Share:
Carding - effect and use
contents
- Characteristics of the card
- Herbal Portrait: The plant of weavers and herbalists
- Ingredients and effect
- Caffeic acid for gastrointestinal discomfort
- Saponins have a pain- and anti-inflammatory effect
- Glucosides relieve skin problems
- Application and dosage
- Karde root tea not only for internal use
- Cardinal tincture for major skin complaints
- side effects
- Experiences with card - so far no study results
- Buy a card
- Conclusion
Characteristics of the card
Scientific names: Dipsacus fullonum or Dipsacus sylvestris
Family: Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae)
Popular names: Wald-Karde, Kardenwurzel, Kardendistel, Bubenstral, Strohle, Zeisel, Ageleia, Frau Venus Bad, Immerdurst, Zeisela
Used plant parts: Roots, plant parts
Ancestry: Africa, Asia, Europe
Main ingredients: Glucosides, saponins, caffeic acid
Application areas:
- skin diseases
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Lyme disease
The wild card comes from the honeysuckle family and prefers loamy soils. (Image: JuriAlexander / fotolia.com) Herbal Portrait: The plant of weavers and herbalists
The card belongs to the genus of named after her Kardergewächse (teasel). It is native to the Mediterranean region, but is also present in Central and Eastern Europe. They are found mainly in sunny locations such as banks, at the edges of paths and in wet meadows. Since the card prefer a loamy soil, it is considered in botany as an indicator of loamy soil.
The plant is particularly striking during its flowering splendor between July and September. The numerous small flowers sit on up to ten centimeters large egg-shaped flower heads and shine in a bright purple. The prickly bracts of the card were used in the Middle Ages for roughening or combing wool. Unlike in the field of medicine, however, the so-called Weberkarde (Dipsacus sativus) for use. For treatment purposes, on the other hand, one takes the wild card known as a forest card or cardiac thistle (Dispacus fullonum).
Because of its funnel-shaped leaves, the card is also called a cistus plant, from which animals or hikers can drink. Hence their Greek name Dipsacus, which translates into as much as thirst. Nickname like always thirsty explain themselves thus. The water collected in the funnel flowers was also used for facial washes. The cosmetic cleaning effect gave the card, for example, the nicknameMrs. Venus bath. In the applications of card root, skin care is indeed in the foreground.
The wild card known as Immerdurst loves sunny locations. (Image: evbrbe / fotolia.com) Already Dioscorides, a Roman military doctor from the first century AD, recommended cooked-in cardamels for warts and fistulas. But there are other complaints that carding can help. Here is a small overview:
- Blemished skin,
- skin diseases,
- fistulas,
- boil,
- warts,
- wound scars,
- Edema and water retention,
- indigestion,
- stomach weakness,
- Gallen weakness,
- liver weakness,
- weakened nervous or immune system,
- a headache
- rheumatism,
- gout,
- Inflammation and infections
Ingredients and effect
For the healing effects of the card, on the one hand, the caffeic acid contained in their roots responsible, on the other play the plant's own glycosides of the carding an essential role. Glycosides are special plant substances that are composed of one alcohol and one sugar molecule each.
Caffeic acid for gastrointestinal discomfort
Caffeic acid is not only contained in coffee. Also, some medicinal plants, including the card, contain significant amounts of this acid, which is said to be
- antioxidant,
- appetizing,
- gastro-intestinal tonic
- and digestive acts.
These properties of caffeic acid are especially helpful in the case of
- anorexia,
- stomach weakness,
- irritable stomach,
- Indigestion in general,
- Gallen pain
- or discomfort of the liver.
In case of an irritable stomach or general stomach and intestinal complaints, the caffeic acid in the card can be helpful. (Image: Denis Mamin / fotolia.com) Saponins have a pain- and anti-inflammatory effect
The group of glycosides includes the saponins contained in cardoon root. Although they should not get into the bloodstream directly, as they have blood-dissolving effects here. However, dosed saponins have beneficial properties and are effective when dosed in a measured dose and taken orally
- cholesterol-lowering,
- soothing,
- gastro-intestinal tonic,
- anti-inflammatory
- and like natural antibiotics.
The special mode of action of the saponins makes them wonderful helpers
- a headache,
- joint pain,
- inflammatory skin diseases,
- Inflammation in the gastrointestinal area,
- rheumatic diseases
- and infections.
