosea L. basionym).

The long root reaches twenty-five to thirty-five centimeters and has many lateral roots, light yellow in color, with a specific pungent odor. The color of the bark is related to the color of the flowers. If the flowers are pink, the bark is anthocyanin in color (bluish-red to brown). If they are white, the bark is green. With age, the stem of the plant becomes tree-like.

The leaves of pink periwinkle are lanceolate, oblong, dark green in color, but in different varieties they are pubescent or bare, glossy. There is a white vein running down the middle. The foliage is quite beautiful, just because of it alone, it can be grown in gardens and houses.

But still, the main advantage of the plant is its flowers. They reach a diameter of 3 cm, are located in the axils of the upper leaves, and have five petals, which represent a corolla fused into a tube.

The petals are bent, and when you look at the flower, you see the usual, flat flower, like an ordinary periwinkle flower. But the color of catharanthus flowers varies, it all depends on the variety. In fact, even in the last century, flower growers could not boast of any special “colors” of catharanthus.

‘Peppermint Cooler’ - white periwinkle flowers with red eyes;

‘Grape Cooler’ - lavender pink flowers with a red eye.

But scientists did not intend to stop there; breeding work continued, and many new hybrid forms appeared. However, the progenitors of these hybrids are the very first forms of catharanthus obtained as a result of interspecific crosses.

The varieties ‘Vitesse’, ‘Jaio’, ‘Viper’ are amazingly beautiful.

The flowers of 'Pacifica Burgundy' bloom especially early, they are carmine red in color and are about five centimeters large.

The ‘First Kiss’ variety is excellent. It currently has thirteen coloring options. Plants of this variety series are a compact bush, no more than 40 cm in height with flowers up to five cm in diameter of various colors, even blue-violet.

‘First Kiss Blueberry’ won a prize at the annual show of American breeders.

But not only compact varieties were of interest to breeders. As a result of the scientists’ work, ampelous varieties appeared with half-meter-long shoots beautifully hanging from hanging pots:

Scientists set themselves the task of not only obtaining a variety of flower colors, but also making the plant more hardy, drought-resistant, and blooming profusely. We must admit that they succeeded.

Habitat. Cultivated in Adjara. It can be grown in the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea, but the seeds do not ripen there. Seeds are sown directly into the ground or used as an annual seedling crop on slightly acidic and neutral soils.

Security measures. When harvesting, it is not allowed to trample plants.

External signs. They are broken, rarely whole leaves with a small number of other parts of the plant: stem tips with leaves, buds, flowers or unripe fruits; pieces of thin stems, flowers and unripe fruits.

The leaves are elliptical and oblong-elliptic in shape with a wedge-shaped base, entire, slightly longitudinally wrinkled, short-petioled, with pinnate venation and a central vein protruding from the lower side.

The stem is rounded or flattened, up to 0.02 cm thick, with two pairs of slightly protruding ribs. The flowers are five-membered, tubular, the corolla tube is 8-10 times longer than the calyx. The fruits are long leaflets with pitted seeds.

Leaf color is dark green; stems - yellowish-green with a purple tint; flowers - yellowish or pale lilac; fruits - brownish-green; mature seeds - black; unripe seeds - greenish-brown, brown. The smell is peculiar, unpleasant.

Chemical composition. About 100 alkaloids (up to 80 alkaloids of the indole group) have been isolated from the aboveground mass of Vinca rosea. Of these, the most valuable are vincaleucoblastine, leurocristine, vindoline, catarantine, serpentine, vinblastine, vincristine, etc. The vinblastine content is not less than 0.02%.

Storage. Raw materials are stored according to list B, in a cool place, protected from light. Drugs - according to list A, at a temperature not exceeding 10°C. Shelf life of raw materials is 1 year.

Pharmacological properties. Pink periwinkle is of great interest for medicine due to the antitumor activity noted both in herbal preparations and in isolated alkaloids isolated from the plant.

The most active of the alkaloids in this regard are vincaleucoblastine (the drug "Vinblastine") and leurocristine (the drug "Vincristine"). They have antitumor cytostatic activity, block cell mitosis at the metaphase stage, suppress the proliferation of tumor cells and lymphocytes, and have a lesser effect on erythropoiesis.

There is evidence that vincristine stimulates adrenal function and increases corticosterone production. This plays a certain role in its antitumor effect and increases antitumor immunity.

Vinca rosea preparations cause side effects: weakness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, increased body temperature, leukopenia, constipation, polyuria, dysuria, hair loss and neurotoxic complications (paresthesia, ataxia, muscle weakness, neuralgia and neuritis , focal damage nervous system, movement disorders, intestinal paresis, up to the development of paretic intestinal obstruction).

