Quinoa is a genus of plants of the haze family. It includes over 100 species. In natural conditions it is found almost everywhere. Most species are malicious weeds growing near human dwellings, in fields, in vegetable gardens.
Many people know the name of the plant, but they are unlikely to be able to describe it. In such a situation, the question arises of what the quinoa looks like. This is an annual or biennial plant with a straight high stem up to 1.2 m. Depending on the species, the leaves may have a green, gray-green, yellow or crimson color (red quinoa). The complex
shape of the leaf is associated with the tip of the halberd.
Blooms in July with small flowers collected in carpal inflorescences. Flowering lasts more than a month. Dioecious plants. The ripening of seeds is uneven, on the lower brushes there are already seeds, and the upper ones only bloom.
Only one species is cultivated - garden quinoa, massively grown in some countries and actively eaten. Green cabbage soup, meatballs are prepared from it, added to salads and omelettes, fermented, pickled, harvested for future use. Often it is seasoned with garlic, parsley and other aromatic herbs, as it does not have the characteristic taste of quinoa.
Its useful properties are that young leaves and shoots are saturated with proteins, carotene, rutin, ascorbic acid, potassium. In addition, there are some amino acids in them that are not produced by the human body, but are necessary for it and obtained only from food.
It is comparable in nutritional value to quinoa mushrooms. Useful properties are revealed not only in the green part, but also in the seeds, which are also used in cooking, but only after heat treatment. They are added to flour in the manufacture of bread, while the resulting product is stored longer. Of these, porridge is cooked, somewhat reminiscent of buckwheat in taste.
In folk medicine, untreated seeds are used as a laxative and emetic, used for constipation and various types of poisoning. To prevent infection in a minor wound, quinoa can be used. Useful properties are manifested when applying its sheet to a damaged place. Freshly picked and crushed leaves are a wonderful anti-inflammatory and wound healing agent for decaying of the nail bed.
Decoctions of this plant have antibacterial activity. They are used for acute respiratory viral infections, inflammation of the skin and gastrointestinal tract. In ancient medical books you can find recipes using this plant against hemorrhoids, radiculitis, gout, etc. If there are tumors, quinoa is also used. The beneficial properties of leaves and flowers steamed with boiling water and applied to the affected area help to reduce pain. Any medicine has a contraindication, it should not be abused, this applies to the swan.
If desired, you can grow this plant in a personal plot. Seeds need to be sown around May, as seedlings do not withstand frost. A place to pick up a sunny one and it is advisable to fertilize the soil, in this case the leaves will be the most juicy. It will take less than a week to germinate the seeds. For greater tillering, you can pinch the tops, and several times. If seeds are needed, then the plant is better allowed to grow in one stem. There is nothing unusual in the care, only watering is required, otherwise the leaves will turn out fibrous. They are collected as they grow.
Red quinoa, in addition to its use in cooking, is also very decorative. By planting this plant, you can not only heal, enrich your diet, but also please the eye with a non-standard composition.