Medicinal properties and contraindications of periwinkle, use and benefits of the flower

Periwinkle adapts to any conditions and is very tenacious. The dense, shiny leaves do not fall off and remain as green in the fall as in the spring. Since ancient times, the plant has been credited with magical powers and used as a talisman against evil creatures. People also knew about the medicinal properties of periwinkle; in the old days they also paid attention to contraindications, since they knew that the perennial contained poison.

Chemical composition of the plant

Among all types of herbs from the Kutrov family, only periwinkle. The use of medicines produced on the basis of the creeping subshrub helps to cope with various diseases and prevent their development.

The leaves, stems and delicate flowers of periwinkle are rich in:

• carotene and pectins;
• sugars and tannins;
• flavonoids and mineral salts.

The plant contains several types of organic acids and contains about 20 types of alkaloids. Vincristine and vinblastine prevent malignant cells from growing and stop the development of cancer. Devinkan calms the nerves and normalizes blood pressure. Minorin and vinine have a positive effect on the neurochemical processes occurring in the human body.

Beneficial properties of periwinkle

From an evergreen subshrub 25–30 cm high, girls wove wreaths that were used for fortune telling. In Switzerland and Austria, bouquets of the plant were hung on houses for protection from the elements and evil spirits. Ukrainian brides decorated their hair with flowers and twigs of periwinkle, and showered the newlyweds with petals at the wedding.

Creeping shrubs are used in landscape design for arranging flower beds, ridges, and landscaping areas. Flower arrangements are made from the plant and bouquets are made.

Infusions of creeping herbs help cope with scurvy because they are rich in vitamins. In alternative medicine, a plant with delicate flowers is used to eliminate impotence and relieve pain. Decoctions of periwinkle are used to treat diabetes, malaria, colds, and migraines.

The herbaceous perennial has many beneficial properties:

1. Copes with bacterial infection.
2. Has a beneficial effect on the heart muscle.
3. Heals wounds and purulent eczema.
4. Relieves muscle spasms.
5. Stops bleeding.

Periwinkle helps improve vision and hearing, restore brain function, eliminates diarrhea, and removes poisons from the body. Decoctions from the plant restore velvety and elasticity to the skin.

Preparations made from tenacious and unpretentious herbs are used in therapy:

• osteochondrosis;
• tachycardia;
• rhinitis;
• bronchitis.

Vinca remedies are prescribed to people suffering from blood cancer, Hodgkin's disease, and facial neuritis. Medicines from the perennial are used in psychiatry. Otolaryngologists prescribe medications that contain herbs with shiny leaves for hearing loss, poor sense of smell, and chronic pharyngolaryngitis.

Preparations based on periwinkle in traditional medicine

In the pharmaceutical industry, an extract is obtained from the plant, which is used to prepare tablets and powders.

"Vincamine"

The drug is prescribed to patients who have suffered a brain injury, have had a stroke, suffer from migraines, hypertension, and sinus tachycardia. "Vincamine", which is produced in the form of a brown powder, has an unpleasant odor, but contributes to:

• memory restoration;
• relaxation of smooth muscles;
• improving blood circulation in the brain.

The medicine increases mental performance, normalizes sleep, and calms the nerves.

"Vincamine" is prescribed to children with impaired intellectual development.

"Winkathon"

Tablets containing vinca alkaloids are used after a stroke and in the treatment of mental illnesses.The drug alleviates the condition during menopause, reduces pain during migraines, normalizes intracranial pressure, eliminates vestibular disorders, and helps cope with absent-mindedness.

"Devinkan"

The drug, the active component of which is vincamine, is prescribed in the form of intramuscular injections or tablets for hypertension, neuroses and tachycardia. The drug calms and reduces vascular tone.

"Vincristine"

The herbal remedy is produced in powder form and is used to prepare solutions for injections.

The drug prevents the growth of cancer cells and is used in therapy:

• sarcomas;
• myelomas;
• leukemia;
• neuroblastomas.

Vincristine accumulates in the tissues of the digestive organs and is injected into a vein very slowly. The drug causes many side effects, including liver damage and coma.

Periwinkle is present in the well-known drug Cavinton, which treats mental and nervous disorders, degenerative changes in the retina, secondary glaucoma, and brain failure.

