Genus Daphne, or Wolfman, botanists are more often called Daphne, using the Latin name (Daphne), so that there is no confusion with other shrubs that also have poisonous fruits and to which the name “wolf berry” is popularly assigned, such as common honeysuckle, etc.
Volcheyagodniki belong to the Wolf family (Thymelaeaceae). More than 90 representatives of this genus are known, living in Europe, Asia and North Africa. More than 10 species grow in Russia, which are classified as rare endangered plants, many are listed in the Red Book. They are united by similar structural features.
Wolfberry bushes are deciduous and evergreen shrubs. Small flowers, often pink or light cream in color, are practically devoid of pedicels and have a scent. The fruits are bright single-seeded drupes. Usually the shrub blooms on leafless shoots, sometimes again in the fall, but weaker and no longer produces fruit.
A powerful root system goes deep into the soil, keeping plants from gusty winds and also saving them from dehydration. These shrubs are very decorative, but because they are poisonous, plantings are placed away from places where children often visit. They don't like to be transplanted and require little pruning.
The most common is the common wolfberry, deadly wolfberry, or "wolf's bast" (Daphne mezereum). This species grows in the forests of the European part of Russia and Siberia, and rises to the Caucasus mountains. A low shrub about 1 m high with straight gray shoots is covered with lilac in May. pink flowers, having 4 petals and 8 stamens. The flowers sit tightly on the shoots and emit a pleasant aroma reminiscent of vanilla. Bees, bumblebees, butterflies and flies flock to the flowers. When the bush fades, oblong leaves appear, concentrated closer to the tops of the shoots.
In August, scarlet oval drupes ripen. Usually you can see a few, less than 10 bright, shiny fruits on each plant. The clearly visible color of the fruit attracts birds that feed on the fruit and carry the seeds. Interestingly, the highly poisonous fruits do not harm birds. The fruits contain glycosides daphnin and coccognin, poisonous resin meserine, essential oils, etc. Poisoning of the fruits results in vomiting and increased bleeding. Not only the fruits of the wolf's bast are highly poisonous, but also other parts of the plant - the bark and leaves. IN folk medicine they are used as an antipyretic, emetic and anthelmintic, externally for neuralgia, polyarthritis, radiculitis and joint pain.
Wolf's bast is a winter-hardy shrub that can be grown in gardens, following precautions. Interesting varieties are Plena (Plena) with double flowers, Alba (Alba) with creamy white and Grandiflora (Grandiflora) with large flowers. The landing site can be in the sun or in the shade. The bush grows well in humus-rich soils without stagnant moisture. The soil needs to be mulched without allowing it to become too dry. Pruning and replanting are undesirable for it. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Altai wolfberry grows in Siberia (Daphne altaica), outwardly similar to a wolf's bast, with a height of 0.5 to 1 m. The difference is that it has white flowers, collected in groups of 3-5 pieces, and almost black ovoid drupes. The bush blooms in May, at the same time as the leaves appear. The first flowering occurs in the 6th year of life; fruits rarely ripen. It can be propagated by cuttings, root suckers and seeds. Seedlings bloom in the 6th year.
(Daphne alpina) comes from the Alps, where it lives in the alpine belt. A low (about 0.5 m high) deciduous shrub blooms in May. The shoots are pubescent. The flowers are white. Red, oblong-ovoid drupes ripen in late summer. Suitable for rock gardens, but due to poor winter hardiness it requires shelter for the winter. Doesn't take cuttings well.
Wolfberry olive-like (Daphne oleiodes)- a plant of the Mediterranean (Southern Europe and North Africa), Central and Asia Minor. Evergreen, slow-growing shrub with pubescent shoots up to 1 m tall (in middle lane- up to 0.3 m) and medium-sized obovate, shaggy leaves. It blooms from late May to early June with white flowers with narrow pointed lobes, collected in 3-8-flowered capitate inflorescences. Red drupes ripen from mid-July. Due to its low growth, it is winter-hardy in the middle zone. It propagates poorly by cuttings.
The evergreen wolfberry or Julia's wolfberry is very elegant (Daphne cneorum), living in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It is a creeping shrub, about 20 cm high, occupying an area of 1.0-1.5 square meters. m. It blooms after the leaves appear (in May) with fragrant pink-raspberry flowers that cover the foliage like a carpet. Leathery fruits - yellow-brown drupes - appear closer to autumn, but in Central Russia the seeds do not ripen. This species grows on well-calmed soils and winters safely in central Russia, remaining under snow cover.
