In recent years, herbal medicine has become popular again. For the most part, the vainly forgotten, but still effective, plants given to us by nature return to the list of medicinal herbs. The whole world knows about miraculous ginseng. Many people have heard about the healing properties of herbs such as St. John's wort, oregano, lime blossom, plantain, and chamomile. Decoctions, infusions of them are often prescribed by attending physicians, supplementing herbal medicine with a course of treatment with chemical preparations. But what about the healing and other beneficial properties of a plant called fenugreek? "What is it?" - most likely will be heard in response.
In Latin Trigonélla, and in Russian fenugreek
IN
the Bobov family is the Motylkov subfamily, which includes the Fenugreek family. The photo is unlikely to remind you of a meeting with an inconspicuous plant in a meadow or field. Fenugreek got its name from the old Russian word “pasture” - pasture. Most likely, the plant was called by shepherds, who watched cattle with pleasure eating the thickets, especially dried up. Cows significantly increase in milk yield. Therefore, zealous owners, preparing hay for the winter, are satisfied if it contains fenugreek stalks. This feature is noted by botanists who gave the name to the most common species - such as fenugreek hay. It has long been familiar to folk healers like Greek hay or the Greek nomad, Phoenigreck grass, cocked hat, blue clover, gunba. In countries with natural ranges of fenugreek, people have used it since ancient times, passing on theoretical knowledge and practical skills from generation to generation.
Plant description
The life span of fenugreek from seedlings to wilt is only one summer. A rounded hollow stem about a meter high, branching at the top. The leaves are small, triple, like clover, in the sinuses of which umbellate (or racemiform), sometimes single yellow inflorescences sit. It blooms from May to June. Hay fenugreek (all elements of the plant) has a specific odor. Fruits (small light brown seeds of a prismatic form in thin pods up to 10 cm long) ripen in July-August. They taste sweet with a slight bitterness, nutty aftertaste and aroma.
Where is fenugreek used?
What is this plant and where can I apply it? Firstly, it is healing. Unripe, but more often ripe seeds are used, less often - fenugreek blooming grass. It is part of anabolic drugs for sports nutrition. Scientists have proven that fenugreek, the use of which has been used by alternative medicine since ancient times, has a therapeutic effect today: anti-inflammatory, regenerative, laxative and diuretic, hypoglycemic, anti-sclerotic, anabolic.
Secondly, the beans are edible, spicy and gustatory qualities of which are used in national cooking. In India and Egypt, fenugreek is adored. In these countries, much more is known about the plant than in Russia. There are natural habitats or cultivated plantations on which fenugreek grows. A photo of the vast sown areas in one of the areas of India is given below. Only there it is called differently. This is Utskho Suneli (Georgia), the chaman (Armenia), the Fenugreek in Greece, Germany, the Helba in Egypt, and in India - Shambhala or Methi.
Useful properties and composition of the fenugreek plant
The use of traditional medicine in the treatment of many diseases is due to the presence of biologically active ingredients in them. Why is fenugreek useful? Let us consider in detail its chemical and biological composition.
In the composition of seeds found:
- Proteins consisting of essential amino acids that serve as building materials for the human body.
- Steroidal saponins: diosgenin (enhances the body's production of sex hormones - progesterone and pregnenolone, which protect pregnancy and regulate menstruation, and in the male body are a counterweight to estrogens seeking to convert a male figure into a female one; in pharmacology, for the synthesis of cortisone - a catabolic hormone to amino acids, glycogen to glucose; dioscin (has a weak anti-cancer effect). Contains small amounts of other saponins. They soften the thickened they show an expectorant effect.
- Flavonoids: Vitexin - expands the bed of blood vessels, strengthens the walls of capillaries; isovitexin - strengthens the nervous system; vicenin - protects cells from radiation and oxidation; Luteolin - protection against cancer, allergies, aging.
- Trigonellinum. This substance, named after trigonella, is how fenugreek sounds in Latin. What is this Alkaloid first discovered in this particular plant. Its hypoglycemic and hypocholesterol effect is beneficial - a decrease in blood sugar and cholesterol.
- Choline (vitamin B4) - improves memory, is important for the nervous system, lowers blood sugar, prevents fat accumulation in the liver and regulates lipid (fat) metabolism in the body.
- Carotenoids. Fenugreek is a source of vitamin A, which provides the growth of epithelial cells lining all body cavities, starting from the nasopharynx and ending with the urogenital tract. Promotes the immune system, beneficial effect on vision.
- Plant mucus - envelops the inflamed areas of the internal cavities of the body, protecting them from irritation.
- Bitterness is a storehouse of health: enhances the production of hormones in the pancreas, activates the production of bile, enhances intestinal remodeling, helps the hormonal system, boosts immunity, lowers cholesterol, removes toxins, normalizes kidney function, boosts metabolism, and eliminates cravings for sweets. “That sweet cripples, then bitterness will cure”), promotes quick satiation with food, reduces weight, enhances blood formation, gives strength.
- Fatty oil is a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular oleic, linoleic and linolenic (regulators of many vital processes in the body), a supplier of vitamin E (antioxidant, protects body cells from oxidation, a carcinogen blocker in the stomach, supports muscle activity and preserves the skin, promotes regeneration cells).
- Essential (aromatic) oil - in ancient times used for embalming, is now used for massage.
