Composition of fireweed
Ivan tea is rich in beneficial elements that have a healing effect on the human body as a whole. It contains many vitamins, for example, C, B, P.
Thanks to this, fireweed preparations help increase immunity, improve the appearance of the skin, activate brain activity, and strengthen blood vessels and capillaries.
Contains fireweed and beta-carotene, pectin, lectin, tannins. It also contains microelements, such as:
- iron;
- copper;
- nickel;
- titanium;
- manganese;
- boron
Fireweed has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic system, bones, kidneys, liver, and heart. In addition, it enhances the production of sex hormones.
The main advantage is that fireweed tea contains neither oxalic acid nor caffeine. The amount of nutrients in a plant can vary, as it depends on the time and place of collection of the herb, as well as on the method of its processing.
Varieties
There are many photos of ordinary fireweed on the Internet, but it is more difficult to find a description of its types. The genus of this plant has similar characteristics, with minor differences in appearance.
Broad-leaved fireweed, common in the northern regions. Its leaves with rounded (or pointed) edges reach a size of 10 cm. The flowers are dark pink.
Narrow-leaved fireweed tea can grow up to 1.5-2 meters in height. It has a powerful root system and grows with straight stems.
Caucasian fireweed is distinguished by its small size (0.5 m in height) and creeping trunks.
Dodonea reaches 90 cm in height. It produces few branches and blooms with small flowers, white or pink.
Steven, blooms with elongated clusters, the leaves are narrow and practically devoid of hair.
Fleischer, grows up to 45 cm, blooms with pink flowers (bright or lilac shade), has thick roots.
Colchis fireweed is a mountain perennial that prefers higher elevations.
The land on which fireweed grows is additionally enriched with minerals, and the germination of other garden crops on it increases. The unpretentious plant tolerates common garden diseases well. For the owner, this is an opportunity to drink delicious tea, rich in vitamins, and the garden will be decorated with beautiful and bright flowers.
Who is contraindicated from using fireweed?
Like any medicinal plant, fireweed tea has contraindications. It should not be given:
- children under 2 years old;
- persons suffering from allergies to this herb;
- people with diarrhea;
- pregnant women;
- people with low blood pressure.
It is better not to use the infusion together with antipyretic medications. And, in general, for your peace of mind, before you start drinking fireweed, you need to consult a doctor.
Helpful care tips
Fireweed needs minimal comprehensive care. This plant has increased resistance to attacks from pests and diseases. Growing in one area, a flower bush retains its decorative and medicinal properties for 4-5 years. After this time, it is recommended to remove it from the ground, form divisions, and transplant it to a new place.
The area where fireweed is planted must be moistened regularly (especially after the sprouts hatch). When young bushes grow to 10-12 cm, reduce the number of waterings to once every 7 days. When hot weather sets in, water the sweet clover twice every 7 days. Be sure to loosen the soil around the bushes and weed the weeds once a month. Some gardeners do not have time to engage in constant loosening, weeding and watering. They use a trick, mulching areas planted with willow grass with organic materials.
After 4 weeks, the first shoots break through the soil and at this time the crop needs to be fed with an organic solution prepared from chicken droppings. Before use, it is infused for several weeks. In late autumn, the crop is fed again using ash and mineral fertilizers.
Pruning of wild flax is carried out before the onset of winter, shortening the branches to 15 cm. After completing the procedure, the area with shrubs is mulched with fallen pine needles, dry leaves, fallen from a walnut or oak tree. Complete cutting of last year's branches is carried out in the spring to stimulate the growth of new foliage and stems.
Method one
Required:
- fireweed tea (dry mixture) – 2 tsp;
- water – 0.5 l.
To boil water. Place the herb in a large mug and pour boiling water over it. Close the container tightly and leave to brew for 10 – 15 minutes.
Mix the broth thoroughly. Use it within 1 – 2 days.
| To obtain a unique taste and aroma of tea, use an antique coal samovar. In such a samovar, tea will retain its healing properties in the best possible way. You can buy a samovar on the website https://samovarkino.ru/samovary |
How to prepare seeds
Preparation for planting fireweed is carried out in one of three ways:
- seedlings;
- mixed with wet sand;
- on strips of paper.
The last two options help not to lose the material - otherwise it could be scattered by gusts of wind or washed away during rains. The time to plant fireweed seeds depends on the method chosen.
Scheme for growing seedlings:
- you will need a small box;
- a soil mixture is prepared (sand, peat and humus in equal proportions);
- the box is filled with the prepared mixture, shallow grooves are made in the top layer;
- seeds are sown in depressions and moistened with a spray bottle;
- plantings are covered with glass (film) on top, the room temperature is maintained within 18-25 C0.
