Korean Astilba

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Korean astilba (lat. Astilbe koreana) - one of the many representatives of the Astilba genus of the Saxifrage family. It is a native of Korea, also occurs naturally in China, to be more precise, in the northern and eastern regions. In culture, the species is rarely used, it has occupied its niche in folk medicine.

Characteristics of culture

Astilba Korean is represented by perennial herbaceous plants, not exceeding 60 cm in height and equipped with a dense stem, completely covered with brown hairs. The foliage, in turn, is light green, pubescent, you cannot call it smooth, rather wrinkled. The flowers, like other representatives of the genus, are small, numerous, white or white-cream, collected in lush drooping inflorescences, reaching a length of 25 cm.

Flowering begins in the second or third decade of July and lasts for 14-20 days, which entirely depends on the climate of the growing region and, of course, the location, soil and quality of care. Fruiting in Korean Astilba is active, annual. Seeds are formed in huge quantities, are prone to self-seeding, which is characteristic of all species of the genus Astilba.

Medical use

Korean Astilba is famous for its high content of flavonoids, phenol carboxylic acids, coumarins and other substances that have a positive effect on the human body. Therefore, the plant is actively used in alternative medicine in China, Japan and Korea. It should be noted that most of the nutrients are contained in the foliage and rhizomes of Korean Astilba, and they are used to prepare infusions and decoctions that are effective against many diseases.

The harvesting of foliage is carried out during the period of an active set of green mass, it is at this moment that they contain the maximum amount of nutrients. Moreover, the collection is carried out only in dry weather. It is not recommended to carry out this process in rains. But the collection of rhizomes should be carried out closer to autumn or with the onset of spring. Before and dug out, cleaned from the ground, rinsed thoroughly with cool water and dried in the fresh air, covered with gauze. It is not forbidden to carry out drying in special dryers.

The prepared raw materials are stored in fabric bags or in cardboard boxes for no more than 2 years. In principle, flowers are also subject to collection, but they have a less pronounced therapeutic effect, and they can be stored for no more than a year. Whereas the collection is carried out under the same conditions as in the case of foliage. And flowers are stored in the same way.

It is important to note that among all representatives of the genus Astilba, Korean has a wider range of useful properties. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-asthma, antitussive, immunomodulatory, antiviral and wound-healing properties. Therefore, the raw materials are used in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and upper respiratory tract, as well as to combat various dermatitis and other skin diseases.

Korean astilba is also used in cosmetology. As a rule, a refreshing and anti-inflammatory tonic is prepared from the leaves of the plant, helping to eliminate redness and irritation. In addition, such a tonic is effective against pimples and acne, which now persecute not only adolescents, but also people in old age. This fact is associated with an unfavorable environmental situation.