Mylnyanka description of the plant. Soapweed officinalis photo description
Soap flowers - as children we called a plant from the clove family with small white and pink flowers. It was a medicinal soapwort. Moreover, this name is not accidental, because by rubbing the flowers between wet palms we got soapy foam, which could “wash” our hands. It is unlikely that we did this for hygienic reasons - we were interested in the process of lathering without soap.
Then I already learned that the roots of this plant also lather well in water, forming foam, so they are used to make soap and shampoo.
Mylnyanka, what types exist, description
This flower has another, scientific name - saponaria.
There are many types of saponaria (soapwort), but only two of them are most common among gardeners - medicinal (common soapwort) and basil leaf. It must be said that although these plants are close relatives, they are not very similar to each other.
Medicinal (it was with its flowers that we lathered our palms) grows quite high and can reach a height of up to 1 m, its leaves are narrow, long.
Soapweed officinalis, video:
Soapweed officinalis, photo:
And the basil-leaved soapwort has a very small stature, about 15 cm, and oval small leaves.
Basilic Saponaria, Moondust, photo:
Soapweed basil leaf Basil leaf has a bright aroma, and besides, it is a wonderful honey plant, therefore it attracts pollinating insects to the site, without which neither a garden nor a vegetable garden can do. The stems of the basilic-leaved saponaria are reddish in color, but the flowers can be of different colors: white, pink, fuchsia, but always very delicate and fragrant.
Detailed information about the benefits and contraindications of using soapwort, video:
A stately, high medicinal saponaria will decorate a front garden under the windows or a common flower bed, being planted closer to the center.
But the miniature basil is always ready to take its place on an alpine hill or along the paths.
Saponaria, planting and care, photo
Saponaria is sown in early spring or before winter (in October-November). It is often advised to plant a plant in a seedling way, but such difficulties, a waste of time, are completely inappropriate. Soapweed grows well right in the open field: it is not afraid of cold, rain or heat. For abundant flowering, the plant needs only a sunny place, loose earth. If the soil in the area is clayey or black soil, then sand, bone meal or sawdust should be added under the planting of saponaria. Saponaria does not need special care, it tolerates drought well, so it can only be watered occasionally. At the same time, do not forget to remove weeds, loosen the ground. Basic-leaved soapwort tolerates pruning well, the plant can be shaped and shaped into different shapes.
If you pour gravel or expanded clay under the plants, saponaria will only benefit from this, because it easily grows on rocky soils, but weeds, on the contrary, will not like pebbles.
Saponaria grows in one place for about 8 years. It is propagated, if necessary, by seeds or by dividing an adult bush; it blooms for quite a long time from June to September. When it fades, boxes filled with seeds appear on it, which spill out after a while. New plants will grow out of them in the spring. But such self-sowing is not at all a minus, because in winter saponaria often rots, and scattered seeds are a guarantee that the plant will not be transferred. Well, for those who care that the plant does not scatter, they can simply cut off the green part of the saponaria after flowering, along with the still unopened boxes, immature seeds.
Collection and preparation of medicinal saponaria
Saponaria can be used as a medicine (soapwort tea helps with respiratory diseases and bronchitis, liver and stomach diseases are treated with a decoction) and as soap. Harvesting of this useful raw material is started in October. The dug and washed roots are cut into pieces (2-3 cm each) and, after drying, are stored in a dry place.
Beauty, aroma, unpretentiousness, domestic use speak of the benefits of soapwort, so you should not think about planting it for a long time, and you can buy seeds at any gardening store.
Choose any, your flower garden will only win!
Soapweed officinalis 
Basil-leaved soapwort on an alpine hill 
Basil-leaf soapwort in the forest Often in the composition of medicines, hygiene and cosmetics, you can find such a component as a medicinal extract. Let's figure out what kind of plant it is, look at its photo, and also find out what properties it has.
plant description
Saponaria (soap grass) is a plant of the family. This is with a small inflorescence. This flower is used as and can reach a height of up to 90 centimeters. To hold such a tall stem, the plant needs a wide root system. 
