Budra ivy: herbaceous plants for open ground

Budra ivy grows throughout Russia. It is not found only in some selected arid regions, since this grass does not tolerate high dryness. She prefers:

• deciduous forests;
• nutrient soils in river floodplains.

The leaves retain a green tint even in winter, so it is common not only as a medicine, but also as an ornamental plant. The leaves of the grass themselves are heart-shaped or rounded, with carved edges.

Young shoots, when the time comes, are replaced by old ones. This happens in two seasons - before and after flowering, right up to the first frost. Flowering begins in May and fades by early August.

The fruit is brown, ovoid, up to 2 mm long. Ripens in August. When ripe, the fruits split into 4 parts. The plant has a specific smell, which is why it is popularly called “catnip.”

Budra ivy prefers fertile lands with high humidity

The family to which “catnip” belongs contains slightly less than eight thousand plant species. Clear-leaved herbs include basil, sage, lemon balm, and thyme. But, unlike them, budra is poisonous.

The top part of this herb contains:

• saponins;
• aldehydes;
• triterpinoids;
• bitter substances;
• tartaric acid and acetic acid;
• minerals (potassium, zinc, titanium, molybdenum, manganese);
• carotene;
• vitamin C;
• vitamin-like substance choline;
• amino acids (methionine, cysteine);
• essential oils;
• alkaloids.

Kinds:

1. Variegated budra is a perennial creeping plant, favored by many summer residents and gardeners. This type of budra is a living decoration for front gardens and is also used to decorate rocky gardens, tree compositions and flower beds.

2. Budra ivy - vegetation reaching 40 cm in height, the root system of which is creeping. Its stem is branched, long, covered in places with short hairs. The flower calyx is tubular, with five teeth. The corolla reaches 20 mm in length, it is two-lipped, bluish-violet. The mouth of the tube has a hairy ring, and the stamens are no longer than the upper lip.

The flowering season begins in April and ends in July. Budra flowers are arranged in up to 6 pcs. in leaf axils.

Useful properties of ivy budra

Only the above-ground elements of budra - leaves, stem and flowers - have healing properties. This medicinal herb is included in certain herbal teas sold in pharmacies.

Budra ivy has:

1. anti-inflammatory;
2. antiseptic;
3. expectorant property.

The active substances contained in this herb have anti-cold, choleretic, healing and anti-sclerotic effects. Improves digestion and appetite.

Decoctions and tinctures based on this plant:

• have an antibacterial effect;
• have antitumor and choleretic properties;
• enhance lactation;
• have a hypotensive effect on the body.

Budra herb is used in therapy, as an addition to medications, relieves symptoms of diseases of the stomach, liver and kidneys, and helps in removing stones from the bladder and kidneys.

Growing budra: planting and care

Among Russian gardeners, the variegated variety of budra Variegata is common. The leaves have a bluish tint, on which there are clear white spots and sectors, and at times a border is noticeable.

The shoots of this variety spread low along the ground, rising only 7-10 cm. Variaegata blooms extremely rarely, or does not bloom at all.

Among others, another variety of variegated budra, Golden October, stands out. The leaves of this herb, like the wild varieties, are dark green. The surface of the leaf is covered with small golden spots of arbitrary shape.

The grass leaves become most intensely spotted from August to October, when the heat subsides and the weather becomes humid, cloudy and relatively warm.

Budra cannot be called a capricious or selective plant. The main thing to ensure is:

• sufficient amount of light;
• cool room for overwintering grass.

The plant prefers to grow in bright places. But for growing green leaf varieties, a little shade will not be a problem. If the plant is intended to be kept indoors, it is best to place it near southeast or southwest windows.

Outdoors, in open areas, you should choose a piece of land that is well lit by the sun.

In summer, the budra should be taken out into the air, providing slight shading to protect the leaves from being burned by the midday sun.

Catnip feels good at 18-20 oC. During the cold season, the temperature may be slightly lower. In terms of soil, budra is not particularly selective; if it grows in open areas, any soil composition will suit it, provided there is sufficient moisture.

The plant loves bright, diffused light. But for forms with green leaves, slightly shaded areas are also suitable.

If you plan to grow the grass indoors, you should use a mixture of humus, soil and sand as soil.

The plant requires abundant watering from the beginning of flowering until the fruit ripens. Humidification is slightly reduced in the fall, and moderate watering is maintained in winter. In order for the plant to feel good and develop properly, it is necessary to spray its leaves from time to time.

