Brief description and distinctive features Pepper knotweed (Latin name Persicária hydropíper, popular names water pepper, turnip, frogwort, pepper buckwheat, wild or forest mustard, turnip) is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the buckwheat family, which has a pronounced hot pepper taste . The erect stem of knotweed has a reddish tint, branching from the base and growing up to 90 cm in height. On the reddish, lanceolate leaves, translucent essential oil glands can be seen on top. The knotweed blooms with small red flowers, collected in spikelet-like clusters, and produces a fruit in the form of a glossy-convex nut. The flowering phase begins at the end of June and ends at the end of August, the knotweed bears fruit from July to October, and reproduces by seeds.
Where does pepper knotweed grow?
Water pepper is one of the common weeds that can be found in every region of Russia, except for the Far North. Distributed throughout the world. The exception is in places with very cold, hot and dry climates.
Prefers wetlands, edges of rivers and ponds, and flooded meadows. The seeds are buoyant and allow the plant to spread through water. Seeds are often dispersed by waterfowl. Peppermint knotweed grows on loamy, sandy, and sometimes even calcareous soils.
Botanical description
Peppermint is an annual herbaceous plant, identified by its erect, branched, hollow stem and creeping root. The height of the grass reaches 60 cm. The leaves are narrow and long, arranged alternately, along the edge there are stem-encompassing brown trumpets with fringe.
The lower leaves have short petioles, the upper ones are almost sessile. Small inconspicuous flowers of predominantly green and pink shades are collected in a long, heterogeneous inflorescence in the shape of a spike. In the peppermint flowering calendar, the active time is from June to September. The fruit is in the form of a brown nut, the size of hazel fruits, with a convexity on one side.
A distinctive feature of this medicinal herb is its bright flavor, reminiscent of the usual pepper. By this characteristic, peppery knotweed can be distinguished from other varieties of knotweed. During the drying process of the raw material, the pungency disappears.
Peppermint is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the buckwheat family, which has a pronounced hot pepper taste.
Chemical composition
The chemical composition consists of the following components:
- essential oils: 1,4 cineole, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, borneol, camphor, carvone, cinnamic acid, fenchone, p-cymene, phellandrene, polygonone, terpineol;
- organic acids: formic, acetic, valeric, gallic, malic, lemon balm, ellagic, baldrian, tannic;
- anthraquinones: hydroxymethylanthraquinone (root);
- tannins;
- phytosterols: beta-sitosterol, sitosterol;
- sesquiterpenes;
- slime;
- flavonoids: rutin, kaempferol, quercetin, quercitrin, rhamnazin, rhamnesin;
- salts: potassium nitrate, potassium chloride.
Peppermint root contains anthraglycosides. The spicy and pungent taste is due to the presence of oleum polygoni essential oil.
Medicinal properties of water pepper
Peppermint has a long history of use in both Eastern and Western herbal medicine. The beneficial properties of peppermint were noted in Chinese medicine in 659 AD, where it was used as a medicine for dysentery, diarrhea, and various skin diseases such as scabies or eczema.
It is especially valued for its astringent properties, which make it useful for bleeding, diarrhea, and skin problems.
In addition to being an astringent, the leaves have anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, carminative, diaphoretic, and diuretic properties.
- The leaves contain rutin, which helps strengthen fragile capillaries. It increases the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels and reduces their susceptibility to any influences.
- Water pepper belongs to a category of herbs known as emmenagogues. They are “famous” for their ability to stimulate blood flow in the pelvic organs. Women use them to regulate menstrual irregularities.
- Peppermint has a carminative effect - it prevents the formation of gases in the intestines and helps eliminate them during flatulence.
- Chinese researchers classify water pepper as a drug that reduces fertility. In their opinion, this plant is an oral contraceptive of natural origin, since some components of the plant (rutin, gallic acid) interfere with conception and fertilization.
- Water pepper is a source of quercetin, a flavonoid known for its antioxidant effect. It relieves the symptoms of stomach ulcers and improves the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract.
- In the east, peppermint is a salvation from fatigue and exhaustion, as it is rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, as well as resveratrol, a powerful natural antioxidant.