The root system is quite powerful and with a color intensity from red to brown. In ancient times, the rhizome of the flower was used to make soap. Therefore, soapwort is also known as soap grass, soap root. You can also find such names as Tatar soap, dog soap and even cuckoo soap.
The plant consists of bare and straight stems. On them are opposite and narrowed at the bottom leaves that grow on short petioles. Saponaria flowers are white to light pink in color.
Flowers are collected in a paniculate inflorescence. The fruits are in an ovoid oblong box. Small dark seeds are in this box. Seeds ripen by August. The soapwort blooms from late to late September. 
A flower is found on the territory of Southern, Eastern and Central Europe, as well as in the Caucasus and Central Asia. This flower can grow on the edges of forests, glades, in thickets, along the banks, not far from residential buildings and even in wastelands. Many cultivate soapwort in their own.
Did you know? Ten types of saponaria grow in the CIS countries, and more than thirty in the Mediterranean.
Chemical composition
The root system of the soapwort is also called red soap root. The composition of the root includes such substances:
- carbohydrates;
- triterpene glycosides.
Among triterpene glycosides The root contains:
- saponarozide;
- saponeroside A;
- saponarasin D;
- saporubin.
In the foliage This plant contains the following substances: - alkaloids;
- ascorbic acid;
- flavonoids.
In turn, from flavonoids in the greenery of the plant there are such subspecies of flavonoids:
- vitexins;
- saponarins;
- saponaretins.
Saponins, which are found throughout the plant (both root and leaves) have surface-active properties. This property allows the formation of a thick and persistent foam.
Beneficial features
This grass nine varieties, including both wild-growing and decoratively bred.
Soap grass extract well removes toxins from the human body, and is also used as an antifungal and anti-inflammatory agent. Soap root also improves metabolism.
The use of soapwort is useful for allergy sufferers who have a reaction to chemicals from shampoos or other cosmetic foaming products, since the plant is anti-allergenic. Also a useful property of soap grass is its ability to establish a fatty skin balance. 
Soap root is a fairly popular remedy that is used for a wide variety of diseases. For these purposes, a special medicinal decoction is used, what it is - we will consider further.
Application in traditional medicine
This plant has a very wide range of uses in traditional medicine. Medicines containing soapwort are recommended for use in such cases:
- angina;
- liver disease;
- diseases of the spleen;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- jaundice;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- constipation;
- furunculosis;
- cough;
- whooping cough;
- laryngitis;
- lichen;
- psoriasis;
- runny nose,
- various polyarthritis;
- rheumatism;
- pharyngitis;
- cholecystitis;
- dropsy;
- scabies;
- gout;
- eczema.
If you regularly wash your hair with a decoction of saponaria, then this prevents baldness. Flower roots are used for diseases such as prostate adenoma, as well as frequent pollutions, prostatitis and cervical cystitis. In traditional medicine, the plant is used in preparations for thinning and expectoration of sputum, with problems of the respiratory tract. Also, preparations from saponaria officinalis act as a laxative for constipation. It can also be used as a diuretic.
Tea
Tea from saponaria, more precisely from its crushed root, is used for obesity. To do this, you need to finely chop 5-10 g of the substance and throw it into a cup of boiling water. Bring soapwort root to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes in a saucepan with a lid.
Leave the tea to infuse for an hour. Drink this tea three times a day, one cup for two weeks. Take a break of 10 days, then repeat the treatment course for a better result a couple more times. 
Also, the flower helps a lot with sore throat. To prepare a medicinal tea against this disease, take the root of soap grass and sage in a ratio of 1: 2, throw 30 g of the mixture of plants into a cup of boiling water, boil for 5-10 minutes and strain. Use this tea as a rinse.