Indications for discontinuation of the drug: severe leukopenia, neurotoxic effects, peripheral neuritis, hyperthermia.

There are circumstances when, due to poor health, chemotherapy cannot be used, because There are large doses that not always and not everyone can withstand. In this case, you need to be treated for a long time with tinctures, decoctions, ointments, and medicines from catharanthus, which can be prepared at home.

For gynecological oncological diseases, it is advisable to use catharanthus tampons with vegetable oil or douching (if it is impossible to insert tampons). Catharanthus helps with endometritis and endometriosis, fibroids, polyps in the uterus and mastopathy.

Tincture. 2 tbsp. finely chopped twigs with leaves, pour 250 ml of 70% alcohol (or 40% vodka), leave for 10 days. Take orally according to indications - from 5 to 20 drops. an hour before meals 2-3 times a day. Take it for two weeks, rest for a week, and so on.

When treating wounds and gangrene, even an alcohol tincture is used, sprinkled with it and wiped around the wound. Catharanthus rosea has a detrimental effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. You can use an oil extract of the plant.

Catharanthus oil and tincture are guaranteed to relieve trophic ulcers. For patients with eczema, dermatitis, erysipelas, psoriasis. The most powerful last resort remains - special concentrated catharanthus oil.

Catharanthus tincture

Herbal tinctures are usually prepared with alcohol or vodka and reach the desired condition within 7–10 days. These drugs are quite effective as a strong antitumor and blood purifier.

Recipe 1. Crushed leaves of the plant are poured with vodka in a ratio of 1:20, kept at room temperature in a dark place for 7 days, after which the tincture is filtered and taken 10 drops in a tablespoon of water.

After a week's break, the dosage is increased to 10 drops per the same volume of liquid. The course of treatment is at least three months with strict adherence to the dosage and recipe for preparing the tincture. The drug helps well with fibroids, varicose veins, prostatitis, and stomach ulcers.

Rue

The first to use rue was Mithridates Eupator, the ruler of the ancient Pontic kingdom, which was located near present-day Kerch. Her medicinal properties helped many overcome illnesses; it is approved for use in scientific medicine in eight countries of the world.

Infusions, decoctions and alcoholic extracts from rue have antispasmodic, diuretic, and choleretic effects. In Austria, rue leaves are used for heart diseases, neuroses, gout, and poor eyesight.

“I received your letter and the grass. Sorry for the delay in response, because... at that time I was in the hospital, and then I bought firewood. The pension is small, it’s not enough for everything at once. Now I answer - thank you very much for the rue, I am very pleased.

Little and sparingly is written about this plant. Yes, this is not surprising, because this is the most “serious” plant of all that is used to treat cancer. In oncology, the aerial part of the plant is used. In official medicine, drugs are made from it, which are used for chemotherapy for leukemia, leukemia, large tumors, blastomas, sarcomas, etc.

Catharanthus on a window can grow for 2 years, and you can cut it 10-15 cm from the soil and it will grow back. This bush is 30-45 cm high. It constantly blooms with white or pink flowers. I do not set myself the goal of giving complete botanical description Catharanthus rosea, whose homeland is Fr. Java.

In conditions outside the Krasnodar Territory, it should be sown in April in a box on the window. The plants are thin and wait for stable warmth. They love heat and watering. Replanting is tolerated firmly, the soil is normal. If there is enough light and heat for it, it will also produce seeds.

Praskovya Matveevna G. (who treated her daughter for fibroids) writes: “I really didn’t expect such a result! My daughter visited the gynecologist, and she said that everything was clear! God bless you."

Doldina V.I. “My husband felt unwell after three oncological operations. Now, after just one course of treatment with catharanthus rosea, she feels great. He does all the work around the house and in the garden himself.”

Decoction. 1 tbsp. for 1 stack. boiling water, boil briefly - about 30 seconds. leave for 20-30 seconds. Take 1 tbsp for health reasons. 3 times a day an hour before meals.

The same goes for rinsing.

Of course, it’s good to have information about medicinal plants, but God grant that there be as few ailments as possible in your life. Take care of yourself! In conclusion, I would like to add that often after treatment with catharanthus, people feel so good that they return to their previous activities and lead a full lifestyle.

And everything that is often written in newspapers about plants with anti-cancer properties is far from the truth. When the body is already affected cancerous tumor, then there are many auxiliary plants for treatment, but there are only a few plants with a targeted effect on cancer.

Rare plants pharmacist.

