August is the last month of summer when you can harvest plants for healing and making drinks. While some of them can be harvested right up to the end of October, many believe the end of summer is much better. Indeed, if you choose August, you can still collect medicinal herbs in good warm weather, combining this event with a family picnic or a joint search for mushrooms.

What herbs are harvested in August

First you need to determine which herbs can be harvested in August. Indeed, many plants have already lost their properties by this time. In general, the list of medicinal plants is quite extensive, but many of them are very specific, or grow only in some regions.

Harvesting herbs in August

  • Valerian officinalis (cat herb).

The culture belongs to the Honeysuckle family. Several species grow in Russia: Lugovaya, Russkaya, Volzhskaya valerian. They differ slightly in appearance, but they all have healing properties.

  • Hawthorn is red.

The plant belongs to the Rosaceae family. There are about 300 species in the world. They differ in the shape of bushes, leaves, berries, flowers. Many crops have medicinal properties.

Attention! Several varieties of hawthorn grow in the Far East. The main five and hybrids. All of them have medicinal qualities and are used for medical purposes.

  • Stinging nettle.

This is a representative of the Nettle family. Varieties differ in height and slightly in appearance. For example, stinging nettle (50 cm), hemp nettle (70 cm). All varieties are medicinal.

  • Burdock.

The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family. There are 10 types of burdocks. They almost do not differ from each other (the size of plants, the size of the baskets, the structure and shape of the leaves may be slightly different). Almost all varieties are used in medicine.

  • The sequence is three-part.

The plant belongs to the Astrov family. Several of the most common varieties have similar medicinal properties (hairy train, radial train, drooping train). All of them are only slightly different in appearance, used for medicinal purposes.

  • The plantain is large.

This is a representative of the Podorozhnikov family. There is also a plantain lanceolate. It differs from its counterpart in lanceolate leaves, fruits (two-nested capsules). Both types are used in medicine.

Drying herbs

Table. The collection of medicinal herbs in August is a herbal guide.

PlantShort descriptionReproductionWhere it grows
ValerianHerbaceous, perennial plant. Height (0.4 - 2 m.). Its rhizome is short (3 cm), thick (2 cm), inside it is hollow, has cord-like, long roots.Seeds, dividing tubers, rhizomes.This herbaceous plant grows in nature in almost all regions of Russia. The exception is arid regions, northern territories. You can meet him in forests, undergrowth, along river banks, next to swamps, on mountain slopes.
Stems are straight, furrowed, hollow, branched at the top. Leaves are pinnate, opposite, whole or large-toothed, have 5-11 pairs of leaves. Flowers are small, pale pink, fragrant. They are collected in thyroid panicles. Fruits are ovoid seeds, have crests. Blooms (July - August).
Hawthorn redLarge shrub or tree.Leaves are simple, pinnately cut or lobed-toothed. The flowers are white. They are collected from false shields. Fruits are red, orange, black, edible.Seeds, cuttings,Grows singly, in groups in clearings, forest edges, clearings, talus, near rivers, and occasionally in sparse forests.
Blooms (May - June).layering, grafting with root shoots.
NettleHerbaceous, perennial plant. Its rhizome is thin, creeping. Stems are strong, straight, ribbed. They are covered with simple, short, stinging hairs. The leaves are petiolate, elliptical-heart-shaped or ovate, large, serrated, opposite. Flowers are small, unisexual. They are collected in spike-shaped hanging inflorescences. Fruits - ovoid, elliptical nuts of yellowish-gray tonesSeeds, rhizomes.It grows almost everywhere in vegetable gardens, streets, landfills, roadsides, forests, and urban environments.
BurdockHerbaceous, biennial plant. Its roots are thick, fusiform, long (1.5 m), penetrate deeply. Leaves are basal, large, ovate. The plates are smooth on top, gray-felt on the back. The flowers are tubular and have purple-purple corollas. They are collected in spherical baskets.SeedsIt grows everywhere. In vegetable gardens, glades, forest edges, next to housing, on the streets, in places rich in nitrogen.
SuccessionHerbaceous annual plant. Its root is thin, branched, reddish stems, straight (height 90 cm). Leaves are three or five-part, have short winged petioles. Serrated leaf plates. The middle leaves are larger than the lateral ones.Seeds.Grows in gardens, streets, meadows, ditches, thickets. And also in swamps, along the shores of lakes, rivers, ponds.
The flowers are yellow. They are collected in baskets.
PlantainPerennial herb. Its root is shortened. Small adventitious roots grow from it in bundles. They go deeper into the ground by 20 cm and more. Stems are arrow-shaped, straight, naked, drooping (height 60 cm). The leaves are wide, ovoid. They are collected in root sockets. Peduncles are erect, ascending, flowers are small.Seeds, root processes.It grows everywhere, on the streets, in gardens, in yards. And also in fields, forests, meadows, shade, in sunny places.

