Flowers when Ivan and Marya blooms. Maryannik oak forest, or Ivan-da-Marya. Properties and application of Ivan-da-Marya

The tradition of collecting healing and magical herbs for the Kupala holiday has existed for a very long time. A certain abbot of the Pskov Eleazar Monastery, Panfil, wrote to Dmitry Vladimirovich of Rostov around 1505 that on the eve of John the Baptist (which coincides with Kupala or the summer solstice), men and women walk through meadows, fields, forests and swamps in search of “mortal flowers”, “on destruction by man and cattle,” “here and there they dig up divia rooting for the indulgence of their husbands: and all this they do with the action of the devil on the day of the Forerunners with the sentences of Sotanin.” That there is a description of the collection of medicinal herbs by herbalists and ordinary people.

Slavic traditions

Herbs that have magical properties include: thorn grass, fern, or kochedednik, tirlich-lichomannik, weeping grass, Adam's head dope, swamp cabbage roll, rhubarb, overpowering grass, strawberry, transfer, na-sleep, gap-grass, flight -grass, Ivan-da-Marya, rosewort, thistle, plantain, burdock, bathhouse, bear's ear, rich, Chernobyl, buttercup, archilin, ant oil, copperhead, or chicken blindness and Peter's cross. According to legends, medicinal herbs are grown by mermaids and mavkas, who know all their medicinal properties. According to Belarusian belief, Kupala herbs are most healing if they are collected by “old and young”, that is, old people and children - as the most pure (not sexually active, not having monthly cleanses, etc.). Ukrainian girls always picked wormwood, because they believed that witches and mermaids were afraid of it. Wormwood was worn on a belt, woven into wreaths, and stuck into the walls of houses and gates to block the path of witches.

Greens were used as a universal amulet: it was believed that it protected against diseases and epidemics, the evil eye and damage; from sorcerers and witches, evil spirits, “walking” dead; from natural lightning, hurricane, fire; from snakes and predatory animals, insect pests, worms. Along with this, contact with fresh herbs was also interpreted as a magical remedy that ensures fertility and successful breeding of livestock, poultry, productivity of cereals and garden crops.

They tried to collect herbs early in the morning on Midsummer's Day before sunrise, since, according to legend, only those plants that the sun does not have time to illuminate retain their healing properties (Bulgarian, Bel., Ukrainian). It is at this time that “every grass asks to be picked and reveals its own healing power" They collected not only healing herbs, but also amulets plants (nettle, wormwood, branches of thorny bushes), as well as herbs and flowers intended for fortune telling, for ritual wreaths and bouquets, plants for making brooms, brooms, baskets.

The “Discharge Books” contain records of a number of ancient legal cases involving such herbalists. It was enough to find an unknown root or a bunch of unknown grass on someone for it to be given the meaning of malicious intent. The “witches” caught on the eve of Midsummer were tortured and beaten with batogs, so that “it would not be common practice to carry and collect herbs and roots.”

General information about the plant Ivan da Marya

Mariannik Dubravny (Melampyrum nemorosum L.) – annual herbaceous plant with pubescent stem. Leaves are opposite, ovate-lanceolate. The flowers are light yellow, two-lipped, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. The fruit is an ovoid capsule. The seeds are large, oblong, brown or almost black. Plant height – 15-60 cm.

The plant stands out for its particularly striking contrast of blue bracts and bright yellow corollas. It is very decorative, which is why it often attracted the attention of painters and poets, but when picked into bouquets it quickly fades. The flowers of Ivan da Marya produce nectar abundantly and are rightfully considered a good honey plant.

Name Ivan da Marya in different areas can be given to several (different) herbaceous plants, the flowers of which (or the upper parts of the entire plant) are distinguished by the presence of two sharply different colors, most often yellow and blue or purple. Most often, the word Ivan-da-Marya is used to refer specifically to oak grove, and less often to tricolor violet. Even less commonly, this name is given to meadow sage and periwinkle - they also have two distinctly different colors.

Oakwood maryannik is found in the northern, middle and southwestern zones of the European part of Russia. It grows in forest clearings (sometimes in large areas), forest edges, hills, in thickets of bushes, swampy meadows and chalk slopes. The most common plant in our meadows, glades and edges of deciduous forests, where it blooms from late spring to early autumn (May-September).

