Peter's cross grass that heals. Peter's cross - medicinal properties. Use of a medicinal plant

It also has other names - scalefish, hiding place, king grass. Its rhizome forms a cross shape, growing in different directions, hence the name.

Flowering shoots are very unusual and suddenly appear from the ground in April-May. At this time you rarely see people - after all, there are no berries or nuts yet. Sap flow begins in the trees, here Peter's cross and blossoms. By the way, the plant blooms no earlier than 10-14 years of its stay underground. It grows up to 30 cm in height.

For Peter's Cross The fame of a plant that hides from people has strengthened, because its bulk, hidden underground, sometimes reaches five kilograms. Leaves in the usual sense of the word in a plant Peter's cross absent: instead there are slightly pinkish scales. The plant is completely devoid of chlorophyll. Modified leaves - colorless scales cover the surface of the rhizome - and all this is hidden underground.

All these features gave rise to people’s belief that the hermit plant had magical properties and helped to find treasures, protecting them from evil spirits. “Informed” experts were sure that only hands could dig up a plant, but under no circumstances should iron objects be used. It was also believed that the plant brings good luck and is a kind of “amulet”.

Only during flowering Peter's cross it is necessary to appear on the surface of the earth in order to cross-pollinate its flowers with the help of insects or wind and then scatter the resulting very small seeds throughout the world. After fruiting, its above-ground shoots die off, and the dungeon dweller returns to his abode.

Another legend, recently attributed to Peter's Cross. It was believed that some insects, once in the cavities of its leaves, were digested, providing the plant with additional nitrogen. In fact, it turned out that the decomposition of insects is carried out not by the plant, but by soil bacteria.

It is not surprising that the plant’s unusual lifestyle Peter's cross contributed to the emergence of all kinds of legends and fables.

Turns out, Peter's cross has healing properties. Diseases of the liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, dropsy, gynecological diseases, tumors - these are the most basic problems that are treated Peter's cross. Nutrient juices of host plants are transformed in the rhizomes of the plant into healing substances, you just need to know how to use them correctly. When preparing preparations from this plant, consultation with knowledgeable herbalists and, of course, consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Here's what miracle - plants found in our forests.

Knowledge is a power that opens our eyes to many things. mysteries of Nature.

If you suddenly see some pale pink rags the length of a finger sticking out of the ground, know that you have encountered Peter’s cross. Although, of course, you will have to think about what it is, in any case. The plant is too unusual, you won’t immediately understand what it is.

In the lower part, near the ground, the thick white stem is covered with large scales, and above it bears many pink flowers that press tightly against each other.

Peter's cross is interesting because it never has green leaves. He simply doesn't need them. It attaches itself to the roots of some trees and shrubs and takes the necessary nutrients from there. This is how he lives.

Hidden Peter's Cross (Lathraea clandestina)
Hidden Peter's Cross (Lathraea clandestina) Peter's cross (Lathraea squamaria) Botanical illustration by Jacob Sturm from the book Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen, 1796

The main part of the plant is a highly branched powerful rhizome, which is located underground and penetrates to a considerable depth. It is from the rhizome that aboveground white-pink shoots grow in the spring, bearing flowers. Thin roots also grow from the rhizome, which, at the point of contact with the roots of the host plant, form special thickenings - suckers.

Peter's cross (Lathraea squamaria)

Its flowers contain nectar; they are readily visited by bees and bumblebees, which carry out pollination. Quite soon, the flowers form fruit-pods with black seeds, the same as those of poppies. After ripening, when all the seeds have already spilled out, the earthly life of Peter’s cross ends, its shoots dry up. Not a trace remains of them. And Peter’s cross itself goes underground again for many months. And maybe for many years. Sometimes Peter's cross does not come out of the ground even in the spring.

Peter's cross, or scalefish, or hidden place, or king grass (Lathraea) - a genus of plants of the Broomaceae family (previously included in the Broomaceae family).

Plants reach a height of 15-30 cm. The stems are densely covered with white fleshy scales - modified leaves. Inflorescence - raceme, flowers, depending on the type - from pinkish to purple. Flowers in dense, one-sided racemes, bloom in early spring; Protogyny is characteristic, but there are also indehiscent (cleistogamous) flowers. One fruiting shoot can produce up to 50 thousand seeds per year.

