god tree

Even at a time when I was not personally acquainted with this plant, I was attracted to it like a magnet - I was fascinated by the name "God's tree".

"Why wood and why God?" - I thought, while through a correspondence acquaintance from the literature I knew that among the people this is the name of one of the types of wormwood - medicinal wormwood (Artemisia abrotanum). According to the botanical description, this is a perennial semi-shrub up to 1.5 m high, with thrice pinnately dissected leaves on straight, semi-lignified stems and with a thick woody root. She comes from Southern Europe, Asia Minor, Iran. Medicinal wormwood has long been grown in Russia. In our country, it is also known under the names lemon wormwood, abrotan, oak-grass, bezdrev, kudravits, holy tree. It is interesting that in the literature of the 19th century (in the reference book "The Complete Russian Herbal Dictionary", published in 1898), it is noted that "the medicinal wormwood in Russia is bred only in gardens." And in the academic publication of the twentieth century "Flora of the USSR" it is noted that it is found in nature in the South of Russia, the Black Earth Region, the South of Western Siberia, and Central Asia. That is, over several centuries, it spread from gardens to nature and became a naturalized Russian woman.

In all publications, it is noted that in Russia panicled wormwood (Artemisia scoparia or Artemisia procera), outwardly similar to medicinal wormwood, is widespread in nature. It is also cultivated in gardens under the names of bodrennik, chiliga, wormwood, scourge, and also. God's tree. This introduces some confusion. We have to discern the real tree of God. wormwood medicinal, from fake. paniculate. The latter, firstly, is a biennial, and secondly, in all parts it is coarser and less pleasant in smell. And, thirdly, it should be noted that wormwood paniculata propagated by seeds, while they do not ripen in medicinal plants in Russia. Therefore, if you are offered the seeds of God's tree, now you will know which one. "unreal".

In view of the latter circumstance, it is not easy to start a real God tree, because. it reproduces only vegetatively. dividing the rhizome, layering, cuttings. It took me a lot of work to find this plant. Several of my gardening friends from different regions offered seedlings, but I preferred to order from the northern - Kirov region, because. I did not know anything about its frost resistance.

The seedling planted in the garden with fertile soil in a sunny place. Over the summer, he gave up to a dozen branches about 80 cm high. Fears about his winter hardiness turned out to be in vain. the plant overwintered beautifully for two winters without any shelter. In the spring, every time on lignified stems, all the buds come to life, with the exception of the very apical ones. As it should be with semi-shrubs, the unripe tops die off. New green shoots grow from the buds and from the roots.

Watching the plant and tasting it, I understood why it was called God's. Indeed, it is a gift from God! The plant is remarkably beautiful. all summer and autumn, until real frosts, it is green with curly, dill-like greens. The taste and aroma is very complex, but pleasant, it has the freshness of a lemon and coniferous bitterness.

In ancient times, the leaves were "used in medicine to improve the taste of various unpleasant medicines." And what can we say about improving the taste of ordinary food! Young leaves are used in salads, in sauces for stir-fry and in seasonings for soups (introduced 3 minutes before readiness), to flavor tea, alcoholic beverages, flavoring vinegar, added to the dough when baking bread and confectionery, to give a spicy taste to pies, cottage cheese, mayonnaise. In addition, the leaves can be dried for future use. By the way, if someone does not like bitterness (albeit a pleasant one), then it completely disappears during drying.

Medicinal properties

Much can be said about the benefits provided by God's tree to human health. After all, it is not for nothing that the scientific name of wormwood Artemisia comes from the Greek artemis, which means health. The leaves contain essential oil, flavone compounds, abratin alkaloid and other useful substances. In folk medicine, the leaves are used for anemia, scrofula, menstruation disorders, worms, abdominal pain, aching bones, inflammation of the bladder, rinse the mouth with toothache, in the form of a powder for bruises, abscesses and dislocations, root. with epilepsy and tuberculous meningitis.

Just one or two plants are enough to provide a family with spicy and medicinal raw material. All the neighbors in the country, seeing this plant with me, wanted to have it on their plots. And I had to master the technique of reproduction. God's tree is easily propagated by layering. it is enough to dig in branches in May, and several independent plants are formed from each. It also propagates easily from cuttings. it is necessary in June to cut the cuttings about 10 cm long, clean the lower part of the leaves (leave only the upper one) and stick it obliquely into the soil. By August, a rooted seedling will be ready.

I will gladly send seedlings of God's tree to everyone who wants to have this wonderful plant. They, as well as planting material for more than 200 others rare plants can be ordered from the catalog. Attach an envelope with your address to the letter and in a week you will receive a catalog in it for free. The catalog can also be obtained from e-mail- send a request by e-mail:


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More than five years ago, he began to grow on his garden plot An interesting plant in my opinion. In the people it is called "God's tree" or Turkish tea. It is found along the entire Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory, and recently it has been bred in other parts of Russia.

What is this plant? One of the types of wormwood is a shrub with small leaves, similar to dill, up to 1 meter high with a pleasant strong smell lemon. Ancient physicians used wormwood for

As

diuretic

Bunches of wormwood hung over front door and windows so that evil does not enter the house. At

put a branch under the pillow. Try at

wrap your head with a bandage soaked in wormwood infusion, or, like our ancestors, put on a wreath of wormwood and immediately see its strength. Today, wormwood is also widely used. In Japan, exhausted, exhausted people are advised to drink a decoction of its leaves. It is widely used in the treatment of geopathy and is part of the well-known Asterisk ointment. Together with thyme in a ratio of 1:4, it is taken, making a decoction in the treatment of alcoholism (1 tablespoon of decoction, boiled for 10 minutes, drunk 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals for 2-3 months).

