Periwinkle

Periwinkle – a medicinal plant which part substances with antineoplastic and hypertensive activity are.

Chemical composition

The periwinkle – the perennial curling or creeping herbaceous plant of family of the Dogbane family, meets in Europe, Asia, North America. Grows in the death, beech and oak forests, is more rare – in dumetums and in the pine woods, preferring sites with the rich who are not strongly moistened with soils.

Periwinkle leaves surprisingly strong and hardy. They keep a fresh look even under snow. This plant is considered a symbol of vital force and eternal love.

In the medical purposes the periwinkle was applied long since at a scurvy, a tuberculosis, bleedings, diarrhea. The used parts of a plant – leaves, stalks and flowers.

In the medical purposes use a periwinkle small and a periwinkle pink. About 80 alkaloids are their part, many of which are poisonous. In a periwinkle pink the high content of the antineoplastic alkaloids (such as vinblastine, Vincristinum, лейрозин) possessing cytostatic action (block growth of a tumor). Some of these substances are carried to vital and major medicines. Except alkaloids steroids, phenolic connections, organic acids, tannins, glycosides, sugar, mineral salts are a part of a plant.

The grass is prepared during blossoming and after it (usually from May to June). In one place preparation can be carried out not more often than once in 3 years. For preservation of properties the periwinkle needs to be stored in well aired dry rooms.

Useful properties

In traditional medicine the periwinkle is applied at diarrhea, a hypertension, dysentery, sexual weakness, tuberculosis, migraine and also as styptic means. Outwardly it is shown at treatment of burns, purulent wounds, the becoming wet eczemas, a skin itch and other diseases of skin, locally – at a dentagra and a smell from a mouth.

Thanks to useful properties the periwinkle is used for production of medicines with the hypotensive, antiinflammatory, styptic and knitting action. So, it is active agent of antineoplastic Rosevinum medicine (effect of drug is caused by ability of active agents of a plant to block cell fission, to interfere with a leucopoiesis and thrombocytes, without influencing significantly an erythrogenesis).

Semi-synthetic derivative Devincanum alkaloid, contained in a periwinkle, is active agent of "Cavintonum" – the drug with vasodilating action used at the mental and neurologic disturbances connected with frustration of cerebral circulation.

Other alkaloid which is contained in periwinkle leaves – Vincaminum, promotes improvement of cerebral circulation, possesses the vasodilating and stimulating metabolism in the central nervous system action. Make the medicine of the same name appointed at treatment of a memory impairment, arterial hypertension, migraine, disturbances of cerebral circulation and other diseases of Vincaminum allocated from a plant.

Thanks to medicinal properties the periwinkle is included as a component in many homeopathic medicines.

Indications to use

Use of a periwinkle is shown at treatment: a dentagra, a smell from a mouth, an itch, diarrhea, dysentery, ulcers, tuberculosis, an ulitis, eczema, a hypertension, a headache, impotence, burns.

Contraindications

• Bradycardia;
• Pregnancy and period of breastfeeding;
• The increased coagulability of blood;
• Locks.

House drugs from a periwinkle

It is better to use medicines on the basis of a periwinkle under control of the experienced phytotherapist not to allow overdose.

At an idiopathic hypertensia accept three times a day infusion from a periwinkle which is prepared from 1 tablespoon of the crushed grass and 1 glass of water (weary at weak boiling of 20 minutes). A one-time dosage – 1/3 glasses. Locally infusion can be applied at treatment of a dentagra, outwardly – at treatment of burns and wounds.

Use of a periwinkle in the form of tincture is shown at migraine, a hypertension, uterine and intestinal bleedings, a dentagra, throat diseases, diarrhea, tuberculosis, белях, to sexual weakness. For its preparation 20 g of the crushed grass fill in 250 ml of vodka and boil on small fire of 5 minutes then within an hour insist. Accept twice a day 8 drops.

Also use of a periwinkle in the form of tincture is effective for strengthening of sexual function. For preparation of medicine of 20 g of the crushed grass fill in with 1 glass of vodka and weary at weak boiling within 10 minutes then 2 hours insist. Accept tincture on 10 drops twice a day, a medical course – 4 days. For achievement of therapeutic effect with a break in 2 weeks it is necessary to conduct 3 courses.

As a medicinal plant it is necessary to apply a periwinkle in house conditions carefully as the alkaloids which are its part are poisonous. At development of atypical symptoms it is necessary to see a doctor.