Growing Catharanthus

Seeds are sown to a depth of 1–2 cm at the end of February or March. They require complete darkness for germination, so it is best to cover the crops with a dark film. At a temperature environment 24 °C seedlings appear in 8–10 days. After this, it is recommended to expose the seedlings in pots to light.

Once every 10–14 days, seedlings are fed with a solution of mineral complex fertilizer at a concentration of 0.1–-0.2%. In the second half of summer, the content of potassium and phosphorus increases. In the winter gardens this decorative flower can reach 1.5 meters, preferring bright, but not too sunny places.

Lungwort

Lungwort regulates the alkaline-acid balance in the body. In folk medicine, it is used as a remedy that regulates the activity of the endocrine glands, as a blood purifier, an analgesic and emollient, as well as for all lung diseases.

The decoction is drunk for nervous diseases, heart disease, headaches, and gastrointestinal diseases. The plant contains a lot of silicon, restores potassium and iodine deficiency in the body and is effective against goiter. It also helps with diseases Bladder and hemorrhoids, with jaundice, liver diseases, acute nephritis, diarrhea with pain in the intestines, with stones in the bladder.

Common toadflax

Common names: female flax, yellow snapdragon.

Perennial herbaceous plant 30-90 cm high. Taproot. Leaves are alternate, sessile. The flowers are light yellow. Blooms in June – September. It grows in vacant lots, vegetable gardens, near roads, and along forest edges.

To improve hair growth, wash your hair with a decoction of flaxseed. An infusion of the herb is used for metabolic disorders and anemia. Serves as an antidote for poisoning.

For external tumors - ointment: 2 parts of fresh chopped herbs, infused with 5 parts of melted pork fat for 10 hours. Strain and apply to affected areas for eczema and lichen.

The wolf's bast is beautiful pink flowers. The fruit is a juicy red ovoid drupe about 8 mm long, containing a shiny stone up to 4 mm in diameter. Fruits in August. It grows mainly in Western Siberia, but is also found in the forests of the Caucasus.

The famous botanist P.S. Pallas, back in 1776, wrote in the book “Travel through Various Provinces Russian state“, that in Siberia the fruits of this bush are called “wild pepper” and the juice is given to children instead of an emetic, for coughs and for worms. Women use it to treat their illnesses.

The tincture is made as follows: take dry bark from a matchbox, pour in 0.5 liters of vodka, leave for 2 weeks. - color transparent, yellow-green. Drink with 1 drop. Z r. per day, adding 1 drop every day. bring to 30 drops. and 30 drops. drink the entire tincture.

Douching the uterus: 1 tbsp. tinctures for 400-500 ml boiled water and use all the quantities in one douching.

Catharanthus ampelous

The shoots of some of them can reach a length of 1.0–1.5 meters. Catharanthus gained particular popularity after the introduction into fashion of decorative elements for home decoration in the form of hanging baskets, where this hanging plant began to be grown.

Pink periwinkle, or, as it is officially called, pink catharanthus, is an evergreen flowering subshrub from the Kutrovaceae family of the genus Catharanthus. Plant height is from thirty to sixty centimeters. The root system of pink periwinkle is taprooted, the root length is up to thirty-five centimeters. The main root contains numerous lateral roots, which are formed in adult plants. The root of a young shrub does not have lateral roots. The color of the root is light yellow, the aroma is very specific. The leaves of Catharanthus rosea are arranged oppositely and have a lanceolate shape. The petioles are short and quite thick. The length of the leaves is from two and a half centimeters to eight centimeters, the width is no more than three and a half centimeters. The surface of the leaf blades is shiny, bare, with pronounced pinnate venation, and has a dark green color. Periwinkle flowers are about three centimeters in diameter and are colored a rich pink-red color. The fruit of the plant is two sickle-shaped leaflets, up to five centimeters long and about three millimeters thick. The peduncle is particularly short. The seeds of the plant are black, small.

In the wild, catharanthus rosea is found exclusively on the island of Madagascar. In our country in Transcaucasia, the plant is cultivated as a medicinal annual. In addition, in many countries, including Russia, the shrub is grown as indoor plant. Pink periwinkle is widely used in medicine and is one of the most studied plants that have a pronounced antitumor effect. Based on the plant, the drug rosevin is produced, which is used in the treatment of such terrible diseases as hematosarcoma and lymphogranulomatosis.

Chemical composition of a unique plant

Before becoming the main component medicinal product, the plant has been subjected to serious research. According to their results, the following medicinal alkaloids belonging to the indole group were identified in the composition of rose periwinkle: ajmalicine, serpentine, lochnerine, perivine, vinblastine, virosine, vincristine, rosidine, leurosine, rhodivine, leurosivine and leurosidine. Since these substances have a medicinal effect, they are of interest to traditional healers and representatives of traditional therapy. In addition, the plant is rich in macro- and microelements, of which the maximum concentrations are: iron, potassium, zinc, calcium and magnesium.