For excitation of appetite and with reduced secretion, an infusion of wormwood is used: 1 teaspoon per 2 cups of water is brought to a boil and drunk a quarter cup 3 times a day for half an hour before meals.

It should be noted: all types of wormwood are poisonous plants, so a single dose for a person should not exceed 10 g of fresh leaves and the same amount of dry raw materials when preparing.

If you decide to breed wormwood in your area, here are a few recommendations. Fragrant medicinal "God's tree" tolerates frosts down to minus 25 ° C even without special shelters, takes root on any soil. In the summer, I loosen and spud the earth around the plants, watering weekly. Top dressing ( chicken manure, slurry) I give 3 times for warm season. I maintain the height of the bush at the level of 50-60 cm. I cut off the rest of the shoots.

Thus, all summer I have elegant bushes-balls that decorate the garden plot, fill the air with a pleasant smell when the wind blows. Wormwood "God's tree" can also be grown in pots on the balcony.

god tree

11.01.2006 05:00

So called wormwood high or medicinal. There are other names for this plant - dill tree, lemon wormwood.

Unlike other wormwoods, the godwood almost completely lacks a bitter aftertaste. It is a semi-shrub up to one and a half meters high with bluish-green feathery leaves. Flower baskets are small, greenish, collected in drooping panicles. The wormwood herb contains an essential oil with a characteristic lemon smell, as well as flavonoids and alkaloids.

Traditional medicine recommends an infusion of medicinal wormwood as a means of improving digestion and stimulating appetite, antihelminthic. 1-2 tablespoons of chopped herbs are poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours. Strain. Take half a glass 3-4 times a day before meals.

Rinse your mouth with water infusion for toothache. Young shoots are used in cooking to flavor dishes and confectionery, to preserve vegetables for the winter as a spice.

Vodka is infused on the young leaves of the god tree. As soon as it becomes a light green color, it must be filtered. If the tincture is overexposed, it will turn brown, not very appetizing in appearance.

Branches of a god's tree are added to a birch or oak broom for a bath. It can also be laid out in cabinets to repel moths.

Medicinal wormwood is often confused with tarragon (tarragon), which is also a kind of wormwood, but has narrow lanceolate leaves. It is often used for the preparation of the tonic drink "Tarhun", and in the alcoholic beverage industry for flavoring drinks. Tarragon is not uncommon in garden and household plots. And wormwood god tree is just beginning to take over our gardens. Most often it is openwork beautiful plant used as a green fence. It requires virtually no maintenance. Medicinal wormwood propagates vegetatively - by seedlings, shoots.

Wormwood - God's tree and wormwood-tarragon

S.A. Kurgan

Wormwood (Artemisia) is the most extensive genus of plants from the Compositae family, numbering up to 400 species. These are annual, biennial, perennial herbs and shrubs, widely distributed in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Artemisia often occupy vast areas in steppe, desert and semi-desert regions and dominate plant communities.

The generic name Artemisia is derived from the Greek word artemis (healthy) due to the healing properties of the plant. There is an opinion that the name was given in honor of the wife of the king Mausolus Artemisia, who, according to Pliny, was allegedly cured by this plant.

Artemisia leaves usually contain essential oils, have a strong aroma and a bitter taste. Wormwoods are known as medicinal and spice plants.

We will talk about two species that have long been cultivated and widely used by humans.

One of the numerous species of the genus of wormwood is called God's tree, medicinal wormwood, or wormwood-abrotan (Artemisia abrotanum). This is a beautiful semi-shrub with straight, unbranched, woody shoots almost to the tops, 70-150 cm tall. The leaves are bluish-green petiolate, oval, usually 4-8 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, twice or thrice pinnately divided into filiform linear segments. The flowers are collected in very small ovate-spherical or almost spherical baskets 2.0-2.5 mm in diameter, which are located in racemes on the lateral branches of a long narrow dense paniculate inflorescence. Hemicarps are flat, furrowed, up to 1.2 mm long.

As a fragrant and medicinal plant, wormwood was known back in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, even then it was bred in gardens. The healing properties of wormwood are mentioned in the works of Pliny and Dioscorides and in many medieval medical writings. So, in the famous medieval poem Odo from Mena “On the properties of herbs” (XI century), it is written about the god tree: “Drink it raw with wine, and you will help with many ailments. His breath is terrible for snakes, and drinking pacifies their poisons and also relieves the cold chill of fever. ”Artemisia abrotanum from Linnaeus's herbarium

The specific name of the plant abrotanum comes from the Greek word abrotos, which means "divine", "immortal", and indicates how highly valued this plant. Even in ancient times, especially among the Slavic peoples, this plant played a big role as a magical and cult. In Russia and Slavic countries, this plant is called God's tree.

Currently, in some countries, medicinal wormwood is included in the Pharmacopoeia. For medicinal purposes, the aerial part of the plant is used.

The healing properties of wormwood-abrotana, like other wormwood, are largely determined by the presence in the leaves essential oil complex chemical composition, the content of which ranges from 0.32 to 0.62%. In addition, the leaves contain bitterness, tannins, coumarins, flavonoids and other components.

Russian folk medicine has always appreciated this plant. Information about the use of wormwood can be found in the book M.A. and I.M. Nosaley " medicinal plants and how they are used by the people.

Infusions and decoctions of wormwood leaves are used for many internal diseases, especially gastrointestinal diseases, for colds, fever, rheumatism. An infusion of the leaves can be used as a rinse for toothache and to strengthen hair. With water hot extracts, you can make poultices, compresses, lotions. From the crushed grass, various ointments were previously prepared on fats, which were used to treat wounds, abscesses, and frostbite. Wormwood was used to fumigate rooms, kitchen utensils, sick animals, and shift clothes to protect them from moths.

