An annual plant of common thyroid - a weed, which many have met in gardens and fields, on roadsides. Not everyone knows that traditional healers consider this herb to be a medicinal plant that contains many useful substances that a person needs.
Description
Shiritsa ordinary, beetroot, rubella, amaranth - all these are the names of one plant, which are used in different regions of our country. And thatβs not all: the plant is known as velvet, cocks, axamite. It refers to herbaceous plants with small red flowers that gather in inflorescences - dense, spike-paniculate, rather long. The flowers of common thyroid are preserved on the plant for several months.
This is an ancient plant that began to be cultivated in South America as a grain crop. In Spain, it was considered a flower of evil spirits, because it was forbidden there. The common shiritsa appeared in Europe in the 16th century, and in Russia in the 19th century. In Sweden, a special order for shiritsa was even established.
This is an annual herbaceous plant with a tall thick stalk up to one meter high with oblong-lanceolate, alternate, pointed leaves covered with purplish-red spots. Flowering begins in August with small flowers that gather in panicle-shaped spike-shaped inflorescences. Common shiritsa blooms to the very frosts.
The seeds of the plant are shiny small grains of black color. To date, about a hundred species of plants belonging to this family are known that grow in moderately warm regions. Most of them are weeds.
Some types of shiritsa are a valuable food crop. Today, decorative varieties that decorate garden plots in autumn are bred. The dried flowers of this plant evoke pleasant memories of summer on a long, cold winter. Translated from Greek, amaranth translates as "unfading flower." In vivo, amaranth can be found in China and India.
Application of shiritsa
In many countries of Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa, shiritsa is classified as a feed and medicinal plant. From grains make flour and confectionery, drinks. Fresh and dried leaves are fried, steamed and canned. In Asian cuisine, grass is used as a delicious vitamin supplement to salads, fish, and meat. In Greek cuisine, shiritsa shoots are poured with olive oil, lemon juice is added and used as a side dish for fish dishes.
In folk medicine, germinated grains are used as a means to strengthen the body. Chinese healers with the help of oil from the seeds of thyme treat tumors and fight against aging. Shiritsa oil contains a unique element of squalene (we will talk more about it below). Shiritsa vulgaris seeds are recommended to be used as additives in dietary products: bakery products, cereals, confectionery and pasta.
Shiritsa flour has biological value, is a source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamins C and PP. It does not contain gluten and may well become the basis of the diet for patients with celiac disease, without the addition of wheat flour. In Russia, this plant is grown as a decorative and for animal feed. Once in the garden, field, common shiritsa, the photo of which you can see in this article, is growing rapidly. It is considered a weed, which is very difficult to fight.
Shiritsa vulgaris: useful properties
Despite the fact that shiritsa, or amaranth, is a weed plant, and before it was most often used to feed livestock, people eventually noticed its beneficial properties and began to use it for treatment. Each part of the common shiritsa has a rich biological and chemical composition:
- proteins, including albumin and globulins;
- fats
- dietary fiber (fiber);
- carbohydrates;
- tocotrienol form of vitamin E;
- carbohydrates;
- squalene;
- amino acid lysine;
- flavonoids (rutin, quercetin and trefoline);
- phospholipids;
- vitamin C;
- B vitamins;
- retinol (vitamin A);
- niacin;
- pectins.
The plant contains a huge amount of micro and macro elements: calcium and potassium, manganese and magnesium, fluorine and sodium, zinc and iron, copper and selenium. The leaves and seeds of common thyroid contain a fatty oil saturated with bound acids (oleic, stearic, linoleic, palmitic). The roots contain:
- amarantine;
- iso-quarantine;
- isobetanine;
- betanin;
- alkaloids.
Squalene
It is especially necessary to dwell on this substance, which is part of the plant. Squalene is a triterpene hydrocarbon belonging to the group of carotenoids. Its feature is to help with the saturation of body cells with oxygen.
Taking an active part in the metabolism, squalene affects cholesterol. Moreover, it has antimicrobial properties. This substance is often used in cosmetology. Its pronounced anti-aging properties are used in the production of anti-aging cosmetics.