European breeders are proud of the popular varieties Major with purple flowers and Eximia with bright pink flowers. The variegated varieties with white-edged or green-edged milky-green leaves are very unusual and elegant. The species is propagated by cuttings, which take root well.
Burkwood's Wolfberry (Daphne x burkwoodii)- This is a hybrid species obtained from pine wolfberry and Caucasian wolfberry. A small shrub about 1 m high, blooming luxuriantly on the tops of the shoots with pink-purple flowers. Particularly elegant are varieties with lanceolate, semi-evergreen or deciduous leaves.
Varieties Albert Burkwood (Albert Burkwood) is a fast-growing semi-evergreen shrub with pink flowers. The Somerset variety is similar to the previous one, with semi-evergreen leaves and fragrant white-pinkish flowers. The Astrid variety has large bright pink flowers concentrated on the tips of the shoots. The Alba-Variegata variety has pale pink flowers and light cream edges on the leaves. All varieties are capricious, heat-loving and do not like direct sun. Exposure to the scorching rays of the sun can cause the bush to shed all its leaves.
Grows in the undergrowth of the mountain forests of Ciscaucasia Pontic wolfberry (Daphne pontica) – an evergreen shrub about 1 m high with glossy pointed leaves and fragrant creamy-yellow flowers, in which the corolla tube is narrow and elongated. It is relatively stable in central Russia, but grows too slowly in cultivation, does not bloom every year and does not set fruit.
Subspecies Daphne pontica subsp. haematocarpa – according to outdated classification - Albov's wolfberry (Daphne albowiana) found in the subalpine zone of the Western and Central Caucasus mountains and in Asia Minor. This is a low shrub up to 0.5 m high, with shoots creeping along the ground, covered with ash-brown bark. Leaves are lanceolate. The flowers are yellow-green. The fruits are round, bright red drupes, poisonous.
Wolfberry crowded(Daphne glomerata) also comes from the Caucasus. On an evergreen shrub about 50 cm high, the leaves and flowers are crowded closer to the top of the shoots. Fragrant flowers are collected in milky white “bouquets”. The corolla tube varies in color from pure white to pink and scarlet, which looks very elegant. The drupes are bright red. Overwinters under snow, winter hardiness is low.
or Hokkaido (Daphne jezoensis), synonym Kamchatka wolfberry - a rare species that lives in Japan, Sakhalin and Kuril Islands, grows in dark coniferous and larch forests. A shrub up to 60 cm high with thick light brown-gray shoots, at the tops of which elongated obovate leaves with a wedge-shaped base are crowded together. Flowering occurs in the leafy state. Brown-yellow flowers bloom in May. The fruits are dark red spherical drupes, ripen in September, and are poisonous.
The shrub is relatively winter-hardy and can winter in Russia under snow cover.
(Daphne giraldii) lives on forested mountain slopes in China. It is a lush, leafy shrub about 1 m high with turquoise-green lanceolate leaves. Yellow-golden flowers appear from pinkish buds and have a delicate vanilla-lemon aroma. The fruits are red drupes.
This species grows on loamy soil, preferring open sunny areas. Breeders have obtained a hybrid variety In Paradise, translated as “in paradise”, with an unusual aroma. Flavonoids and esters have been isolated from the bark and have various uses.
(Daphne papyracea) found wild in the Himalayas, India and Nepal. Previously it was classified as a member of the Edgeworthia genus (Edgeworthia), because, unlike other wolfberries, it has a dry drupe. It is an evergreen shrub up to 1 m high with brown shoots and lanceolate leaves. White or greenish-white flowers are collected at the tops of shoots in groups of 3-10 pieces and have no aroma. The fruits are red drupes, ovoid-pear-shaped. In its homeland, the shrub blooms from November to January and bears fruit in April-May.
The fruits are poisonous, have a bitter taste, and can be used as a laxative and antipyretic. In Nepal, the bark of the paper wolfberry is used to produce excellent quality paper used for paper banknotes with watermarks. Bast is also used to make fabrics, ropes and strong ropes.
Himalayan wolfberry(Daphne bholua) lives in the Himalayas and southwest China. He looks a bit like paper daphne. The bush has pink and white flowers with a sweet scent and lanceolate leaves that fall off in winter. The species is extremely valuable for gardeners due to its decorative properties and early flowering. Breeders received an early flowering variety Darjeeling (Darjeeling) with pale lilac flowers, Alba (Alba) - with pure white flowers, Jacqueline Postill(Jacqueline Postil) - with pink-purple buds and fragrant white flowers. The species and its varieties are heat-loving, so they are poorly preserved in cultivation.