Peculiarities:

1. Budra grows vigorously in the spring, after the end of winter rest, so that from April to August it needs monthly feeding once a month. For this purpose, complex fertilizer is used.
2. In winter, budra grass needs a long rest. At this time of year, the plant should be moved to a bright room with a temperature of about 5 ° C. Abundant watering is reduced to moderate, and fertilizing should be stopped.
3. With the onset of spring, before the budra reaches the stage of active growth, you need to carefully prune the plant to form a neat bush. The shoots remaining after pruning can be used to propagate grass by cuttings. Catnip should only be replanted in the spring and only if necessary - frequent replanting is not good for the grass.

Catnip should only be replanted in spring. Ivy bud is propagated using stem cuttings.
In this case, a cut from the plant is placed in water or wet sand. The cutting will produce roots within a few days. The young plant is moved to a separate pot with prepared soil. The creeping stems of the plant take root well and take root, so if you plant the plant in open ground, it will quickly cover large areas of the ground.

If such growth is not planned, measures must be taken to limit the growth. The variegated variety is more finicky because it requires better lighting and fertile, moist soil saturated with humus.

To ensure the safety of the plant carpet, it is important to prevent drought by constantly adding additional moisture.

The plant can be affected by insect pests if it is not cared for correctly. Budra performs equally well both in indoor gardening and as an element of a lawn, thanks to its ground cover element.

The variegated form can be used in combination with other garden plants to create a beautiful flower arrangement in the garden or cottage. Budra does not harm other garden plants.

Wild varieties of catnip can be used at the base of fruit trees and bushes for turf. Budra covers the soil like a carpet, and thereby delays the evaporation of soil moisture and prevents the development of fungus.

Also, a “carpet” of bud ivy reduces the growth of weeds such as dandelions, since the continuous cover of the soil prevents the unauthorized sowing of their seeds.

Wild budra also feels good in the city, as it tolerates air pollution well. It can be used in city landscaping - for flower beds, courtyard lawns, summer gardens.

As a preventive measure against the spread of the weed, mowing the thickets of the plant is most often used. It should be done before the seeds are thrown out.

Habitat

Budra originated in Europe, but is now common throughout Europe and Asia. In Russia, it is found in the North Caucasus, Eastern and Western Siberia.

Early settlers brought the plant to North America, after which it spread to the northeastern United States and southern Canada. Here it can be found in desert areas, gardens, open forests, roadsides, pastures, and agricultural fields.

Budra ivy thrives in moist, rich soils and shady areas, but will grow in full sun. It copes well with sandy soils, where its creeping stems quickly spread across the ground, which is why it is sometimes called a weed.

In Europe, budra grows in open forests, on forest edges, in damp, shaded areas, gardens, lawns, pastures, roads, railways and wastelands. Sometimes found on the banks of rivers and reservoirs.

Application of ivy budra

Budra is known for its cleansing properties. It removes ubiquitous toxins and heavy metals from the body. This herb improves metabolism and cleanses blood vessels. In combination with a healthy diet, budra improves well-being and prevents illness.

In medicine

It is used for inflammation, as an antiseptic, expectorant and medicine for better wound healing.
Here are several options for using budra for medical purposes:

• The infusion is prepared as follows: a teaspoon of leaves should be infused in a glass of boiling water. It is recommended to drink warm up to 4 times a day. The tincture helps with colds, asthma, severe runny nose, liver and kidney diseases. It is useful for problems with the gastrointestinal tract and bladder.
• Decoction. In 200 ml of water you need to boil 15 mg of budra, then leave until the broth has cooled. The finished product is used for skin diseases, rashes, suppurations, acne and abscesses, washing the affected areas with it.
• Expectorant collection. You need to take the same amount of cocklebur, hoofed grass and budry herbs. A tablespoon of ready-made dry collection is added to a glass of hot water, then the mixture should be boiled and left for 30 minutes. It is recommended to drink after meals, half a glass 3 times a day.
• Budra with milk. You need to put a small handful of herbs in a liter of fresh milk and boil it. The decoction should be taken warm or hot in the evening before bed. For children, use half a handful of herbs. Budra boiled with milk helps with pulmonary diseases and improves sleep.
• Fresh Juice. Fresh herbs should be crushed in a blender and squeezed out the juice using gauze or linen cloth. Application: adults take 3 tablespoons of juice with water or tea 3 times a day, and children 3 times 1 teaspoon diluted in teal, mulberry, mint or violet tea.
• Powder: from dried leaves: 2 pinches per day, brewed with any tea. The powder strengthens the bronchi and cleanses the lungs of pus and mucus. Valued as a remedy for kidney and gallstones.
• Syrup. Prepare simple sugar syrup, then add the same ratio of fresh herbal juice. Take two tablespoons diluted in tea daily.
• Hot compresses (for pain and cellulite): crushed leaves of the plant are applied directly to the skin, you can also stir them with flaxseed flour before use.
• Wine with the addition of boudra – 1 tbsp. l. herbs for 200 ml of wine. Wine made with catnip helps against parasites, helps normalize the menstrual cycle, and treats jaundice. It also accelerates wound healing and normalizes appetite. This wine is suitable for rinsing the mouth for periodontal disease and washing for abscesses. Preparation: soak the herbs in wine for half an hour and cook until foam appears, then remove from heat and cover with a lid. Can be seasoned with honey.