Healing properties of plants

Valerian

The rhizomes and roots of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. They make juice, oil, tincture from them. In cooking, salads are prepared from the leaves, roots are added to soups, marinades.

Stimulates the work of the heart, blood vessels, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It adds strength, relieves muscle, vascular spasms, lowers blood pressure, calms the heartbeat, heart pain, convulsions, improves the digestive tract.

Attention! Valerian preparations increase blood clotting. This is undesirable for the elderly. There may be a risk of stroke, heart attack.

Hawthorn red

Berries contain vitamins (A, K, C, E, B), flavonoids, essential oils, organic acids. And also starch, fructose, choline, sorbitol, pectin.

Reduces blood pressure, cholesterol levels, strengthens nerves, capillaries, normalizes heart function. And also dilates blood vessels, improves blood circulation, has a mild diuretic (diuretic) effect. Teas, decoctions, tinctures are prepared from the plant.

Nettle

Normalizes the functioning of the liver, bladder. It has a beneficial effect on the female body. Relieves pain during menstruation, stabilizes the cycle. The herb stops bleeding. Prevents hair loss.

Decoctions, infusions, teas are made from herb. Used for cosmetic purposes - masks for the skin of the face, body.

Herbal decoction

Burdock

The plant has the following medicinal properties: cleanses blood vessels, improves metabolism, digestion, prevents atherosclerosis, suppresses cancer cells.

Burdock is used for female diseases, various cysts, rheumatism, chronic constipation. They treat gout, allergies, asthma. The plant can relieve inflammation, heal wounds.

Decoctions, tinctures, oils, ointments are prepared from it.Juice is made from the leaves and roots of burdock.

Attention! Those who want to prepare medicinal herbs should remember that it is not advisable to collect shoots near busy highways. The potential harm may outweigh the benefits of such an herb.

Succession

The herb lowers blood pressure, relieves swelling, normalizes metabolism, appetite, reduces fever, heals purulent wounds. As well as diabetes, bronchitis, cystitis, joint diseases, allergies, it has a choleretic effect.

Herbal decoctions, infusions are prepared from it, and added to the fees. They are used in cosmetology.

Plantain

It normalizes blood cholesterol, dilutes phlegm (in the throat), regulates the formation of gastric juice, lowers blood pressure, and soothes the nerves. The plant has an expectorant, wound healing effect.

They treat sore throats, colds, acute respiratory viral infections, dysentery, gastrointestinal diseases (without complications). Used for weight loss, in cosmetology.

They make juice, syrup, oil, broth from plantain.

Raw material procurement rules

The collection of herbs in August should be carried out in clear, dry weather. You need to go to nature for herbs after the dew has melted (until 11 am). The leaves are harvested before flowering.

Storage of dried herbs

Important! It is not recommended to harvest herbs in the heat. During the sunshine, valuable essential oils of plants are lost.

It is necessary to collect separately flowers, inflorescences, apical greens with flowers (length 10 - 15 cm). Their disclosure should be at the level of 20 - 30%. Or they are harvested during the period of active budding. Otherwise, plants will not be able to get all of their essential oils completely.

In wet weather, during the rain, it is permissible to dig out the rhizomes and harvest the roots. The collected raw materials are placed in wide fabric bags, baskets. They should be well ventilated and not rotten.

How to dry and store

First of all, the brought plants are sorted out - healthy, whole, clean specimens are selected. In this case, the aboveground parts of the plants are not washed. The raw materials are laid out on paper or fabric. Or hung neatly in bundles. Dried in a darkened place that is well ventilated (canopy, attic, shed). The grass mass needs to be stirred periodically so that the process goes evenly.

Important! The dried plants are left in bunches or crushed as desired. Store the dried product in linen bags, paper bags, glass jars (up to 5 years).

"August" plants can take their rightful place in the home medicine cabinet. However, a lover of natural medicines must remember the rules for collection, preparation and storage. At the same time, it is important to observe decency - to collect grass so as not to harm nature and only to the extent that is really necessary.