Dried leaves, which have a pleasant smell, can be used as a kind of spice. Like all wormwoods, wormwood-abrotana leaves taste bitter, so cooks recommend adding them to food in small quantities to fatty and meat dishes. Dried leaves, by the way, are less bitter than fresh ones. Essential oil is used in the production of liqueurs, vermouth, for flavoring confectionery, in perfumery.

The dissected leaves make this sagebrush attractive and are often grown simply as ornamental plant. Previously, they loved to grow it in vegetable gardens, especially in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine. In a garden plot, sagebrush-abrotan will grow well on any humus-rich garden soil containing a sufficient amount of lime. acidic soils the plant does not tolerate. The site should be open, sunny. IN middle lane the plant usually winters well without shelter, but in especially cold winters it can partially freeze. Blooms in late summer.

God's tree seeds are propagated only in the southern regions. In the middle lane, the seeds do not have time to ripen, so it can only be propagated vegetatively - by cuttings or dividing a bush of old plants. For cuttings, young shoot tips are taken, which are rooted in the usual way in boxes or pots with sand. After a month, they usually take root well. On the permanent place cuttings should be planted in early spring or August. The next year after planting, the plants can reach a height of 1 m.

Medicinal raw materials are leafy shoots with flowers. It is better to collect raw materials in dry sunny weather. It can be dried by laying it out in a thin layer in the air in the shade in a well-ventilated room or in special dryers at a temperature of about 40 ° C.

The popular spicy plant tarragon, or tarragon, is also a type of wormwood. The leaves of this plant are devoid of bitterness, characteristic of almost all types of wormwood. Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is a perennial herbaceous plant with erect stems 50-150 cm tall. Leaves entire, linear-lanceolate or almost linear. Small inflorescences-baskets 2-4 mm in diameter are collected at the top of the stem with tassels forming a paniculate inflorescence. The fruits are achenes up to 0.6 mm long.

IN natural conditions Artemisia-tarragon is widespread in the steppe, forest-steppe and semi-desert regions in the south of Eastern Europe, Western Siberia, Central Asia, Mongolia, Northern China and North America. Often forms continuous thickets and is even a weed. IN Western Europe and in the Caucasus, tarragon has been known in culture since the Middle Ages.

The specific spicy pungent aroma and peculiar taste of the leaves are due to the presence of essential oil, the content of which can be from 0.1 to 0.8%. The grass also contains tannins, vitamin C, provitamin A, rutin, trace elements: copper, manganese, cobalt. Tarragon is used as a spice primarily fresh. Young tips of the shoots are added to salads, soups, meat, fish, poultry, vegetables dishes, and used in the preparation of sandwiches. Tarragon increases appetite and improves digestion. When salting, pickling, pickling various vegetables and mushrooms, tarragon is an indispensable spice; it gives cucumbers strength and a delicate aroma.

Vinegar and mustard are flavored with tarragon. Fragrant tarragon vinegar has always been popular in Europe. Previously, it was brought to Russia and sold quite expensively. Such vinegar was also prepared in the Caucasus. Rose petals and other aromatic additives were mixed with vinegar and used in cooking as a seasoning and for canning.

When dried, tarragon retains its aromatic properties and is included in various spice mixes. To preserve the aroma, dry leaves are recommended to be ground into powder and stored in hermetically sealed jars.

Tarragon is very popular in both French and Chinese cuisines. Tarragon extract is added to non-alcoholic drinks - everyone knows the refreshing drink Tarragon produced in our country.

In the old days, tarragon was used in medicine as a remedy for scurvy and dropsy, and tarragon vinegar mixed with rum or vodka was used as an external rubbing agent. Tarragon essential oil has insecticidal properties.

Tarragon easily grows in culture in the middle lane, winters well. To grow it, you need a lighted area and the usual fairly fertile garden soil, but it can grow even on poor sandy soils. The plant does not like heavy wet soils and will not grow in low, waterlogged places.

Samples with a good spicy taste and aroma can also be found among wild forms. Wild-growing forms of tarragon are propagated by seeds and vegetatively, cultivated forms rarely produce seeds, but they can be easily propagated by dividing the bush and cuttings.

Of the breeding varieties, Gribovsky and Russian are known. The first variety is distinguished by delicate leaves and stems, high content of essential oil and good yield. Seeds of this variety in the middle lane do not always ripen. Variety Russian - tall with a weak aroma, blooms profusely and forms seeds.

Seeds do not need stratification. They can be sown in the spring in the ground, in the fall under the snow, or they can be sown early in the spring in greenhouses and greenhouses or at home in boxes. Tarragon seeds are very small, they are only lightly sprinkled with earth. Seeds sown in spring germinate in 1.5-2 weeks.

In the first year, the plant can form a stem 50-60 cm tall, individual plants can produce buds by the end of summer. Starting from the second year of life, all plants bloom regularly, but in the middle lane they do not always bear fruit.

Vegetative propagation by dividing the bush is carried out as always in the spring or in August, the cuttings are rooted in late May - early June. For rooting, cuttings are usually taken 12-15 cm long, the lower cut is made under acute angle 2-3 cm below the leaf buds. You can root cuttings in greenhouses or in beds under a film; after 2-3 weeks, the cuttings are usually already rooted.

In one place, tarragon can grow for a long time, but the stems become stiff and rough.

Such a well-known plant as wormwood is considered by many to be a weed. It grows everywhere, filling the air with a peculiar bitter-tart aroma.

