There are many plants that have a large number of medicinal properties, but have not yet found or almost never found widespread use in official medicine. One of them is the northern morning bedtime mat.
How it looks and where it grows
This is a perennial herb from the Marenov family, the Latin name is “Gálium”, the alternative Russian is “boreal bed-bed”.
It must be said that there are up to four hundred varieties of a bed-bed in the world, most of them, due to their rather bright appearance, are used for decorative purposes, but some — such as the hero of our story today — are used in traditional medicine.
Did you know? Word "Gálium" is derived from the Greek word "gala" (milk), but there are different versions about the connection of the plant with this product. Some researchers claim that the cows that fed on this grass had a characteristic color change, others (and this assumption seems more convincing) believe that our ancestors used the bedstraw as a kind of leaven for milk (under the influence of the grass it was quickened, it was sometimes called "serum grass"). In the Netherlands, by the way, the plant is still used in the manufacture of certain types of cheese.
If we talk about the external description, then the northern bed-bed looks very elegant, especially during flowering. Its strong straight stems sometimes reach a height of 80 cm, although the usual growth of grass is much lower - from 20 cm to half a meter.The plant can have a single stem or form several shoots from one rhizome. The structure of the grass is smooth, sometimes slightly pubescent, on the edges - hard, like sandpaper.
Leaflets are formed by whorls of four pieces (sometimes two or six each), have a narrow oblong shape with a pointed tip and base and three veins. On one stalk can be located from three to eight such whorls.
The sheet plate is covered with vertically standing stiff bristles, due to which the surface feels rather stiff to the touch. Sheet dimensions are approximately 2 cm in length and 0.3 cm in width.
The inflorescence is a panicle, the flowers are white, small in size, very fragrant, thanks to which the plant during the flowering period (second half of summer) is an excellent honey plant and is even called “honey grass” by the people.
The plants that are high-quality honey plants include: hyssop, catnip, horned beetle, phacelia, lemon balm, linden, willow, pear, cherry, viburnum, mountain ash, thyme, bird cherry, dandelion, lungwort, sweet clover, espartret, safflower.
The root system is represented by the main taproot, already in the first year of plant life, growing to 0.3 m deep, and also by lateral horizontal processes.The northern northern bedtime bed propagates as seeds, which by the end of the summer from one plant can form up to a million, as well as root growth.
Did you know? Interestingly, unlike many honey plants, "white gruel" (the northern bedtime bed is sometimes called) does not like livestock very much and prefers to bypass it on pastures. Not so spoiled wild herbivores willingly eat this grass. Even grouse sometimes satisfy hunger with its hard leaves. But in the form of hay the bedstraw is quite successfully used as feed for farm animals.
The distribution area of the grass is the western part of the Eurasian continent, including Siberia, the South Caucasus and north-west Kazakhstan. It can grow both on dry land and on the banks of reservoirs and on meadows lying in river valleys or on mountain slopes.
It is found in sparse mixed and deciduous (birch) forests, on their meadows and forest edges, as well as in shrubs. 
Chemical composition
Each part of this difficult in every respect herbs in its own way is rich and interesting from the point of view of traditional medicine. Let's take a closer look at its composition and dwell on the impact that each component has on the human body.
Let's start, as they say, with the "foundation". In the roots of the northern northern bedstraw found:
- Tannins (most likely, these substances protect the plant from pests and prevent the processes of decay, although this has not been finally confirmed): they have an astringent effect and, therefore, help in healing wounds and stopping internal bleeding, hemorrhoids and heavy menstruation, as well as diarrhea and meteorism ; kill bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract; deduce from the body toxins, slags and even radionuclides; help the absorption of useful substances; have anti-infective and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Flavonoids: strengthen and dilate blood vessels, relieve puffiness, prevent atherosclerosis, lower blood pressure, reduce allergic reactions, improve metabolic processes, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic and antihypoxic properties, help cleanse the body and strengthen the immune system. Like tannins, flavonoids contribute to the excretion of radionuclides, help with the healing of ulcers and wounds, and even help to cope with neoplasms.