Magic properties

Among the Eastern Slavs, the Ivan-da-Marya flower was a symbol of Kupala celebrations. In many places among Russians it is also known under the names “Kupala flower”, “kupavka”, “swimsuit”, “Ivankovsky flower”. Belarusians call it “brother and sister” and “crying flower,” and Ukrainians call it “brothers.”

The origin of this flower among the Eastern Slavs and some peoples neighboring them - Poles, Lithuanians - is associated with the folklore motive of punishing a brother and sister for incest - incestuous marriage. Thus, the Russians have a popular belief about the transformation of a brother and sister who entered into a forbidden relationship into a flower, which, according to their names - Ivan and Marya, became known as Ivan-da-Marya. Ukrainians and Poles have widespread legends with a similar plot: a brother and sister, separated in childhood, walked around the world for a long time, and when they met, they did not recognize each other, got married and only later learned that they were brother and sister. From shame and grief they turned into grass, the flowers of which are blue and yellow color. In the folklore of all Eastern Slavs there are ballads and songs that tell how a brother and sister almost got married or were already married, but before the wedding night they learned about their relationship:

And on Sunday they got married,

On Monday they went to bed.

He began to torture the kid,

What kind of girl is she?

“I’m Voitovna from Kyiv, Father Karpovna!”

The girl began to torture

What kind of kid is this:

“I’m from Kyiv, Voitovich, According to Father Karpovich!”

“Oh, where was that guy?

For a sister to marry her brother?

A sister will not marry her brother,

But brother doesn’t take sister!

We'll go to the field

We'll throw off the grass

What about brother and sister!”

These ballads were most often used as Kupala songs. The involuntary violation of the marriage ban, found in ritual songs on this subject, correlates with popular stories that on Kupala night in ancient times the bans on marriage were lifted. love relationship between all men and women. This custom also explains the fact that incestuous motifs are most common in Kupala songs. For example, the Kupala song plot about a brother who wants to kill his seductress sister was widespread. Another song emphasizes that the initiative in suggesting incest belongs to the sister:

Konik is walking

Voronenky.

On that horse<…>

Ivan is sitting

Marya is behind him<…>

He runs after:

"Wait, Ivan<…>

I'll say something!<…>

Love you<…>

I'll go with you!

I'll make a wish<…>

Three riddles.

And what grows<…>

Without root?

What's burning?<…>

Without a flame?

What's running?<…>

With no reason?"

This song contains an archaic motive for solving riddles of a cosmogonic nature (in this case, the solution is stone, soot, water), which in mythopoetic texts is related to the theme of testing for knowledge indicating readiness for marriage.

Having compared the folklore and ritual material of the Eastern Slavs with the mythologies of other peoples, the researchers came to the conclusion that the basis of legends, beliefs, Kupala songs about incest, including texts about the origin of the Ivan da Marya flower, is the archaic myth of twins, one of which - Ivan - is associated with life and fire, and the other - Marya - with death and water. Their relationship in ritual songs correlates with the ancient motif of the marriage duel of fire and water, that is, precisely those opposing natural elements that were of paramount importance in the Kupala ritual.

Songs about the origin of the Ivan da Marya flower, associated with the violation of the marriage ban between brother and sister, were sung on Kupala night until the wheel burned out and the ritual fire died out.

In Ukrainian beliefs, this flower is a symbol of salvation from the love of people close by blood. The Russians used ivan-da-marya, along with some other herbs, to make wreaths - maiden headdresses for the Kupala holiday. Throwing these wreaths into the water, the girls wondered about their fate: if the wreath washed back to the shore, it would mean they would remain girls this year; will sail to the other shore - to marriage; Well, if the wreath sinks, the fortuneteller will die. In the St. Petersburg province, girls, performing a ritual ablution on the day of Ivan Kupala, entered the water with Ivan da Marya flowers and released them: if the flower sank, it foreshadowed death.