Wormwood unites a fairly large genus of decorative leafy plants, and many of them stand out for their originality. 400 species of this plant have been recorded in the literature. More than 50 of them have leaves of unusual silver coloration, and 10 varieties are grown in gardens.

A distinctive feature of the wormwood genus are airy, as if lacy, leaves of a silvery-green color. Most of the representatives of the genus are perennial shrubs or herbaceous plants. The leaves are deeply dissected, alternately arranged on a grassy stem, inconspicuous and smallish flowers fold inflorescences-baskets. the best decorative species Steller's wormwood, Schmidt's wormwood and Tree wormwood are considered.

Artemisia arborescens or wormwood abortan ( Artemisia abrotanum) known since ancient times. Already in those distant times, they knew the healing properties of this herb, which is mentioned in the treatises of Pliny and Dioscorides and the writings of other medieval healers. Mention of this potion is even found in Odo's poem "On the properties of herbs."

Artemisia arborescens leaves contain a valuable essential oil, which largely determines the medicinal properties of the plant. In addition, the greens of the plant contain a sufficient amount of bitterness, tannins, coumarins, flavonoids and other components. FROM long time ago Slavic healers also used this herb. In our area, it is also called "God's tree", as if emphasizing its medicinal omnipotence. Endow him with some magical properties: it is believed that wormwood drives away from the house evil spirit and protects from all evil.

According to the biological description, sagebrush godwood is a sub-shrub that can grow up to 1.5 m in height. The foliage is green with a mysterious gray-blue tint. The leaves of the original pattern and shape give a special unusualness to the bush. The flowers, like all wormwoods, are small and inconspicuous. It can grow on poor soil with impurities of sand and gravel.

God's tree outwardly is very similar to wormwood paniculata - it is quite difficult to distinguish between them. If you crush a leaf of wormwood between your fingers, you will immediately feel the tart and bitter smell of wormwood with slightly noticeable notes of lemon. Wormwood paniculata does not have such a pleasant smell.

Subtleties of care

Wormwood God's tree is perhaps one of the most unpretentious plants that can grow literally anywhere. Caring for it does not require special knowledge and skills. The grass is thermophilic; beds are chosen for its planting, which warm up well and are illuminated by the sun from morning to evening. Light for this plant should also be enough. He likes nutritious and loose soils, if necessary, poor soils are fertilized with organic matter. For this grass, soils with an acidic reaction are categorically contraindicated. To neutralize them before planting, plants make dolomite flour. God's tree does not need to be transplanted - in one place it can grow for more than ten years. Therefore, before planting, they think over a place for its growth and reproduction.

The only thing that wormwood requires is periodic fluffing of the soil around the plant. Weeding and loosening provide better access of water and air to the roots of the plant. At the same time, it is impossible to open the roots of the plant - on the contrary, it is recommended to slightly spud the bush. Hilling will also help retain moisture. In hot weather, it is necessary to water the plant if necessary. Watering should be moderate - this grass does not tolerate a large excess of moisture and waterlogging of the soil. And at the same time, it is not necessary to allow strong drying of the soil.

The bush of wormwood is extremely hardy, it does not need special pruning. But if desired, its crown can be formed constantly. At the same time, the shoots are cut off after they have reached a height of 60 cm. This way you can form a beautiful spherical bush. The first pruning is of great importance - it is she who sets the shape of the shrub. Then the shoots grow fairly evenly, only from time to time you need to adjust their height. Such a bush with leaves of the original shade (they are usually bluish-green) will decorate any corner of your site.

God's tree perfectly tolerates winter cold and frost. Additionally, there is no need to cover and protect it. This bush can withstand frosts up to 25 degrees. True, a small part of the shoots may freeze slightly, but with the advent of warm days, the plant recovers surprisingly quickly. Pruning the plant in late autumn, according to the principles of caring for the plant, helps it to endure cold and frost more easily. But to leave previous view shrub, it can be transplanted together with a clod of garden soil into a spacious flowerpot or box and transferred to a cool room. The temperature of the winter content of the plant e should be higher than 8 degrees Celsius. In the spring, as soon as the soil warms up well and there is no threat of frost, the plant is planted on the site.

Reproduction methods

The God tree, like many other plants, has two methods of reproduction - seed and vegetative.

Speaking about the method of propagation by seeds, it should be borne in mind that it is not so easy to obtain seed material. In our latitudes, the seeds of the god tree simply do not ripen. In specialized stores, you will be offered wormwood seeds from the Southern regions.

First, the seeds are sown in boxes - this is how the cultivation of seedlings begins. Grown seedlings with two pairs of true leaves (according to the general rules of care) are planted in open ground. But they do this only when the earth warms up and warm weather sets in. Under such conditions young plant will get stronger faster and grow.

The vegetative method of propagating a God's tree involves dividing a bush or sprouting cuttings. Artemisia cuttings are cut in the summer, during the period of the most rapid growth and development of the shrub. Cut branches are placed in a pot with river sand, which is well moisturized before. The flowerpot is placed under a transparent cap - a wide glass or plastic jar will do. Regular spraying of the plant is highly recommended. The cuttings take root in about 25-30 days, after which they are planted in a permanent place of growth. In two years, from a small cutting, carefully caring for it, you can get a lush and attractive bush.

Permissible propagation by cuttings in early spring. This method is considered simpler, but much less effective. In this case, the shoots are cut off before the leaves appear and immediately lowered into a bowl of water. Pretty soon you can notice the appearance of roots, after which the branches are planted in open ground. Cuttings cut in the spring can be immediately planted on the site without germinating in water, but this method is unlikely to be successful.