If you have a severe cough, this decoction can help you well. But instead of sage, use soapwort leaves along with the root. Pour the mixture with 200 ml of very hot water, let it brew for 3 hours. Bring the tea to its original volume by adding boiled water, and take this tea twice a day. If the cough is severe, add to tea and make a compress with it.
Decoction
Many recommend using a decoction of this plant for herpes. To do this, take 20 g of root and pour very hot water, boil for 5 minutes over low heat. Use a decoction in compresses on the affected areas.
Did you know? The name of the genus Saponaria comes from the Latin. "sapo", which can be translated as soap, this name is due to the ability of the root to form foam.
A root decoction has also proved to be excellent for rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatism. One teaspoon of the root is enough, which you pour with a cup of boiling water and boil for a quarter of an hour in a water bath. Add boiled water to the broth to get the volume of one glass. Take this decoction in a glass, 4 times a day after meals, for two weeks. After one course of treatment, take a break of 10 days, then repeat the course of treatment one or two more times. 
Infusion
Let's look at how to prepare an infusion of soapwort rhizomes.
Grind to start 5 g of roots. Then pour the roots with a glass of boiling water and let it brew for 4 hours. Take 2 tablespoons of decoction three times a day after meals, with furunculosis and similar diseases.
Important! A large amount of decoction of soapwort can be poisoned, a sign of poisoning will be a sweetish-burning taste in the mouth and a feeling of mucus formation.
Soapweed officinalis- This is a perennial, 30-90 cm high, which is often used as an ornamental plant. In the past, the roots of this plant were used instead of soap, which is why it has such strange names among the people as soap grass, cuckoo soap, dog soap, Tatar soap, soap root, bladderwort and others - white carnation, field carnation, air jasmine, beaver , cocktail, field violet, tractor, jointer, etc.
The plant has numerous long and thin creeping roots, reddish-brown in color, which reaches 35 cm in length. The stem is branched, the leaves are elliptical, short-petiolate, oblong and sharp, with three veins. The flowers are white or pink on short stalks, large, fragrant, collected in a paniculate inflorescence. Fruits in the form of an oblong-ovoid box. Seeds of soapwort officinalis are small, dark in color.
The soapwort blooms in summer, in June-August, the seeds ripen in August.
Soapweed medicinal is widespread in Ukraine, in the south of Russia, in the Caucasus, in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and other countries. It grows along the banks of rivers, on the edges, among thickets, sometimes in wastelands.
For therapeutic purposes, rhizomes with roots, known as the "red soap root", as well as leaves are used. The root is harvested in spring or autumn, but it is better in autumn. It is dug up and cleaned from the ground, washed in cold water, crushed into small pieces of 8-10 cm and dried in the open air in the shade. The shelf life of harvested roots is 3 years.
Soapweed medicinal is an excellent expectorant, as well as antimicrobial, diuretic, choleretic, wound healing, diaphoretic and antirheumatic. Soapwort also has antiviral activity.
Soapwort leaves contain such useful components as saponarin glycoside, ascorbic acid, but the roots are especially valuable, they contain saponarozide, saporubrine and saporubric acid, mucus and pectins.
In folk medicine, an infusion of the roots and leaves of soapwort is used for many diseases: cough, whooping cough, sore throat, runny nose, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, jaundice, diseases of the liver and spleen, cholecystitis, dropsy, gastrointestinal diseases, constipation, furunculosis, scabies, gout, rheumatism, various polyarthritis, psoriasis, lichen, eczema. A decoction of the roots is used to wash the head to prevent hair loss.
Also in folk medicine, soapwort rhizomes are used for prostate adenoma. In a mixture with other herbs, it is used for prostatitis, frequent pollutions and cervical cystitis.
In traditional medicine, preparations are made from soapwort, which are used to thin and expectorate sputum in diseases of the respiratory tract and lungs, as well as a laxative and diuretic.
Baths from a decoction of soapwort roots are taken for purulent wounds, scabies, rheumatism, persistent rashes, for the treatment of lichen, including scaly, eczema and boils.
