Centaurium (Centaurium) is a herbaceous plant and belongs to the gentian family. There are about two dozen annual and perennial representatives of the herb in the genus; they are found in the wild on many continents in subtropical and temperate climates.
Characteristics of the centaury
The medicinal plant centaury is popularly called “golden herb”, “thousand”, “heart” and “zolotnik”. The healing properties of centaury are widely known in folk and official medicine, in homeopathy, among herbalists and pharmacists. The plant consists of a simple or branching stem, small sessile leaf plates, five-petal flowers of white, yellow, lilac or pink shades and fruit-capsules with seeds.
Growing centaury from seeds
Centaury is best grown in an open, sunny place or in light partial shade nearby with tall trees. The plant prefers sandy or loamy areas with deep groundwater. Do not plant seeds or seedlings in a low area with stagnant water. In such conditions, full development and growth is not guaranteed.
Since centaury seeds are very small, they are mixed with a small amount of river sand for convenience before sowing. One part of the seeds will require five parts of sand.
Seedlings of centaury
Experienced florists recommend that you first grow centaury seedlings at home, and only then you can plant the plants in a flower garden or garden.
In the last days of February or at the very beginning of spring, seeds are sown in planting containers in a moistened substrate and covered with glass or film. The centaury seedlings are grown in a bright and warm room with room temperature (about 23-25 degrees). Care for centaury consists of watering, loosening the soil, picking and hardening. Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out in the last days of May or at the very beginning of June. When planting seedlings, an interval of about 10 centimeters must be observed.
Planting centaury in open ground
Planting centaury in the ground is carried out in early spring. The site is dug up in advance, compacted and moistened a little. Using a hoe, they make shallow grooves on the surface of the earth with a depth of about 1 centimeter and sow seeds in them. The distance between the rows is from 40 to 60 centimeters, depending on the available land area of the garden, where the centaury will be grown.From above, the crops are crushed with a thin layer of sand and covered with plastic wrap for about one week. After 7-10 days, friendly shoots will go, after which the shelter is removed.
Care for centaury seedlings consists in regular moistening of the soil and weeding. When the plants grow a little, they need to be thinned out. There should be an interval of about 3-4 centimeters between the seedlings.
Care for centaury in the garden
Watering
Flowering bushes of centaury are enough natural moisture if it rains regularly. During this period, additional watering is not required. With a long absence of precipitation and high air temperatures, the plants must be watered. The volume of irrigation water is moderate.
The soil
For the full growth and development of centaury, it is necessary to timely rid them of the emerging weeds. Shallow loosening of the soil is recommended only between the rows. The mulching layer on the flower garden will eliminate weeding and loosening and maintain the necessary moisture in the soil. You can use cut grass or wood shavings as mulch.
Diseases and pests of centaury
The advantage of centaury over other garden plants and flowers is its high resistance to diseases and pests. In rare cases, "uninvited guests" from neighboring cultures may come. With an excess of moisture in the soil (after heavy and prolonged rains), there is a possibility of root rot development. You can help sick and damaged plants with the help of folk recipes so as not to use heavy chemicals. For example, spraying with herbal infusions, dusting with wood ash or charcoal.
Collection and storage of centaury
Only a centaury older than one year is suitable for collecting medicinal raw materials. In the first year after planting, the crop is not harvested. If plants in this capacity are required annually, then it is worth planting seedlings for two years in a row, but in different areas. In one season, it will be possible to collect raw materials from one site, and in the second - from another. So, alternating the collection procedure every year, it will be possible to stock up on medicinal plants.
The beginning of flowering of centaury is the optimal time for collecting medicinal herbs. It is important that the root leaves remain green during harvest. Yellow leaf rosettes are not suitable.
Basic requirements for collection and storage:
- The stems need to be cut so that another 10-15 centimeters remain above the soil surface;
- The grass must be tied into small bunches;
- It is better to dry herbal bunches in the attic or in another place that will be darkened, with good ventilation and with a moderate air temperature;
- It is not recommended to dry the raw material under sunlight, as it will lose its medicinal qualities and worsen its external characteristics;
- A dark and cool room is an ideal place to store medicinal herbs;
- The most suitable containers for storing raw materials are fabric bags, paper bags, cardboard boxes.
Types and varieties of centaury with a photo
Common centaury (Centaurium erythraea)
It is also called "seven-clock" or "centuria" - popular in flower culture, a species up to 50 centimeters high with bright pink inflorescences. The flowering period lasts all summer months.
Beautiful centaury (Centaurium pulchellum)
A low medicinal species of centaury, included in the Red Book on the territory of countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Latvia. In the wild, it grows as an annual crop and barely reaches fifteen centimeters in height. Consists of smooth shoots, stem leaf plates, five-petal pink flowers and fruits - boxes with seeds.
Meyer's centaury (Centaurium meyeri)
Annual species with a height of 10 to 40 centimeters. Consists of tetrahedral stems, stem leaves, white inflorescences and fruits with small seeds.Endowed with a long flowering period - from mid-May to mid-October. In the wild, it grows on forest edges, on the outskirts of swamps, on river banks and in thickets of bushes.
Centaurium spicatum (Centaurium spicatum)
An annual species of centaury with a branched stem, basal oblong and slightly pointed leaves, spike-shaped inflorescences of pink flowers and capsule fruits. Distributed in the Caucasus, Iran and Central Asia. The flowering period lasts about two months (April, May), the fruits ripen by the beginning of autumn. Prefers moist meadow soil, as well as salt marshes and water bodies.
Seaside centaury (Centaurium littorale)
Or coastal centaury - a low species, reaching from 5 to 20 centimeters in height. Consists of a bare, branched stem, sinewy lanceolate leaves, pinkish flowers with four or five petals and elongated fruit-capsules. The flowering period lasts the entire summer season and ends in early September. The grass prefers to grow in wet meadows, on dunes, as well as on the shores of lakes and rivers.
Marsh centaury (Centaurium uliginosum)
An insufficiently studied species, which is not yet recommended for use as a medicinal plant.
Useful properties of centaury
Healing propertiescentaury
Common centaury is endowed with a rich composition. It contains many beneficial elements needed to get rid of various health problems. These are vitamins and organic acids, phytosterols and alkaloids, essential oils and many chemical elements.
The medicinal herb centaury is used to fight viruses and bacteria, in anti-cancer therapy and as a tonic, as a laxative and choleretic, hepaprotective and spasmolytic, antihelminthic and anti-cold, wound healing and hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and antiarrhythmic agent.
The centaury herb treats heartburn and digestive problems, relieves excess gas formation and diabetes mellitus, and is used in the treatment of the liver and kidneys, heart and blood vessels. Preparations based on this plant are used in the treatment of sinusitis, for toxicosis, they are effective for stress and neuroses, malaria and alcoholism, for various infectious diseases and influenza, for strengthening immunity and for allergies. Decoctions, tinctures and oils have a beneficial effect on the skin, are used in dentistry, improve appetite and relieve swelling. It is one of the best natural antiseptics.
On the basis of the herb centaury, alcoholic tinctures, decoctions, teas, essential oil and juice are prepared. The medicine is recommended in folk medicine for internal and external use. In official medicine, the plant is the basis of such common drugs as "Nephroton" and "Kanefron".
Contraindications
Centaury drugs are not recommended:
- For chronic diseases in the acute stage;
- With individual intolerance;
- With diarrhea;
- With obesity;
- During pregnancy;
- With increased acidity of the stomach;
- In childhood.
With the wrong dosage, prolonged use, non-compliance with recipes and instructions, as well as with self-medication, centaury can lead to poisoning. It is very important to consult a specialist before starting treatment.