Due to the unique antitumor properties of catharanthus rosea, it is grown on an industrial scale at the request of pharmaceutical enterprises. Oncologists highly value the plant as a powerful cytostatic agent of plant origin.

What is pink periwinkle used for in folk medicine?

If representatives of traditional medicine use the catharanthus rosea plant only in one capacity, then herbalists and traditional healers prescribe drugs from it for a much larger number of diseases. In alternative medicine, the plant is used as an antitumor, antibacterial, hypoglycemic and antihypertensive drug.

Pink periwinkle has an inhibitory effect on the division of pathological cells and leads to their death, which makes it possible to fight cancer. In addition, plant-based drugs disrupt metabolic processes in tumor cells, which also accelerates their death. This property of the plant makes it the main means of combating cancer in patients who, due to age or health reasons, cannot undergo chemotherapy courses. Catharanthus rosea, which helps with various forms of cancer, achieves maximum effectiveness in the treatment of leukemia and various sarcomas.

For prostatitis and prostate adenoma at any stage, treatment with rose vinca is used. The plant helps to inhibit pathological processes and prevent the transition of a benign process to a malignant one. Often, if you start taking vinca-based medications in a timely manner, you can get rid of the disease completely without surgery.

Uterine fibroids, which many women today face, both of childbearing age and those who have already experienced menopause, can also be cured with the help of catharanthus rosea. Myoma, which is a benign, rapidly growing neoplasm, is not able to resist the effects of the plant. The neoplasm cells, under the influence of unique alkaloids, begin to destroy, which contributes to the complete resorption of fibroids.

Polyps in the uterus and ovaries are also cured with catharanthus rosea. In this case, its effect on the body is the same as when getting rid of other tumors. At the same time, it is of particular value that the plant does not allow even aggressive neoplasms to degenerate. In addition, periwinkle is indicated for use in other tumors of the female reproductive system and infertility caused by them.

Traditional healers recognize the plant's highest antimicrobial properties, which can relieve the most severe purulent wounds and superficial gangrene. In addition to its excellent disinfectant effect, pink periwinkle also locally activates blood circulation, which has a beneficial effect on the processes of regeneration and tissue repair. For non-healing external ulcers, characterized by significant depth and the presence of a large number of purulent-necrotic masses, catharanthus has proven to be an ideal remedy. It is able to heal even those ulcers that have not gone away for several years.

Herbalists prescribe the plant for inflammatory processes in the small and large intestines. Providing a mild analgesic effect and relieving inflammation, pink periwinkle quickly and effectively solves the problem.

In addition, catharanthus cures various skin irritations, eczema and fungal infections. For insect bites, the plant can have an antipruritic effect.

The plant is also useful for reducing blood sugar levels, as well as treating hemorrhoids, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, toothache and internal bleeding.

Contraindications to treatment with rosea periwinkle

Since the plant is particularly poisonous, before starting treatment you should consult a doctor or a very experienced herbalist, who will help you select the dosage as accurately as possible, taking into account all the characteristics of the body and determine the duration of the course of treatment. Categorical contraindications for treatment with drugs based on Vinca rosea are:

pregnancy;
breast-feeding;
early childhood;
hypotension;
vegetative-vascular dystonia;
peripheral nephritis;
elevated temperature;
allergic reaction.

It is unacceptable to ignore contraindications.

Recipes for herbal preparations

Antitumor infusion

Two tablespoons of dried and crushed periwinkle shoots and leaves are poured with a glass of alcohol and infused, shaking regularly, in a dark place for ten days. Use the drug strictly following the recommendations. For three weeks, the medicine is taken five drops diluted in a tablespoon of water, thirty minutes before meals. After this they take a week break. Then for the next three weeks, take ten drops, diluted in the same volume of water, and the same amount of time before meals.

For external use

Pour two tablespoons of dry leaves into a glass of water and, bringing to a boil, cook for one minute. After this, the broth is infused for thirty minutes and filtered. It is used as a rub and lotion. The course of treatment lasts until the wound is completely healed or irritation is relieved.

For diabetes and toothache

For this remedy, you need to prepare a decoction in the same way as for external use, but you need to take not two, but one spoon of the raw material. To reduce sugar, drink the medicine three times a day, an hour before meals, one teaspoon diluted in a quarter glass of water. For toothache, rinse the tooth by diluting a teaspoon of medicine in one hundred milliliters of water.