Shiritsa vulgaris: medicinal properties
Due to its rich vitamin and mineral composition and high energy value, traditional healers and doctors of traditional medicine actively use this amazing plant in their practice. Drugs based on it are indicated in the treatment of:
- some diseases of the genitourinary system;
- childhood nocturnal enuresis;
- recovery of the body with anemia, vitamin deficiency and loss of strength;
- pain with hemorrhoids;
- atherosclerosis;
- overweight and obesity;
- diabetes mellitus as a prophylactic;
- neurosis.
How does recovery work?
Decoctions and infusions of the plant are used to treat skin lesions, dental diseases (periodontal disease, stomatitis), and healing of ulcers of the gastrointestinal system. Shiritsa stimulates:
- saturation of organs and tissues with oxygen;
- immune system against viruses;
- the formation and development of cancer cells is prevented;
- blood is cleared of infections;
- heavy metals and toxins are removed;
- visual acuity improves;
- recovery after serious illness and radiation therapy is accelerating;
- regenerative functions are activated.
Shiritsa Recipes
The healing properties of common thyroid are used in many preparations based on this plant. We will introduce you to some of them.
Decoction of the roots
To prepare this remedy, you will need fifteen grams of dry crushed raw materials, which are brewed with boiling water (200 ml). Then a container of grass is placed in a water bath and cooked for thirty minutes. For ten minutes, the composition is allowed to cool and filter. Take the drug in a third of a glass twice a day.
Leaf infusion
Twenty grams of dry leaves pour 250 ml of hot boiled water. Boil a quarter of an hour in a water bath. Forty-five minutes, the product should be infused, after which it should be filtered and you can take the composition of a third glass twice a day.
Infusion of leaves (fresh)
One spoon (tablespoon) of chopped leaves of grass pour 200 ml of boiling water. Wrap the container and let it stand for about forty minutes. Strain and take with a quarter cup of honey for acute pain in the stomach three times a day.
Shiritsa oil
This substance, obtained from grains, is rich in squalene. It contains vitamin D, which is necessary for the full synthesis of the hormone. In addition, it is useful for human skin, has many medicinal properties. Shiritsa seeds are rich in vitamin E - the best antioxidant. Shiritsa oil is superior in all respects to sea buckthorn.
Bath decoction
Blend crushed dry grass (400 g) with two liters of boiling water and boil for another fifteen minutes over low heat. For half an hour, allow the product to infuse and pour it into the bath. Such a therapeutic bath is recommended three times a week for skin diseases. The duration of the procedure is no more than half an hour.
Vodka tincture
Pour dry grass of common thyme (flowers and leaves) with vodka and put in a dark place for two weeks. Strain and take a spoon (teaspoon) diluted in a small amount of water before meals for diseases of the genitourinary system.
Shiritsa juice
With diabetes, gastritis, pain in the liver, folk doctors recommend taking shiritsa juice mixed with homemade sour cream and cream. The juice is prepared as follows. Juice is squeezed from fresh leaves, after passing them through a meat grinder or chopped with a blender. You can use a juicer.
Juice is mixed in a ratio of 1: 1 with cream. It should be taken three times a day in a spoon (tablespoon) after a meal.
Enuresis Treatment
A spoon (tablespoon) of shredded inflorescences of shiritsa together with seeds must be poured with 250 ml of boiling water and put the container for twenty minutes in a water bath. After the specified time, leave the product to cool completely. Then strain and take a spoonful (teaspoonful), washing down with 50 ml of water. Take three times a day thirty minutes before eating and before bedtime. The course of treatment is designed for two weeks.
Anti-aging mixture
This is a unique composition that removes toxins and other harmful substances from the body. To cook it, you will need shiritsa, St. John's wort, birch buds and pharmacy chamomile, one spoonful each (tablespoon). Two spoons of the collection brew 500 ml of boiling water, let the composition brew for three hours and strain it. The mixture is taken twice a day in one glass - in the morning on an empty stomach and at night, adding a spoonful of honey (tea). Before taking the infusion should be heated. Repeated intake of this anti-aging mixture is carried out no earlier than two years later.
Contraindications
Like all medicinal plants, shiritsa has limitations in taking medications based on it. These include:
- cholelithiasis;
- pancreatitis
- celiac enteropathy;
- urolithiasis disease;
- individual intolerance;
- cholecystitis.