- Coumarins: act on the body in different ways, in certain cases can cause serious harm. In particular, these substances are able to thin the blood, reducing its clotting, and, consequently, prevent the formation of blood clots.
- Anthraquinones: have laxative properties and help improve intestinal motility.
- Steroid saponins: strengthen the immune system, inhibit the development of cancer cells, have a powerful antifungal effect, restore breathing, prevent arrhythmia, reduce blood pressure.
Important! Tannins (tannins) in large quantities can slow down the bowels, which leads to constipation, so people with similar problems with the work of the intestines, should be extremely careful when treating with bedbugs in the north.
The above-ground part (stems, leaves, flowers), in addition to the anthraquinones and tannins mentioned above, is also more or less rich in:
- Ascorbic acid. The benefits of vitamin C for the body can talk for hours. It plays an important role in tissue regeneration, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, gums and teeth, protects the body from infections, strengthens and stimulates the immune system, and is also of great importance for the absorption of iron.
- Alkaloids.This group of substances has an ambiguous effect on the body. On the one hand, some of them perfectly anesthetize, soothe, stop bleeding and restore tone, on the other - are poisonous.
- Glycoside cardiac action. As the name suggests, these substances are widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, arrhythmias and heart failure. Overdose can cause severe poisoning.
- Bitter glycosides. In combination with essential oils, also contained in the terrestrial parts of the plant, these substances improve appetite and stimulate digestion, heal wounds, soothe, relieve stress, kill disease-causing bacteria, and also have a diuretic effect and hormonal activity.
- Triterpenoids. These organic acids have tonic and estrogenic effects, increase immunity, improve heart function and have a beneficial effect on blood vessels, especially small ones, heal wounds, kill bacteria and stop inflammatory processes.
- Essential oils. The positive effect of essential oils on the body is wide and diverse. They improve the appetite and promote better absorption of beneficial substances, while harmful ones are removed from the body, strengthen the immune system, rejuvenate, have antioxidant properties, improve brain function and help relieve stress.
- Rennet enzymes. In addition to the ability to curdle milk, these substances also have certain medical properties. In particular, they are indicated for gastritis, enterocolitis, gastroenteritis and other digestive disorders against a background of low acidity.
In a word, it is not surprising that with such a composition the northern bedstraw has found wide application in traditional medicine.
Medicinal properties
From the above described properties of the substances that make up the plant, it becomes apparent that the northern bed-bed has the following properties: wound healing, disinfectant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, tonic, hemostatic, antioxidant, estrogenic, diuretic, sedative and mild laxative.
Derbennik, safflower, needle, asparagus, plecranthus, black chokeberry, celandine, jujube, hops, lavender, cornflower - have a diuretic effect.
In addition, the plant helps to relieve spasm, and also has diaphoretic and choleretic properties.Did you know? In the German-Scandinavian mythology, the supreme goddess, the wife of Odin and the “concurrently” patroness of the official marriage unions Frigga (Frigga, Fria), used soothing herbs to alleviate the condition of the woman during childbirth. According to some versions, "Frigg grass" - this is a bedtime mat (however, other researchers believe that under this legendary plant from Scandinavian myths lies the night violet growing in Iceland).
Herbalists use a bedtime both externally and internally.
If we talk about the first method of application, then with the help of ointments, compresses, lotions, and in certain cases - douching - various skin diseases and pathologies (eczema, boils, boils), as well as skin inflammation, ulcers, wounds, are treated. purulent, bruises and burns.
Interestingly, the plant helps with scrofula in children (in the common people sometimes it is not quite correctly referred to as scrofula), eye diseases, cervical erosion, breast inflammation and even, in certain cases, skin cancer. 