Like other herbs, the Ivan-da-Marya flower on the day of the summer solstice, when nature reached its greatest flowering, had, according to popular beliefs, magical power, which the peasants tried to take advantage of. Everywhere on the day of Agrafena Bathing and Ivan Kupala, herbs and flowers were collected in forests and fields. As a rule, girls and young women who married in this year. In the Pskov province, they walked across the field in a “row” - holding hands, five or six people - and, collecting plants, they always sang:

Let's go, girls, to the meadow,

Let's stand around, girls,

Let's pick a flower,

Let's put on a wreath,

Where should we take them?

We'll dress the brides.

In some places, boys also went shopping for herbs with the girls. Plants, among which the Ivan-da-Marya flower was the most common, were brought to the village in large armfuls. They were scattered on the floor in churches, dwellings and on the ground in courtyards, placed near windows and near icons. These plants were considered the best remedy from various troubles. During a thunderstorm, the preserved grass was thrown into the oven to protect the house from lightning strikes, that is, from the elements of fire. The Ivan da Marya flower, picked on Kupala night, was placed in the corners of the hut: according to legend, this helps to avoid theft. A thief will not enter a house where there is Ivan da Marya, because “brother and sister will talk; the thief will imagine that the master is talking to the mistress.” In the Belarusian tradition, this flower - “brother-sister” - was used as a healing agent: on Kupala morning it was given to cows so that they would be prosperous. Here they believed that it helps with cough. In Polesie, until the second half of the 20th century, children were bathed with the same herb, called here “brothers”, so that they could sleep well.

Fern flower

Description

First the facts. Ferns are a department of very ancient plants, rich in their diversity (more than 10 thousand species). Ferns reproduce by spores and

by vegetative means (shoots). The controversy is on back side leaves and are quite inconspicuous. Some types of ferns produce an arrow with spores, which resembles an inflorescence, but not a single flower. Ferns are also poisonous. In hot summer weather, the air in the forest is saturated with vapors. Perhaps they cause various auditory and visual hallucinations.

Legends about the fern flower

Ferns have always attracted interest and even caused some fear among people. They were considered special, mysterious and hidden plants, unlike all the others. He was always hiding something, grew up in dim, damp, scary places and, apparently, kept some kind of secret knowledge within himself.

People were attracted by the mystery of these plants, the mystery of their reproduction in the absence of flowers. All plants bloom, but this one does not - that means it is special, marked with mystery. So legends about ferns, tales, and fairy tales begin to arise around. In them - a modest inhabitant of forests and endows with those properties that a person has not observed in reality - the fern blooms, but not simply, but magically.

The legend about the fern is well known, in which a magical flower blooms once a year on the night of Ivan Kupala. In the ancient Slavic tradition, the fern became known as magical plant. According to legend, it was at Kupala midnight that the fern bloomed briefly and the earth opened up, making visible the treasures and treasures hidden in it.

After midnight, those who were lucky enough to find a fern flower ran in their mother's clothes through the dewy grass and bathed in the river to receive fertility from the earth.

According to the legend about the fern, at midnight before Midsummer, the fern blooms for a few moments with a bright fiery flower with magical properties. Around midnight, a bud suddenly appears from the leaves of the fern, which, rising higher and higher, then sways, then stops - and suddenly staggers, turns over and jumps. Exactly at midnight, a ripened bud bursts with a bang, and a bright fiery flower is presented to the eyes, so bright that it is impossible to look at it; an invisible hand tears it off, and a person almost never manages to do this. Whoever finds a blossoming fern and manages to take possession of it acquires the power to command everyone.

In the story “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” N.V. Gogol talked about an old folk legend, according to which once a year a fern flower blooms, and whoever picks it will get a treasure and get rich. N.V. Gogol in “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” describes the flowering of fern as follows: “Look, a small flower bud turns red and, as if alive, moves. Really wonderful! It moves and gets bigger and bigger and turns red like a hot coal. A star flashed, something quietly crackled, and the flower unfolded before his eyes like a flame, illuminating others around it.” "Now it's time!" - Petro thought and extended his hand... Closing his eyes, he pulled the stem, and the flower remained in his hands. Everything has calmed down..."

He picked a fern flower and threw it up, adding special slander. The flower floated in the air and landed just above the place where the fabulous treasure was kept.

