Water chestnut or chilim: plant description for ponds, planting and care, application

Waternut or chilim is an unusual plant that has pronounced beneficial characteristics. It is found in various regions of Russia. At the same time, the healing properties of the plant were noticed by people in ancient times. This is due to the high content of useful components. At the same time, the use of water chestnut has a number of contraindications.

Description of the plant

The water chestnut is an annual crop that grows in bodies of water. In appearance, its fruits are similar to small nuts that do not exceed 2 centimeters in length.On the surface of the culture there are processes resembling horns. Other names of the plant are associated with this - "rogull" or "devil's nut" . Also, the culture is often called chilim or water chestnut.

Each nut contains a white seed that has a pleasant taste. It is noteworthy that its germination can last up to 50 years. However, ideally, nuts should be planted for 10-15 years.

The water chestnut is characterized by a long and thin stem, which is creeping around the root system. The root is also thin and branched. The plant has green leaves with large teeth.

Water chestnut bloom starts in June and lasts until mid-July. During this period, small inflorescences of milky shades appear on the bushes. They bloom for a maximum of 2 hours. In autumn, instead of inflorescences, fruits are formed on the bushes - 6-12 pieces each. In late autumn, the plant dies off, and the fruits sink to the bottom.With the advent of spring, they begin to grow.

Growth area

This culture is found in shallow fresh water bodies with stagnant water. Chilim can be seen in the south and the Far East. Previously, the fruits of the plant were sold in markets and fairs. Today, the water chestnut is in the Red Book, so it is much less common.

In ancient times in Rus', chilim was widespread and used for a variety of tasks. This situation continued until the first half of the twentieth century. However, subsequently, his plantations began to decline rapidly. Scientists attribute this to the runoff of chemical waste into the water.

Useful properties for people

Chilim is actively used in Asian folk medicine. Tibetan monks and Chinese doctors use water chestnut to treat a variety of pathologies. It has the following useful properties:

diuretic - chilim can be used to combat pathologies of the kidneys and genitourinary system;
antiviral and antimicrobial - chilim successfully eliminates herpes, tonsillitis, gonorrhea;
antitumor - the plant eliminates formations of various etiologies;
fixing - fresh walnut fruit or juice is recommended for diarrhea;
choleretic - rogulnik stimulates the functions of the gallbladder and liver;
tonic - increases vitality and improves efficiency;
antispasmodic - eliminates pain and spasms;
astringent - stimulates wound healing;
sedative - has a calming effect and eliminates stress;
general tonic - promotes recovery after complex diseases.

Growing Instructions

In natural conditions, chilim is quite rare. However, it can be grown at home. This requires a small body of water that does not freeze. Nuts are recommended to be placed in the ground or containers, and then lowered to the bottom.

Culture propagates by seed. First, the root system and underwater fragments appear, after which leaves begin to grow above the water. Chilim withstands transplantation without any problems. Therefore, it can always be moved to a deeper body of water.

For successful cultivation of the crop, it is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:

Ensure the water temperature in the reservoir at +25 degrees and above.
A small pond is not suitable for growing chilim. Its foliage can reach 4 meters.
The pond should be illuminated by the sun's rays.
First you need to clean the bottom of the reservoir and put sand or silt there. It is important that there are no foreign impurities in the soil. It is also worth making sure that there are no large clams in the water. They will lead to the destruction of the chilim.

Collecting tips

To obtain a medicinal composition, the flyer must be collected correctly. To do this, during flowering, it is recommended to collect directly the leaves and inflorescences. Then they should be used to make tinctures and juice. For subsequent use, the grass should be laid out in a thin layer and dried.

Fruits are recommended to be collected only in the autumn - during the period of the withering away of the culture. They need to be laid out in bags of canvas material and kept in a cool place. It is important to consider that peeled nuts quickly lose their taste and benefits.

Using Chilim

Waternut can be used in cooking and a variety of medicinal formulations can be prepared from it. At the same time, not only fruits, but also roots, stems, leaves bring benefits. At the same time, the fruits are still considered the most valuable. They can be fried, baked or boiled. Nuts are also allowed to be consumed raw. They often make sweets, cereals, flour.

Indications for use

Most often, chilim is used for medicinal purposes. It is required to be consumed raw for such pathologies:

dysentery;
pathologies of the digestive system;
poisoning;
atherosclerosis.

The use of water chestnut varies from country to country. In India and China, chilim is used as a diaphoretic. In Japan, the product is used to eliminate kidney failure and increase potency.

Also, the juice of the leaves of the plant is considered very useful. It helps to eliminate certain eye pathologies, cure a sore throat or improve the condition of mosquito bites.

Contraindications

In rare cases, individual intolerance to the product may occur. The nut includes selenium, which has immune-boosting properties. However, an excess of the mineral provokes disruption of the internal organs, cirrhosis and other diseases.

Too much chilim causes problems like this:

nausea;
headaches;
dizziness;
vomit.

At the same time, the water chestnut is forbidden to use in such cases:

allergy;
individual intolerance;
pregnancy;
lactation;
exacerbation of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease;
chronic constipation.