- Phenolic compounds. The most noticeable are coumarins enclosed in fenugreek. What is it? Anticoagulants that prevent thrombosis.
Microcomponents:
- potassium (to balance water and salts, activates enzymes, is part of the cells of the body, nerves and brain);
- zinc (an activator of enzymes and a DNA synthesizer, for growth and normal development, supports immunity and a sense of taste and smell);
- sodium (a regulator of acid-water balance, normalizes blood pressure);
- calcium (blood coagulation enhancer, heart rate regulator, supports the structure of bones and tooth enamel, muscles need them to reduce them, to produce hormones and enzymes, a signal transmitter of the nervous system);
- copper (a key element of the collagen of the skin and all connective tissues, is necessary for pregnant women in the process of fetal development, heals wounds);
- Manganese (for the metabolism of glucose and cholesterol, keeps the skin, bones and cartilage healthy);
- phosphorus (in combination with calcium forms bones and teeth, in which the content of the element is 85%, the essential mineral is part of the cells and nucleic acid in the genes);
- magnesium (a sought-after element - performs more than three hundred biochemical functions; relaxes muscles, stabilizes the heart rhythm, synthesizes proteins, preparing them for use by the body).
Fenugreek in medicine
For centuries, in Asian and Western European countries, this plant is considered a cure for thousands of diseases. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia has added fenugreek seeds to its list of medicines. New scientific studies confirm the healing power of the plant.
Currently, an acute shortage of plant materials containing steroidal saponins has drawn the attention of pharmacologists to fenugreek, the use of which is possible to obtain cortisone and diosgenin - drugs.
Women's Healer
Due to the high content of phytoestrogens, fenugreek is considered a female medicine. Healers prescribe to take seeds in the last month of pregnancy and after childbirth. Fenugreek for lactation is the first choice. It promotes the formation in the pituitary gland of the lactogenic hormone prolactin, which is manifested by an increase in the mammary glands and a rush of milk in large volumes. A sufficient amount of the same hormone prevents pregnancy during breastfeeding.
Massaging the breast with olive oil with the addition of essential fenugreek increases the volume of the mammary glands.
It facilitates painful menstruation and helps women during menopause to overcome the unpleasant sensations of hot flashes.
For men
The Chinese use fenugreek (grass and seeds) in cases of male impotence. Regular (but not excessive!) Seed intake increases libido and enhances orgasm.
Good for everyone
In Bulgaria, fenugreek seeds have long been used to restore strength.
Yellow tea is popular in Egypt, which promotes thermoregulation: in the heat it cools and reduces perspiration, improves mood. It is an antipyretic and expectorant for colds and pulmonary diseases. It liquefies sputum well.
Regular intake of seed powder strengthens the body. The work of the gastrointestinal tract is facilitated, intestinal motility is intensified. Used in powder for swelling - fenugreek eliminates the fermentation of food.
Helps reduce weight to obese people.
From a decoction of grass or seeds, baths are made with sweating of the legs. Lubricating calluses with essential oil heals them.
Poultice poultices of seed powder with the addition of vinegar soften abscesses. A dressing made of warm gruel, but without vinegar, cleans open purulent ulcers, heals skin diseases, neuralgia, and relieves inflammation in the joints.
Seed powder and fenugreek oil cleanse the body of cholesterol, resulting in lower blood pressure. Helps reduce weight to obese people.
Fenugreek for hair (rubbing gruel in the roots, wetting the strands with infusion) is an excellent way to get rid of dandruff and baldness.
Eating sprouts of germinated grains, young shoots, infusion from seeds has an insulin-like effect - sugar levels reduce not only stevia, Jerusalem artichoke, bean leaves, but also fenugreek.
Recipes
Infusion: 2 tbsp. l seed pour a glass of boiling water. After 5 hours of infusion, the liquid is drained. Inside - ½ cup 3 times a day. The same infusion treat damaged hair by rubbing liquid into the roots.
Kashitsa: prepared from 2 tbsp. l seeds, filled with half a glass of boiling water - heated in a water bath until the water evaporates completely and gruel is formed. Or fenugreek powder is diluted with boiling water.
Egyptian yellow tea (Helba): rinse fenugreek seeds; measure with a teaspoon of grain (1 teaspoon is enough for a glass), which are poured into a saucepan and poured with boiling water, boiled over low heat for 7-8 minutes, then the liquid is drained - this is tea whose unusual taste is supplemented with honey, lemon, ginger.
Contraindications
Men do not need to get involved in fenugreek immensely. Women need the advice of a gynecologist. For pregnant women until the last month of bearing a child and for those who have a high level of estrogen, fenugreek is clearly contraindicated.
Reviews
Helba yellow tea is a miracle. The Arabs easily cope with the hot dry winds - they drink yellow tea instead of water. In addition, it is nutritious, reduces the feeling of hunger, gives vitality and good mood.
Regular drinking of fenugreek infusion in the last month of pregnancy and during feeding has a positive effect on the quantity and quality of breast milk.
Adding fenugreek seeds (slightly fried) or powder from them as a spice to various dishes improves their taste, adding piquancy.
Here is such a wonderful healer, this fenugreek. Reviews of his power are numerous. This is really a medicine of nature, even if not from a thousand, but from 100 diseases - that's for sure.
For centuries, this plant has been considered a cure for many diseases in Asian and Western European countries. New scientific studies confirm the healing power of the plant.