Vernal adonis (Adonis vernalis)

The Adonis is a herbaceous perennial with beautiful harmonious aspect that recalls the legendary and beautiful boy Adonis. It has a thick basal area with numerous black roots, has an erect stem, densely covered with leaves and surmounted at the apex of a single yellow flower. It is an exceedingly rare to see in the Peninsula is just some dry grasslands in the Ebro basin Its origins appear to Asia and southern Europe, eastern and central Europe. It is a plant easy to recognize once it has been seen, although there are closely related species can be confused with the original.

FLOWERING

The plant flowers in spring, in the first weeks, the flower fully opens only on clear days and sunshine. The whole plant, from root to the last flower is very poisonous. Are collected for medicinal use aerial parts, leaving the lower parts. Drying should do so by hot air flow, not exceeding 60 º C, once they are completely free of moisture, should be stored in airtight jars can be kept for a maximum of 2 years.

APPLICATIONS

The plant itself is extremely poisonous, so it is strongly discouraged their use. The pharmaceutical industry itself is capitalizing on its strengths in a rational and controlled, as medicine can be said that this is a good diuretic and cardiac tonic, effects similar to digitalis and squill. Among the active ingredients include a glycoside called adonidósido and adonivernósido, the first of these properties are attributed to heart tonic but is also has more side effects than the second is the one that has a diuretic effect, by dilating blood vessels. They have both a clear advantage over digital is that none accumulates in the body. Al also have a sedative effect on the nervous system are given prescription-always-on rebels coughs, asthma attacks and even seizures. One factor to consider is that this herb glycosides enter the milk of farm animals, so that poisoning by ingestion of the plant may occur by direct consumption or intake of cow's milk or goat that has eaten adonis.

ADMINISTRATION

Is not recommended for home use of this plant, or in a decoction or an infusion. Your prescription and dosage should be left to authorized personnel, ie doctors and pharmacists. In some cases, when a patient has to be a long time treated with digitalis compounds, and to avoid the problems of digital accumulation in the body appears to be permitted by the substitution of digital adonis. Is described in the literature adonis infusion, but since no practical value and can be confusing, not transcribed in this treaty.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Ranunculaceae
HABITAT: Dry grasslands of the Ebro basin
FLOWERING: Spring
PART USED: Aerial parts
CASTILIAN: Ojo de perdiz
CATALAN: Adonis
BASQUE: Adonis

USES

Toxic Strong, Diuretic Moderate, Cardiotonic Leve.