Trembling PoplarPopulus tremula
Willow-plants The trembling poplar, also aspen or aspen named, belongs to the type of the poplars. It is widespread in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Because of its high light-demand, it grows especially gladly on clear-cut areas.
It is a tree with a yellow-grey, smooth bark, which later turns into black coloring bark. The leaves are heart-shaped with a flattened stem and tremble at the slightest draught. The buds, sometimes also the young bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes.
The buds are collected in early spring, even before they develop. They are gently dried in the shade or in drying plants at temperatures up to 40 degrees. The dry drug must be kept in closed containers, it has a penetrating smell and tastes bitter.
The ingredients are essential oil, glycosides and bitter substances. The drug has a diuretic, disinfecting and anti-inflammatory effect. The drug is used for inflammations of the urinary tract and bladder and for gout and rheumatic diseases. It is also possible to make a tea out of trembling poplar: 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried drug are crushed in a mortar, 2 cups of very hot water are poured over it and left to steep for 5 minutes. Two cups per day is the correct dosage and can support a drug treatment.
AshFraxinus excelsior
Olive tree plants A stately tree with grey-green branches and black buds, from which small reddish-brown blossoms develop in early spring. The leaves develop only after the blossoming. The healing properties of ash were already known in ancient times.
It was used as a quinine substitute for febrile diseases. Bark and leaves are collected. The bark is peeled from the young branches.The bark contains the glycoside fraxin as well as tannins and bitter substances.
The leaves are picked individually, they also contain fraxin, mannitol, organic acids, tannins and sugar. Both are gently dried in shade and in well-ventilated locations. Both drugs have a slight laxative effect and are used to regulate bowel movements and in earlier times also against intestinal parasites.
In febrile diseases the drug has a slight antipyretic and pain-relieving effect in rheumatism and gout. It is possible to prepare tea from the drug. To do so, take one teaspoon of the dried leaves per cup, add a cup of water and bring the mixture to the boil, let it steep for 5 minutes and drink one cup several times a day.
The drug from the bark is dosed in the same way, but should only boil for a very short time. 1 to 2 cups a day can support a drug treatment.
