One of the best adaptogens and stimulants, along with ginseng, is aralia, the medicinal properties of which have been known since ancient times. Both of these plants belong to the same Araliaceae family. Its usefulness was rediscovered relatively recently, when they began to look for a ginseng substitute from the same family. Traditional medicine mainly uses Manchurian aralia for treatment, although there are other types of aralia whose properties are healing and beneficial. This is a shrub or relatively low tree, reaching a height of no more than 5-6 meters. Manchurian Aralia grows in the Far Eastern region, beyond the border of our country - in northeast China, in northern Japan. In medicinal practice, they mainly use the roots, bark and leaves of the plant, but sometimes the flowers and fruits of aralia are used.
Description of Manchurian Aralia
The culture looks like an ordinary thin straight trunk, completely covered with thorns. Numerous branches grow, but less thorny. The leaves are arranged alternately on the branches. The main part is at the top of a small tree. For this reason, the plant looks a bit like a palm tree. During the flowering period, Aralia can fascinate with its beauty. Cream and white umbrellas strewn with small flowers appear against the background of the green mass.
The plant is very easy to cultivate. Culture does not need close attention. Modern gardeners love it for these qualities. When planning to plant a plant yourself, you need to remember that it blooms in its fifth year. The crop can be grown in a bright, open area. Penumbra is no less well tolerated. Low temperatures are not scary for her at all.
Aralia cordate, or Schmidt's
This type of aralia is found in the Far East. It is a herbaceous perennial, reaching 1.5-2 meters in height, which also has a thick, fleshy and aromatic rhizome. The flowers of this plant are greenish or yellowish-white in color, small in size, collected in an apical paniculate inflorescence, which contains many umbels.
Aralia cordiforma blooms in July-September, and the fruits ripen in August-September.
Chemical composition
For medicinal purposes, roots, bark and fresh leaves should be used. The composition contains useful components:
- Carbohydrates;
- Alkaloids;
- Organic acids;
- Essential oils;
- Flavonoids.
The roots contain vitamins and minerals. If you properly grow and prepare means of treatment and restoration, you can quickly improve your body. The roots contain oils, starch, saponins, numerous trace elements, and alkaloids.
Active ingredients
The medicinal characteristics of aralia are based on the diverse chemical composition of the plant. Here are the main operating components of culture:
- Starch - quickly reduces cholesterol. Normalizes blood pressure.
- Essential oils – provide antiseptic, anti-inflammatory effects. The plant calms and relieves spasms.
- Phytosterols – promote the production of vitamin D. Steroid hormones and necessary bile acids appear.
- Flavonoids – relieve spasms. The capillaries are strengthened and the heart muscle is nourished. Blood pressure is normalized, it has a diuretic effect, and the blood stops.
- Resins - guarantee antibacterial, mild laxative and wound healing effects.
- Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that improves immunity.
- Tanning components – provide an astringent effect, remove inflammation.
Contains vitamins and microelements. The products give an excellent effect.
Beneficial features
Thanks to its unique composition, the beneficial properties of Manchurian aralia are at their best. By taking the product in tincture or tablets, you can have the following positive effects on the body:
- Diuretic effect.
- General strengthening effect.
- Toning effect.
- Hypotensive effect.
Hormonal levels improve. This automatically increases libido and potency. Modern doctors prescribe aralia for such health problems as:
- Digestive problems;
- Diseases of the nervous system;
- Failure in the functioning of the reproductive system;
- Mental illnesses;
- Problems in the endocrine system;
- Decreased immune strength of the body;
- The presence of various types of infections and infestations.
If the listed diseases are at an early stage and have not caused any particular complications, drugs in Aralia can help.
Tips for growing aralia in the garden, care rules
- Place for landing.
The plant prefers eastern or western sides, where there is a lot of bright but diffused sunlight, but the soil should be slightly moist. - Soil selection.
For aralia, the soil is selected to be loose, and if the substrate was virgin or tinned, then you need to dig it up to a depth of 30 cm. After this, the soil is left to ventilate for a week and dry out a little. Then it is recommended to harrow the planting site and add fertilizer to the soil. Such means can be rotted manure and peat-manure compost, which are mixed in equal parts. After this, the substrate is dug up again. If vegetables or other plants were previously grown in this place, then after the soil has been dug up for the first time, all remnants of such crops are removed. - Watering.
The plant has enough natural precipitation, since waterlogging is harmful. - Aralia fertilizers.
For the “thorn tree”, both organic and mineral preparations are recommended. At the time of planting, the soil also needs to be fertilized. For mature specimens, fertilization will need to be done with the onset of spring, as well as in the summer months when buds begin to set. If necessary, such fertilizing is also carried out in the autumn. - General care tips.
