Burdock (burdock) is a plant of the Compositae family. The root is fusiform, thick, branched, grows to a depth of 15 m. The stem is very powerful, appears in the 2nd year of life, reaching a height of 3 m. The leaves are large. The flowers are lilac-purple, small, collected in small baskets. The fruit is small achenes that ripen in August. In this article, we will consider where burdock grows, medicinal properties and contraindications for the use of the plant, etc.
Locations and species
There are 11 types of burdock in total. Its habitat includes the temperate zone of Asia and Europe, as well as the British Isles and Japan. In America, burdock (burdock), the medicinal properties of which will be described in the article below, prefers fertile soils. This plant was brought to Europe during the war of 1812.years by Russian troops. In our country, it occurs on fairly heavy soils, and can also form thickets along roadsides, banks of water bodies, in ravines, and in garbage dumps. Some varieties are used for economic purposes.
Burdock root: medicinal properties, uses
Burdock is one of the most widely used plants in folk medicine. Basically, its root has healing properties, but leaves and fruits are also used. The leaves are harvested in the summer, while the roots are harvested in the fall. But if the plant is more than 2 years old, then you can collect the roots in late spring. The use of burdock is due to the presence of various useful substances in it, including:
- tannins;
- proteins;
- vitamins B, A, E and C;
- inulin;
- polysaccharide;
- sitosterol and stigmasterol;
- palmitic and stearic saturated fatty acids;
- essential oils;
- microelements - strontium, iron, zinc, manganese, boron, copper, tin.
Healing properties of burdock and traditional medicine recipes
The healing properties of the root of the plant have been known for a long time. The root has a diaphoretic, choleretic, mild laxative, diuretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It also stimulates the pancreas, cleanses the intestines, and has a good effect on the general condition of the skin. Burdock root is an excellent disinfectant and antiseptic, eliminates itching and allergies, destroys microbes.
It is used to produce drugs that are used for wounds, diabetes and inflammation. Inulin, which is found in abundance in the plant, normalizes the number of leukocytes in the blood, improves metabolism, accelerates hair growth, and also prevents the deposition of s alts and the formation of stones in the gallbladder and kidneys.
In addition, burdock root is considered the main component of some tinctures and decoctions that are used to eliminate a variety of diseases and symptoms. These include:
- biliary dyskinesia, chronic pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, liver dysfunction;
- gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastritis, gastropathy;
- skin ulcers, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea, furunculosis, poorly healing wounds, acne, burns, trophic ulcers;
- cystitis, urethritis, edema, urolithiasis;
- rickets in a child;
- failure of uric acid metabolism, gout;
- as a detoxifying, antipyretic agent for infectious diseases, febrile conditions;
- hemorrhoids;
- for the treatment and prevention of diabetes;
- as a prevention of malignant tumors;
- alcohol intoxication, poisoning with toxic substances;
- rheumatism, arthrosis, arthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- in the form of "oil", which is an infusion of olive and almond oils, used to add shine,strength, hair strengthening.
Intestinal diseases
All kinds of disorders in the intestines, including colitis and constipation, can be cured with a decoction of burdock, as well as using burdock seeds, the healing properties of which have been tested by time. To do this, they need to be poured with 2 cups of boiling water and set aside in a cool place for 12 hours. Then the infusion must be filtered and drunk after meals.
Stomach ulcer
Healing properties of burdock root (burdock) can cure stomach ulcers and chronic gastritis. To begin with, the roots must be thoroughly washed, and then eaten raw. It should be taken into account that all the beneficial substances of the plant are stored for a very short time, therefore, it must be consumed as soon as possible, immediately after digging it up.
Cancer Prevention
Burdock, whose medicinal properties are used to eliminate various diseases, in the form of infusion, decoction and powder, can be used when tumor diseases appear. In this case, you need to take honey, burdock root and medical alcohol in equal proportions. This mixture is infused for 2 weeks, then consumed 3 times a day.
Rheumatism, eczema
With eczema and rheumatism, an ointment applied to damaged areas of the skin is very effective. It is made from the young roots of the plant. The patient after applying the remedy should go to the steam room for 30 minutes and drink a glass of decoction from the roots of burdock in small sips. This drink increases perspiration. At the same time, you cannot leave the steam room beforeuntil the patient is completely dry. If you are thirsty, you can use whey. Next, on the sore joints, you need to apply the ointment again and gently bandage it. Such procedures are best done before bedtime.
Ointment is very easy to make: crushed burdock roots are combined with water, then this mixture is boiled until the initial volume is reduced by 2 times. Next, add fresh butter in a ratio of 1:4. Also, the ointment can be used for burns.
Gastritis
Gastritis with high acidity, superficial gastritis responds well to treatment if you use an infusion or decoction of burdock. To make an infusion, you need burdock seeds, the medicinal properties of which are multifaceted, pour boiling water over, hold for 12 hours and apply several times a day. In order to prepare a decoction, you will also need a spoonful of plant seeds, which should be poured with boiling water. The mixture is heated over low heat for 10 minutes, after which it is consumed three times a day.
Diabetes
For diabetics, you can make such a collection, taking all its components in the same proportions: burdock root, bean pods, blueberry leaf. Then fifty grams of this collection is poured with a liter of cold water, insisted during the night, and in the morning the mixture is boiled for 5 minutes. Next, the infusion must be filtered and applied five times a day for an incomplete glass.
Skin diseases
Burdock, the medicinal properties of which are described above, improves the condition of human skin. Would need2 parts burdock root and part soapwort, fumes and black elderberry leaves. The resulting mixture is poured with cool water, infused for 2 hours, boiled for 10 minutes and carefully filtered. Ready infusion is drunk twice a day between meals for six weeks.
Hair strengthening
Decoction of willow bark and burdock roots strengthens hair follicles, eliminates dandruff and fungus, heals itchy scalp. For its preparation, the components are taken in equal quantities. In addition, burdock oil is widely used to slow down the process of baldness, to strengthen hair.
Also, burdock, the medicinal properties of which are discussed in this article, helps with ailments such as stomatitis, inflammation of the gums, sebaceous glands, various types of lichen, foot fungus.
How to make your own burdock oil
Effective and effective oil can be made at home on your own. To do this, you need to grind fresh burdock, the medicinal properties of which are described in the article above, take 3 tablespoons of the resulting powder and pour it with vegetable oil, preferably olive oil. Leave the resulting mixture overnight. After this time, put the infusion to boil for 15 minutes, then cool. It must be stored in a cool place. This oil helps to strengthen the hair and the rapid healing of wounds.
Burdock in cooking
Burdock root has a wide variety of medicinal properties, as we found out in this article. But you can also make a very tasty jam from it, especially he althyfor diabetics. To do this, in half a liter of water you need to dissolve 4 tablespoons of vinegar essence. The mixture is put on fire and, after boiling, the cut roots of the plant are poured. The product is fully ready for use in 2 hours.
In countries where burdock is cultivated, second and first courses are also prepared from it.
Leaf soup
For him you will need:
- 80g onion;
- 300g burdock leaves;
- 200g potatoes;
- 40g each of rice and fat;
- s alt and spices.
First you need to cook rice and potatoes. 10 minutes before cooking, chopped burdock leaves and sautéed onions are added to the soup.
Contraindications
You can hear that burdock has a variety of medicinal properties and contraindications, that it should not be used by lactating and pregnant women. But this is fundamentally wrong. Burdock refers to plants that have no contraindications at all. This opinion appeared due to the fact that burdock is often included in the composition of multicomponent medicinal products, in which some ingredients actually have contraindications for use.
