Where did the coltsfoot get its name from? This plant is one of the oldest healers. Even Hippocrates (the ancient Greek physician) used it for boils in the form of poultices. And Dioscorides (a doctor of ancient Rome) prescribed it to patients as a decoction for upper respiratory tract illness and advised to inhale smoke from its leaves when coughing. And it is the leaves of coltsfoot that are related to its name. The fact is that the upper plate of her sheet is almost bare, hence, cold, like the look of a stepmother. And below the sheet is whitish-felt, warm, like the arms of a mother.
Coltsfoot common refers to herbaceous perennials. She has a creeping long rhizome, due to which the plant multiplies very quickly and forms real thickets. The plant is widespread, prefers clay and sandy soils. Therefore, it usually lives on clay cliffs, in ravines, along the banks of streams, rivers and ditches. It is very sensitive to the first spring sunshine: the snow has not yet melted everywhere, and mother-and-stepmother can already be seen here and there. Her flowers are bright, golden yellow, they look like dandelions. With the onset of the evening, the flowers begin to close. They can also act as a barometer. In cloudy weather, if rain is expected, they will certainly close.
Coltsfoot ordinary refers to those plants that bloom even before the appearance of the first leaves. And there are very few. After flowering, basal leaves develop on long stalks, which have an angular round-heart-shaped shape and are initially covered with soft white hairs. But by the end of May, they are fully developing and becoming “stepmother” on top, and “mother” from below.
Coltsfoot common in its leaves contains polysaccharides, carotene, glycosides, ascorbic, tartaric, malic and gallic acids. And its inflorescences are rich in essential oils, steroid compounds, dyes and tannins. The plant has anti-inflammatory, emollient, expectorant and disinfectant effects. It is successfully used in the treatment of tonsillitis, asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia and many other diseases. For the treatment of small ulcerative lesions and boils, lotions, compresses and moist dressings from infusions and decoctions of plant leaves are used. If hair falls out or there is seborrhea, then a decoction of coltsfoot and nettle will perfectly cope with them.
In addition to medicinal use, this plant is used as a food raw material. Its leaves are cut into strips and added to salads or served with traditional side dishes. And if honey is added to the infusion of leaves, then you get a wonderful tonic and healthy drink. Also, crushed leaves of the plant are mixed with jam or jam.
If you want to prepare for yourself the leaves of coltsfoot, then you need to do this in early summer, when they are not so large. The leaf is trimmed with part of the petiole. You can not take very young leaves and begin to turn yellow. They need to be dried in the attics, laid out in one layer on plywood. In the early days, it is advisable to turn each leaf over so that they evenly dry. You can also use a dryer for this, a good result is obtained at a temperature of 50-60 ºC. Ready-made raw materials are best stored in cloth bags.