In Rus', fern was called gap-grass. It was believed that one touch of a fern flower was enough to open any lock. According to legend, picking a fern flower is very difficult and dangerous. It was believed that a fern flower, immediately after blooming, is plucked by the hand of an invisible spirit. And if someone dares to go pick a fern flower, the spirits will bring horrors and fears upon him, and may take him away with them.

In Russia there was such a legend about fern:“The shepherd was grazing bulls near the forest and fell asleep. Waking up at night and seeing that there were no bulls near him, he ran into the forest to look for them. While running through the forest, I accidentally ran into some growth that had just blossomed. The shepherd, not noticing this grass, ran straight across it. At this time, he accidentally knocked down a flower with his foot, which fell into his shoe. Then he became happy and immediately found the bulls. Not knowing what was in his shoe and without taking off his shoes for several days, the shepherd in this short time saved money and learned about the future. Meanwhile, earth was poured into the shoe during this time. The shepherd, taking off his shoes, began to shake the earth out of his shoe and, along with the earth, shook out the flower of the fern. From that time on, he lost his happiness, lost his money and did not recognize the future.”

Associated with this plant beautiful legends. According to one of them, in the place where a beautiful girl fell from a cliff, a clean spring arose, and her hair turned into fern. Other legends about the fern connect its origin with the goddess of love and beauty Venus: a wonderful plant grew from a hair she dropped. One of its types is called adiantum - Venus hair.

The widespread legend about the fiery flower of the fern, which had to be found on the night of Ivan Kupala, is associated with the male shield fern, but the female shield fern also received its share in this ancient ritual. Since tribal primitive times, female nomad was considered a “reliable” and powerful “witch’s root”.

The peasants of the Vologda region have long had a belief that if on the night of Ivan Kupala you find a large female fern, sit patiently near it, without moving and covered with a thick cloth, you can learn all the secrets of forest herbs and medicinal plants. Allegedly, after some time one will be able to see in the twilight of a not very dark northern night how all the medicinal herbs will run past the female fern one after another, each one will identify itself and say what disease it helps against.

When to look for a fern flower?

Everything looks simple here. It blooms on the night of Ivan Kupala. This means you should look for it on the night of July 6-7. Not so! Some argue that Kupala is celebrated on July 7, and you need to look for it on the night of the holiday, therefore, the right night is from July 7 to 8. In addition, according to the old style, this holiday fell on June 23-24, which corresponds to the legend about Perun’s color. Around this period, from June 20 to June 26, the summer solstice falls, and it is on these days that Ivan Kupala is celebrated in other countries. With the transition to a new style the holiday shifted by 2 weeks, and apparently they forgot to warn the sun, so

The summer solstice is considered to be June 22. Moreover, it must be taken into account that the holiday of Ivan Kupala arose as a result of the combination of the pagan holiday of Kupala and the Christian celebration of the birthday of John the Baptist (July 22). So you have to decide for yourself when to look.

Where to look?

It's clear. Where the fern grows. But it is unlikely that a fern in a flowerpot from your windowsill or from summer cottage. Need a wild fern. Appearance it has enough character that you are unlikely to confuse it with any other plant. Ferns are quite unpretentious; they just need to be warm and damp. That's why they grow in forests, swamps, and near rivers. But you still have to go into the forest, and into the most remote part of it.

How to look for a fern flower?

The answer suggests itself - carefully. Although some versions of the legend claim that you need to draw a magic circle near the fern with a knife, which will protect you from evil spirits, sit in it and patiently wait for the flower to appear. It will bloom exactly at midnight and will bloom... for some time. According to various sources - from one moment to the whole night. It is not clear what this flower looks like. Some say that it is a large red, “fiery” flower, others say it is silver, and others say it is a small white flower. Everyone agrees on only one thing - this flower glows. This is where its other names came from: luminous color, adonis, heat-color, color-light. This means that it will not be so difficult to see it at night. They just say it will be scary. The evil spirits will try in every possible way to scare you with visions, various sounds, and may even call you by name. The ideas of our ancestors about this are described by Gogol in “May Night”. They also claim that this flower has some kind of special guardian, whose purpose is to prevent you from picking the treasured flower.

What to do next?

