Traditional medicine knows many recipes. They use a variety of plants. In order to correctly apply old recipes, you need to know a few nuances. Raw materials for the preparation of medicines must be properly procured. Sunflower leaves are no exception. What beneficial properties a plant has will be discussed below.
Plant features
Sunflower came to our lands from Peru, Mexico. This is a thermophilic plant. It grows in the southern regions on fertile soils. Sunflower also needs proper hydration. This healing plant has long been used in traditional medicine recipes.
Sunflower leaves (photo below) are large, contain many useful components. They have a beneficial effect on the well-being of a person, filling the body with the necessary trace elements.
Sunflower got its name thanks to the bright yellow inflorescences. They resemble the sun itself. The plant is distinguished by a powerful stem, root. Inflorescences turn after the sun. Many residents of our country like to eat sunflower seeds. However, few people know about the benefits of its leaves.
Plant description
Considering the use of sunflower leaves, you should understand the features of this plant. In our area annual varieties grow. They belong to the Astrov family.
Sunflower grows to a height of 4 m. It has a thick, sturdy stem. One or several heads can grow on it. To be able to keep such a large plant in place, the root is large. He firmly holds on to the ground, allowing him to withstand the weather, the wind.
Single inflorescences can reach a diameter of 40 cm or even more. In the middle, the petals are orange in color, and yellow along the edges. Seeds have a tetrahedral shape. The culture is grown on an industrial scale almost all over the world. Sunflower oil is obtained from the seeds. This is a nutritious product that is rich in various vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Seeds
Many are aware of the benefits of the seeds of the presented plant. However, not everyone is aware of the healing properties of sunflower leaves (photo below). Many residents of our country love the seeds of this plant. They are rich in vitamins (A, E, D, F), as well as minerals, amino acids. They also include tannins.
The beneficial properties of the seeds are stored if stored properly for up to 2 years. It is important that they remain peeled. The purified product must be eaten immediately. If the buyer chooses peeled seeds, he must understand that this product is inferior in useful properties.
Oil is made from seeds - a very nutritious product. Sunflower oil is part of many popular recipes. It is able to have a positive effect on various body systems. First of all, it concerns digestion. Also, sunflower oil has a beneficial effect on the vascular system, immunity. It also gives the skin a healthy look.
What else do you need to know about a sunflower?
It should be said that not only sunflower seeds differ in useful properties. During his growth, he manages to accumulate many important elements literally in all parts. The healing properties are different petals, roots and leaves of a sunflower. The healing qualities of these parts of the plant will be more pronounced if properly harvested.
Seeds are distinguished by a higher concentration of nutrients. However, from various diseases, the above parts of the plant are also used. They contain a large amount of pectin, bitterness, resins, glycosides, as well as vitamins. One of the important effects that a sunflower can have on the body is an obstacle to the synthesis of DNA in cancer cells. Therefore, one of the main areas of application of this culture is the prevention and treatment of oncological diseases.
Depending on the recipe in which sunflower is used, as well as a set of additional components, it can be used to get rid of many other diseases. It is able to exert a beneficial effect on almost all body systems.
Leaf description
The description of sunflower leaves indicates a rather large size of this part of the plant. They can reach 15 cm in width and 30 cm in length. Sunflower leaves are heart-shaped, elongated in the center, with sharp edges. The color of healthy leaves is dark green, saturated.
If the plant lacks moisture, the edges of the leaves begin to wither, dry out. In this case, their healing qualities are significantly reduced. Also on healthy leaves should not be plaque, defects. If the plant is damaged by one of the diseases, was susceptible to attack by pests, it should not be procured for medicinal purposes.
To collect high-quality material for the preparation of medicinal mixtures, you need to pay attention to several recommendations. Experts advise tearing medium-sized sheets. Too large or small specimens are not suitable. They are harvested at the end of the flowering process. At this time, the structure of the leaves is tender, soft. It is such plant material that contains many useful components.
How to harvest plant material?
Knowing which leaves of a sunflower are suitable for medicinal purposes, it is necessary to consider storage recommendations. Young plants are rich in vitamins, nutrients. It is important to keep these components in the prepared material. In this case, a large amount of flavonoids, choline, betaine, and also carotene is determined in the leaves. They contain sterols, tannins, resins and other useful components. The leaves also contain rubber.