Conclusion

Wormwood is planted on the site, given its undoubted decorative value. But we should not forget about the beneficial properties of this wonderful shrub. As it was said, wormwood leaves contain a significant amount of essential oil - it is this oil that causes the peculiar smell of wormwood leaves of any kind. Consider some areas of application of this plant.

• Extracts of this plant are used in the preparation of perfume compositions.
• Wormwood is used to flavor drinks.
• Both dried and fresh, the leaves of the plant are used as a spice in the preparation of meat dishes, especially game dishes. It is also added when baking bread to add flavor.
• Brooms for a steam bath are made from wormwood branches, which can help with rheumatism, obesity and joint diseases.
• The aroma of wormwood can significantly reduce headaches. To do this, it is advised to put the branches of the plant under the pillow or fill a small linen bag with dried leaves.
• Wormwood tincture helps to stimulate hair growth. It must be rubbed into the scalp.
• With bruises and dislocations, it is advised to make compresses from tincture of wormwood.
• Wormwood oil is used to treat skin diseases, colds, bronchitis.
• Wormwood is good for disinfecting rooms. Moths are afraid of her smell.

These and other areas of application of the plant only increase its popularity in our area.

God's or dill tree, perhaps, can be included in the list of the most rare perennials in the garden. The botanical name (Artemisia abrotanum) is medicinal wormwood or abrotan. You can see what the God tree looks like in the photo - it is a shrub up to 1.2 m high with silvery, pinnately dissected leaves. The culture is unpretentious, proper fit and care hibernates in open ground. IN decorative purposes slight pruning required.

God's tree: origin and description

Medicinal wormwood, high or lemon, grows in the wild in the south of Europe, in Asia Minor, in North America. It is found in the south-west of Russia and in the Altai Territory. Prefers damp places, forest edges. Often forms dense clumps along roadsides and abandoned dwellings.

The shoots of the plant are directed strictly upwards, do not branch. Flowering in the middle latitudes occurs in mid-summer (July, early August). Abrotan inflorescences are formed by small baskets, in place of which seed pods are tied in autumn. The fruits fully ripen only in the southern regions. Therefore, most often, the dill tree is propagated vegetatively.

God tree - medicinal plant

The first mention of the plant dates back to the 5th century AD. In his botanical writings, this type of wormwood was described by the ancient physician P. Dioscorides. According to scientists, from that time began the active use of wormwood medicinal in cooking, medicine and for decoration. There are also records of the holy tree in the Ipatiev Chronicle dating back to 1201.

Young shoots of abrotan have a bright dill aroma with an admixture of needles and citrus, older ones acquire bitter wormwood notes.

Planting abrotan and care in the open field

The dill tree needs a place with a good dose of sunlight to grow successfully. The southern plant does not tolerate drafts well and needs protection from the wind; it is better to plant it along a building or hedge. In such a plot, the shrub will quickly grow a green top and overwinter more easily.
The soil is prepared nutritious, loose, well-drained.

Attention! God's tree does not grow in acidic soil.

The bed is dug up, rotted compost and manure are introduced. For 1 sq. m will need 6 kg of organic matter. From minerals:

• 25 g of superphosphate;
• 15 g of ammonium nitrate;
• 15 g of potassium chloride.

Holes are formed at a distance of at least 1 m from each other. After planting, young plants are watered, in the first days they monitor the condition of the soil, do not allow drying out or waterlogging. During the season, three more top dressings will be required. The latter is done in late autumn, introducing organic matter to the site.
For ten years, medicinal wormwood does not need to be transplanted. In addition to watering, the plant requires weeding, loosening the soil, pruning damaged branches.

Wormwood cuttings are carried out at the beginning or at the end of summer. Cuttings rooted in June are planted in open ground no later than August. This is necessary so that the plants can get used to the new conditions and get stronger. In the first winter, dill tree seedlings are covered with a film or agrofabric. The next year, the wormwood will overwinter on its own.

Protect your plant from drafts

If the branches are cut off at the end of summer, then it is better to leave them in the house for the winter. A cool veranda or glazed loggia is well suited for this. It is possible that the wormwood will shed its leaves, this is not scary, in the spring new shoots will grow from the buds.

Attention! Winter watering of wormwood medicinal is minimized.

Dill tree in folk medicine and cooking

The leaves and stems of abrotan contain:

1. Essential oil.
2. Bitterness.
3. Abrotanine alkaloid.

Due to this composition, the plant is widely used for medicinal purposes. Homeopathic doctors prepare essences that relieve certain skin diseases, anemia. Proven antiseptic, hemostatic and analgesic effects.

Dry powder from the aerial part of the God tree is applied to abscesses, bruises, dislocations. With inflammation of the oral cavity and toothache - use a tincture for rinsing. Based on the rhizome, they make powders against epileptic seizures, tuberculous meningitis.

Sprigs of God's tree are used in cooking

Wormwood medicinal is used not only in medicine. It is also a natural air freshener. Cut branches are dried and hung indoors. In addition, the green young growth of abrotan is an original spice for meat and fish dishes. Cooks used it to flavor sauces, broths, vinegar, added to pastries and liqueurs.

Advice. Dill tree branches are used as part of bath brooms.

For medicinal purposes, harvesting is carried out before the flowering of wormwood. Soft branches are cut, which are dried in a dry and dark place. Store in tightly closed containers.

Abrotan in landscape design

God's tree is not only useful, but also an incredibly decorative culture. In the garden lush bushes medicinal wormwood is planted in flower beds. A fast-growing culture is used as a live fencing of the site and as a border along paths, alleys. The tart smell will scare off insect pests, and the silvery foliage will “dilute” flower plantings.