The plant is frost-resistant and does not require shelter for the winter, but sometimes slight freezing still occurs. Although Aralia will be restored after this, it is still recommended to mulch the tree trunk circle with fallen leaves or peat. With the arrival of spring, sanitary cutting of shoots is carried out to remove those that have begun to grow inside the crown or have become too elongated. It is recommended to regularly loosen the soil to allow air access to the roots. But this procedure is performed extremely carefully, since the root system is located very close to the surface. Weeds must be removed during the growing season.
Contraindication
There are several contraindications to the use of the culture. It is not recommended to use aralia if you have the following problems:
- Epilepsy.
- Sleep problems.
- Exacerbation of arterial hypertension.
- Nervous excitability.
- Manifestations of hyperkinesis.
There is no need to drink the tincture before bed. This may cause insomnia. If you violate the rules of use, if you exceed the dosage, a person will feel nausea, breathing will be impaired, and he may lose consciousness. If symptoms appear, you should stop taking the medications immediately.
How to take Aralia?
Aralia preparations are recommended to be taken in courses, like other adaptogens. The course usually lasts 2-4 weeks. At the same time, the effectiveness of Aralia preparations is greater and is felt faster and longer than when taking Eleutherococcus, ginseng or lemongrass. But with long-term use or increasing dosages, the effectiveness of the drugs decreases. And no matter how low-toxic they are, side effects and overdose are possible. This may increase blood pressure, increase nervous excitability, and disrupt sleep.
Application in official and folk medicine
Medicines are prescribed to patients after suffering serious illnesses. The indication is the initial form of depression. Aralia is irreplaceable for mental and physical fatigue. Here are some rules for using medications:
- The plant is given to provide a diuretic effect.
- You can use the drug for stomatitis and toothache.
- An infusion or decoction of the root is used for diabetes and gastrointestinal problems.
- An indispensable remedy for incontinence and colds.
- The drink heals the liver and kidneys.
You can prepare medicinal preparations yourself or buy a ready-made product. The plant is available in the form of Saparal tablets and tinctures. The second option has a positive effect on the central nervous system. It is prescribed to treat conditions such as:
- Hypotension;
- Asthenia;
- Depressive states.
To eliminate such diseases, the tincture should be used in a dosage of about 40 drops 2-3 times a day.
Tablets are also used for problems with the central nervous system. In pharmacies you can buy a tincture from the underground part of the plant. This is one of the varieties of culture - Schmidt's Aralia. It is prepared not with 70% alcohol, but with 20% alcohol. The therapeutic effects are similar, but there is less toxicity.
The product has a beneficial effect on blood vessels. General well-being improves and performance increases significantly. The patient develops an appetite. The tincture provides stimulation of the heart muscle and vascular system. Positively affects the central nervous system.
Home remedies from Aralia Manchurian
It is not necessary to buy the tincture at the pharmacy. Many people prepare it themselves. You should take 40 grams of roots. The raw materials are filled with 200-230 ml of alcohol. The product is infused for a couple of weeks. The tincture will acquire the appropriate color and smell. It must be strained, the roots squeezed out, and the liquid used for medicinal purposes. A similar drug is prescribed for the following problems:
- Asthenia;
- General neurological problems;
- Psychological and physical fatigue;
- Low pressure;
- Impotence;
- Recovery after a complex injury;
- Diabetes;
- All forms of atherosclerosis.
Drinking the tincture significantly improves appetite. Efficiency increases and sleep normalizes. Blood pressure stabilizes, heart failure and headaches go away.
To achieve a positive therapeutic result, the drug must be taken 30-35 drops. Should be consumed three times a day for one month. If there is a frequent increase in blood pressure, it is strongly recommended to reduce the dose by about 10 drops and drink not three, but twice. The duration of therapy does not exceed three weeks.
Along with the tincture, you can take a decoction of aralia. To prepare a remedy, you need to take 20 grams of Manchurian aralia roots. The raw materials are poured with 200 ml of boiling water. The mixture should be simmered over low heat for about 30 minutes. The solution needs to be cooled, filtered and can be taken.
The decoction is consumed three times before meals. Dosage – one tablespoon. The time for using a decoction of them is two to three weeks. Among the main indications for the use of the drug are:
- Gastrointestinal diseases.
- Inflammation of the mucous membrane.
- Cold.
- Enuresis.
- Kidney diseases.
- Weakened immunity.
It is recommended to store the prepared broth for no more than three days and strictly in the refrigerator. This will preserve the medicinal properties of Manchurian aralia.
Planting Aralia Manchurian
Various crops can be used as planting material. The base is purchased at the nursery. It can also be obtained from root shoots or seeds. The landing algorithm for all options is exactly the same. First of all, preparatory work is carried out.
The site should be prepared in advance. The area should be very well lit. The sun's rays should not be allowed to penetrate. The plant prefers fertile, loose and moderately moist soil.