The flower must be picked quickly. Suddenly it still blooms only for an instant. Then, by various sources, hide and run, or carefully carry in your palms. The main thing is not to look back. Or, according to other sources, sit in a outlined circle, waiting for the morning. It is unclear what to do with him next. Apparently, dry it and store it in a home herbarium. One of the legends says that you need to throw a flower into the river and make a wish.

Why is it even needed?

The owner of a fern flower gains a lot of superpowers. He will be able to do virtually everything: understand the language of animals, see treasures through the thickness of the earth, become invisible, instantly be transported from place to place (teleport), be invulnerable, command spirits, in addition, all his wishes will come true. All this will last as long as the fern flower is in your hands. And there will be enough people willing to take this flower from you, both among people and among representatives of evil spirits.

It just so happens that many have heard about the Ivan da Marya flower, but few have any idea about it. But the contrasting beauty of this plant can become a highlight in any garden. And besides, the flower will be at hand if the need arises to use it medicinal properties. The article will help you understand the features of the medicinal plant, and the attached photos will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the flower.

Ivan da Marya: legends and traditions

Knowledge about the Ivan da Marya flower goes back centuries. In pagan times, the Slavic ancestors called the flower Kupala da Mavka. Only with the advent of Christianity did it acquire a new name, which has survived to this day.

According to East Slavic myths, a brother and sister lived in this world - Kupala and Kostroma, separated by chance and parental disobedience in childhood. Many years later, an unfortunate incident brought them together again, but they did not know about their relationship and fell in love with each other. And only after the wedding they learned that their hearts were connected by forbidden love. The bitter truth forced the brother and sister to choose between death and shame. They chose death - Kostroma drowned herself in the depths of a forest lake, and became the first Mavka mermaid, and Kupala threw herself into the heat of the fire.

The gods, looking at such a tragedy, took pity and turned the brother and sister into beautiful flower- partly blue, like water, partly yellow, like fire. With the advent of Christianity, Kupala was renamed Ivan (in honor of John the Baptist), and Mavka, his unfortunate sister, was named Maria, in honor of the Mother of God.

Medicinal plant in natural conditions

Rumor imparts magic to a two-faced flower, picked on the day of the summer solstice (on the holiday of Kupala):

helps a person carrying it with him to escape persecution;
the owner of a marvelous plant will be able to move quickly, even if there is an old nag under him (in modern interpretation will provide assistance to the racer on any car);
freshly squeezed plant juice was given to drink to people who had lost their memory or reason;
keeping a mystical plant in the house helps protect the home from evil intentions and spirits;
acts as the keeper of peace between husband and wife.

Botanical features of the Ivan-da-Marya flower

An annual herbaceous plant from the extensive Norichinaceae family, preferring partial shade in forests and groves. From this family to middle lane There are two species that grow in Russia: oak grove Maryannik and meadow Maryannik.

It grows in height from 10 to 50 cm. Moreover, the height of the maryannik directly depends on which plant it is “joined” to.
The pointed lanceolate leaves of Ivan da Marya are located opposite each other on an erect stem. Inner side leaves are equipped with short hairs.
The two-lipped flowers are yellow, and the upper woolly-toothed stipules (they are not flowers) are colored blue.
Flowering lasts from June to September.
Ivan-da-Marya intensively produces nectar, being an excellent honey plant.
It propagates mainly by seed. The spread of the plant is facilitated by ants, who love to feast on juicy seeds and take them away.

Attention! Cows cannot be grazed in the areas where Ivan da Marya grows, because The plant is poisonous and is rich in glycosides. Milk from cows that have eaten maryannik will be bitter and unpleasant in taste.

Preparation and pharmacological properties

In official medicine, preparations containing the Ivan da Marya flower are not used. However, folk healers use maryannik in their medicinal potions, using recipes that have come down to this day from time immemorial.

For the preparation, all aboveground part Ivan da Marya, including its fruits. During the flowering period, the plant is either pulled out with the root or cut off. Then the medicinal raw materials are dried in the shade or in any room with access fresh air, expanding thin layer on a dry surface, or hanging in bunches. Dried flowers of Ivan da Marya are stored in a dry room with good ventilation for 2 years in cloth bags.

The Ivan da Marya flower is rich in flavonoids and organic acids.