"Winkapan"

The drug relieves spasm in the arteries and muscles, relieves headaches, but does not reduce blood pressure. The medicine from periwinkle is effective in the treatment of neurocirculatory dystonia, cerebral vasospasm, and does not cause side effects. "Vinkapan" is prescribed for slow mental development, hearing and motor impairment.

Traditional medicine recipes

Medicines from periwinkle were prepared back in the Middle Ages, but much earlier people used the roots, flowers, and stems of the plant to eliminate:

• toothache;
• insomnia;
• migraine;
• internal bleeding.

Herbal remedies in folk medicine are used to reduce blood pressure, heal wounds, and improve heart function.Decoctions and tinctures are made from the perennial plant, which help cure infertility and malaria, bronchitis and tuberculosis, eliminate dizziness and bad breath. Periwinkle relaxes the intestines and improves oxygen supply to the brain.

Decoction of leaves

To cure eczema, purulent ulcers, get rid of rashes, relieve inflammation in the oral cavity, eliminate gingivitis, boil 1 tbsp in a glass of water for a minute. spoon of fresh crushed periwinkle leaves.

Dried herb decoction

For infertility, female diseases, polyps in the uterus, and prostatitis, a medicine is prepared in the form of a decoction from a creeping plant with blue or pink flowers. Boil a spoonful of dry periwinkle in 200 ml of water, leave for half an hour, drink three sips a day before meals. This remedy is used for leukemia; in case of bleeding, the dose is increased to 1/3 cup at a time.

To improve the condition of the skin and restore its elasticity, it is recommended to wash your face with decoctions from the above-ground part of the plant.

Alcohol tincture

Stems with leaves and flowers are placed in a 0.5 liter jar so as to fill a third of the container, after which vodka is poured. The container is tightly closed and placed in a warm and dark place for 9 days. Twice a day, ¼ cup of liquid is mixed with 7 drops of strained infusion and consumed orally or washed with acne and boils.

To increase potency and treat male impotence, put 5–7 g of periwinkle in a glass of water, boil for 5–6 minutes, and leave for 24 hours in the dark. The tincture is drunk in the morning and evening, 10 drops each, for 4 days, after a 2-day break, treatment with the plant is continued again.

Leaf ointment

It often happens that medications cannot cope with purulent wounds, eczema, ulcers, and skin irritation. And people use periwinkle salve. To prepare it, 9 leaves of the plant are picked, ground and melted with oil. When the product has cooled, filter through gauze and apply to problem areas of the skin. Periwinkle ointment cures diathesis in children.

How to collect and prepare

The medicinal herb grows in the deciduous forests of Moldova and Belarus, in the Caucasus, in the steppes of Ukraine; it is planted in dachas, courtyards, and alpine hills. The perennial cannot be uprooted, but the leaves and stems must be cut off with pruning shears. Plant harvesting begins in spring and June, when flowers appear.

To ensure that periwinkle does not lose its beneficial properties, the leaves and stems must be dried properly. The raw materials are cleaned of dirt and dust, laid out on gauze and left in a place protected from sunlight. In clear weather, the grass dries out in 7 days.

Periwinkle dries well in an oven or dryer at a temperature no higher than 45-50 degrees. With this method of harvesting, the plant does not lose any useful substances; for 2 years it retains:

• glycosides;
• bitterness;
• alkaloids.

The dried herb is placed in a glass jar and kept in a dry place. Through laboratory studies, it has been proven that periwinkle is able to stop the growth of tumors and destroy cancer cells, therefore remedies from the plant are used in both official and alternative medicine.

Contraindications and side effects of vinca

Despite the many beneficial properties and positive results in the treatment of colds, intestinal disorders, neuroses, bleeding, female and male diseases, not only medications, but tinctures and decoctions of periwinkle prepared at home yourself must be used carefully.

Many of the alkaloids that the plant's stems and leaves are rich in are poisonous.

Periwinkle products should be taken internally after consultation with a doctor. Even a slight overdose can cause an increase or decrease in heart rate, provoke the development of respiratory failure, lead to loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use periwinkle. People who cannot tolerate any of the components that make up periwinkle should avoid using the plant, as this can lead to allergies.