With sore throats, gargling with a decoction of the soapwort root helps well.
Infusion of soapwort rhizomes : 1 teaspoon of crushed roots pour 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 4 hours and strain. Drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day after meals, with furunculosis and other diseases.
For herpes, a decoction of soapwort and: 20 g of soapwort roots pour 1 cup of boiling water, boil for 5-7 minutes on low heat. Apply for compresses washing the affected areas.
For rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis: 1 teaspoon of chopped root pour 1 glass of water, boiling water can be boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes, then strain. Bring the volume of the broth to the original, i.e. up to 1 cup, adding boiled water. Take 1 glass 4 times a day for 2 weeks, then a 10-day break. Repeat the course 1-2 more times.
For obesity, soapwort, decoction: 1 teaspoon of crushed soapwort root pour 1 glass of water, boil for 15 minutes over low heat in a sealed container. Leave for 1 hour, then strain. Take 1 glass 3 times a day for 15 days, then take a break for 10 days. For a good result, repeat the course 2-3 times.
With angina, it is also effective to use such a collection: we take the roots of the soapwort and the leaves of the medicinal sage in a ratio of 1: 2, then pour 30 g of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes, then strain. Broth to use for rinsing.
Soapweed officinalis, contraindications . The plant is poisonous, so ingestion of large doses of soapwort may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In this case, the reception of soapwort should be stopped immediately.
Total reviews on this topic - 9 Pages - 1
write, who used soapwort for cough, bronchitis? how effective is it?
How to use the root for psoriasis? I really need a recipe!!
For the treatment of psoriasis using soapwort roots, there is such a recipe: soapwort roots, finely chopped and soaked for 5-6 hours in cold water. Periodically (several times) collect and remove the resulting foam, then dry the roots. Next, take 1 tsp. with the top of dry soapwort roots (this is 6 g), pour 200 ml of boiling water, cook for 15 minutes, remove from heat and leave for another 12 hours. Use a decoction in the form of lotions on the affected areas.
There are other recipes for psoriasis with the use of medicinal soapwort, but already herbs: take 3 tbsp. spoon dry and rev. herbs, pour 100 ml of 70% alcohol and leave for 2 weeks. And also make lotions on the affected areas of the skin.
Or, you can also lubricate the pores. plots with fresh celandine juice, slightly diluting the bale. water.
The soapwort flower grows in Europe, on the rocky slopes in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, along the entire Mediterranean coast. The plant is found almost throughout Russia, including Siberia.
As you can see in the photo, the soapwort can be of different heights, depending on the genus. The plant is one-, two-year, perennial. The root system is branched, represented by a rhizome. The stems are strongly branched, ascending, in some varieties lowered. Foliage is opposite, oblong, pointed at the end, tapering towards the base.
The flowers are five-petalled with long stamens, collected in corymbose inflorescences. The color of the petals is purple, pink, white, red. After flowering, a box with fruits ripens.
Mylnyanka is characterized by active growth, unpretentiousness to weather conditions. It is resistant to any diseases and pests. In one place it can grow up to eight years, without losing its attractive appearance.
Varieties
Flowers are very different - there are several dozen species with different habitats. They differ in the height of the stem, the color of the inflorescences, but not all types of this plant are used in floriculture.
It is a perennial up to one meter high. It has elongated leaves, up to twelve centimeters long. The flowers are very fragrant, about three centimeters in diameter, they are usually white or pale pink. The flowering period lasts from July to September.
By the way, the soapwort shown in the photo grows in the form of a bush. It can spread or grow air. In nature, the medicinal species is found throughout Europe, in Asia. Prefers coolness.