Orange wolfberry (Daphne aurantiaca syn. D. calcicola) comes from China. An evergreen shrub less than 1 m high has dark green elongated ovate leaves. The flowers are fragrant, golden yellow. The fruits are orange-red. The shrub lives on gravelly calcareous soil.
Known varieties are Gang-ho-ba (Gan-ho-ba) and Sichuan Gold (Sichuan Gold) with large golden-yellow flowers. The Little Snow Mountain variety has white flowers and a small bush. In Central Russia, the varieties were little tested. Low bushes can overwinter under snow, but are unlikely to be durable.
Also growing in China fragrant wolfberry, or odorous(Daphne odora)- an evergreen shrub 0.8 m high, but in Russia its height is much less - 0.3 m. In early spring, very fragrant flowers appear, having a tubular white corolla with a dark pink tint. The Aureomarginata variety is most often found in cultivation and is distinguished by an uneven golden border along the edge of an elongated leaf.
Planting in rock gardens requires calcareous soil, an open or slightly shaded place, protected from cold winds.
Photo: Alla Kuklina, Vladimir Shatko, Elena Malankina, Rita Brilliantova
At the beginning of the development of the dacha plot, when there was nothing on it yet, we planted a bush brought from the forest. We liked it for its decorative effect: it blooms early, when the snow has not yet melted, the flowers are bright lilac, the leaves are beautifully shaped, bright green. And at the end of summer, red berries appear on it. We planted it and have been enjoying it for many years. And they didn’t even bother to find out better that it was we who were growing. True, our neighbor warned us that the plant is poisonous. And today in one of the posts I saw our joy and finally found out her name.))
Why is wolf's bast considered one of the most poisonous plants found in our country?
In the spruce forest, the wolf's bast bush bloomed with small pinkish flowers. Flowers sit directly on the trunk and branches, as if attached to them.
How pleasing to the eye these unpretentious flowers are, how good they smell, fresh and delicate, just like spring!
Now there are no leaves on the branches of the wolf's bast yet; they will appear later, when the plant fades. The leaves of the wolf's bast are oblong, slightly pointed towards the end. These leaves grow in bunches at the ends of the branches. And below them, on the branches, bright red berries the size of a pea appear in the fall.
G. Skrebitsky.*
The shrub grows in dense forests and thickets, blooms in March-April, berries ripen in June-July. All parts of the plant (fresh and dried) are very poisonous, especially the bast (wood fibers) and berries. Poisoning can occur through contact with the plant, especially its bark. The toxic component of wolf bast has a sharp, burning taste and is highly irritating.
In children, ingestion of 1-2 berries can cause severe poisoning, which very often ends in death!
The poison, which enters the human body through the skin or digestive tract, causes severe inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, ultimately affecting the central nervous system, circulatory system and kidneys.
Upon contact with the skin, symptoms of inflammation appear: redness, swelling, blisters on the skin, and in severe cases, suppuration. The mucous membrane of the digestive tract and conjunctiva reacts in a similar way. In case of oral poisoning, the inflammatory process begins in oral cavity and spreads to other parts of the digestive tract (stomach and intestines). Pain in the mouth and stomach, drooling, thirst, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea, sometimes mixed with blood, appear. General symptoms: headache and dizziness, agitation, increased body temperature, increased heart rate, weakness, shortness of breath, convulsions in children, difficulty urinating, hematuria, circulatory failure, which can result in death.
First aid is to rinse the affected areas of the skin, conjunctiva and mouth with water. Give the patient milk and/or egg whites, and then immediately transport him to a hospital.
What does a wolf's bast look like?
This shrub is no taller than one meter. However, if the shrub is grown, creating favorable conditions for it, then it can grow up to 2.5 meters in height (for example, a wolf's bast shrub in a garden or park). In spring, the stems of the bush are bare, and pink fragrant flowers bloom on the branches, located in the axils of leaves that fell last year. Each axil consists of three flowers.
The trunk and branches are gray-brown in color. Leaves are ovoid. The fruit of the plant is light red in color, and the shape is also ovoid.
From February to the end of March this plant blooms beautifully, and in Russia the flowering period is April-May.
The plant grows in low-light places, on soil with big amount nutritional elements. You can meet a wolf's bast in a floodplain forest or on the edges of a forest.
