Sow thistle garden: useful properties and contraindications, rules of use

Many gardeners come across in the garden with a plant such as thistle. Some consider it a common weed and immediately try to get rid of it. However, garden thistle has useful properties that every owner of private plots with a vegetable garden and a garden should be familiar with.

Description of the plant

To get acquainted with the main features of the plant, you need to understand its detailed description.

Thistle is a group of herbaceous annual plants that belong to the Asteraceae group. This family includes more than seventy varieties of grass, but only a few of them are often found in gardens.

The common features that unite all the main types of plants include:

• high stature, due to which some seedlings grow up to two meters;
• a deep root that grows four meters deep;
• branching of stems;
• woody base.

Chemical composition

This herbaceous plant is not used in animal husbandry, as it cannot be used to make fodder. In official medicine, they are also not used, since scientific research on sow thistle has not been carried out.

However, in folk medicine, grass is often used, as it contains such useful elements:

• carotene contained in the ground part of seedlings;
• inulin located in the root system;
• tannins accumulating in leaves and stems;
• acids;
• alkaloids.

All these components are useful for the human body and therefore medicinal decoctions and tinctures are often prepared from thistle.

Healing properties of sow thistle

Before using the herb, you need to understand its medicinal properties.

Leaves and stems

The benefits of thistle stems and foliage have been repeatedly proven by people who use plants for medicinal purposes. Green leaves contain a lot of choline, alkaloids and other beneficial trace elements that help restore he alth.

The useful properties of the ground part of plants include the following:

• helps clear the colon and relieve constipation;
• acts as pain reliever;
• combats inflammation;
• removes worms from the body;
• positively affects the functioning of the liver with the intestines.

What is the use of the root

The root system of a plant, like its ground part, has useful properties. It contains inulin with alkaloids, which help to eliminate the inflammatory processes that occur in the kidneys. Also, these trace elements help to cope with diarrhea and get rid of the symptoms of bone tuberculosis.

Regular use of decoctions from the rhizomes of thistle helps to improve the protective properties of the body. Such remedies are also used for the appearance of colds.

Indications for use

There are several cases when you need to use medicinal products prepared from the foliage or rhizomes of young grown thistle:

• appearance of warts on the surface of the skin;
• bleeding wounds;
• acne;
• dizziness;
• headaches;
• tuberculosis;
• colds;
• sensory-motor disorders.

Use in traditional medicine

Folk medicine uses several medicines made from green thistle.

Plant juice

If people need external treatment, you can use thistle juice. It helps to get rid of carbuncles, abscesses and warts that have appeared on the skin.

Also, freshly squeezed herbal juice acts as a laxative and can be used to relieve constipation. It is recommended to take at least one teaspoon daily.

Don't drink too much juice as it can cause diarrhea.

Decoction of sow thistle

You can prepare a medicinal decoction from any part of thistle plants. The most useful are the products prepared from the yellow field grass. It has pronounced medicinal properties and is considered more effective in the treatment of diseases. Experts recommend using medicinal decoctions to get rid of inflammation, bleeding or pain.

To prepare a remedy, you need to add a spoonful of sow thistle in two hundred milliliters of water. The liquid is boiled for three minutes, after which it is cooled and used for treatment.

Infusion of herbs

Sometimes, instead of decoctions, people use medicinal tinctures made on the basis of sow thistle.Such a medicine will help to cope with nervous disorders, strengthen the body and overcome frequent headaches. To create an infusion, you need a glass of water and ten grams of dry grass. The raw material is poured with boiled liquid, covered with a lid and infused for an hour and a half. Drink the tincture four times a day, one spoon a day.

Alcohol tincture

Some make alcohol tinctures that are highly effective against colds or headaches.

To create an alcohol tincture, you will need one thistle root, 10 milliliters of alcohol and 100 milliliters of water. The roots of the plant are placed in a container of liquid and left to infuse there for two and a half weeks.

The prepared tincture should be stored in the refrigerator, as it will deteriorate at room temperature.

Sow-thistle honey

Thistle honey is used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine. This yellowish composition has a pleasant floral aroma and a sweet aftertaste. When treating, you can use both liquid honey and crystallized.

Fresh honey is used in the treatment of colds. It also helps restore immunity, improve brain activity, cope with boils and speed up wound healing. Every day you need to eat one spoonful of honey.

As used in cooking

In cooking, thistle grass is used:

1. Raw. A salad is prepared from raw thistle, in which, in addition to grass, fresh vegetables are added.
2. In boiled. Boiled sow thistle can be found in first courses. For example, they make delicious soup from it or add leaves to borscht.

Contraindications and harm

Experts do not recommend using decoctions of sow thistle for people who have an individual intolerance to it. This can lead to allergy symptoms. It is also contraindicated for children under 2-3 years old. You can not be treated with grass and girls during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Garden thistle is considered a useful herb, which is often used in folk medicine. Before using such a plant, you need to familiarize yourself with its description, composition and features of use in medicine.

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