During the first years, plants develop underground. After the development of the rhizome, inflorescences appear; the main growing season is spring, during sap flow. The rhizome of Peter's cross grows in different directions, branches and forms so-called cruciform joints - hence its Russian name.

The scales on the stems of Peter's cross are of great interest. The fact is that these scales have a cavity that communicates inside with the outside world through a narrow slit. The walls of this cavity are covered with special glands, reminiscent in appearance of the glands of insectivorous plants, for example, on the leaves of sundew. Previously, it was believed that Peter's cross was an insectivorous plant and that its scales were a kind of traps adapted for catching insects. This view was confirmed by the fact that dead insects were sometimes found in the cavities of the scales; however, it is unknown whether they were "digested" by the plant or not. At present, Peter's cross is not classified as a carnivorous plant, and the cavities on its scales are now attributed to the role of organs for the evaporation of water, which is released through the glands mentioned above. They should be considered as a special adaptation to the conditions of the underground life that Peter's Cross leads.

Its homeland is the temperate zone of Europe and Asia. The most common is the common Peter's cross, or scaly cross; it is the only species that grows in Russia and neighboring countries.

Types:

• Lathraea clandestina - Peter's cross hidden
• Lathraea japonica - Japanese Peter's cross
• Lathraea purpurea - Peter's cross purple
• Lathraea rhodopea - Peter's Cross of the Balkans, or Peter's Cross of the Rhodopes
• Lathraea squamaria - scaly Peter's cross, or ordinary Peter's cross

Peter's cross (Lathraea squamaria)

It grows in shady places in the forests of Europe and the Caucasus, the only representative of the genus found in the territory of the former USSR. Typical of deciduous and spruce-deciduous forests. Also found in temperate forests from Western Europe to Pakistan and India.

Peter's Cross is a fairly rare endangered species.

This herb was used by potion healers. The grass Peter's Cross was taken on the road - as protection “from any misfortune.” The root of this plant is considered a powerful remedy for overcoming demonic enemy forces.

The plant is poisonous, consumption can cause poisoning, however, it is used in medicine.

For medicinal purposes, grass and roots collected during flowering are used. This is a wonderful antitumor agent that gives good treatment results when combined with hemlock, aconite (fighter), lumbago, Euphorbia Pallas and other drugs. Peter's cross is used for diseases of the kidneys, liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis, cancer), for swelling, dropsy and ascites, for gynecological diseases, to regulate egg ovulation, muscle tone of the uterus and stimulate fertilization of the egg, that is, infertility.

Before use, consult your doctor.

Peter's Cross is an amazing plant that feeds on other representatives of the flora. It never has green leaves. Peter's cross parasitizes bushes and trees, sucking out all the nutrients from there. This vital activity allows the plant not to appear on the surface of the earth for a long time.

Description and varieties

The plant is widespread in the temperate forests of Asia and Europe. The common king grass inhabits the spruce and deciduous forests of India and Pakistan, the Caucasus and Europe. As the name implies, the Rhodopean Peter's cross prefers to live in the Rhodope Mountains, in the highlands of Greece and Bulgaria, but can also be found on the European Rila mountain range.

Use in folk medicine

The healing properties of the herb are widely used in folk medicine. Since ancient times, the rhizome of the plant has been used to prepare medicinal decoctions, which were consumed orally or used as compresses. But it was also believed that Peter’s cross protected from troubles and evil spirits.

Medicinal properties

The herb is not used in modern pharmacology, so its chemical composition has not been studied. Officially, the effects of root-based products have never been used on animals or humans. But botanists claim that the rhizome contains many alkylating substances that actively interact with proteins and nucleic acids. This reaction is used in traditional medicine to influence tumor processes of the spinal cord and brain. But there is no scientific evidence that these substances are contained in the grass.

Indications and contraindications

Raw materials for medicinal purposes are prepared during the flowering period of the plant. All its parts have beneficial properties. The following changes and pathologies can be treated with herbs::

Tsar grass is classified as a poisonous crop, so you should not use it without a doctor’s permission, otherwise acute poisoning may develop.