According to legend, one day the wolf was late for the council of animals. Apparently he was running around among the trees, looking for lunch. And the council at this time gave names to the plants, and therefore not a single plant was named after the wolf. The wolf became so angry that, out of frustration, he attacked a nearby bush and began to tear off the bark from it with his claws and teeth. The animals, wanting to calm the raging predator, named the plant wolf's bast in his honor.
The healing properties of wolf bast
The plant contains toxic substances in all its parts: the resin meserine (causes an upset stomach. And blisters and redness appear on the skin) and the glycoside dafrin (leads to rapid bleeding). The bark of the plant contained resins, wax, dyes and wax. The fruits are a source of bitter and coloring substances, fat, coccognin and essential oil.
Considering the fact that this is a poisonous plant, it can only be taken after a doctor’s permission. Wolf bast preparations have antiepileptic, analgesic, laxative and hypnotic properties on the human body.
The use of wolf bast
Let me remind you once again that wolf bast preparations should be taken in homeopathic doses, and only when your doctor gives permission. You need to take medications from this plant carefully and slowly. An infusion of this plant is used externally for radiculitis, neuralgia, tumors, and sciatica. This remedy had irritating and vesicant properties. In some cases, tincture or decoction is used for sore throat, dysentery, jaundice and even colds.
If you have a toothache, wolf's bast has an analgesic effect.
Wolf bast decoction.
You need to take 2 grams of plant flowers and pour 20 ml of boiling water over them. Place on fire for 20 minutes. After removing the broth from the heat, you must immediately strain it and squeeze out the raw materials. The resulting volume must be brought to 250 ml with boiling water. Take this decoction 5 drops three times a day.
Wolf bast powder.
This medicine relieves a person from toothache. It is very easy to make it yourself, because all you need to do is collect the flowers of the plant and grind them into powder. Next, take this powder and rub it on the sore spot. After this, you need to rinse the rod with warm boiled water.
A decoction of sleeping pills from wolf bast.
Pour 4 grams of plant roots into a glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. water bath. After the broth has been infused for a quarter of an hour, it needs to be strained. Take the decoction before meals, 1 teaspoon twice a day.
Tincture of wolf bast fruits.
Take half a glass of 70% alcohol and pour it over 1 gram of the fruit of the plant (you can use the bark). Leave for 7 days to infuse. Strain using gauze. It is recommended to take this tincture before meals three times a day. Before taking this tincture you need to dilute it. For example, add 2 drops of wine to a spoon of water.
Wolf poisoning
All parts of the plant contain poison, so a person only needs to eat 3-5 berries of the plant and he will die.
Signs of poisoning are as follows:
Abdominal pain;
Bloody urine;
Salivation.
A person's death can occur in the event of cardiac arrest.
Measures in case of poisoning.
The first step is to rinse the stomach, and then introduce Vaseline oil. Under no circumstances should laxatives be used in cases of poisoning by this plant. The main goal is to eliminate irritation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, for which you need to let the victim hold pieces of ice in his mouth, lubricate the mucous membranes with dicaip and the poisoned person must take anesthesin internally.
Be careful, don't stop near the wolf's bast, pass by!
Wolf bast tincture
To prepare it, take 10 grams of plant bark (crushed) and pour half a glass of alcohol (70%). Leave to brew in a dark room for 2 weeks. You need to take the tincture three times a day, 1 drop, but every day the dose should be increased by 1 drop. When the single dose is 30 drops, start counting in the reverse position, that is, reduce the dose by 1 drop. Before taking, dilute the tincture with 100 ml of water. The course of such treatment is 60 days. After taking a break for 14 days, you can resume the course, or take another poison.
Contraindications for wolf's bast
Since wolf's bast is a very poisonous plant, it must be used strictly following the dosage. Children are strictly prohibited from using wolf bast preparations.
Read about other poisonous plants here:
*Thank you very much to PaniPolak for this quote.
Bast is a shrub plant, in the wild it does not exceed a height of 1 m, but under favorable conditions the bush can reach 2.5 m. In spring, pink flowers are formed on bare branches, which are located in the axils of the leaves. Most often, this plant can be found in shaded areas at the edge of the forest.
What does a wolf's bast look like?
