Burdock (burdock) is a plant of the family Asteraceae. The root is fusiform, thick, branched, grows 15 m deep. 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. A fruit is a small achene that ripens in August. In this article, we consider where burdock grows, medicinal properties and contraindications to the use of plants, etc.
Places of growth and species
In total there are 11 species of burdock. 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 by Russian troops. It is found on fairly heavy soils in our country; it can also form thickets along roadsides, banks of water bodies, in ravines, and in landfills. Some varieties are used for domestic purposes.
Burdock root: medicinal properties, application
Burdock is one of the plants most actively used in folk medicine. Basically, its root has healing properties, but leaves and fruits are also used. Leaves are harvested in summer, with roots being harvested in autumn. But if the plant is more than 2 years old, then roots can be harvested in late spring. The use of burdock is due to the presence in it of various useful substances, among which:
- tannins;
- proteins;
- vitamins B, A, E and C;
- inulin;
- polysaccharide;
- sitosterol and stigmasterol;
- palmitic and stearic saturated fatty acids;
- essential oils;
- trace elements - strontium, iron, zinc, manganese, boron, copper, tin.
The healing properties of burdock and recipes of traditional medicine
The healing properties of the root of the plant have long been known. The root has a diaphoretic, choleretic, moderate laxative, diuretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It also stimulates the pancreas, cleanses the intestines, 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.
On its basis, drugs are produced that are used for wounds, diabetes and inflammation. Inulin, which is abundant in the plant, normalizes the number of white blood cells in the blood, improves metabolism, accelerates hair growth, and also prevents the deposition of salts and the formation of stones in the gall bladder and kidneys.
In addition, burdock root is considered the main component of some tinctures and decoctions, which are used to eliminate a variety of diseases and symptoms. These include:
- biliary dyskinesia, chronic pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, impaired liver function;
- peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, gastritis, gastropathy;
- ulcers on the skin, 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 prophylaxis 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, it is used to add shine, strength, and strengthen hair.
Bowel disease
All sorts of disturbances in the intestines, including colitis and constipation, can be cured with a decoction of burdock, as well as using the seeds of burdock, the healing properties of which are time-tested. To do this, they need to pour 2 cups of boiling water and set aside in a cool place for 12 hours. Then the infusion must be filtered and drunk after eating.
Stomach ulcer
The healing properties of burdock root (burdock) can cure a stomach ulcer and chronic gastritis. To start, the roots must be thoroughly rinsed, and then eat raw. It should be borne in mind that all the useful substances of the plant are stored for a very short time, therefore, it must be consumed as quickly as possible, immediately after digging it out.
Oncology Prevention
Burdock, the medicinal properties of which 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 in equal proportions honey, burdock root and medical alcohol. 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 a plant. After applying the remedy, the patient should go to the steam room for 30 minutes and drink in small sips a glass of decoction from the roots of burdock. This drink enhances perspiration. In this case, you can not leave the steam room until the patient is completely dry. If thirst occurs, you can use whey. Next, ointment should be applied to the aching joints again and gently bandaged. Such procedures are best done before bedtime.
It is very simple to make an ointment: the ground roots of a burdock 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 respond well to treatment, if you use an infusion or decoction of burdock. To make an infusion, you need seeds of burdock, the healing properties of which are multifaceted, pour boiling water, stand for 12 hours and apply several times a day. In order to prepare a decoction, you also need a spoonful of plant seeds, which should be poured with boiling water. The mixture warms up 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 overnight, and in the morning the mixture is boiled for 5 minutes. Next, the infusion should be filtered and applied five times a day in an incomplete glass.
Skin diseases
Burdock, the medicinal properties of which are described above, improves the condition of human skin. It will take 2 parts of burdock root and part of the leaves of the soapwort, smoky and black elderberry. The resulting mixture is poured with cool water, infused for 2 hours, boiled for 10 minutes and carefully filtered. The finished infusion is drunk twice a day between meals for six weeks.
Hair strengthening
A decoction of willow bark and burdock roots strengthens the hair follicles, eliminates dandruff and fungus, cures scalp itching. For its preparation, the components are taken in equal amounts. In addition, burdock oil is widely used to slow down the process of baldness, to strengthen hair.
Also, burdock, whose medicinal properties are discussed in this article, helps with such ailments as stomatitis, inflammation of the gums, sebaceous glands, various types of lichen, and foot fungus.
How to make burdock oil yourself
Effective and effective oil can be made at home on their own. To do this, grind a fresh burdock, the healing properties of which are described in the article above, take 3 tablespoons of the obtained powder and pour it with vegetable oil, preferably olive. Leave the resulting mixture for a day. After this time, put the infusion to cook for 15 minutes, then cool. It must be stored in a cool place. This oil helps strengthen hair and quickly heal wounds.
Burdock in cooking
Burdock root has a wide variety of medicinal properties, as we found in this article. But it is also possible to cook delicious jam, especially useful for 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 pour in the rugged roots of the plant. The product is fully ready for use after 2 hours.
In countries where burdock is cultivated, second and first courses are also prepared from it.
Leaf soup
For him you will need:
- 80 g of onions;
- 300 g of burdock leaves;
- 200 g of potatoes;
- 40 g of rice and fat;
- salt and spices.
First you need to cook rice and potatoes. 10 minutes before cooking, chopped burdock leaves and sauteed onions are added to the soup.
Contraindications
You can hear that burdock has various 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 a part of multicomponent medicines, in which some ingredients actually have contraindications.