Blank

Only the above-ground part of the plant is harvested from late August to mid-September. Dry the material in the shade and with good ventilation, spreading it out in a thin layer. The medicinal plant is stored in paper bags or linen bags for no more than twelve months.

Catharanthus is a herbaceous medicinal plant that contains more than 65 alkaloids (in roots - up to 2.1%, in leaves - up to 1.3%, in stems - up to 0.4%). The most interesting of them are the alkaloids vincristine, virosine, vinblastine, rosidine, perquin, leurosine and leurosidine, which have antitumor activity. Healing properties This herb is well known not only to traditional healers, but also to oncologists.

Video: Growing catharanthus seedlings

For malignant neoplasms, only the aerial part of the plant is used, making chemotherapy drugs from it. In folk medicine, all kinds of tinctures and infusions, extracts and oils are prepared from the leaves and stems. Raw materials are collected only at the time when the content of alkaloids in the grass is highest, namely closer to mid-September, during the period of seed ripening. Leaves and young shoots are dried in a shaded place and stored for no more than a year, after which the harvested raw materials lose their medicinal properties.

Application of catharanthus

Despite the fact that catharanthus is poisonous, it has a wide spectrum of effects on the human body and is therefore highly valued for its healing properties. Preparations from it are used in the treatment of blastoma, sarcoma, leukemia, breast, cervical and other severe cancers. Tinctures and infusions from the herb give stable positive results in the treatment of adenoma, polyps, uterine fibroids, varicose veins, etc.

Catharanthus normalizes the level, relieves trophic ulcers and prevents the development of. It is used for high blood pressure and as a mild pain reliever and for the prevention of cancer. A decoction of young leaves is effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases, and psoriasis.

Decoction: pour a tablespoon of dry raw material into 200 ml of water, boil for 1 minute and leave for about 30 minutes. After straining, it is recommended to take the decoction 2-3 times a day an hour before meals, diluting one teaspoon of the drink in 50 ml of water. For external use, you can add 2 tablespoons of dry herb to a glass of water.

Infusion: for the prevention of cancer, it is recommended to use a collection of catharanthus rosea, mistletoe, and mistletoe in equal parts. Pour a tablespoon of the crushed mixture into a glass of boiling water and let it brew for about half an hour. The infusion is taken 50 ml 30 minutes before meals for a month. A preventive course is carried out 2–3 times a year.

Catharanthus tincture

Herbal tinctures are usually prepared with alcohol or vodka and reach the desired condition within 7–10 days. These drugs are quite effective as a strong antitumor and blood purifier.

Recipe 2. Two tablespoons of young shoots along with leaves are poured into 250 ml of 70% alcohol and left in a dark place for 10 days, shaking occasionally. For the first 3 weeks, the tincture is taken at the rate of 5 drops per tablespoon of water 30 minutes before meals. After a week's break, the dosage is increased to 10 drops per the same volume of liquid. The course of treatment is at least three months with strict adherence to the dosage and recipe for preparing the tincture. The drug helps well with fibroids, prostatitis, and stomach ulcers.

Treatment with catharanthus

Despite the fact that this flower is poisonous, it is very useful in the treatment of malignant neoplasms. It contains anti-cancer substances used by traditional medicine in the manufacture of chemotherapy drugs. The herb also has a detrimental effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it is effective for skin diseases - eczema,.

Catharanthus seeds

The seeds of the plant ripen in fruits - two sickle-shaped leaflets 5 cm long and 3 mm thick. The seeds are pit-shaped, small, black. True, in our conditions they do not tie. After planting, the seeds come in quickly and easily; with additional lighting, they can be sown as seedlings at the end of February.

Catharanthus flowers

Growing Catharanthus

This medicinal plant can often be found in pots among amateur gardeners at home; it is propagated by seeds and vegetatively. A soil mixture of turf and leaf soil, peat, sand and humus is suitable for growing catharanthus. Seeds are sown to a depth of 1–2 cm at the end of February or March. They require complete darkness for germination, so it is best to cover the crops with a dark film. At an ambient temperature of +24 °C, seedlings appear in 8–10 days. After this, it is recommended to expose the seedlings in pots to light.

Video: my flower CATARANTHUS (care)

In winter, this healing flower is watered moderately, in summer – abundantly. The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after emergence, and picking (transplanting) is carried out after the plant reaches a height of 6–8 cm and if there are four true leaves. Once every 10–14 days, seedlings are fed with a solution of mineral complex fertilizer at a concentration of 0.1–0.2%. In the second half of summer, the content of potassium and phosphorus increases. In winter gardens, this decorative flower can reach 1.5 meters, preferring bright, but not too sunny places.