Immediately before planting, it is worth digging up the area. It is advisable to remove pest larvae from the soil. If insects are left, they will destroy the roots. The hole is made spacious. Its size is 80x80x40 cm.
If you want to plant an alley of plants, the distance between the shoots is at least 3 meters. A similar gap is maintained between the rows. After arranging the hole, the following sequence of actions is observed:
- A tubercle up to 15 cm is poured in the middle.
- A seedling is placed on the tubercle, the roots are carefully straightened.
- Soil is added.
- The plant is watered.
- The soil is added and compacted.
- It needs to be watered.
- After a few minutes, mulching is carried out.
The main purpose of the manipulation is to protect the soil located next to the sprout from weathering, freezing, drying out of the soil and washing away. For mulching, it is necessary to use carefully crushed bark, peat and pine needles.
Growing rules
Fresh seeds germinate better and faster. It is advisable to sow them closer to autumn. Before planting, the soil should be dug up and fertilized. It is recommended to use nitrophoska and ordinary humus as a useful composition.
The planting depth indicator is approximately 2 cm. Humus is laid out on the seedlings. It is advisable to maintain a distance of at least 40 cm between the dug holes. To ensure germination, the seeds should first be soaked for a day.
This is not just water, but a solution of gibberellic acid. It is prepared in the proportion of 0.5 grams per 1 liter of water. Spring seeding is accompanied by stratification for 4 months. The temperature must be maintained at 5 degrees above zero.
Plant care
Planting and subsequent care of Manchurian aralia does not require effort or time. In the first year, you just need to give the plant a little more attention than other shrubs.
Loosening, watering, mulching
During growth, the roots of the plant are located horizontally. They grow near the surface of the soil. This must be taken into account when loosening, so as not to injure the still fragile roots. Loosening is an important factor in plant care. Proper care will allow you to:
- Maintain moisture;
- Improves soil structure;
- Enrich with oxygen;
- Destroys insects;
- Destroys weeds.
It is equally important to water the crop correctly. A lot of water is required, but it is important to ensure that it does not stagnate. Removing weeds must be done together with loosening. This operation is performed near the trunk circumference. If necessary, the mulch should be updated.
Preparation for winter and sanitary pruning
The culture belongs to the frost-resistant category.
But at very low temperatures the plant may freeze. If this happens, you will need to carry out sanitary pruning of the tree in the spring. This process will cause a faster growth of fresh branches. Thanks to this, the tree will look more elegant and lush by summer. When caring for a plant, you need to take care of the wintering of the young tree in advance. To prevent the roots from freezing in the harsh winter, the trunk should be covered with spruce branches. Dry foliage will also work. As soon as the snow falls, it needs to be raked in heaps towards the trunk.
Top dressing
Plants will develop much better and faster if you fertilize them in a timely manner. Mineral and organic compounds are used. Fertilizing must be added during planting, budding, every spring and autumn. Spring feeding allows you to quickly restore the plant. Immunity increases, leaves grow. In autumn, fertilizer will prepare the crop for the winter cold.
Disease and pest control
The plant is resistant to standard fungal diseases. Problems arise due to pests, of which there may be several:
- Wireworm. If these insects have already appeared, it will be difficult to get rid of them. To destroy the pest, you need to carry out certain measures - soil cultivation, adding fertilizer. If you do them regularly, the wireworm will go away.
- Chafer. If a plant quickly withers for no reason, we can judge that this pest has appeared. To cope with the problem, you need to use nitrogen and insecticides. The best option is to sow white clover.
- Medvedka. This pest can be defeated using chemicals and special manure compounds.
- Slugs. These insects eat greens. They should be destroyed using chemical means. If there are few slugs, they are collected by hand or using a standard soap solution.
If you destroy pests in a timely manner and properly care for the plant, its growth will be more than 30 cm per year.
Pests of culture
Having good immunity, aralia practically does not get sick, but pests sometimes damage young seedlings. To prevent the appearance of insect pests such as wireworms, chafer larvae, mole crickets, and slugs, soil care is used. It needs to be regularly loosened, weeds removed, ash used to destroy larvae, and green manure sowed to improve the structure and composition.
Removing insects manually several times, mulching with eggshells, crushed dry branches, pine needles helps to destroy slugs, and “dung traps” help in the fight against mole crickets.
When insects appear, you can use the drugs Bazudin, Aktara and others.
Reproduction
To increase the number of crops on the site, they will need to be propagated. This can be done in different ways - cuttings, sowing seeds and by working with shoots. Each option is worth exploring in more detail.
Cuttings
Gardeners prefer to use the scion method. To do this, you can use twigs up to 15 cm long and 1 cm thick. Prepared cuttings must be planted in the shade. The soil must be dug up and thoroughly fertilized in advance. It is necessary to maintain the distance between cuttings. It should not be less than 60 cm.