Budra herb decoction

Budra in cooking

This herb has a slight bitterness, a pleasant aftertaste and a spicy aroma. In a number of European countries, fresh catnip leaves are used as a spice - this improves the absorption of fats in the body, and therefore helps with weight loss.

The plant is also used in salads as a herb. Budra:

• has a beneficial effect on the stomach and intestines;
• improves digestion and microflora;
• promotes healthy appetite.

Budra can be used in an old recipe for making homemade kvass. It consists in the fact that bud leaves are added to flavor the drink, along with mint. Thanks to this, kvass acquires a pleasant bitterness.

This herb has a slight bitterness, a pleasant aftertaste and a spicy aroma.

In folk medicine

In Russia, budra is not recognized as an official medicinal product. However, it has long been known in folk medicine of many nations and is used in different ways. In the past, it was used mostly fresh.

Budra was called “chest grass” because it was often used in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system, severe wet cough and runny nose.

Dozens of popular names for this herb are known in different countries. For example, Croatians call catnip dobrichica.

Budra is slightly poisonous, so you should follow the recommended dosages for oral use. In some parts of Europe, budra is included in the lists of medicines. It is specially grown in countries where it does not grow wild, as a medicine.

In Russia, flowering shoots are used to make folk medicine. Such drugs are used as an addition to main therapy, used for prevention or as an alternative method of treating diseases. Here are some more ways to prepare the healing remedy:

1. For severe bronchial cough, use a tincture: pour a teaspoon of herb into 200 ml (1 cup) of boiling water, wait until the mixture cools. The finished tincture is filtered and taken orally before meals, 1-2 tablespoons.
2. For skin diseases and itching - 15 g of budra is poured with 1⁄2 cups of vinegar, then placed in the refrigerator for 7 days. The tincture is used to wipe the affected skin areas once every 3 days.
3. A decoction that relieves toothache: 10 mg (two teaspoons) of crushed budra should be poured into 200 mg of water, then simmer over low heat for about 7 minutes. After straining, as a prevention and treatment of periodontal disease, it is used to rinse the mouth, but the decoction should not be swallowed. This remedy helps with sore throat or stomatitis.
4. Prevention of runny nose. Decoction from one tbsp. Boil budry in 200 ml of water for about 5 minutes. The finished product is added to the mixture for inhalation. This decoction is good for diseases of the respiratory system.
5. To treat skin diseases or inflammatory diseases of the joints, the crushed herb is diluted with a small amount of boiling water and stirred to form a paste. When warm, it is wrapped in gauze and used in compresses. The bandage needs to be changed 3-4 times a day. It is recommended to take baths with budra tincture for fractures - this will speed up the healing process.
6. To relieve pain from abscesses, apply a paste of fresh budra leaves to them; this will also speed up healing. The tincture can be used for enemas for hemorrhoids, but only in small quantities.

Overdose

Use budra for self-medication with caution. It is very important to observe the dosage, since in large quantities the herb causes poisoning, and symptoms may include:

• weak pulse;
• heat;
• hard breath;
• bleeding.

If this happens, you should call an ambulance and take calcium chloride, activated carbon or a laxative. This is why it is important to carefully observe the dose of ivy bud.

Botanical description

Where does catnip grow? You can find the plant everywhere! Both in nature on the edges and clearings, in the shade under bushes and in swamps, and as a weed in a summer cottage or garden plot.

Table 1.1 - Description of the plant

Information! In the photo and description of ivy bud, you can see the division of shoots into vegetative and flowering. Vegetative stems creep along the ground, taking root at the first opportunity into the ground. And flowering shoots are only erect.

If a shoot or leaf is damaged, the plant emits a specific odor similar to the “aroma” of cat urine. Perhaps the name catnip was given because of this feature of the herb.

The heart-shaped leaves retain their green color even in winter, so experts classify catnip as an ornamental crop.

Flowering of ivy bud begins in May, lasting until mid-August.

The tissues of the above-ground part of the plant contain:

• saponins and bitterness;
• vitamin C, minerals (titanium, potassium, manganese);
• aldehydes, choline;
• triterpinoids, alkaloids;
• acids: tartaric and acetic;
• cysteine, methionine, carotene;
• essential oils.