The wolf's bast bush is a low plant about 1 m high; in autumn and spring, the shoots of the bush are colored gray-brown; in some cases, the color of the bark can be yellowish-gray. As a rule, in the spring the plant produces young shoots that have a more grayish bark color and, in addition, many young shoots may be covered with brownish spots. But, at the same time, this plant has few branches and occupies a fairly compact area. The leaves, attached to the shoots with the help of short petioles, are elongated, ovoid in shape, sometimes they can be narrower, somewhat reminiscent of a lancet. When flowers form in the leaf axils (usually flowering in central Russia begins in April–May) in the southern regions of Russia, flowering may begin earlier. The flowers are collected in bunches and most often have a pinkish tint, less often white.
After flowering the fruits appear:
- Oval shape;
- Reddish in color;
- Externally looking appetizing and juicy.
This plant can be found in floodplain forests near the banks of reservoirs, as well as on the edges of forests. Prefers soils rich in nutrients, this plant is distributed throughout almost all of Europe and Asia Minor.
The berries usually fit tightly together and tightly grip the branch. But under no circumstances should you eat them, as they are poisonous; only 10–12 berries are enough to cause fatal poisoning.
There are more than 50 species of this type of plant: there are evergreen plants, there are semi-deciduous ones, which grow mainly in warm regions not only of Russia, but also in warm regions of other countries. There are species that tolerate harsh climates well; such plants can grow in more northern regions and in the mountains.
What color are wolf bast berries and what is the plant?
Wolf's bast is a poisonous plant, but, nevertheless, very beautiful, especially in the spring, when flowering begins. The peculiarity of the wolf's bast is that first beautiful flowers appear on it (somewhat reminiscent of the colors of lilac); the shoots of this plant during the flowering period are covered with pinkish-white flowers.
If you stay near the plant for a long enough time, the smell from the flowers can cause a headache.
The flowers of this plant are collected in bunches that somewhat resemble nests (to be sure of this, it is best to look at the pictures). At the same time, the flowers of some species of this plant exude a delicate aroma. But at the same time, if you come closer to enjoy its smell, the pleasant smell will suddenly change to a less pleasant one.
The plant itself:
- It is a bush.
- In wild growing conditions it rarely exceeds a height of 1-1.5 m.
- If the plant is grown for decorative purposes, then the height of the bushes with proper care can reach a height of up to 2 m.
The plant grows best in more acidic and damp soils that are rich in nutrients. In principle, they are grown on almost any soil, but it is important to provide sufficient moisture and fertilizing, and then the plants will delight people with their beautiful flowers for many years. To make sure of this, you can look at the data of the flowering plant, what it looks like, what color it is, and whether it is worth growing it on your site.
What is bast
After the flowering period, the wolfberry plant develops narrow leaves, which are attached to the main shoots by short cuttings. Closer to autumn, berries appear that look very beautiful in appearance, bright, shiny red, but, despite their beauty, are deadly poisonous.
When caring for wolfwort, it is important to use protective equipment so as not to get burns from this plant, first of all, to the skin.
Because of the beauty of the flowers, some people grow such plants in their gardens and on summer cottages, but you should be careful when doing this, as it is poisonous. For example, if you put your skin on the bark of a bush, you can get irritation and, in some cases, a burn. This plant has many other names, for example, wolfberry, daphne and others.
All parts of the plant are considered completely poisonous:
- Berries;
- And also leaves;
- Bark;
- Flower;
- And even the root.
But, despite its toxicity, the components of this plant are widely used, primarily in folk medicine. Healing properties this plant has been known since ancient times. In order for parts of this plant to be beneficial in the treatment of any ailments, it is necessary to take microdoses of drugs made on its basis under the supervision of a specialist. Properly prepared parts of the plants are used as an analgesic, used in the treatment of rheumatism and neurological pain. In some cases, parts of this plant are used in the treatment of epilepsy and even oncology.
Is the wolf's bast plant poisonous?
The use of parts of plants as a medicine is allowed only after consultation with a doctor, since even a slight deviation or exceeding the recommended dose can lead to a negative result instead of improving health. The use of medications to treat children is allowed, both internally and externally, but only after the necessary tests and permission from a doctor and under his supervision.
If you take a more powerful dose than recommended, you may experience:
- Stomach ache;
- Convulsions;
- burning in the mouth;
- Skin problems, etc.
The plant itself is completely poisonous, despite its outward appearance and beautiful view, each part can cause problems with the skin, gastrointestinal tract, headaches, drowsiness, or vice versa, short excitement, fever, etc.
In addition to the medicinal properties of this plant, it also brings other benefits, since it blooms early enough, the very first bees begin collecting future honey from these flowers. When tinctured from bark and berries, in some cases the substances contained in them will allow the composition to be used as an external remedy, for example, for rheumatism.