Abrotane is combined with other perennials. Tall plants will protect the heat-loving wormwood from the wind, the main thing is that there is no excessive shading of the dill tree. Spherical bushes of wormwood medicinal will look worthy next to the flowering ones:

• hydrangea and roses.

God tree in landscape design

Nearby you can arrange several species of different flowering times. Thus, the composition will always attract attention.

Quite often, gardeners form a god tree in the form of a cypress, a cone-shaped crown and carved foliage further adds to the plant's resemblance to southern conifers.

Abrotane is also used for landscaping terraces, open verandas, balconies. Wormwood is planted in wide flowerpots or containers.

Despite the active development of technologies and medicines, many people still prefer to turn to recipes and that have long proven themselves. Wormwood, which is widely used for medical, cosmetic and culinary purposes, is one of these plants. According to the world classification, there are more than 400 species of this herb. Each of them differs in chemical composition, appearance and scope, but abrotan wormwood (or as it is called "God's tree") deserves special attention.

"God's tree": description of a medicinal plant

Wormwood or "divine tree"- belonging to the Compositae family. It can be not only annual, but also. Externally, the plant is a grass or shrub, reaching a height of about one and a half meters.

Grass root - broad and woody. It is noteworthy that the stems of the plant differ depending on the species. So, for perennial wormwood, shortened but barren stems are characteristic, and for annual plant- direct and fruitful. "God's tree" has a characteristic, very pungent smell. Leaf plates are arranged on the stem in one row. The flowers are quite small and have a characteristic yellow or red color.

To date, there are many names of this medicinal plant in the literature: "wormwood", "God's tree", "wormwood medicinal", "abrotan", "dill tree" and others. This is due to the fact that this herb was quite actively used in different regions and the countries in which it was assigned this or that name.

Over time, experts approved a single "name", but in our time there are names accepted by the people. To date, more than 400 species of wormwood have been officially registered, more than half of which can be easily found in the vastness of our state.

The chemical composition of wormwood

The beneficial medicinal properties of this plant, like any other, are largely determined by the presence and concentration of essential oils with a complex chemical composition.

So, in the "God's grass" their share reaches 0.62% (a fairly large volume, which determines the strong effect of the herb). In addition, wormwood leaves contain: tannins, flavonoids, bitterness, coumarins, C vitamins and other useful components.

What is useful wormwood ("God's tree")

Despite that that the herb wormwood is one of the most famous plants, few people know about medicinal tinctures based on it.

The beneficial properties of the "God's tree" are completely determined by the chemical composition of this herb. It's no secret that it has a rather caustic, bitter taste, which is proof of the high concentration of lactones.
However, before you start taking medicinal wormwood in one form or another, you should understand that absolutely all parts of the herb have beneficial properties. During the preparation of all kinds of healing decoctions, infusions and mixtures, leaves, stems, seeds, roots are fully used.

Direct indications for the use of drugs based on the "God's tree" can be very diverse. Its bitter taste is often used for additional stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract, wormwood decoctions can cure inflammation of the gallbladder, and oils remove toxins and cleanse the skin.

The healing properties of wormwood are multifaceted. and do not belong to any particular area, which is why even in our time there are many people who prefer to be treated not with pills and antibiotics, but with this unique herb.

How the healing properties of the "God's tree" are used in folk medicine

A variety of useful properties and a real storehouse of medicinal substances easily explains the wide popularity of the herb and its active use in the formulation of traditional medicine. But, along with this, one should not forget that there is no universal way for all ailments, since only some of the properties of wormwood are used in the treatment of various diseases.

Did you know? To date, in alternative medicine there are more than a hundred recipes of various interpretations based on wormwood for the treatment of almost all diseases. By the total number of compounds, ointments, infusions and oils, wormwood is rightfully considered one of the most popular medicinal herbs.

With a cold

Plant "God's tree", whose herb is saturated with useful substances and components, is quite often found in the formulation of traditional medicine, as a tool that helps to effectively fight colds and viral diseases. The best result is achieved with the treatment with wormwood oil. To prepare a medicinal composition, it is necessary to fill the selected vessel (a 1 liter container is quite enough) with pre-washed flowers and leaves of wormwood, and then pour them with olive oil.

Such a remedy should be infused for two weeks so that the oil has time to be saturated with the substances found in the medicinal herb. After that, the composition is carefully filtered and can be used. For colds, sore throats, flu and SARS, you need to drink 1 teaspoon of infused oil 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening. The duration of treatment should not exceed one week. Treatment with this plant will relieve irritation, reduce pain and quickly defeat a cold.

Important! Properly prepared oil should change color to deep green. Only such an infusion has useful properties and is safe to use.

To cleanse the body

In modern traditional medicine There are quite a lot of various means and preparations that allow you to quickly and effectively cleanse the body. However, each of them is usually quite expensive and does not always show the proper result. Great alternative such means can be preparations that use the "God's tree", since the use of such decoctions and tinctures has no contraindications and reliably helps in 100% of cases.

A medicinal plant that flawlessly helps in the treatment of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, improves appetite. To prepare a medicinal composition, it is necessary to mix 1 spoon of dried and chopped "God's tree" with one spoon of dried.

After that, they must be poured with 400 ml of boiling water (about 2 cups) and covered, and the resulting infusion (without removing the lid) should be removed in cool place until completely cool. At the end, the infusion should be carefully filtered through a fine sieve and poured into a glass container, where the herb will retain its beneficial features.
You need to take a remedy based on the "God's tree" 3 tablespoons, three times a day, an hour before meals, that is, on an empty stomach. The action of the plant will calm the stomach, relieve cramps and pain, and also help to eliminate toxins. The course of such treatment should not exceed a three-week period, and the interval between courses should be less than one month.