Attention! Marianberry seeds contain the glycoside rhinanthin (aucuban), which is toxic.

The medicinal plant has the following effects:

sedative (acts like tranquilizers);
anticonvulsant;
hypotensive;
wound healing;
anti-inflammatory;
has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Ivan-da-Marya: indications for use

IN folk medicine maryannik is widely used to treat scrofula (in the modern interpretation, a type of atopic dermatitis in children). The long-standing use of the plant for the treatment of this disease is evidenced by one of folk names flower - Scrofulus. For this skin lesion, Ivan-da-Marya is used externally - the child is washed in a decoction or lotions are made.

Healers use dry, crushed marianberry grass as a wound-healing and antiseptic agent, preventing putrefactive processes. In the form of an infusion, Ivan-da-Marya is used internally for hypertension and heart disease. Herbal tea provides relief from neuralgia and epilepsy.

However, you should not begin treatment without consulting an experienced herbalist. In case of violation of the dosage and regimen of taking Ivan-da-Marya, the following manifestations are possible:

discomfort or pain in the stomach;
nausea, vomiting;
irritability;
drowsiness;
slow heart rate;
decreased heart rate;
weakness.

If one or more of the above symptoms appear, you must stop using Ivan da Marya, rinse your stomach and seek medical advice. medical care. It would not be superfluous to recall that Ivan da Marya belongs to poisonous plants, and oral use by pregnant women and children is strictly contraindicated.

Many people have known from childhood what the Ivan da Marya flower looks like, others have simply heard about it, but have never seen it. But what kind of plant is this, and why did it get such a name? It will also be useful to consider how it is used in folk medicine, and what beneficial properties Ivan da Marya has.

Flower: description and other names

This plant can go by different folk “names”, such as jaundice, zheltyanitsa, Ivan's grass, linden, marksman's grass, meadow bellweed and Ivan-da-Marya. But these are not all names, since this herb is long years attracted the attention of many people who happily gave her new “nicknames”. But scientifically it is referred to as the oak forest maryannik from the maryannik genus, the norichnikov family. But among the people, the name Ivan da Marya mostly stuck.

The flower (photo shown above) is an annual and can grow from 15 to 60 centimeters. Its stems are drooping, its leaves are pointed and green. The bright yellow flowers are collected in several inflorescences, each of them has a two-humped, irregular shape. The flowers are decorated with serrated purple bracts. After flowering, a small ovoid fruit appears. The oblong seeds ripen in the capsule and acquire a brown, almost black tone. They are food for forest game. Due to the abundant secretion of nectar, the flower is classified as a honey plant.

"Character" of the plant

Why was it called Ivan da Marya?

Most plants do not have such a contrasting color, which is why the Ivan da Marya flower has acquired legends and beliefs. Each nation told its own version of the appearance of the flower, but in every such story there were lovers who wanted to be alone. This one bright flower became a symbol of fidelity. Since ancient times, it was believed that blue is the color of men, and yellow, accordingly, is feminine. But even the names Ivan and Marya were not accidental, because in those days they were the most common and could symbolize any couple in love.

Common Legends

The first story is about two lovers whose names were Ivan and Marya. The couple went into the forest to pick mushrooms. But suddenly clouds came, lightning flashed, and rain poured down. The beautiful Marya was frightened, but Ivan shielded her from the bad weather. After the storm ended, the lovers ran home. After a while, in this place where the guy protected the girl from bad weather, a beautiful yellow flower, and a purple leaf bent over him, which “enveloped” him, just as Ivan shielded Marya.

There is another legend about the Ivan da Marya flower. In one forest lived a shaggy Leshy, who had no friends and frightened passers-by. But one spring he noticed a beautiful yellow violet, which he immediately fell in love with. Her name was Maryushka. The goblin admired her, but the violet did not even look at him. One day he could not stand it and admitted that he was fascinated and asked her to marry him, but Maryushka simply turned away. He promised to collect stars for her, but the beauty said that she did not want anything from him. She loved Ivanushka, who was blooming lilac next to her. And these two violets got married and began to live together on one stem. And the goblin went away to grieve. These are the stories people wrote in past times. But besides the legends, the Ivan da Marya flower is famous for its healing properties.