Catharanthus pink

The homeland of this species of catharanthus is the island of Java, where in tropical conditions the plant grows along the edges of forests and is one of the most common weeds. For medicinal purposes, only its aboveground part is used, collecting raw materials during the fruiting period. The leaves and stems contain very valuable alkaloids - vincristine and vinblastine, which are effective antitumor agents. Herbal preparations are also used to treat diabetes, psoriasis, fibroids, adenomas, etc.

Catharanthus ampelous

This type of catharanthus is intended for growing in hanging pots (plant pots); it is also used as a ground cover plant. Breeders have developed many varieties of this species, and all of them are highly branched flowers. The shoots of some of them can reach a length of 1.0–1.5 meters. Catharanthus gained particular popularity after the introduction into fashion of decorative elements for home decoration in the form of hanging baskets, where this hanging plant began to be grown.

Video: Catharanthus - flowers for the garden and apartment - FAVORITE FLOWERS (Artem Panarin)

In recent years, it has been increasingly used in landscape design in conjunction with other partner plants. This species grows quickly, occupying all available space and covering the ground with a dense flowering carpet. Catharanthus can be grown together with such annual herbs like petunia and lobelia, periwinkle and impatiens are suitable perennials.

Contraindications to the use of catharanthus

ATTENTION! Due to the fact that catharanthus is a poisonous plant, treatment with drugs from it should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Despite the fact that decoctions, tinctures and ointments prepared independently have an effective therapeutic effect, they can also cause serious side effects - nausea, baldness, skin irritation, although such symptoms do not occur in all people. In addition, the plant is contraindicated for patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Attention, TODAY only!

Catharanthus – herbaceous medicinal plant, in which contains more than 65 alkaloids (in roots - up to 2.1%, in leaves - up to 1.3%, in stems - up to 0.4%). The most interesting of them are the alkaloids vincristine, virosine, vinblastine, rosidine, perquin, leurosine and leurosidine, which have antitumor activity. The healing properties of this herb are well known not only to traditional healers, but also to oncologists.

Application of catharanthus

Despite the fact that catharanthus is poisonous, it has a wide spectrum of effects on the human body and is therefore highly valued for its healing properties. Preparations from it are used in the treatment of leukemia, blastoma, sarcoma, leukemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other severe oncological diseases. Tinctures and infusions from the herb give stable positive results in the treatment of adenoma, prostatitis, polyps, uterine fibroids, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and stomach ulcers.

Catharanthus normalizes blood sugar levels, relieves trophic ulcers and prevents the development of gangrene in diabetes mellitus. It is used for high blood pressure and eczema, as well as a mild pain reliever and for the prevention of cancer. A decoction of young leaves is effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, itchy skin, and psoriasis.

Decoction: pour a tablespoon of dry raw material into 200 ml of water, boil for 1 minute and leave for about 30 minutes. After straining, it is recommended to take the decoction 2-3 times a day an hour before meals, diluting one teaspoon of the drink in 50 ml of water. For external use, you can add 2 tablespoons of dry herb to a glass of water.

Infusion: for the prevention of cancer, it is recommended to use a collection of catharanthus rosea, chamomile, mistletoe and celandine in equal parts. Pour a tablespoon of the crushed mixture into a glass of boiling water and let it brew for about half an hour. The infusion is taken 50 ml 30 minutes before meals for a month. The prophylactic course is carried out 2-3 times a year.

Catharanthus tincture

Herbal tinctures are usually prepared with alcohol or vodka and reach the desired condition within 7–10 days. These drugs are quite effective as a strong antitumor and blood purifying agent.

Recipe 1. The crushed leaves of the plant are poured with vodka in a ratio of 1:20, kept at room temperature in a dark place for 7 days, after which the tincture is filtered and taken 10 drops in a tablespoon of water.

Treatment with catharanthus

Despite the fact that this flower is poisonous, it is very useful in the treatment of malignant tumors. It contains anti-cancer substances used by traditional medicine in the manufacture of chemotherapy drugs. The herb also has a detrimental effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it is effective for skin diseases - dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis.

Catharanthus seeds

The seeds of the plant ripen in fruits - two sickle-shaped leaflets 5 cm long and 3 mm thick. The seeds are pit-shaped, small, black. True, in our conditions they do not set. After planting, the seeds come in quickly and easily; with additional lighting, they can be sown as seedlings at the end of February.

Catharanthus flowers

Growing Catharanthus

In winter, this healing flower is watered moderately, in summer - generously. The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after emergence, and picking (transplanting) - after the plant reaches a height of 6-8 cm and if there are four true leaves. Once every 10–14 days, seedlings are fed with a solution of mineral complex fertilizer at a concentration of 0.1–0.2%. In the second half of summer, the content of potassium and phosphorus in it is increased. In winter gardens, this decorative flower can reach 1.5 meters, preferring bright, but not too sunny places.

