Tinctura plumonariae Tinktura plućnjaka 30ml (Plumonaria officinalis)

Lungwort (Plumonaria officinalis) is a shade loving herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe from the Boraginaceae family.  Its common name, Lungwort, is derived from Medieval herbalists who believed that the plant was effective in the treatment of lung diseases.  This arose from the spots on the foliage resembling the diseased lungs of a human. Lungwort is covered in hairs of varied length and stiffness, and sometimes also bear glands. The leaves are arranged in rosettes. The blades are usually large, from narrowly lanceolate to oval, with the base ranging from heart shaped to very gradually narrowing, and can have a sharply pointed or blunt tip. The leaf margin is always entire, but in some species and forms can be rather wavy.

The flowers are of various colors, from pink at the beginning of flowering to purple, blue and reddish, and are located at the top of the stem and form a one-sided panicle. The flowers develop at the top of a stem up to 30 cm high, similar to the primrose, and are initially reddish and later purple in color.

 

Medicinal properties of lungwort (Plumonaria officinalis) and its preparations, specially mother tincture (Tinctura plumonariae, tinktura plućnjaka) are well known for numerous  beneficial properties for human lungs;

• Acute and chronic inflammation of the bronchi

• Emphysema

• Inflammation of the trachea

• Inflammation of the pharynx

•  Heavy breathing

•  Lung "catarrh" in smokers as well as all other types of respiratory tract catarrh, chronic pneumonia and flu, pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammatory conditions...

• Dry, bloody, whooping cough, cough with thick sputum that is difficult to expel and has an unpleasant smell, especially in the elderly, various types of coughing

 

Lungwort in folklore

 

Among ancient botanists and doctors, the lungwort was not named as such. Under the name "pulmonaria" in the oldest bilinear books was considered the lung lichen (Lobaria pulmonaria) (L.) - Hoffm. which folk medicine used to treat lung diseases. Although this lichen has no medicinal properties, people probably used it for treatment because of the shape and structure of this lichen, which grows on trees and stumps, in shady positions, and develops a rather large brown stem with a bubble structure like the structure of a lung. Even the old science of signature gave the light spots on the leaf of the lungwort as a resemblance to lung wings, which is why the use of the plant was suitable against lung diseases.

 

Lungwort constituents

 

Plumonaria officinalis contains; allantoin, resin, flavonoids;  quercentrin, mucus, kaempferol, silicate (soluble and insoluble), mineral substances; calcium, iron, calcium carbonate, tannin (7%), essential oil, vitamin C, etc.

The medicinal effect on the diseased lung organs is reduced to a significant content of free and bound silicon acid, as well as calcium salts, potassium, aluminum, resin, resin acid, a little fatty oil and tannin. There are very few mucous substances.

The leaves are the richest in citric acid, while the root has a very low content of citric acid, so it can be ignored when collecting.

 

Western folk medicine and lungwort

 

Western folk medicine uses lungwort in the treatment of blood, bleeding, diseases of the bladder, lungs, bronchitis, diarrhea, fever, angina, cough, hemorrhoids, hoarse throat, hoarseness, colds, flu, to induce sweating, treatment of wounds, acne, eye and skin diseases. diseases, in the case of vitamin C deficiency, and for causing sweating.

The leaves of the lungwort, together with other plants, are used for strengthening, and for this purpose it is used fresh juice squeezed from the leaves or from the whole plant. Lungwort is an integral part of all teas and syrups for lung diseases, and it helps both young and old people, as well as mild and severe conditions.

Medicinal herbs in combination for the treatment of lung diseases are: yarrow (Achilea millefolium), horsetail (Equisetum), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), broadleaf plantain (Plantago major), sage (Salvia officinalis), marshmallow leaf (Althaea officinalis) and lungwort (Plumonaria officinalis).

 

Application in the treatment of animals

 

In the past, shepherds diligently collected the lungwort, dried it, crushed it finely, added some salt and mixed it into a drink for coughs and heavy breathing in cows, horses and sheeps.

From the white ash of burnt lungwort, they would make lye, which they used to wash wounds and ulcers in domestic animals.