Medicinal characteristics of the plant

The plant has the ability to have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. Herbalists use a decoction of marianberry to treat stomach and heart diseases. Also, its infusion can be added to baths to get rid of eczema, rheumatism, and skin tuberculosis.

Grass collection

For cooking medicines use all above-ground parts: fruits, flowers, leaves and stems. Plant harvesting begins in May and ends in September. The fruits can be found from July to September. The plant needs to be dried in a ventilated room. After this, it is kept separate from other herbs. It is worth remembering that the plant quickly wastes its healing properties, so its shelf life is 10 months.

Warning

Anyone who decides to use the Ivan da Marya flower for treatment needs to remember that it is poisonous, so it is important to exercise caution, especially when taking the plant internally. The seeds contain aucubin. It can act as a narcotic and also have an irritating effect. This is usually expressed in drowsiness, decreased cardiac activity and weakness. If after using this drug you notice the listed symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Infusion recipes

If you have scabies, a rash or scrofula, you can prepare a decoction that is added to the bath or used for local wiping. To prepare, pour three tablespoons of herbs into a liter of boiling water. You need to leave for two hours, after which the product is filtered.

If a person experiences dizziness, hypertension, epilepsy, heart disease, neuralgia, or problems with the gastrointestinal tract, another infusion of the same herb is prepared. To prepare, a glass of boiling water is poured into a container with a tablespoon of oak grass. After half an hour has passed, the product is filtered. You need to take half a glass twice a day.

In order to heal wounds faster, you can use fresh ground herbs. The powder from Ivan da Marya has the same effect.

If you need to get rid of harmful insects, a decoction of the fruit is prepared.

Ivan da Marya: indoor flower, perennial

Some plant lovers would like to have this beautiful flower in their flower garden. It’s worth saying right away that maryannik is a wild herb. But there are other types indoor flowers, which housewives call Ivan da Marya. It can be noted that they differ in many ways from maryannik. Among such house plants may be tuberous begonia. Ivan da Marya is also called campanula. But she also has another name - “Bride and Groom”. The indoor flower Ivan da Marya (photo shown above) also differs from the real one in that it is perennial and reproduces not only by seeds, but also by cuttings.

In every corner of the world there are religions whose teachings are based on the magic of herbs. Both sorcerers and modern doctors claim that plants have energy and healing properties that have not yet been studied by man. One of the most mysterious herbs is Ivan da Marya.

Our ancestors did not know about doctors and pills. But they improved their health with the gifts of nature. Newborns were bathed in decoctions, girls washed themselves with perfumed water for beauty, and the sick were given tinctures to feel better.

Of course, with progress, some knowledge was forgotten forever. But still some information has survived to this day. Today, herbs help improve health, cleanse the body, and even attract good luck or win the heart of a loved one.

Ivan-da-Marya belongs to the paraphyletic group of plants. Popularly, this flower is also called adam-i-eva, lungwort, brother and sister, yellowwort, copperhead, fireflower, oak grass, yellowwort, fireweed, meadow bell.

There is a beautiful but tragic story associated with this plant. Legend tells that once upon a time there lived a brother and sister - Ivan and Marya. Fate separated them in childhood. Many years passed and relatives met. The guy and girl immediately fell in love and even decided to get married. Then it opened terrible secret their kinship. In order to never be separated, the young people turned into a beautiful flower. According to another version, this was the Lord’s punishment for the fact that blood relatives got married. Purple and Blue colour symbolize the guy's shirt, and the yellow one symbolizes the girl's scarf.

The Slavs believed: if you collect flowers on the night of the New Year, the plant will protect your home from harm throughout the year. This herb drives away evil spirits, protects the family and increases love between a man and a woman.

The grass is harvested in the summer, during the flowering period. The leaves are dried on outdoors. You can meet this specimen in fields and light forests. The plant is distributed in the European part of Russia, in the steppes of Ukraine and in the Caucasus. Keep the grass away from others medicinal plants. Shelf life 10 months.

Ivan da Marya helps with inflammation. Lungwort is used to heal wounds. It is also used for headaches, stomach diseases and skin problems.