Soapwort has been used in flower beds since the seventeenth century. In the same period, people learned about the beneficial properties of the plant. It was used in soap making, cooking, decoctions were made from the roots to treat infections of the respiratory system, and sore joints and eczema were treated. 
basil-leaved species
This variety belongs to perennials. The soapwort flower shown in the photo has oval narrow leaves. Blooms profusely, for a long time. The flowers are fragrant, small, red or pink. The stems of the plant are thin, intertwined, brownish. The species is found in the mountains of Spain, the Alps, in Corsica. Prefers rocky soils, dry pine forests.
There are many types of plants, but medicinal and basil-leaved soapwort are used for growing in garden plots. Other species remain rare and are almost non-existent for sale. Although you can find specimens with double flowers.
Among other types of plants that are not so common, there are: yellow, dwarf, hybrid, sticky species. 
cultivation
Care
From the photo and description of the soapwort, it can be seen that this plant does not need to be fed. However, for more lush flowering, it is recommended to apply phosphate fertilizers once a season. Usually top dressing is carried out in the spring, immediately after the snow melts. If the plant grows in heavy, clay soil, then compost mixed with sand is added to it to improve the composition of the soil. 
Watering
The plant has a high drought tolerance, which is why it does not need to be watered often. In addition, stagnant water should be avoided. It can lead to rotting of the root system. The ideal option is watering once a week. With such a schedule, the soapwort will delight with abundant, lush flowering all summer.
Preparing for the winter
After flowering, the soapwort is pruned. To preserve the decorative effect, the aerial part is shortened by one third. This haircut option will not cause any stress, but, on the contrary, will contribute to the development of a beautiful hat and lush flowering. And to stimulate re-blooming, faded stems should be removed.
The soapwort often freezes the above-ground part, but you should not worry about this. The plant will begin to grow again from seeds that fall into the ground in the fall. If you want to save the mother specimen, then you should cover the soapwort for the winter with spruce branches or covering material. 
Weed removal
Before planting the plant, it is necessary to make a deep digging of the soil, removing all weed roots. After sowing, weeding should be carried out regularly until the young seedlings get stronger. If there is no time for weeding, gravel, small gravel and other mulching material can be used, which is poured between seedlings.
Pests, diseases
The perennial is highly resistant to pests and diseases. However, this plant is often attacked by garden cutworms. She prefers the seed pod. The pest lays its eggs on the shoots. To prevent the plant from dying, it is necessary to collect caterpillars regularly. Insecticides are used against pest larvae.
reproduction
The culture is cultivated in different ways. The easiest and fastest way to get a large plant is to divide the bush. You can carry out the division from the beginning to the end of the summer. Each division should have a good root system and an individual growing point.
New specimens are planted in the ground immediately after division, having previously prepared the beds. To get lush bushes as in the photo, common soapwort and other species are watered moderately in the first two months after transplantation. Thus, the plant adapts faster.
It can be propagated by sowing and self-seeding. The first option is carried out less frequently, since the flowering of the culture obtained by this method occurs only in the second year.
The self-seeding method of propagation involves the natural method of propagation by scattering seeds naturally after flowering. Seeds sprout in spring.
You can get new specimens by cuttings. They are harvested before flowering, from March to May. Rhizomes and lower leaves are removed from the selected stem fragment. Cuttings are planted in separate containers in the ground, creating greenhouse conditions. Periodically ventilate the greenhouse. After the appearance of the first pair of true leaves, it is removed, the plant is accustomed to natural growing conditions. After hardening, the soapwort is planted in a permanent place in open ground. 
Application in landscape design
If you need to properly organize the area between huge stones, decorate the slopes, then you won’t find a better plant. During flowering, it resembles a huge cloud of bright colors. Such islands look perfect against the background of lawn grass, as well as in a curb transformation.
Soapwort is used in the garden to decorate rock gardens, rockeries and other stone compositions. Culture ideally complements multi-level gardens, various architectural compositions. Stems hanging from hills are able to hide unsightly communications, landscape imperfections.
Often the plant is used to set the overall background. Shades of soapwort allow you to emphasize the beauty of peonies, chrysanthemums, roses, iberis, saxifrage and other flowering cultivated plants.
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