Poisonous plant wolf's bast: description (video)
Such a description of this type of plant will allow a person to protect himself from negative impact on your body. But, at the same time, if used correctly, on the contrary, it can be beneficial. As for positive emotions, this plant allows you to enjoy beautiful flowers in early spring, even when the grass has not really grown and there are no other flowers.
Probably, many Russians have heard about such a unique representative of the flora as the wolf's bast plant (poisonous). This perennial shrub, whose height in the natural environment usually does not exceed one meter, can be found in forests Russian Federation(Caucasus, Siberia, European part). In garden and park areas where best conditions and nothing interferes with growth, the wolf's bast stretches up to two and a half meters.
Description of the plant
Bright red, attractive and appetizing-looking egg-shaped fruits of a plant known under other names - deadly wolfweed (or, in fact, are not at all suitable for relishing, but, on the contrary, are poisonous.
It does well in a slightly shaded place, but there must be sufficient nutrients in the soil. Depending on the area, flowering occurs either in February-March, or in the period from April to May.
The elongated shape of the berries is a distinctive feature of the wolf's bast bush. refers to those species whose flowering precedes the appearance of leaves. On the still bare branches in each axil, where last year the buds were green, sometimes three beautiful, pink and fragrant flowers bloom. With their smell they vaguely resemble hyacinth, and in appearance they differ little from lilac branches. The trunk of the bush is gray-brown.
Dangerous berry
The plant contains many substances that make it extremely poisonous.
If, due to improper consumption of berries, the surface of the skin has acquired a pronounced red tint, blisters form or the stomach is upset, then most likely the meserine resin is to blame. And the appearance of bleeding is provoked by the glycoside of dafrin. Therefore, we can safely say that wolf's bast is a deadly poisonous plant.
Therefore, before starting treatment with drugs based on wolf bast, you should definitely consult a doctor. In addition to the substances described above, berries are rich essential oils and coccognin, and also contain fat. The bark that covers the trunk of the bush contains wax and resins. Both the fruits and the bark are rich in coloring substances.
Wolf's bast is a poisonous plant, but despite this, it is often used in folk medicine.
Therapeutic effect
It is believed that various drugs can be prepared from the plant that have laxative and analgesic effects. They can be used to treat epilepsy and insomnia.
The therapeutic effect is usually achieved provided that the amount of plant components in the preparation is negligible, that is, it is taken in homeopathic doses. Moreover, you must be careful and adhere to the instructions of a specialist. The plant wolf's bast (poisonous) is suitable for preparing an infusion, which, when applied externally, significantly alleviates the condition of neuralgia (including the sciatic nerve) and radiculitis. This method of treatment is effective in case of edema. The tincture, which is taken orally, will help with outbreaks of dysentery or jaundice, and will expel colds and sore throats.
Secrets of traditional medicine
Medicines, where the wolf's bast plant (poisonous) is the main component, can fight leukemia and some cancer diseases. Traditional medicine advises preparing decoctions from the bark of this berry as preparations. With their help, the condition is greatly improved in cases where there is a malignant tumor of the uterus, in the oral cavity, esophagus or larynx.
There is an opinion that eating ripe berries in compliance with the required dosage can even overcome sarcoma. Thanks to the successful combination of chemicals in wolfberry, we can talk about treating severe coughs and partially alleviating symptoms of tuberculosis.
Other poisonous plants are also used in folk medicine: lily of the valley, wolf's bast are especially dangerous, so inexperienced healers should not experiment with such raw materials.
Rheumatism
To relieve discomfort caused by rheumatism, it is advisable to make a tincture from the dry bark of the bush. It is prepared quite simply: place the bark in a glass jar and pour in 0.5 liters of vodka. In two weeks the miracle cure will be ready. A sign of this will be a yellow-green tint to the tincture. The effect of using it through thorough rubbing will be much greater when using tea oil in parallel.
Poisonous plants should be used with caution. The wolf's bast, described above, is no exception.
Relieving toothache
When a tooth (or teeth) hurts, it’s time to remember the existence of a wolf’s bast. You need to prepare a decoction from the flowers of the wolfberry. Pour 20 milliliters of water, preheated to boiling point, into a container with two grams of flowers. Next, the components are brought to readiness by holding the container over the fire for 20 minutes, after which the contents are filtered and the remaining cake is squeezed out. The last step is to add boiling water in such an amount that the total volume of the medicine is 250 milliliters. The decoction is taken in the morning, lunchtime and evening in a precisely measured dose with a pipette - five drops of decoction.
