Purslane is an unpretentious plant belonging to the Purslane family. This plant has other names: dandur, buterlak, pine, flea. This unique annual is used in folk medicine, and is also used to prepare various dishes. It is used to make purees, salads and more.
There are several types of garden purslane:
- broadleaf,
- green,
- golden yellow.
History of the plant
Purslane has been known since ancient times. Even in Egypt, thousands of years ago, it was used as food, medicines were prepared. In ancient Greece, purslane also served as a medicine, as evidenced by Hippocrates. This plant was used to treat insomnia, wounds, intestinal diseases, used for snake bites. Some ancient scientists described this plant as obligatory for use, and the local Arab doctor Avicenna considered it one ofthe most important medicines.
Gradually began to use purslane in France. Meat dishes, salads, mashed potatoes were prepared with it. All recipes were passed to the French from the Romans, and to the east from the Persians. Now the plant is grown in the Mediterranean countries, in the Caucasus, in India, in France. In Russia, it grows like a weed. Hybrid species are grown as ornamental garden ornaments.
How it is used
Young leaves and shoots of garden purslane are used for food. This plant has a mild pungency and moderate acidity. More mature stems are pickled. Pickled purslane stalks with cucumbers are especially appreciated. In this case, do not use vinegar.
Purslane is great for cooking omelettes, fresh vegetable salads, used as a seasoning for spicy sauces, stewed vegetables, meat dishes. It can be boiled, fried, stewed, dried, added to soups.
Purslane is widely used in medicine to treat a variety of ailments. The healing properties of garden purslane are determined by its special chemical composition.
Chemical composition
In traditional medicine, the plant is not used, but its composition is well studied. Herb purslane contains the following substances:
- glycosides and organic acids;
- saponins and alkaloids;
- norepinephrine and carotene;
- nicotinic, ascorbic acid;
- phylloquinone;
- fatty oils;
- tocopherol;
- glucose;
- m altose;
- fructose;
- galactose;
- linoleic acid;
- palmitic acid;
- citric acid;
- starch;
- succinic acid;
- cinnamic acid;
- cellulose, lignin.
The plant also contains proteins, micro and macro elements such as zinc, potassium, copper, magnesium, iron, etc.
All the substances that make up the plant make it unusually useful for the body. Its use during the summer period helps to improve he alth, increase immune protection for many months.
What is treated with annuals
Before you start eating or preparing medicines, you should find out what benefits and harms garden purslane brings. In folk medicine, it is used as an antitoxic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, analgesic, vasodilator. For your information, all these healing properties have been known for a long time to the doctors of Ancient Greece.
The substances that make up the plant are able to break down sugar in the body, leading to its decrease in the blood, which is useful for patients with diabetes. With proper use of the herb, after a few days, the general condition improves. Also, the herb is used for age-related rise in sugar levels, when there is a risk of developing diabetes.
What else heals
Some of the elements that make up the plant cause vasoconstriction, which helps increase blood pressure and stop bleeding. itthe plant is recommended to be included in the diet for those who suffer from hypotension. With a single intake of funds from purslane, blood pressure is normalized. After completing the course of therapy, it is possible to achieve a stable remission.
In case of insufficiency of heart contractions, the plant is used as a stimulant, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the heart muscle. After taking folk remedies, the pulse quickens, it becomes more full.
Healing properties of garden purslane help men fight impotence, male infertility. The plant helps to restore sexual function, activates the production of sperm and improves its quality. In the treatment of infertility with this plant in men, the number of spermatozoa increases and their activity increases.
The plant is used in the complex therapy of venereal pathologies. With gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomonas colpitis, the herb helps to shorten the recovery period, and also supports the body during recovery from illness.
In case of disruption of the nervous system, namely insomnia, depression, purslane is of great help. It acts on the central nervous system, helping to get rid of the feeling of anxiety that accompanies nervous insomnia. Dishes and folk remedies with purslane help to cheer up, overcome depression.
The plant has a positive effect on the body in the fight against pathologies of the kidneys, urination, and psoriasis. The herb is used to treat ulcers, purulent wounds, headaches, beriberi.
Who should not purslane
Not everyone can use purslane. This plant has a number of contraindications, which should not be forgotten. It can not be used for food and treated with a plant for hypertension, arrhythmia, convulsive seizures. Also, the plant is prohibited for people who are allergic to the substances included in the composition.
