Botanical description. It is a biannual plant with a branched rising or upright stem. The height varies between 50 and ISO cm. Leaves are triple-sided, with a serrated edge. Numerous yellow butterfly flowers are assembled into long, loose ear-shaped brushes. The whole plant smells like coumarin. This smell is greatly enhanced as it dries out. Blossoms from June to August. The common habitats of the melilot are rubbly wastelands. It is also found on forest edges, wastelands and railway embankments. Melilotus altissimus Thuill. It is also used for medicinal purposes. Melilotus albus Med. is less effective with white flowers.
Collection and preparation. Collect flowering grass, preferring the upper, un-crushed parts. Dried in the shade. Temperatures above 35°C are undesirable. The aroma intensifies during drying, so it is necessary to dry slowly.
Active ingredients: melilotin, from which coumarin is released during drying by enzymatic splitting; saponins, tannins, flavonoids, slime and a little essential oil (especially in flowers).
Healing effect and application. The action of the plant mainly extends to the veins. It can be said that thanks to clover clover clover capillary resistance (the resistance force of the thinnest blood vessels) increases and the permeability of capillaries decreases. The main field of application of the melilot is varicose veins and hemorrhoids. There are numerous galenic preparations that are taken orally, as well as ointments containing active ingredients of melon clover. Due to the changing content of active substances in the pharmacy raw materials, many doctors believe that the use of tea should be abandoned, but I think that in case of vein diseases it can still be recommended. In the monograph, developed by the Commission of the State Health Service of Germany, in the column of application of donnik and its preparations it is specified: "Internal application: disorders in chronic venous insufficiency, such as feeling of pain and severity in the legs, night cramps in caviar, itching and swelling. As an aid in the treatment of thrombophlebitis, postthrombotic syndrome, hemorrhoids and lymphostasis. External use: contusions, sprains and surface hemorrhages.
Donut tea: 1-2 teaspoons of shredded raw materials scalded with boiling water and 10 minutes of infusion. After sieving tea is ready for consumption. Dosage: 2-3 cups a day.
Use in homeopathy. Melilotus homeopathic remedy is made of fresh flowering plants. It is used for severe headaches, migraines and nasal bleeding. For children suffering from seizures, Melilotus also provides relief. D4 and Dg breeding is recommended. Take 5-10 drops every two hours or several times a day.
Application in folk medicine. In folk medicine, donut is used mainly as a remedy for seizures and hemorrhoids. The favourite form is tea, but they also make ointments on pork fat. They are used for vein care and as rubbing in leg edema. On inflamed joints and tumors put a grass cushion of sweet clover, trying to apply it to boils and carbuncle to make them ripe. Tea made of melon tea is also used for coughing. In the German reference book from 1926 there is a collection called "softening herbs", which includes melon clover. This mixture is still in use now, so I bring its recipe.
Softening herbs: Althean leaves, mallow leaves, melon, chamomile, flax seed are mixed in equal quantities and grinded into a coarse powder for compresses. The mixture is placed in a linen pouch, which is kept in hot water for 10 minutes and then applied to a sick place.
Side effects. When using the donut side effects can not be feared. Sometimes, however, it causes headaches in sensitive people when taking tea, which is due to the presence of coumarin.