- Water pepper extract is one of the active ingredients in antihemorrhoidal suppositories.
- Mothers in labor use water pepper after childbirth. This speeds up the contraction of the uterus.
- A decoction of the plant has an antibacterial effect: it is useful for difficulty urinating. Used for a large list of skin problems: rashes, shingles, tumors, bruises, wounds, pimples, insect bites.
- Being a natural analgesic, it relieves headaches.
- Water pepper root is also considered medicinal: it is effective against impotence and gastrointestinal diseases.
- Water pepper is a remedy for treating skin and hair problems. The irritant property allows water pepper to be used for hair as a growth stimulant. A slight burning sensation accelerates metabolic processes at the cellular level - blood flow to the hair roots increases. The antiseptic nature of the plant helps in getting rid of dandruff. Water pepper works similarly for eyebrow growth.
Procurement of raw materials
You can see this weed everywhere, but it feels best in a damp forest area. Healing properties were found in all parts of the plant, except flowers and fruits. You can harvest the grass during flowering, before it turns red. Cut it with pruning shears, leaving a stem of up to 20 cm.
After cleansing from foreign impurities, the workpiece is laid out to dry in a shaded, ventilated place. You can also dry it in a dryer (temperature - 40-50 º C).
Properly prepared raw materials retain their green color, as well as all parts of the plant. Use grass without thickenings at the bottom of the stem. After drying, 20-22% of the original mass of raw materials remains.
To preserve the species, several specimens are left every 10 m to restore raw materials. The roots of the knotweed are also harvested; the best time is before the first mowing of the grass, when the bulk has already faded.
The rhizomes are dug up with shovels, cleaned, washed, extraneous roots are removed, cut into 3-4 parts, and laid out in one layer. You can dry it in the attic or in the oven, in good weather - in the fresh air. The shelf life of dried roots is up to 3 years.
Freshly squeezed herb juice is used to lubricate animal wounds to repel insects. For the same purpose, freshly salted lard is spread with grass.
Water pepper in gynecology
Brown, blood-like spots on some knotweed leaves are perceived by many as a hint from nature, hinting at the blood-clotting effect of the herb.
The ability of peppermint to stimulate contraction of the uterine muscles, while simultaneously increasing blood clotting, makes it an indispensable remedy in gynecology. Water pepper for uterine contraction is approved by official medicine. Doctors recommend taking liquid pharmaceutical extract of water pepper after childbirth and medical abortion. This contributes to the timely cleansing of the uterus from clots and its contraction, eliminating the likelihood of postpartum complications and infections. Water pepper for uterine bleeding is an inexpensive and effective remedy.
Amenorrhea
Lack of menstruation can be due to hormonal imbalance, environmental stress, malnutrition, anemia, exercise, stress, infectious disease, etc.
When menstruation is delayed for reasons unrelated to pregnancy, mild emmenagogues are often sufficient to resume the normal course of the cycle.
According to the French botanist Tournafor (17th century), earlier, in order to recover from amenorrhea, young girls only had to wear a peppermint leaf in their shoes.
Dysmenorrhea and PMS
Severe pain is something that almost every woman experiences at the beginning of her menstrual cycle. Water pepper tincture relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus, the spasm of which causes pain. Poor health, irritability on the eve of the so-called critical days are the very manifestations of premenstrual syndrome.
This condition can be prevented by starting to take water pepper preparations before and during menstruation. The action of the plant is aimed not only at relieving symptoms, but specifically at eliminating the imbalance in the body that has established during the “critical” days of the cycle.
Peppermint tincture also saves from intestinal disorders characteristic of this period.
Cervical erosion
In Chinese alternative medicine, water pepper extract is ranked 20th on a list of 250 potential drugs for the treatment of erosion.
Endometriosis
This disease often causes heavy and prolonged menstrual flow. The hemostatic property allows the use of water pepper for menstruation that is unnatural.
Skin rashes
Before critical days, i.e. in the second half of the cycle, progesterone becomes the dominant hormone in the female body. Sebum production increases. Its excess contributes to the closing of pores and the appearance of acne. The use of water pepper regulates hormone imbalance and reduces the likelihood of inflammation.