Useful information: Combined with other preparations, such as the healing clay zeolite, a tincture of cardoon root is often used to treat infections such as Lyme disease. However, pharmacologically proven an effect in this case is not yet.
Glucosides relieve skin problems
Like saponins, glucosides are also glycosides. They are known for their particularly mild and skin-friendly effect and have an effect on the dermal layers, among others
- cell regenerating,
- decongestant,
- pore cleansing
- and calming.
The card has long been known as a medicinal plant for skin problems such as acne and warts. (Image: Александр Поташев / fotolia.com) Glucosides are not only present in numerous skin care and cosmetic products, but are also used specifically for the treatment of
- wounds,
- ulcers,
- skin lichen,
- fistulas,
- boils,
- styes,
- warts,
- acne
- and eczema.
| Overview of effective ingredients in the card | caffeic acid | Has antioxidant, appetizing, gastrointestinal and digestive properties. |
| saponins | Have a cholesterol-lowering, analgesic, gastrointestinal, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effect. |
| glucosides | Cell regenerating, decongestant, pore cleansing and soothing. |
Application and dosage
You can buy cardoon root mostly as tea or tincture. Of course - as with all herbs - the basic dosing instructions apply.
Karde root tea not only for internal use
A tea from wild card is especially recommended for loss of appetite and digestive problems. However, you can also use the cold tea for ablutions for skin problems and wound healing disorders.
Hot Tea Approach from the Kardenroot:
- A teaspoon of cardoon root,
- 150 milliliters of boiling water,
- bring to a boil and
- Drink three times a day before meals
If you have a headache, taking tea from Kardenroot can help. (Image: Prostock-studioL / fotolia.com) Cardinal tincture for major skin complaints
Just like cardamom, a tincture of cardoon root is used internally for digestive problems. However, this highly concentrated form of ingredients is even more interesting for the treatment of major problems and dermal diseases. Whether as an ingredient for a spa, tonic or dabbing of wounds and skin irritation, cardinal tincture can help with many skin complaints very reliable. It is important, however, to dilute the tincture sufficiently in advance.
Recipe for a tincture of card root:
- 100 grams of cut cardoon root (fresh or dried),
- a liter of brandy, vodka or Doppelkorn and
- a clean bottle.
Step 1: Fill the bottle with the cut cardoon roots and pour over the whole with the high percentage alcohol. Thereafter, the bottle is sealed well and airtight.
2nd step: Place the bottle in a warm and bright place (preferably on the windowsill). Here, the tincture approach now has to mature for about six to eight weeks. It is important to shake the bottle vigorously every now and then, so that the active ingredients can be distributed evenly in the alcohol.
3rd step: After extraction, the cardinal tincture is filtered through a sieve or a coffee filter and then filled into a dark bottle. This we then, depending on the treatment goal
- two to three times (about ten to fifty drops each) diluted daily with water,
- to the bath water or tonic
- or diluted on problematic skin spots.
By the way: Cardiac Root Extract is also available in capsule form. Here it is recommended to take one capsule daily with sufficient fluid.
side effects
There are no known side effects to the card.
It investigates the extent to which carding helps in Lyme disease, which can be transmitted by ticks. (Image: Rafail / fotolia.com) Experiences with card - so far no study results
Unfortunately, there are no studies to date on the effectiveness of the card. Private users, however, partly report good results. Anyone who wants to get an idea of the healing effect of the card root will probably not be able to avoid a self-experiment. As he writes, such a successful self-experiment has the ethobotanist Dr. Wolf-Dieter Storl and described in his book "Healing Borreliosis Naturally: Ethnomedicine Knowledge, Holistic Treatment and Practical Applications". As a medical proof, however, this study is not tenable. At the University of Leipzig we are currently investigating the effect of carding on Lyme disease. In the results so far, however, a growth-inhibiting effect on the Lyme disease is already recognizable.
Buy a card
If you want to grow your card root, you do not have to search all pharmacies and health food stores for cheap offers. On the Internet, there are sometimes real bargains to get hold of without the quality of the product suffers.
Conclusion
The healing effect of the card is not yet sufficient. However, it looks back on a centuries-long use in folk medicine, which suggests a certain healing potential. Anyone who wants to try the herb can do so without hesitation, because special side effects are not yet known. (Ma)