The first shoots will appear in 4-5 days. After two true leaves bloom on the young plants, picking is carried out. Before planting, the seedlings are hardened off for 3-5 days.
If the seed material will be attached to a paper base: cut strips (2 cm wide) from newspaper or toilet paper. Then, every 7-10 cm, a natural paste is applied (in small drops). The seeds are carefully attached to the prepared adhesive layer.
Where does fireweed grow?
The advantage of Ivan tea is that it grows throughout our country. It can be found in any area - near roads, in the forest, in the garden, meadow, clearing. The height of this plant can reach up to one and a half meters.
The flowering period occurs in the second half of summer. It was then that it was customary to harvest this herb and it was at this time that fireweed becomes honey-bearing. His honey is very healthy.
It is optimal to collect fireweed in the forest or in fields located at a considerable distance from the highway and highways. The blank is long leaves.
Description
Narrow-leaved fireweed grows up to 0.5-2 m. Its creeping root is characterized by great thickness and branching roots of a vertical or horizontal direction. Each branch has buds, so propagation by vegetative means becomes the most optimal for this crop. The round-shaped stem stands erect, completely covered with foliage and bare. The foliage is located alternately on the branches, characterized by a simple shape, completely sessile or connected to the shoots of the bush with short thin petioles.
The linear-lanceolate leaves become pointed closer to the top, and narrow near the base, taking the form of a wedge or semicircle. The edge of the leaf blade in some plant specimens can be solid or have a finely glandular toothed structure. The red-purple, greenish-gray or pinkish underside of the leaves contrasts beautifully with the rich green front surface, which has a characteristic glossy shine.
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Ivan tea has leaves up to 2 cm wide and 12 cm long. The racemose inflorescences of the ornamental plant are grouped near the top. Their length varies between 0.1-0.45 m, and the constituent elements of the inflorescence are flowers, the column of which is surrounded by a nectar ring. Four-membered flowers are characterized by pink or white color, appear in the 2nd half of summer and delight with their beauty for 4 weeks. The plant has a fruit in the form of a capsule that resembles a pod and hides the bare seeds of an oblong structure. The period of their ripening begins in the last month of summer or with the onset of autumn.
Ivan tea is cultivated as a medicinal or ornamental crop. The beneficial properties of the flower have been known for a long time. It is the best honey plant among all forest herbaceous vegetation.
Features of collecting this medicinal plant
When to collect fireweed? This should be done in July and August. Moreover, this must be done before the flower fades. Only leaves are collected. It is advisable to prepare more of them, since fermentation and drying lead to a significant change in their volume.
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How to collect and dry fireweed? It is necessary to select whole, clean, healthy leaves. Spoiled, diseased and defective leaves are not suitable. In some cases, both stems and roots are used to prepare preparations. When collecting leaves, you can add a small number of flowers to them.
Now let's figure out how to dry Ivan tea. Drying the plant should take place in a draft. It is better to use paper bags for storage. The herb can be stored for two years.
If you decide to prepare roots, then you should dig them up in the fall. They need to be finely chopped and dried thoroughly. The permissible storage time is three years. The most delicious tea is produced by fermented leaves.
Tips on how to drink fireweed correctly
Already in Ancient China they knew that the tea ceremony was a real art. Drinking tea was always accompanied by heart-to-heart conversations. This made this procedure a pleasant pastime. In addition, tea has a relaxing effect, giving peace and tranquility. It is better to drink it without sweetening it.
If you have a sweet tooth, you can drink the drink as a snack with dried fruits. The healing properties of fireweed after brewing last only a couple of days, so it is better to drink the tea before this time has expired.
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Ivan tea is not only useful, but also quite a beautiful flower. Therefore, you can safely allocate a small plot in your dacha for growing it.
Preparation of planting material and planting site
Ivan tea is grown from seeds. High-quality planting material can be collected independently or purchased at garden supermarkets. Another option is to contact your neighbors. You need to prepare in advance for growing fireweed in your dacha.
First prepare the seeds:
- collection time - early autumn within 2 weeks after flowering;
- the next stage is drying and separation from the fluff;
- Bookmark for storage in a dark place.
Then prepare the place. Choosing a site for sowing is not difficult. The culture requires highly mineralized soil, high-quality lighting and sufficient air humidity at night. Any place with depleted soil will do.
It is best to grow fireweed next to a pond or other natural source of moisture.
It is necessary to fence the bed so that the crop does not multiply without control. It is recommended to dig slate or other roofing material to a depth of 1 m. Fireweed seeds are very small and are easily carried by the wind.