Toothache can also be relieved with powdered flowers. It is applied and rubbed into the gum with the disturbing tooth. It is advisable to slightly heat boiled water and rinse your mouth. Not everyone can properly prepare the wolf's bast plant (poisonous). This is why doctors are wary of folk recipes, in which it is a component.
Common wolfberry is a fairly well-known plant. It combines both medicinal properties, and poisonous. This is probably why the plant has so many names. Some of them:
- "Common wolf."
- "Wolf Pepper"
- "Wolf's Bast"
- "Lavrusha".
- "Puffball."
- "Wolf Ivy"
- “Heelless grass”, etc.
A little history
Ever since Ancient Greece the wolfberry bush was famous. It was used as a remedy. At that time, such a number of varieties as now were not widespread. The plant could be planted in gardens, as its flowering is very beautiful. Hippocrates recommended wolfberry as a laxative. To use the plant, they collected the fruits and dipped them in flour and honey. The well-known name for such a dish is “Cnidian grains.” Word quickly spread about the properties of the berries.
In Europe, wolfberry was described in the early 16th century. It is from this moment that they will be described in medicinal books. At the same time, the common wolfberry is not always remembered.
The berries of the plant have a rich color, so artists used ripe fruits as paints. The bark extract was used as an irritant for pain in the head and teeth. The extract can also reduce blood pressure.
With crushed bark one could save oneself from the bite of a snake or rabid animal by rubbing it on the wound.
The common wolfberry was officially recognized as a species in 1755. The poisonous qualities were known much earlier. Various sources indicate that 6 berries of the plant can kill a wolf.
In nature, it is difficult to find another plant that will combine both beneficial and poisonous qualities. Therefore, there are many beliefs about this. Some of them:
- The Swiss placed a wolfberry in a crack in the wooden plate of their unloved neighbor, in which they stored milk. This way it was impossible to make good cheese.
- In Southern Europe, fish were caught using the berries.
Common wolfberry reaches a height of up to 150 centimeters. His external details:
- Powerful trunk.
- The shoots are straight.
- Lower branches without foliage.
- Few branched.
- The bark of old plants has a yellowish tint and brown spots.
- The leaves are about 2 centimeters long and quite narrow.
- Flowers without pedicels.
- The color palette is mainly pink, with occasional white inflorescences.
- Flowering begins at the end of winter and lasts until April.
- Pollinated by insects.
- The fruits are round, slightly oblong, and have a rich red color. The variety with white flowers has yellow berries. There are bones.
- Fruiting begins in mid-summer. Initially the berries are green, but by autumn they turn red.
Wolfberry smells pleasant, but you can’t inhale its aroma for a long time, as it can cause a headache.
You can meet the plant alone; it does not grow in thickets. Tolerates shaded areas and frost well. It prefers moist soil, so it can often be seen near bodies of water. Reproduces in several ways:
- By cuttings.
- Dividing the bush.
- Grafting with seeds.
Wolf's bast is found mainly in forest areas, but if desired, it can be transplanted into the front garden. At home, the plant develops much better, blooms more spectacularly, and produces several times more fruit. You won’t be able to see a profusely flowering shrub in the forest, since there are a large number of trees that create a huge shadow for the wolfberry.
Shrubs do not like to be replanted, so if you decide to dig up a wolfberry in the forest and plant it in the garden, there is no guarantee that it will take root.
Many plants require annual pruning; it is contraindicated for wolf's bast. In the fall, only diseased and weak shoots are cut off. The overall symmetry should remain intact.
Mainly on garden plots want to grow a fairly voluminous bush. Therefore, in the first years after planting, the shoots should be shortened so that the necessary shape is formed.
The wolfberry must be mulched. There are several reasons for this:
- The roots will be in optimal conditions for them, that is, cool and damp.
- When weeding or cultivating the soil, there is less chance of damaging the thin root system. If the roots are damaged, root rot will begin to actively develop and the bush will die.
As mentioned above, wolfberry is a very poisonous plant, but it is also beneficial. Used in such cases:
- Neuralgia.
- Gout.
- Blockage of blood vessels.
- Toothache.
- Rheumatism.
- Diseases associated with inflammatory processes of the eyes.
- Paralysis.
- Bites from a rabid animal or snake.