If the plant was chosen to treat diseases, then you need to know that some people should not use decoctions based on it. Contraindications for use:

1. pregnancy and breastfeeding;
2. children under 12 years of age;
3. individual intolerance to active components.

It is important to understand that the herb Peter's cross is not a panacea for diseases, but only a good addition to drug treatment. In any case, before taking herbal products, you should consult your doctor.

Syn.: scale grass, king-grass, hiding place, heptagon, three-cut rook, mouse grass, boletus, scaly latreya, nest

Ask the experts a question

Flower formula

Formula of the flower of Peter's cross: CH1L(3)T4P(2).

In medicine

Peter's cross is not a pharmacopoeial plant and is used only in traditional medicine. Decoctions and infusions from Peter's Cross are used in the treatment of infertility, have antitumor, bile and diuretic effects, stimulate the functioning of the liver, kidneys, and heart.

Contraindications and side effects

Peter's cross is a highly poisonous plant. You should not use it without the recommendation of a doctor or experienced herbalist, as acute poisoning is possible. Doctors know that a contraindication to the use of Peter's cross is not only individual intolerance to the plant, but also pregnancy and breastfeeding; it is never prescribed to children.

In other areas

Peter's cross scaly is an early spring honey plant whose flowering lasts up to 25 days.

Classification

Botanical description

The flowers of Peter's cross are characterized by protogyny, but cleistogamous, indehiscent and self-pollinating flowers are also found. The calyx of the Peter's cross flower is four-lobed, bell-shaped, consisting of a solid upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip; depending on the type of plant, it can be colored pink, crimson, purple, violet. The flowers of the plant are collected in inflorescences, which are a thick, drooping, spike-shaped raceme. The formula of the flower of Peter's cross is CH1L(3)T4P(2). The fruit of plants of the genus Peter's cross is a bivalve, single-locular, round capsule, the seeds are black and small.

The Russian-language name “Petrov’s Cross” was given to the plant due to the structural features of its rhizomes. They often branch at right angles, forming peculiar crosses. The Latin “name” Lathraea, which translated means “hiding”, “secret”, characterizes the predominantly underground lifestyle of the genus.

Spreading

Peter's cross grows in the shady forests of the temperate zone of Europe and Asia. Peter's cross (Lathraea squamaria) prefers broad-leaved and spruce-deciduous forests in the territory from Pakistan to India, in Europe and the Caucasus. The Rhodopean Peter's Cross (Lathraea rhodopaea), as the name implies, chose the Rhodope Mountains, a mountain range in Bulgaria and Greece, as its habitat, and can also be found on another European mountain range - Rila.

Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of plants of the genus Peter's cross has not been studied. It is assumed that the rhizomes of the plant contain alkylating substances.

Pharmacological properties

The medicinal properties of plants of the genus Peter's Cross, as well as its chemical composition, are poorly understood. Official science has not conducted any clinical experiments, or even experiments on animals, confirming or refuting the healing powers of the plant. However, it is assumed that due to the alkylating substances contained in Peter's Cross, it may have a cytostatic effect, allowing it to act as an antitumor agent and cope with cancer of the liver, uterus and ovaries. The ability of Petrov's cross to remove excess water from the body makes it a remedy for edema, dropsy, ascites; its choleretic effect leads to the plant being used in the treatment of diseases of the bile ducts and gallbladder.

Use in folk medicine

In folk medicine, Peter's cross has found use as a remedy for infertility, stimulating ovulation, promoting high-quality fertilization of the egg, and increasing the tone of the uterus. Traditional healers believe that the plant can cope with prostate adenoma and prostatitis. They recommend it for uterine fibroids and cysts. In their opinion, Peter's Cross should also cope with various liver diseases - cirrhosis, hepatitis, hepatosis, lack of bone fluid, etc. As a decongestant, Petrov's Cross is effective in the fight against dropsy, ascites, and stimulates the work of the heart, liver, and kidneys. It is also recommended to drink it for obesity. Traditional healers also believe that Peter's cross, especially in combination with other antitumor plants, will help defeat cancer.