Purslane in folk medicine
There are many recipes for cooking garden purslane. For each ailment, a certain remedy is being prepared.
In the treatment of kidney pathologies, the juice is squeezed out of the plant, which is stored in the refrigerator. Take one spoonful three times a day before meals. It is necessary to be treated with juice until the disease disappears completely. Usually this period is two weeks.
For the treatment of male impotence and infertility, an infusion is made from dry purslane raw materials. To prepare it, you need a spoonful of raw materials, which is poured with a glass of boiling water. The tool is infused for a couple of hours. After that, it is filtered. Take the drug once a day, two tablespoons, regardless of the meal. Treatment of male ailments lasts from three weeks.
For the treatment of venereal pathologies, an infusion of dried raw materials is used. To prepare it, you need to pour fifty grams of grass with boiling water and leave for two hours. Then the drug is filtered, the mass is squeezed out. A couple of egg whites are added to the resulting infusion. After the product is heated, but does not boil. The finished drug is drunk during the day, dividing the volume into several doses. The treatment of the disease lasts ten days. Together with purslane in therapy should bemedicines. The herb acts as an accelerator of the healing process and strengthens the immune system.
The plant is good for insect bites. The herb helps relieve swelling and pain. To do this, take fresh purslane leaves, wash them with water, knead them in your hands and apply them to the places of stings of bees, wasps. One procedure is enough to eliminate the symptoms. If necessary, the leaves can be applied up to five times a day.
Recipes of traditional medicine
Among the recipes from garden purslane there are remedies to help cope with ulcerative colitis. To do this, a spoonful of dry grass is poured into a glass of water and boiled for ten minutes. Then the remedy is infused for two hours. The decoction is filtered before use. The drug is taken two tablespoons three times a day.
For the treatment of syphilitic arthritis, lotions are made from decoctions of herbs and seeds. For its preparation, two grams of seeds or twenty grams of chopped grass are taken. Raw materials are poured into a glass of water and boiled for five minutes. Then the remedy is infused for three hours. Taken by scoop up to four times daily.
For the treatment of pathologies of the liver and gallbladder, a decoction of seeds and grass is used. A single dosage of seeds is three grams, and herbs - two tablespoons. The raw material is poured with a glass of boiling water, and allowed to stand for five hours. Take two scoops up to three times daily.
When hemoptysis is useful to drink freshly squeezed juice. It is taken one dessert spoon three times a day.
You can use juice to remove warts: they are smeared with growths up to six timesper day.
An infusion prepared from the aerial part of the plant helps to cope with psoriasis. It is used in the form of lotions. Purslane mixed with burdock oil gives positive results.
Treatment of encephalitis
There is a recipe for making a garden remedy from purslane that helps in the treatment of encephalitis. With this pathology, a plant remedy is used as an anti-inflammatory.
For therapy, decoctions are prepared from seeds or herbs. To make a preparation, either two grams of seeds or twenty grams of grass are taken and poured with a glass of boiling water. Then the mixture is put on fire and allowed to boil for five minutes. In the prepared composition, a cloth is moistened, which is applied to the site of the tick bite. The lotion is left for eight hours.
Treatment of atherosclerosis and hypotension
Every gardener knows what garden purslane looks like. During its flowering period, it is recommended to prepare a plant for the treatment of pathologies. The herb is especially valuable in hypotensive patients.
To prepare the drug, you will need a tablespoon of herbs and a glass of water. The mixture is boiled for ten minutes, then filtered. Take two scoops up to four times daily.
How to prepare a plant
Knowing the beneficial properties and contraindications of garden purslane, you can procure raw materials for use all year round. Usually in folk medicine, the aerial part of the plant is used. It is cut at the time of flowering - it is during this period in the grasscontains the most nutrients. The raw materials are dried by hanging in small bundles in a ventilated room. After complete drying, the blanks are placed in paper or fabric bags for storage. For a year and a half, the plant retains its medicinal qualities.
To saturate the body with useful substances, strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to cook dishes with herbs during the summer period.
Many believe that weeds such as purslane are not useful. But as you can see, this simple, common plant is very useful. It is rich in useful substances that help fight a variety of ailments.