As for internal use, the range of diseases is even wider. Among them:
- heart diseases;
- hypertension, as well as a sharp increase in blood pressure after childbirth (eclampsia);
- dyspnea;
- epilepsy, convulsions, convulsions;
- hemorrhoids;
- peptic ulcer disease;
- gastritis;
- headaches;
- inflammatory processes, colic in the stomach and intestines;
- kidney disease, liver;
- epilepsy;
- malaria;
- pneumonia;
- tuberculosis and other diseases accompanied by a prolonged cough;
- dysentery;
- scurvy;
- rheumatism;
- bone pain;
- gout;
- dropsy;
- hearing impairment;
- photophobia;
- endocrine system pathologies;
- malignant neoplasms;
- women's diseases, in particular, endometritis, the absence of menstruation after childbirth, as well as disorders associated with abnormal secretions of the female genital organs.
The sedative properties of the plant are used by the mothers of naughty children, adding them to the baths in order to calm the baby before bed.Official medicine uses a bedstraw, to put it mildly, not so widely, except as part of the diuretic herbal.
Use in traditional medicine: recipes
Like other medicinal herbs, bedtime north is used in traditional medicine in the form of decoctions, tinctures, and ointments.
Ointment
For the preparation of ointments usually use dried plant inflorescences. They need to grind to a state of powder (it is best to use a blender) and mix with a fatty base to obtain a nearly homogeneous ointment. As fat is usually used conventional butter.
The drug is used as an external agent for the treatment of purulent wounds and burns, cuts and skin diseases. Paste smear on the affected area with a thin layer, as well as the usual pharmacy ointment.
Infusion
In this case, the raw materials are not only flowers, but also leaves of the northern bed-bed. Dried parts of the plant (20 g) pour 0.25 l of boiling water, wrap tightly (you can use a thermos) and insist two to three hours. The present liquid is well filtered. 
Important! The ratio of weight and volume of dry raw materials in medicinal herbs may vary significantly. For example, 2.4 grams of clover will fit in one tablespoon and just 1.1 grams of linden (in both cases, this is an inflorescence). Since herbal teas and infusions are a medicine, and not just a fortifying drink, in their preparation it is best to use pharmaceutical or at least culinary scales, and not to be guided "by eye".
They offer another recipe infusion, it is prepared from dried herbs. Two teaspoons of crushed raw materials are poured with a glass of water, brought to a boil, stewed for a couple of minutes over low heat, then allowed to cool and filter.
The infusion of the bedstraw is taken orally as an antimicrobial and tonic for goiter, scurvy, female inflammation and edema.
Take the drug should be two or three glasses a day (for the prevention of atherosclerosis - 100 ml 3-4 times daily before meals, and in this case, the infusion should be warm).
External infusion is used in the form of lotions for disinfection and healing of wounds, as well as to prevent their decay. 
Decoction
The broth is prepared in a ratio of 20 g of dried flowers and leaves of 0.2 liters of water. Raw materials are filled with boiling water and placed in a water bath. After 20 minutes, the broth is removed from the heat, covered with a lid and allowed to evaporate.
When the liquid has cooled, the amount of medicinal raw materials in it will reach maximum concentration. Now it is enough to strain the broth and bring the resulting amount of liquid to the initial 0.2 l.
It is taken as a diaphoretic, fortifying agent, as well as for stomach diseases, atherosclerosis, and angina pectoris three times a day before meals. Single dose - 100 ml.
Suffering and sweating also cause: tansy balsamic, anemone, cocklebur, plectranthos fragrant, sow thistle, ash, gravilat, cherry, barberry, anise.
Contraindications and harm
Since many components of the plant in large quantities are poisons, it is necessary to use drugs based on it with great care. 
Important! Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under 14 years of bedtime north is contraindicated!Another reason to refrain from such therapy is a predisposition to constipation (we have described in detail the astringent properties of tannins contained in the grass).
Despite the fact that the plant has antitumor activity and the ability to lower blood pressure, people suffering from hypertension, as well as having new-born tumors of unknown nature, cannot self-medicate, and you should always consult a doctor before consuming any medicinal herbs.
Herbal medicine is a part of medical science. In certain cases, this method can really significantly improve the condition of the patient, but can also seriously hurt, if an ignoramus and a charlatan are involved.
The north bedstraw is a storehouse of useful properties, but in inept hands it risks becoming a real poison. Take care of yourself and do not lose common sense, and then any medicinal plant will bring you only benefit! 
