Greater burdock or burdock - the name of the same medicinal plant. It is found everywhere in Russia. It is used in cooking and traditional medicine, as well as in pharmaceuticals - for the production of medicinal shampoos, concentrated essential oils and some medicines. It contains many substances that are beneficial to human health.
Plant description
Burdock does not need any special ideas. Almost everyone saw him in his life many times. And if this is not so, then you can see a photo of the big burdock. The picture shows that the leaves, decorated with small carvings, grow from the very center, and up from them stretches a sturdy stalk with inflorescences in the form of a red-pink burdock with many thorns. This burdock loves to cling to everything. The people even thought up a joke about him: “The groom has hooked on you!” It is interesting that there are other names for burdock big: grandfather or burdock. And the Japanese affectionately call him "dovo."
Chemical composition
Greater burdock is rich in fatty acids, essential oils, inulins, glycosides, various vitamins and other beneficial substances. Its leaves contain tannins and ascorbic acid, and the seeds contain various valuable acids and alcohols. The root is almost 80% water. Its composition includes bitter substances, starch, carotene, organic acids. In addition, the beneficial properties of large burdock provide:
- potassium - regulates the work of the heart;
- magnesium - is responsible for metabolism;
- aluminum - needed for the good work of the whole organism;
- Vitamins C and B - strengthen the human immunity.
A small amount of antioxidants, phytocides and tannins, also contained in the composition of large burdock, is enough that the plant could have a healing and healing effect on the body. Calorie burdock is only 10 kcal.
The benefits of burdock
Burdock has many medicinal properties. Medicines created on its basis help to heal wounds and abrasions, lower blood sugar, normalize metabolism, improve hair growth, and promote the removal of stones and excess salt from the body. In addition, they cleanse the blood, have an antipyretic effect for colds, improve the digestive tract, eliminate joint pain, and prevent inflammation of the mucous membranes and the formation of malignant tumors.
Medicines and folk remedies from burdock help with problems with eyes, teeth, urinary system. They allow you to effectively deal with excess weight, various female diseases, signs of skin aging and allergic rashes. Can also be used for chemical poisoning, bites of poisonous snakes and insects. They cope well with various defects of the skin (for example, acne or ulcers).
And burdock is used in the treatment of diabetes, gout, eczema, furunculosis and various liver diseases. It is applicable for ulcers of the duodenum and stomach, cholecystitis, giardiasis, cholongitis, constipation, as it helps to alleviate the symptoms or even completely eliminate these diseases. In addition, many doctors prescribe medications from this plant for urolithiasis, inflammation or joint pain, swelling of various origins, gout, severe dislocations, rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatism.
Burdock root in folk medicine
The root is the most valuable part of the big burdock. It has a choleretic and diuretic effect. It helps well with tooth and joint pain, itching, allergic reactions. Promotes the production of the necessary enzymes. It can be used by people suffering from diabetes. Since it contains inulin, which, after hydrolysis in an acidic medium, turns into fructose. It will be especially useful in this case in combination with lemon, sorrel and other spices. In addition, the valuable properties of burdock root can be classified as its ability to remove kidney stones from the body after ingestion.
The easiest way to use burdock root is as follows: you need to clean it of impurities, rinse, leave it in boiling water for a couple of minutes to eliminate bitterness, grate it on a coarse grater, and put it in the refrigerator. In the future, this gruel can be eaten just like that (it tastes like tominambour) or used to create salads or yoghurts. A similar mixture can help with oncology. It cleanses the blood well of toxins and other harmful substances. Even from the root of burdock, you can create different tinctures and decoctions. They can help with poisoning by alcohol or mercury, the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Many doctors also recommend using the infusion for removing gallstones, getting rid of ulcers and hemorrhoids, treating eczema, diathesis, tonsillitis, as a prophylactic for hair loss. To create it, you need to grind 0.4 kg of burdock root, pour into a thermos, fill it with 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave for 1 hour. Drink 1 tbsp. spoon per day or as directed by your doctor. When taking the infusion externally, it should be applied to the sore spot with a cotton swab.
Other parts of agrimony in medicine
Despite the fact that many people mainly use only burdock roots, other parts of this plant also have healing properties. So, its leaves are often used to improve bile secretion and digestive processes. And also to create special compresses for headaches, joint inflammation, rheumatism. For this purpose, they are simply scalded with boiling water and gently applied to the affected area, wrapped in a warm bandage.
Juice squeezed from young leaves is also useful. It can help eliminate wounds, bedsores, sores and burns. Apply it to a sore spot with a fleece or piece of gauze. The flowers and inflorescences of burdock are used to create an infusion that can help with chronic constipation. To do this, take 20 grams of raw materials, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, insist for 1 hour, and then strain. You need to drink 2-3 tbsp. tablespoons three times a day until complete healing.