Sprouts need to be planted before the buds open. The plant gets used to light gradually and strictly after the first leaves bloom. New seedlings require regular mulching, watering, loosening and weed removal.
Overgrowth
The plant reproduces by root suckers and shoots. The latter simply need to be separated from the mother bush, since they have their own roots.
For transplantation, you need to use small 30-centimeter sprouts. You should choose healthy shoots with a strong root system. Planting is done in the standard way. It is recommended to do this before the buds open or in the autumn, when the leaves fall.
Collection of medicinal raw materials
For medicinal purposes, Aralia roots can be dug up from September after the fruits fall until late autumn. On the roots to be dug up, an oblique cut is made, directing it downwards, which promotes faster healing of wounds and rapid restoration of removed roots. Only dig up roots whose diameter is at least 2–2.5 cm.
They are thoroughly cleaned of soil, quickly washed in running water and cut into pieces 5–10 cm long. The roots are dried in the shade in a well-ventilated area or in dryers at a temperature of about 60 degrees.
Use in design
Aralia leaves and roots are used for medicinal purposes.
And the whole plant can be used as a decorative decoration of the site and arrangement of a hedge. This tree is perfect. It resembles a small palm tree. There are no branches on the thin trunk, and at the top there is a dense whorl of large leaves. In the autumn, when spherical black fruits appear, the crown takes on a more colorful appearance.
Hedges from Aralia Manchurian
To organize a hedge from aralia, plants need to be planted along the entire border of the site. In a few years, the territory will be protected by a thorny, impenetrable fence. The effectiveness of protection is based on the fact that each plant is densely strewn with prickly and fairly strong thorns.
You should not expect quick results in the appearance of a high-quality hedge. It should take about two to three years. If you properly care for the plant all this time, the bushes will grow and form a lush green hedge. On the Internet you can find many photos of Manchurian aralia. It is possible to read the description in the reviews.
It is not enough to grow a luxurious hedge. After the shrub grows and takes shape, it will need to be carefully looked after. It is necessary to regularly loosen and fertilize the soil. It is strongly not recommended to plant tall, large trees nearby. They will provide shade, creating unfavorable conditions for bushes.
Biological portrait
In nature, Aralia grows like a real palm tree, up to 5–5.5 meters high. Its straight, slender and unbranched trunks especially stand out on the edges, clearings and clearings.
In culture, aralia has a thin, unbranched trunk with wrinkled bark. A seven-year-old Aralia tree has a height of no more than 2.5–3 meters; at a height of 1 meter the thickness of the trunk reaches 6–7 cm.
Nature has awarded the aralia with a strong weapon - numerous large, hard and sharp thorns, with which the trunk and branches are completely strewn. They are especially developed in young individuals. For this, Aralia is popularly known as “thorn tree” or “devil’s tree.” It is generally impossible to walk through the Aralia thickets without tearing your clothes.
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The root system of Aralia is located mainly in the upper layer of soil at a depth of 10–25 cm and extends from the trunk to a distance of 2.5–3 meters. In some places, aralia roots are found even in the forest floor. Aralia roots are brown on top and white on the inside, highly fibrous.
Aralia is a very fast-growing tree. Already at 5–6 years of age it has a powerful, well-developed root system. By the age of 15, many dead roots appear in its root system, and it becomes unsuitable for medicinal use. Therefore, for harvesting roots it is necessary to use 7–12 year old trees.
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In its homeland, Manchurian Aralia tolerates a drop in air temperature in winter to minus 35 degrees, but young Aralia seedlings in our conditions can freeze slightly for the first 2-3 years, which is obviously explained by their acclimatization in new conditions and sharp temperature fluctuations when severe frosts give way to thaws . Therefore, at this time they must be protected from severe frosts. When the Aralia reaches a height of 1.5 meters, the freezing of its shoots will stop.
The trunk of Aralia Manchurian is crowned with a tent of leaves up to 70–80 cm long, swaying on long petioles. They are large, openwork, complex in structure, and consist of small leaves.
The resemblance to the southern palm increases in summer, when inflorescences rise from the center of this leaf whorl in the form of a spreading complex panicle up to 40 cm long, the branches of which end in small umbrellas of greenish, very small flowers in spherical inflorescences, collected in a large complex panicle. Usually 5–7 panicles develop at the top of the trunk, in the center of the leaf whorl.
Aralia blooms at the end of July, starting from the outer flowers of the panicle, gradually moving towards the center. Aralia usually blooms at 5–6 years of age. The fruits of Aralia are black, juicy, spherical, 3–5 mm in diameter.
Aralia is also beautiful in the fall, when clusters of its small bluish-black fruits stand out effectively and harmonize well with the reddish foliage. Ripe fruits hold weakly on the panicle and gradually fall off from the wind, so you should not be late in collecting them.
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