Catharanthus pink

The homeland of this species of catharanthus is the island of Java, where in tropical conditions the plant grows along the edges of forests and is one of the most common weeds. For medicinal purposes, only its aerial part is used, collecting raw materials during the fruiting period. The leaves and stems contain very valuable alkaloids - vincristine and vinblastine, which are effective antitumor agents. Herbal preparations are also used to treat diabetes, psoriasis, fibroids, adenomas and hypertension.

Catharanthus ampelous

This type of catharanthus is intended for growing in hanging pots (cashpots), and it is also used as a ground cover plant. Breeders have developed many varieties of this species, and all of them are highly branched flowers. The shoots of some of them can reach a length of 1.0–1.5 meters. Catharanthus gained particular popularity after the introduction into fashion of decorative elements for home decoration in the form of hanging baskets, where they began to grow this hanging plant.

In recent years, it has been increasingly used in landscape design in conjunction with other partner plants. This species grows quickly, occupying all available space and covering the ground with a dense flowering carpet. Catharanthus can be grown together with such annual herbs as petunia and lobelia; among perennials, periwinkle and balsam are suitable.

Contraindications to the use of catharanthus

ATTENTION! Due to the fact that catharanthus is a poisonous plant, treatment with drugs from it should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Despite the fact that decoctions, tinctures and ointments prepared independently have an effective therapeutic effect, they can also cause severe side effects - nausea, vomiting, baldness, skin irritation, although such symptoms do not appear in all people. In addition, the plant is contraindicated for patients with hypotension and vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Catharanthus - healing flower

Traditional healers of Madagascar and India have long used catharanthus as a remedy against diabetes, to reduce blood pressure, against cough, as well as for the treatment of tumors of various origins. The medicinal properties of catharanthus attracted the attention of researchers in the USA and Canada after World War II, when it became known that the soldiers of these countries who were in war time in the Philippines, they used the leaves of the plant instead of insulin, which was then unavailable. Studies of plant extracts have shown that when used, the effect of lowering blood sugar levels is very weak, but in laboratory animals suffering from leukemia, significant positive changes in the blood count were noted. Later, scientists isolated alkaloids with antitumor activity from catharanthus, and began producing drugs based on them, such as vinblastine and vincristine. Ready-made preparations from catharanthus, as well as self-made tinctures and ointments, have a pronounced therapeutic effect, but often cause severe side effects. Treatment with catharanthus can only be done under the supervision of a doctor.

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The plant catharanthus (periwinkle rosea, perwinkle, rosea lochnera) is used in folk medicine in the treatment of diabetes, and also as an antitumor and antispasmodic agent. Experimental studies have shown that catharanthus preparations lower blood sugar levels, have antibacterial properties and lower blood pressure.

The plant is poisonous; about 100 different alkaloids were found in it, thanks to which the plant is considered medicinal. You can prepare a tincture from catharanthus leaves at home. But remember that due to the toxic properties of the plant, the dosage when taking the finished product should not be exceeded under any circumstances. Dry the leaves out of direct sunlight and store for no more than a year, after which they lose their medicinal properties.
Pour dried crushed leaves with 40% alcohol or vodka at a rate of 1:20. Close tightly, keep at room temperature for 7 days, strain and pour into a dark bottle. Take 10 drops of tincture (store it in a cool, dark place). Children do not need to use poisonous herbs at all, and for teenagers the dose is reduced by 2 times, that is, a 14-year-old teenager can be given 4-5 drops of tincture diluted in water. Every 3-4 weeks of taking the drug from catharanthus, take a break of 5-10 days.
If the dosage is exceeded or too long-term use catharanthus, side effects may occur - weakness, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, decreased appetite and weight loss, and fever may increase. Constipation, dysuria and even hair loss and neurotoxic effects are possible.

You can alternate taking catharanthus tincture with other remedies. Finely chop 4 onions, pour cold raw water and close the container. Let it brew overnight, strain and drink the infusion little by little throughout the day. The course can last 7 days with the usual diabetes diet, and then be repeated if necessary. Drink pickle juice sauerkraut 0.3 cups 3 times a day. A good remedy is a mixture of 2 tablespoons of buckwheat, ground in a coffee grinder, with 1 glass of kefir. This is a dose for 1 time, and you should take 2 such doses a day - morning and evening, 30 minutes before meals.