Historical background

The unusual root of the plant and its non-standard growing season brought Peter's Cross the glory of the strongest magical amulet. It was believed that powder from Peter's cross, mixed with the wax of church candles that stood in front of the icons of the Savior or the Mother of God, if applied to the pectoral cross, not only protected the owner from the machinations of evil spirits, but also scared away misfortunes, attracting happiness. The hidden place - another name for Peter's Cross - helped to find what was hidden. If you search for treasure, stocking yourself with the root of Peter's Cross, you could be confident not only in the success of the enterprise itself, but also in the fact that the dark forces guarding the treasures would not follow the happy treasure hunters. On the way, Peter's cross protected him from dashing people, accidental death and any other misfortune. In Europe, where Peter's cross with pale pink or off-white flowers is more common, the plant was compared to teeth sticking out of the ground, hence the name - toothwort - and the opinion that the herb can cope with toothache.

Literature

1. “Encyclopedia of Wildlife”, vol. 6, Moscow, OLMA Media Group, 2006 – 151 p.

2. A.B. Ippolitova “Russian handwritten herbalists of the 17th-18th centuries: a study of folklore and ethnobotany”, Moscow, Indrik, 2008 - 297 pp.

All parts of the herb have medicinal value, but the cruciform root has gained particular popularity in folk medicine, which is how it got its name.

Peter's Cross is actually capable of giving hope to patients with diseases that cannot be treated with modern methods. Over the years, remedies based on the root of this plant have helped overcome infertility and contributed to sustained remission in people with cancer.

Indications for use

Tinctures and decoctions from the dried root of the plant are recommended for:

1. Oncological diseases at any stage. The effectiveness of therapy increases significantly with the simultaneous use of hemlock, aconite, Pallas's milkweed, footsteps, and purple sedum.
2. Diseases of the liver and gall bladder:
   • hepatitis,
   • cirrhosis and liver cancer,
   • accumulation of excess fluid (dropsy, ascites, swelling),
   • damage to the gallbladder and ducts.
3. Gynecological diseases:
   • cyst,
   • malignant tumors of the uterus and ovaries,
   • infertility (impaired process of egg fertilization).
4. Dysfunctions of the genitourinary system in men:
   • prostate adenoma,
   • prostatitis.

With a course of taking the root, an improvement in the condition of the musculoskeletal system is observed, and bone fluid is restored. Petrov's root will be especially useful for patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases (failure, glomerulonephritis).

Useful properties

The root of Peter's cross is valued for its ability to:

• Destroy cancer cells. The alkylating substances it contains slow down tumor growth and metastasis. In combination with other anticancer drugs, it can cause long-term remission.
• Prevent the transformation of neoplasms into a malignant form.
• Activate diuresis and bile movement, eliminating swelling and stagnation.
• Have a hepatoprotective effect. Even with active destruction of liver cells, the root promotes tissue restoration.
• Normalize the functioning of the reproductive system in men and women, increase the likelihood of conception.

Compound

Raw materials for the preparation of medicines are sold in sealed packaging. One-component composition: 100% dried and crushed roots of Peter's Cross.

Directions for use

Alcohol tincture of the root of Peter's cross allows you to preserve the healing properties of the plant for a long time, so many patients choose this form of administration. If there are restrictions on the use of alcohol-containing compounds, then it is better to use decoction.

Alcohol tincture

Add 50 g of dry crushed roots to 500 ml of vodka or alcohol diluted to 40%. Leave in a cool, dark place for 30 days. Strain and take 15-20 drops 2 or 3 times a day before meals, stirring in 50 ml of clean water. The tincture can also be used to wet compresses or rub into the skin no more than twice a day.

Decoction

Add 1 tbsp to boiling water (250 ml). dried root of Peter's cross and maintain a boil in a closed container for 20 minutes. Strain the broth and let it cool. The course of admission is limited to 1 month. During this period, take half a glass twice a day.

Contraindications

The root should not be used:

• during pregnancy,
• children under 8 years old,
• in case of manifestations of an allergic reaction.

Peter's Cross in the online store “Russian Roots”

You can buy dried and crushed root of Peter’s Cross and other medicinal plants in one of their herbal pharmacies “Russian Roots” or on the website of the online store of the same name. Postal delivery is carried out even to the most remote regions of the country, and courier services are available for residents of Moscow and the Moscow region.

Attention! All materials published on our website are protected by copyright. When re-publishing, attribution and a link to the original source are required.