The benefits of burdock for women
Young burdock leaves can be used for mastopathy. To do this, they need to be slightly wrinkled by hands, applied to the chest and gently fixed with a bandage. Or just put in a pitted bra. This will eliminate pain and a feeling of fullness, increase the outflow of fluid, cool the skin, reduce cysts and fibromas, and improve the general condition. The constant use of burdock tea allows you to regulate the cycle of menstruation and reduce the pain that occurs during its passage.
With heavy female bleeding, it is very useful to take a decoction created according to this recipe: 5 grams of powder made from burdock root must be poured into a thermos, pour 2 tbsp. boiling water, leave to infuse overnight. Strain, drink for 1 month four times a day, 100 ml each. Pause 10 days. Repeat course if necessary.
The use of burdock for weight loss
Since burdock contains few calories and is able to improve metabolism, nutritionists recommend consuming salads and drinks created on its basis when losing weight. For this purpose, you can also prepare the following infusion: 1.5 tsp. dried burdock herbs mixed with 0.5 tsp. chicory root and 0.5 tsp. dandelion roots. Pour the mass into a thermos, pour 1 cup boiling water. Leave for 1 hour. Drink 50 ml three times a day, 13-15 minutes before meals. Course time is 1 week.
To improve the metabolic process in the body of a woman, and a man too, you can make a salad of finely chopped stalks of burdock, green peas, fresh cucumber and a small amount of vegetable oil. It is better to eat it at night, replacing it with a regular dinner. This should be done within 4-5 days. It is after such a time that you will already notice a positive result.
Burdock in cosmetology
Burdock found its application not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. Its extracts are included in many creams, masks, shampoos and other products necessary for hair and skin care. At home, special masks are created from the leaves of this plant. For example, with the appearance of various rashes on the skin of the face, you can make a special mixture. To do this, in 0.5 liters of milk you need to put 6 pieces of small leaves of burdock, cook for 20 minutes on low heat. Remove the mixture from the stove, allow to cool. Then get the leaves and put on the face. Hold for 15 minutes and remove. Wash with warm water. The result will be noticeable in 1-2 days.
Burdock ointment for burns
Traditional healers often prepare a special ointment from the roots and leaves of burdock in order to get rid of burns and traces of frostbite. To do this, rinse and clean 30 grams of young leaves and a whole burdock root, boil for half an hour. Mix with 150 g of melted butter. Apply to the affected area at least once a day. It is worth noting that this tool also helps with baldness. If you want to stop the loss, you need to gently rub it into the roots of the hair.
The secret to cooking burdock oil
Famous burdock oil is created from burdock root. It can be used to nourish and strengthen hair, prevent and eliminate various skin diseases (acne, seborrhea, etc.), heal small wounds, and remove skin itch. And also to improve the condition of the skin. Cooking burdock oil at home is not difficult. You need to take the dried roots of burdock, crush them into powder, add almond oil (1: 3), remove in a dark place for 3 weeks. Use as needed. If you want to speed up the process, you can boil the resulting product in a water bath in a day and strain. If you don’t want to spend time cooking, you can go to the pharmacy and buy it inexpensively there.
Burdock leaves to remove salts from the body
The properties of burdock are multifaceted. People who visit the bath often found another use for it. They simply collect leaves of the plant in a bunch, carefully bandage them and go to the bathhouse, where they tap themselves with a “bouquet” on different parts of the body. This method allows you to remove toxins and excess salts from the body, helps open pores. For all bath-house fans, for the best cleansing of the breath, you can recommend the following procedure: pour fresh inflorescences and leaves of burdock with boiling water and put in the far corner of the bath-house. When carrying out water procedures, inhale deeply and exhale quietly. Do this at least once a week. You will immediately feel how health begins to improve.
Contraindications
Describing the medicinal properties and use of large burdock (burdock), one cannot but mention those cases when its use is prohibited. In particular, decoctions and infusions of burdock can not be used for medicinal purposes during pregnancy, hepatic colic and breastfeeding. As well as with individual intolerance and the identification of allergic reactions. In addition, they are prohibited from being used continuously for more than a month. You need to take a break for 2-4 weeks, without this in any way. In any case, before starting any treatment, you should always consult a doctor. Because the use of burdock provokes the removal of salts and stones, and this can be dangerous for the body.
The price of drugs from burdock in a pharmacy
Of course, the properties of large burdock, which is sold through various points of sale, are slightly less than those of freshly harvested and self-made plants. However, when you do not want to mess with the roots and leaves or need a medicine that is difficult to do on your own, fees can be purchased at the pharmacy. Prices for dry roots without additives range from 50 to 80 rubles, for juice from leaves - from 300 rubles per 100 ml, for juice from the spine - up to 1000 rubles for 75 ml of the drug. Burdock oil can be bought for 40-80 rubles. Prices for other beauty and health products from burdock are very different, so there is no point in bringing them. Be healthy!