If chronic pathologies or relapses of diseases are detected, you should consult a doctor before using chilim.

Drug prescriptions

To cope with various ailments, you can use the following recipes:

Infusion of chilim.To do this, you need to take 20 grams of foliage and inflorescences and pour 200 milliliters of hot water. Leave the composition for a quarter of an hour to infuse in a water bath. Then cool for half an hour and strain. Take a third cup 3 times a day. It is recommended to do this before meals. For external use, the concentration should be increased by 2-3 times.
Water chestnut juice. This composition is mainly used to combat pathologies of the visual organs. To do this, squeeze the juice from the culture and mix with cool water in a ratio of 1:10. Use 30-40 drops of the substance 3-4 times a day. This must be done before meals. For external use of the composition, it is mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 3.
Vodka tincture for vessel cleansing. To prepare it, it is recommended to take 10 nuts and mix them with a glass of vodka. Then leave for 10 days to infuse and take three times a day. Single dose - 1 tablespoon. In this case, the course of treatment lasts 10 days. Then you need to interrupt for 10 days and repeat the therapy.
Fresh juice from venereal pathologies. In this case, it is recommended to take 1 tablespoon of the substance. This composition successfully copes with gonorrhea.
Chilim with diarrhea. In this case, it is recommended to take a few nuts, pour boiling water over them and eat them after they have cooled down. After 1 hour, the procedure should be repeated. You can also use freshly squeezed juice to eliminate diarrhea.
Water chestnut juice against herpetic infection. To cope with the problem, it is recommended to use fresh juice. They should treat the bubbles on the lips. You can also apply a cut walnut to the affected area.
Chilim against toothache. It is required to pour boiling water over it, cut out a 3 mm plate and place it between the aching tooth and the cheek. After a quarter of an hour, you will be able to get rid of the pain in your teeth. Flux can be eliminated in a similar way.
Plant juice for itching after bee and mosquito bites. It is useful to treat the affected areas with fresh juice or use softened water chestnut leaves.
Juice for tonsillitis. This composition helps to cope even with purulent and follicular forms of the disease. At the same time, fresh chilim juice is recommended to be mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10. After that, it must be used for gargling. Affected gums can be treated in a similar way.

Cosmetic use

Chilim is characterized by pronounced tonic characteristics. Because it is added to many cosmetics. Water chestnut perfectly copes with acne rashes. It can also be used to care for oily and combination skin.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionWhen using culture juice for cosmetic purposes, it is possible to make the skin smoother and more elastic. Of course, this substance will not give such a result as expensive creams. However, it will help cleanse the dermis and make it more attractive in appearance.

Recipes

Water chestnut is often used in cooking. This product has excellent taste, and therefore you can cook a variety of dishes from it.

Ragout

To prepare this tasty and he althy dish, it is recommended to take the following ingredients:

250 grams of peeled chilim fruit;
250 grams of apples;
sugar;
butter.

To begin with, it is recommended to peel and chop the fruit. Nut kernels must be placed in a saucepan and simmered until tender. Then add the remaining ingredients and cook until the apples soften.

Bacon nuts

To prepare this dish, it is recommended to prepare the following ingredients:

250 grams of nuts - canned is best;
1.5 kilograms of dry-cured bacon.

To begin with, you need to cut the bacon into slices and wrap a nut in each of them. It is recommended to fix the design with toothpicks. Kernels that are too large must be cut first.

After that, you can prepare the sauce. It will require the following components:

1 glass of tomato paste - this component can be replaced with ketchup;
1 cup cane sugar;
1 small spoonful of Worcestershire sauce.

All components must be put on the stove and wait for the boil. After that, the sauce must be removed from the stove and pour it over the nuts wrapped in bacon. Put the container in the oven for 1 hour. At the same time, it should be heated to +180 degrees. Readiness should be checked periodically. Cooking time is determined by the oven power settings.

Puree

This is a very unusual dish that will surely appeal to any gourmet. To do this, you will need to prepare the following:

200 grams of nuts;
150 milliliters of milk.

Nuts need to be peeled and cut into small pieces. Then they need to be folded into a saucepan and poured with milk. Cook for half an hour covered. After cooking, the nuts must be removed, rubbed through a sieve or punched with an immersion blender. After that, milk and butter can be added to the puree. You can also put sugar if you wish.

Water chestnut charm

Chilim has long been endowed with magical properties. That is why people actively use it to make talismans. Chilim is treated especially attentively in Altai.

The local population believed that it could protect the home from evil and bring good luck.Altai craftsmen still make souvenirs and decorations from chilim. To do this, the fruits are first dried, after which they are opened with varnish, and sometimes they are painted. Also, small nuts are used to make interesting figurines, magnets and even talismans. Experienced craftsmen even use chilim to create unusual accessories and home decoration.

Chilim is a rather interesting plant that is found in water bodies. This culture contains a large number of valuable components, and therefore it brings great he alth benefits. This plant can be used to treat a variety of pathologies. However, it is important to strictly follow the instructions for its use and take into account contraindications.