The collected leaves must be thoroughly dried. They should be collected one at a time, carefully inspecting each instance for defects. Spoiled by insects or ailments leaves can damage their healthy neighbors. The collected material is laid out in the fresh air, in the shade. The drying area should be well ventilated. When the leaves dry out qualitatively, they are collected and put into fabric bags. You can use clean paper (not newspaper) for these purposes.
Beneficial features
Many people do not know how useful sunflower leaves are. It is imperative to consider the effect of plant material on the body. Leaves are used in various recipes. Many other components are added to them. This allows you to enhance the healing effect.
The leaves of this medicinal plant are used in combination with other therapies for various diseases of the liver, gall bladder. They have proven effective in colds, diseases of viral origin.
Many recipes involve the creation of alcohol tinctures from leaves. It helps to improve digestion, increase appetite. A decoction of leaves cleanses the kidneys, eliminates diarrhea, and helps restore the functions of the digestive system. This tool is able to remove salts from the body. This is an effective remedy for urolithiasis and gout (tea is made from leaves to treat this pathology).
Treatment features
The benefits of sunflower leaves will be high if applied correctly. It should be understood that folk recipes cannot replace a full-fledged comprehensive treatment. All of the following agents should be prescribed by a doctor as an addition to the main therapy. Only in this case will the plant benefit.
Most often, the following recipes are used as prophylactic agents. In combination with drugs prescribed by a doctor, they are able to accelerate the healing process. However, with self-medication, benefits can be harmful to health. Therefore, when choosing a herbal remedy, you must always consult your doctor.
Also, do not abuse the treatment of folk formulations. The components that make up the harvested material will accumulate in the body. So that they have time to get out of it, you need to take breaks. If in the process of treatment a person feels bad, you need to stop taking the drug.
Recipes
Sunflower leaves are used in various recipes. The most popular of them will be considered later.
If a person suffers from urolithiasis, he can, in addition to the main treatment, use an infusion of the presented plant material. To do this, take 1 cup of dry leaves, pour 3 liters of boiling water. The remedy is infused for three days. Next you need to drink 1 liter of infusion per day. The treatment in this case lasts no longer than 2 months, and you need to take breaks.
If there is no appetite, eating disorders or a high fever, tea can be brewed. Dry leaves should be mixed with sunflower petals. 1 tablespoon of the mixture is poured with a glass of boiling water. This is an effective tool, but you need to drink it intermittently. A glass of such tea is drunk half an hour before meals.
Contraindications
Starting treatment with folk remedies, it is necessary to consider their properties and contraindications. Sunflower leaves, whose medicinal qualities are undeniably high, can be harmful if used improperly. You can not take infusions, decoctions and tinctures for more than 2 weeks in a row. The break should be a week. During this time, the body will be able to remove the accumulated substances that enter it together with plant materials.
It is recommended to alternate the reception of funds from sunflower leaves with other herbal medicines.
Sunflower has some contraindications. One of them is an allergic reaction. If after applying the selected remedy a person notices a deterioration in well-being, skin rash or shortness of breath, you should immediately stop taking the remedy. It is recommended to consult a doctor: he will prescribe antiallergic drugs.
Reviews on medicines from sunflower leaves
The healing properties of sunflower leaves are not in doubt. Among the reviews that leave about this plant, there are a huge number of positive comments. It is important to use alternative recipes in combination with other drugs. The doctor must monitor the treatment process.
Some patients who were treated with decoction of leaves with urolithiasis noted a slight burning sensation in the joints. Pressure may also increase slightly. This is a normal reaction of the body - so it gets used to the medicine. People with hypertension should take the medication very carefully.
If there is a certain discomfort, you need to reduce the dosage. When the body gets used to an unfamiliar composition, it will be possible to gradually increase the amount of medicine. Burning occurs due to the fact that the tool washes salts from the tissues of the joints.
Doctors Recommendations
If sunflower leaves are used in the treatment of various ailments, it is very important to adhere to certain doctor's recommendations. In this case, the effectiveness of the drug will be high.
In order for the plant to have a positive effect on the body, it is forbidden to use alcohol during the treatment process. You also need to stick to a diet. From the diet exclude pickles, smoked and fatty foods. It is important to supplement the menu with fresh fruits and vegetables. It should be understood that the funds that are used in the treatment of, for example, urolithiasis, are washed out of the body not only salts.
It is very important to include foods rich in vitamins and minerals in the diet. It should be all fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, wholemeal baked goods, boiled dietary meat, fish. In this case, recovery will occur faster.
Having considered what useful properties sunflower leaves have, it can be used for various medicinal purposes.