For different diseases, there are different recipes for preparing wolfberry:
- Tincture of leaves or berries - gout, paralysis, chronic rheumatism, tumors or abscesses.
- Ground bark has been applied to snake bites or rabid dog bites since ancient times.
- Decoctions – convulsions, dysentery or insomnia.
- Tincture based on the bark and branches of the plant - rheumatism, neuralgia, furunculosis or skin tuberculosis (external use), sore throat, paralysis. Recommends taking it internally to reduce fever, for coughs, and as a laxative. Also helps with dropsy of the abdomen.
- A decoction of the roots – jaundice, convulsions, dysentery, colon diseases.
The berries of the plant contain coumarin substances that can reduce blood clotting, so the drug on wolfberry is prescribed for thrombophlebitis.
Preparations from wolf bast are used both internally and externally. This is done under the strict supervision of a specialist in this field.
To prepare any remedy from wolfberry, it must be properly collected and prepared. All parts of the plant are medicinal:
- The bark is collected in the spring, before the flowers bloom. During this period, the movement of juice has not yet begun. Remove the bark carefully, in small strips. Dry the material on the streets, in the shade. If drying is carried out indoors, it should be well ventilated. Lay the bark in such a way that inner part was on top. Do not allow the strips to stick together.
- The berries are harvested when they are fully ripe (mid-summer). For drying, use special dryers, or you can use a stove. The temperature should be low.
When carrying out any manipulations with the plant, you should be well prepared, wear gloves and a respirator. Be very careful, the bark and berries are the most poisonous.
Simple recipes for preparing drugs:
- Root decoction. You will need 100 milliliters of boiling water and 20 grams of roots. Everything is simmered in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then leave for 15 minutes. Strain. It is recommended to take the decoction for epileptic seizures, 5 grams before bedtime. It works like a powerful sleeping pill.
- Decoction of raw materials. Pour 2 grams of raw material into a glass of boiling water. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes with the lid closed. Strain while still hot. Next, carefully squeeze out and bring the volume to its original form. Drink 5 drops three times a day after meals. The course of treatment should not exceed 5 days.
- Berry tincture. Dry and ripe berries are poured with 100 milliliters of alcohol (70%). Insist on dark place 14 days. I drink no more than 2 drops three times a day after eating food. The course of treatment lasts from 5 to 7 days.
- Ointment. A tincture (20 milliliters) of dried ripe berries is mixed with lanolin (50 grams). Next, carefully introduce Vaseline (50 grams). Used for neuralgia, the problem area is lubricated before bedtime and wrapped well.
Due to its toxicity, wolfberry has a number of contraindications. Drugs containing it are prohibited for use by children. It can only be taken under the supervision of a specialist. Signs of poisoning look like this:
- Sharp pain in the abdomen.
- Vomit.
- Intestinal disorder.
- There is blood in the urine.
- Profuse salivation.
Important! Wolf bast berries are strictly forbidden to be eaten. Just a few pieces will lead to death; cardiac arrest occurs quite quickly.
If the slightest signs of poisoning appear, you should:
- Rinse the stomach.
- Add Vaseline oil.
It is forbidden to take laxatives to cleanse the intestines.
The main goal in case of poisoning is to cleanse the mucous membranes of the gastric tract. To achieve this, ice cubes are placed in the victim’s mouth, the mucous membranes are lubricated with Dicaine, and Anestezin is given to drink.
Wolfberry is very similar to other plants. Sometimes it is confused with common honeysuckle (popularly also called wolfberry). Plants can be distinguished by their leaves; in wolfberry they are located closer to the end of the branch, and are collected in a bunch.
The use of wolfberry in various fields
Regardless of its toxicity, wolfberry is used as ornamental plant in landscape design. Even planted alone in the garden, it looks very beautiful, especially when decorated with bright berries. At the same time, planting such a plant in your own garden is quite dangerous, especially if there are children in the house. In this case, the berries should be picked before they ripen; their bright color will be very attractive to children. It is advisable to avoid wolfberry altogether if there is even the slightest risk that they could be poisoned.
When wolf bast is planted in park areas, signs must be installed nearby warning that the plant is poisonous.
Wolfberry is used both in folk medicine and veterinary medicine. It is used to treat head lice in sheep and remove worms from dogs.
The bark can be used as a dye for wool, and a tincture of the fruit makes a good insecticide.
From various sources you can find out that bast from the branches was used to weave women's hats and made various crafts. To this day, some peoples use wolf bast juice to catch walruses.