Melilot yellow has an amazing smell of coumarin. This biennial plant belongs to the legume family. Sometimes plants exceed 2 m in height. Stem - branched, slightly pubescent, straight. Flowers - small, yellow, moth, located on short pedicels. They are collected in axillary brushes. On each such brush there are up to 70 drooping flowers. Yellow clover blooms from early summer to September, and the seeds ripen until late autumn. The plant propagates by seeds. It is found almost everywhere. It grows along the edges, along roads, in ravines, in shrubs, upland meadows. Prefers fresh and dry soils.
The generic name of this plant goes back to the Greek name meaning "honey clover." It always attracts a huge number of honey bees. The sugar content in the nectar of yellow clover exceeds the same indicator of white clover 1.5-2 times. Some beekeepers, in order to obtain clover honey in large quantities, mow the plants during the period of mass flowering, thereby prolonging its duration.
Medicinal raw material is the entire herbaceous part of the plant. It is harvested during the period of mass flowering, cutting off the side shoots and tops. When harvesting raw materials, do not cut off coarse and thick stems. You can not collect it along the roads. Raw materials need to be procured after dew in dry weather. Collected wet, it warms and darkens. The collected grass is immediately sent for drying.
Medicinal sweet clover grass , information about which is quite complete, unfortunately, is rarely in demand among consumers, since few people know about its beneficial properties. The biological activity of this plant is justified by the presence of coumarin. This substance is able to increase systolic blood pressure, can increase the volume of the heart and the number of leukocytes, improve peripheral and blood supply, as well as blood circulation in the abdominal cavity.
Yellow clover in folk medicine was used in flatulence as a hemostatic and emollient. There is evidence of the use of this plant for the treatment of epidemic encephalitis. This herb is used as a laxative. She is included in various emollient charges. Decoctions and infusions from sweet clover are used for flatulence, respiratory tract diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension. It is often used as an expectorant, diuretic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, sedative, hypotensive, analgesic.
The use of sweet clover as an external agent in case of furunculosis, abscesses, mastitis, malignant tumors, and rheumatism of joints gives an excellent result. For external use, decoctions and infusions from this herb are used. Usually they make compresses, baths, rinses, lotions, poultices, plasters.
Although Melilotus officinalis is an excellent medicinal plant, it has many contraindications. It should not be given to pregnant women with poor blood clotting or bleeding. Like any medicine, sweet clover yellow requires careful dosage.
When taking this herb, side effects can also occur. Taking the drug in large quantities depresses the nervous system, negatively affects smooth muscles. Prolonged use of clover and its overdose cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, liver damage, drowsiness, hemorrhage, and paralysis of the nervous system.
The therapeutic use of sweet clover can be carried out only after consultation with a doctor and under his direct control.