Bath tinctures are made from this specimen. To do this, take 3 tablespoons of chopped, dried grass and pour 1 liter of boiling water. The liquid must be infused for at least two hours. After which the wounds are washed with a decoction.
Treats the plant and epilepsy. 1 spoon of herb is poured into a glass hot water and leave to infuse for half an hour. Then filter and drink one spoon several times a day.

But you should be very careful. If the grass is not prepared correctly, it may contain toxic substances.

It just so happens that many have heard about the Ivan da Marya flower, but few have any idea about it. But the contrasting beauty of this plant can become a highlight in any garden. And besides, the flower will be at hand if the need arises to take advantage of its medicinal properties. The article will help you understand the features of the medicinal plant, and the attached photos will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the flower.

Ivan da Marya: legends and traditions

The gods, looking at such a tragedy, took pity and turned the brother and sister into a beautiful flower - partly blue, like water, partly yellow, like fire. With the advent of Christianity, Kupala was renamed Ivan (in honor of John the Baptist), and Mavka, his unfortunate sister, was named Maria, in honor of the Mother of God.

Medicinal plant in natural conditions

Rumor imparts magic to a two-faced flower, picked on the day of the summer solstice (on the holiday of Kupala):

helps a person carrying it with him to escape persecution;
the owner of a marvelous plant will be able to move quickly, even if there is an old nag under him (in a modern interpretation, it will help a racer in any car);
freshly squeezed plant juice was given to drink to people who had lost their memory or reason;
keeping a mystical plant in the house helps protect the home from evil intentions and spirits;
acts as the keeper of peace between husband and wife.

Botanical features of the Ivan-da-Marya flower

An annual herbaceous plant from the extensive Norichinaceae family, preferring partial shade in forests and groves. From this family, two species grow in central Russia: Oakwood Maryannik and Meadow Maryannik.

It grows in height from 10 to 50 cm. Moreover, the height of the maryannik directly depends on which plant it is “joined” to.
The pointed lanceolate leaves of Ivan da Marya are located opposite each other on an erect stem. The inner side of the leaves is equipped with short hairs.
The two-lipped flowers are yellow, and the upper woolly-toothed stipules (they are not flowers) are colored blue.
Flowering lasts from June to September.
Ivan-da-Marya intensively produces nectar, being an excellent honey plant.
It propagates mainly by seed. The spread of the plant is facilitated by ants, who love to feast on juicy seeds and take them away.

Attention! Cows cannot be grazed in the areas where Ivan da Marya grows, because The plant is poisonous and is rich in glycosides. Milk from cows that have eaten maryannik will be bitter and unpleasant in taste.

Preparation and pharmacological properties

For the preparation of medicinal raw materials, the entire above-ground part of Ivan da Marya, including its fruits, is used. During the flowering period, the plant is either pulled out with the root or cut off. Then the medicinal raw materials are dried in the shade or in any room with access to fresh air, spread out in a thin layer on a dry surface, or hung in bunches. Dried flowers of Ivan da Marya are stored in a dry room with good ventilation for 2 years in cloth bags.

The Ivan da Marya flower is rich in flavonoids and organic acids.

Attention! Marianberry seeds contain the glycoside rhinanthin (aucuban), which is toxic.

The medicinal plant has the following effects:

sedative (acts like tranquilizers);
anticonvulsant;
hypotensive;
wound healing;
anti-inflammatory;
has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Ivan-da-Marya: indications for use

In folk medicine, maryannik is widely used to treat scrofula (in the modern interpretation, a type of atopic dermatitis in children). The long-standing use of the plant for the treatment of this disease is evidenced by one of the popular names of the flower - Scrofulus. For this skin lesion, Ivan-da-Marya is used externally - the child is washed in a decoction or lotions are made.

However, you should not begin treatment without consulting an experienced herbalist. In case of violation of the dosage and regimen of taking Ivan-da-Marya, the following manifestations are possible:

discomfort or pain in the stomach;
nausea, vomiting;
irritability;
drowsiness;
slow heart rate;
decreased heart rate;
weakness.

If one or more of the above symptoms appear, you must stop using Ivan da Marya, rinse your stomach and seek medical help. It would not be amiss to recall that Ivan-da-Marya is a poisonous plant, and oral use by pregnant women and children is strictly contraindicated.