Therapist, psychologist, herbalist Olga Ivanovna Potekhina

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As a rule, the word “oncology” in our minds is associated with the word “hopelessness.” And yet, the diagnosis, no matter how terrible it is, cannot be taken as a death sentence. Even cancer can be overcome. The main thing is not to indulge in despair and hopelessness, but to fight, look for ways of salvation, and gain knowledge about the possibility of treatment.
ethnoscience Over the centuries, it has been improving its achievements in the treatment of cancer. Today there are many plants known, the antitumor effect of which has been proven and tested.
Therefore, I want to talk about a proven, effective method of treating cancer using herbal medicine.
Not every reference book of medicinal plants contains information about catharanthus rosea (periwinkle). It's a pity. After all, this is the most serious plant of all those that treat cancer. Catharanthus translated from Greek means “pure flower”.
A large number of biologically active substances were found in the plant juice, including 80 alkaloids, some of which have powerful antitumor activity. This green healer is even recognized by official medicine and uses his drugs to treat cancer.
Catharanthus raw materials are used to obtain antitumor drugs necessary for lymphogranulomatosis, hematosarcomas, myeloma, chorioepithelioma, leukemia, leukemia, sarcoma, blastoma and other malignant neoplasms. Catharanthus-based drugs are used in chemotherapy. Doctors achieve good results.
But there are cases when “chemistry” cannot be done due to poor heart condition or old age. Then a water infusion, an alcohol tincture and catharanthus oil will come to the rescue. For all of the above diseases, as well as tumors of the stomach, rectum, liver, and bladder, alcohol tincture of catharanthus is used.
As a herbalist, I have many positive reviews about treatment with tincture of catharanthus rosea while taking an infusion of 16 herbs.
The tincture is prepared as follows. 2 tbsp. Finely chopped catharanthus branches with leaves are poured with 250 ml of vodka or 70% alcohol. Leave for 10 days, shaking occasionally. Strain and take 3 times a day an hour before meals, starting with 3 drops, adding a drop daily. The number of drops is increased to 20. The course is 20 days, then a break is 10 days and the course is repeated. It is necessary to undergo treatment for a long time, at least three months, with the indicated breaks, strictly following the recipe and dosage, since the plant is poisonous.
The same tincture of catharanthus with a high positive result is also used in the treatment of prostatitis, adenoma, hemorrhoids, uterine fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, dysbacteriosis, varicose veins, periodontal disease, breast tumors (malignant and benign), peptic ulcer stomach, hypertension. Having pronounced hypoglycemic activity, catharanthus normalizes blood sugar levels in diabetes mellitus, prevents the occurrence of gangrene (tincture and ointment), and also relieves trophic ulcers, psoriasis, and eczema.
In the form of a decoction, catharanthus is used to treat diseases. gastrointestinal tract, diabetes and as a mild pain reliever. 1 tbsp. dry periwinkle herb pour 1 tbsp. cold boiled water, bring to a boil and remove from heat. Drink 1 tbsp. an hour before meals 3 times a day.
When treating with rosea periwinkle, you need to monitor the composition of the blood, urine, and the condition of the kidneys and liver, as these organs begin to work hard, removing decay products from the body. Therefore, at the same time it is necessary to use herbs that support these organs (agrimony, calendula, oregano, etc.).
And for many cancer patients, it is desirable (and even mandatory) to use, in parallel with catharanthus tincture, a valuable antitumor collection of 16 components: sage - 3.5 parts, nettle - 2.5 parts, rose hips, immortelle, bearberry and string - 2 parts each, wormwood - 1.5 parts, yarrow, chamomile, dried flower (cat's paw), thyme, buckthorn bark, birch buds, trifolium (three-leaved watch), cudweed and motherwort - 1 part each.
Having collected the required amount of plants, they are crushed and mixed. 6 tbsp. prepared raw materials are poured into an enamel pan with 2.5 liters of boiling water and simmered over very low heat (without boiling) for 3 hours. During this time, the broth will evaporate and become more concentrated. The broth is filtered, cooled, and kept in the refrigerator.
Drink warm, 1 tbsp. (in severe cases, 3 tablespoons can be taken) 3 times a day an hour before meals for 40 days, then take a break for 10-12 days and repeat the treatment. For malignant tumors, at least 5 courses are required.
This composition is biologically active. And in the first month of use, as a rule, all “dormant” diseases worsen (primarily the intestines, pancreas, liver, because these organs begin to work intensively, clearing themselves of pathological mucus and toxins). It is at this time that intoxication of the body begins, which can be easily eliminated with any pharmaceutical enterosorbent - 3 tablets 4 times a day.
Believe in your strength and in the healing powers of nature.

Alla AMIROVA, herbalist