Did you know? Among the European elite of the 19th century, an alcoholic cocktail was widely distributed, to which the essential oils of wormwood were added. It was called absinthe. However, it was soon abandoned, because with excessive use, multiple side effects of varying severity were noted.

The healing properties of "God's tree" in violation of the menstrual cycle

In modern practice, there are cases when wormwood ("God's tree"), the healing properties of which are determined by the unique composition of substances in the plant, is used to stabilize the menstrual cycle.
To prepare a medicinal infusion, it is necessary to finely chop the dried leaves of wormwood and pour them with 1 cup of boiling water. It is advisable to cover the mug with infusion and set aside until it cools completely. To stabilize menstrual irregularities, you should take the prepared infusion 1-2 tablespoons 2-3 times a day.

It is advisable to do this on an empty stomach, that is, before meals. Such treatment gives a noticeable result after 2-3 months of admission, however, to reduce the risk of side effects, it is better to take an infusion of wormwood week after week.

The use of medicinal herbs for dental treatment

God's herb, the healing properties of which make it possible to effectively use it to combat a number of diseases of various nature, has proven itself flawlessly in the treatment of teeth.

For the treatment of toothache, there is an almost universal recipe for the infusion of the "God's tree", which in one interpretation or another is often found in folk medicine. Taking this remedy quickly and very effectively relieves inflammation of the gums and relieves toothache.

To prepare the infusion, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the pre-plucked or dried wormwood and place it in a metal bowl. After that, the collection should be poured with boiling water and tightly closed with a lid. In order for the infusion to be well nourished, it should be left in a shady place and allowed to cool to room temperature.
With this decoction, you need to rinse your mouth during toothaches, trying to keep the remedy as much as possible in the area of ​​the affected tooth. A positive effect is noted already after several such procedures, and the toothache recedes the next morning.

In some cases, when a slight toothache is rapidly increasing, it is possible to improve the manufactured remedy: for this, it is enough to reduce the volume of water, bringing the infusion to the consistency of a thick mass.

Important! An infusion of medicinal herbs relieves toothache, but does not treat its cause (damage to the tooth and / or gums), therefore, even if a positive effect is achieved, it is strongly recommended to visit a dentist.

"God's tree" in cosmetology

In addition to the almost universal use of this plant in folk and traditional medicine, wormwood (abrotan) is often used in cosmetology, where it is valued for its unique ability to preserve beauty.

It is noteworthy that for each cosmetic case there is a separate recipe for treatment or rejuvenation. So, for example, to clean oily hair, it is recommended to wash your hair with a decoction of fresh wormwood (about 200 grams of "God's tree" is needed for 3 liters of water). When treating hair with such a tool, the hair will gain beauty and silkiness after 2-3 procedures, but this should not be abused.

Also, medicinal herbs can help slow down skin aging. In this matter, baths with infusion of wormwood help remarkably. To do this, pour 300 grams of dried and crushed wormwood leaves with 2.5 liters of boiling water, after which the infusion should stand under the lid for about an hour. Following this, the infusion is carefully filtered and diluted in a filled bath for bathing. Such a therapeutic bath should be taken for 20-25 minutes 1 hour before bedtime.
In folk medicine, cosmetic oil with wormwood is also often found. To prepare it, you need 0.5 l sunflower oil(not peeled, homemade is better) add 3 tablespoons of table vinegar and 5 tablespoons of God's tree seeds. Such oil, under a hermetically sealed lid, is infused for 3 weeks on a sunny windowsill. To achieve the best effect, it is recommended to shake the contents of the bottle regularly. After a while, after careful straining, you can use the finished oil. It is great for massage and fight against cellulite.

Did you know? Even today, many experts prefer to use oil prepared on the basis of wormwood. For example, such a composition is actively used in elite cosmetology centers during a massage.

Procurement of medicinal raw materials

Due to the unique set of useful substances and properties, the plant "Divine Tree" is used by people completely.

At the same time, it is necessary to collect wormwood in the garden at different times, depending on the purpose of further use. So, it is desirable to organize the collection of leaves even before the start of active flowering of the grass. It is important that the leaves are separated from the cuttings.

It is better to cut the stem part in at the very beginning of flowering. A similar blank is dried in a darkened, but well-ventilated room. The shelf life of leaves and stems harvested in this way can be up to two years.

In medicine, the leaves of the plant are used, collected at the very beginning of summer or before the start of active flowering. Later, you can collect already flowering tops, since they are also often used in one form or another.
The preparation process is best done in 2 stages. Initially, it is required to pluck the leaves near the roots (but without cuttings and before the end of the wormwood bud formation stage). After that, the tops are cut off 20-30 cm long. It is very important not to miss the deadlines for the collection and procurement of medicinal raw materials, because otherwise the wormwood begins to lose such strong medicinal abilities.

In order to ensure the safety of medicinal herb blanks, the collection, laid in layers, must be dried in a dry, dark place with good ventilation. Some craftsmen resort to forced drying of grass in drying chambers at temperatures up to +50 ° C, but in this case it is important not to overdry the grass, for which it should be turned over regularly (every 5-7 minutes).

Raw materials prepared in this way should be stored in wooden boxes, bags or glass containers, where it will easily retain its properties for two years.

"God's tree" (wormwood medicinal): contraindications for abrotan

Despite the fact that the beneficial properties of the herb determine its widespread use in almost all areas of cooking, cosmetology and medicine (including folk), the use of the "God's tree" in some cases may be contraindicated.