Use in folk medicine
Traditional medicine uses water and alcohol extracts from the water pepper herb in the form of a decoction, infusion or tincture, as well as the plant itself, or rather, fresh leaves.
They are applied to tumors, wounds, and make poultices.
Recipe for hemorrhoids
- 3 teaspoons of dry peppermint herb;
- 2 cups boiling water.
Pour boiling water over the grass, wrap it up to infuse. After an hour, strain. Drink water pepper infusion 20 minutes before meals 3 times a day, half a glass.
A two-day course is enough to relieve inflammation. For complete cure, the course will be 2-3 months.
Recipe for edema of cardiac and renal origin
- 1 tbsp. spoon of water pepper herb;
- 1 cup boiling water.
Pour boiling water over the herb and leave in a sealed container for 2 hours. Strain and take 0.5 cups 2 times a day after meals for 3 weeks.
Recipe for joint pain
- 400 g of peppermint herb;
- 2 liters of boiling water.
Pour water over the herb, put it on the fire and cook in a saucepan for 15-20 minutes. Remove the water pepper decoction from the heat, leave for 1 hour in a warm place and strain. Pour into the bath, add hot water to a comfortable temperature and lie in this water for about 20 minutes. Make sure that your knees and elbows are completely immersed in the water with the broth. After 5-6 procedures, the joints will stop hurting.
For hemorrhoids, use this decoction for sitz baths once a day.
Water pepper tincture
The alcohol tincture is effective as part of a complex treatment for heavy bleeding during menstruation, atony and hypotension of the uterus, and cervical erosion.
- 1 part herb (by weight);
- 5 parts vodka.
Combine the ingredients in a dark glass container and seal. Keep at room temperature for at least 7 days. Strain the finished tincture and store in the refrigerator.
Take 30 drops half an hour before meals. A tincture of water pepper is used for heavy periods lasting more than seven days.
Classification and types
Peppermint (also called water pepper) belongs to the Buckwheat family. This genus unites more than 300 species of close analogues, distributed in different regions of the planet - from America to the Far East.
In appearance, pepper knotweed can be confused with other varieties of knotweed, which often grow next to it in Russia, Ukraine, and the Caucasus:
- Soft mountaineer;
- Small mountaineer;
- Rough mountaineer;
- Sorrel-leaved knotweed;
- Highlander pochechuyny.
Knotweed Knotweed
Softweed is smaller in size than its medicinal counterpart. Its stem rises 15-30 cm, its branches are thin, with narrow leaves, and lateral veins protrude from the front side. Inflorescences are in the form of an incompletely filled brush with an unstable apex. The perianth is red in color, 2.5-3.5 mm in length. The fruits are in the form of black nuts with barely noticeable dents on a matte background.
Small knotweed can be distinguished by its recumbent or inclined stem. The leaves are linear, with short, weakly defined petioles and inconspicuous lateral veins. A short fluff is visible along the edges and bottom of the leaf. The inflorescence is in the form of a thin erect spikelet.
Knotweed, sorrel-leaved and rough knotweed cannot be confused with pepper knotweed due to the dense cylindrical inflorescences
Contraindications for water pepper
The presence of a large number of active ingredients requires some caution when handling this medicinal plant. Water pepper treatment is not suitable for everyone.
Preparations of this plant are contraindicated:
- Pregnant.
- People with increased blood clotting.
- People suffering from inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.
- Children under 12 years old.
- People with individual intolerance.
For those wishing to become pregnant, it is better to exclude water pepper from the list of medications taken.
Water pepper during breastfeeding is allowed only as prescribed by a doctor, when “the benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the child,” as the instructions for the drug say.
Varieties
The genus Persicaria includes 66 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The most common types of knotweed:
- capitate;
- Chinese;
- multileaf;
- sorrel-leaved;
- multi-spike;
- Virginia;
- dyeing;
- Senegalese;
- point;
- Pennsylvanian;
- Oriental;
- small;
- long-chaete.
Amphibious knotweed and kidneyweed are also used for medicinal purposes. They have healing properties similar to water pepper.