First of all, a direct contraindication is individual intolerance to substances included in chemical composition medicinal wormwood. Also undesirable is the long-term use of large doses of preparations made on the basis of wormwood, as this can provoke a disorder. nervous system, which is direct side effect taking this herb. Most often, the recommended course of treatment should not exceed 3-4 weeks, after which a month-long break should be taken.
Among the people who are strictly forbidden to take "God's tree" are pregnant women and young mothers who are breastfeeding. Moreover, it is unacceptable to use the plant in any form for people suffering from ulcers, bleeding and anemia.

Therapeutic wormwood refers to potent herbs and, if used improperly, can cause irreparable harm to the body, therefore, before starting a medication course with drugs based on wormwood, you should definitely get medical advice.

Important! In view of a number of rather serious contraindications and a high content of active substances, it is advisable to take funds, infusions and preparations based on medicinal wormwood only if necessary.

Now that it has become extremely clear what a dill tree, that is, wormwood, is, its popularity and widespread use in cooking, medicine and cosmetology is completely unsurprising.

67 times already
helped

Medicinal wormwood, or Artemisia abrotanum, is one of the many species of this plant, called God's tree. The leaves of wormwood contain a large amount of valuable essential oil, but, unlike other varieties of the plant, there is not much bitterness in its composition. Therefore, it is this species that is used to flavor food and various tinctures.

It must be said that the plant has many healing properties Therefore, it is actively used in folk medicine. The ancient Slavs considered it an object of worship, used it to purify both the physical and spiritual world. Until now, healers believe that its smell drives out evil spirits, so they use wormwood as a talisman against the evil eye and damage.

The wormwood plant, otherwise the God's tree, whose medicinal properties have been known since ancient times, must be able to distinguish it from the extremely common in Russia panicled wormwood (Artemisia scoparia, or procera), which is also often called the God's tree. Outwardly, they are similar, but there are still differences.

real medicinal wormwood is an perennial shrub, which has beautiful openwork foliage resembling dill leaves. If you pick a branch, rub it in your palms, a tart, pleasant smell of wormwood will appear in combination with lemon.

Wormwood paniculata is a biennial. Its leaves, stems are much rougher, and the smell is less pleasant. In addition, it reproduces with the help of seeds. And in wormwood, under our climatic conditions, they do not ripen. Seeds of this species can only be obtained in areas with a very warm climate. Therefore, it is propagated vegetatively (by dividing the rhizome or cuttings).

How to use God's tree for medicinal purposes?

For oncological diseases of the stomach, intestines, uterus, the root of the plant is used. It is necessary to prepare a decoction: Grind the previously dried wormwood root. Now put 2 tbsp. l. raw materials in a small saucepan, add 1 cup of clean boiling water.
Boil, cook at a very light boil for no more than 10 minutes. Then wrap with a warm cloth, wait until it cools down. Strain, drink a sip before meals (for half an hour). The whole broth must be drunk in a day.

For the treatment of neurosis, joint diseases, gout, the same infusion is added to the water when taking a bath (2 liters per bath).

On the basis of plant oil, the drug "artemisol" is made, with the help of which nephrolithiasis is treated. It has an antispasmodic property, dissolves salts in urine well, actively removes sand and urinary stones from the body.

Traditional medicine uses an infusion based on the herb wormwood as a mild diuretic, and oil as a mild laxative.

For the treatment of epilepsy, an infusion of wormwood is used as an effective anthelmintic. To prepare the infusion, pour 1 tbsp. l. dry grass with a glass of boiling water, wrap well, wait until it cools down. Strain, drink a glass between meals.

As a tonic, tonic, as well as to get rid of worms, for the treatment of nervous diseases, prepare this decoction: pour 1 tbsp. l. dried herb 1 cup freshly boiled flint water. Put in a water bath, simmer for half an hour. Then wait until the broth has cooled, strain, drink a third of a glass before meals (for half an hour).

With whites, diseases of the stomach, intestines, with the complex treatment of infectious diseases, you can prepare wormwood steam or tea. To do this, pour 1 tbsp. l. dry or fresh herbs 1 cup clean boiling water. After 15 minutes, as the tea is brewed, you can drink it whenever you want. But it is better not to use it more than 3 times a day.

Medicinal wormwood is used in combination with other medicinal herbs. For example, an infusion of a mixture of wormwood, a drop drug is used for the complex treatment of sciatica. In combination with rue, wormwood is used as an analgesic, antispasmodic agent for kidney diseases.

For the treatment of abscesses, finely chopped leaves of fresh wormwood are steamed with boiling water. Then the steamed mass is wrapped around the damaged area, tied with a bandage. Very often this remedy is used to treat inflammatory processes of the mammary gland.

In addition, to heal skin lesions, such as wounds, abscesses, frostbite, traditional medicine uses ointments prepared on the basis of wormwood. Also, for the same purpose, freshly squeezed plant juice is used.

Another Use for the God Tree

In addition to medicinal properties, God's tree is used in cooking. Fresh, dried grass is added when roasting meat, especially game. This seasoning is very good in fried poultry dishes.

In domestic use, wormwood is used as a flavoring agent, hanging sprigs in a wardrobe. In addition to giving a pleasant smell, wormwood will protect outerwear from moths.

Not to mention very attractive appearance plants. Therefore, gardeners and summer residents are happy to grow lush bushes on their plots. It is often planted in not very pretty corners garden to cover, for example, compost pit or well.

So grow it useful plant on your site, admire its beauty, use it in the treatment of various ailments. Just before using God's tree as a medicinal product do not forget to consult with your doctor. Be healthy!