National names of this grass — a lechukh, zorya, a medunka — are rather eloquent. In spite of the fact that the modern medicine uses new medical technologies, this useful grass still serves as one of the most useful components which are used in pharmacology. The lucerne is obliged by the numerous medicinal properties to a special root system. Its roots leave deep into on distance up to 6 m. It allows to reach those substances and minerals which are not in a soil blanket any more, or does not happen. In this article it will be a question of advantage and use of this valuable, in medical sense, herbs.
Chemical composition
The chemical composition and properties depend on a type of a lucerne. There are 3 wild-growing species of this useful grass. By today the geneticists invented about 50 new species of a grass.
The chemical composition of a plant is enriched with the useful components which are in the environment: to the soil, water, received in the course of pollination. The bulk of components is made by the substances intensifying various exchange processes in an organism.
Chemical composition of a plant:
- organic acids — maintain acid-base balance in an organism;
- the highest fatty acids are acids of high biological value;
- mineral substances — participants of all biochemical processes proceeding in an organism;
- carbohydrates are basic substances of exchange processes;
- vitamins:
- vitamin A prevents processes of aging in an organism, protects an organism from influence of free radicals;
- B5 vitamin helps an organism with development of cellular energy;
- vitamin K is responsible in an organism for blood clotting, prevents bleedings, affects fragility of bones;
- vitamin D is responsible for growth and development of the bone device of the person;
- vitamin E improves and supports a condition of an urinogenital system, is natural antioxidant;
- B12 vitamin is responsible for the haematogenic function in an organism;
- B1 vitamin is necessary for metabolic processes in an organism; participates in neural exchange;
- B2 vitamin participates in work of cages, in cellular exchange and also in recovery processes of an organism;
- vitamin C participates in exchange processes, helps regeneration of fabrics, increases the resilience to infections, stimulates production of collagen;
- other substances:
- ketones are the oxygencontaining substances participating in different types of chemical synthesis;
- essential oils are the concentrated volatiles having beneficial effect on exchange and recovery processes in an organism; are strong immunomodulators;
- steroids are the active agents stimulating synthesis of proteins;
- alkaloids are the substances making the oxidizing impact;
- flavonoids are the substances stabilizing work of various systems of an organism, stimulating work of an endocrine system.
- anthocyans are the substances making bactericidal impact, stimulating work of the immune system;
The substances which are contained in a lucerne actively participate in all exchange and recovery processes in an organism. The richness of mineral and vitamin structure does it by universal phytotherapeutic medicine.
Lucerne can be used for treatment and prevention of a set of diseases and also to render positive preventive effect on functioning of all systems of an organism.
Whether you know? The Latin name of a plant (Medicago) means a forage from the Mussel and reflects the fact of distribution of a lucerne on the way of gaining median army together with fodder wagon trains. The root system allows a lucerne to take root in any soil for this reason it is so widespread.
Medicinal properties
The pharmacological effect of this grass consists in the following properties:
- strengthens an organism;
- tones up and increases energy level;
- has antimicrobial effect;
- heals wounds and promotes recovery processes;
- renders anti-inflammatory effect;
- promotes regulation of work of an endocrine system;
- improves metabolism.
Such products as mangustin, kefir, water with honey, carrot juice, a pangasius, oat bran, pumpkin oil improve metabolism.
The dosage form of a lucerne can be ointment, infusion, broth, tincture, juice, powder or just green sheets and seeds used as nutritional supplements. Knowing about its properties, it is possible to choose a reception form independently.
Indications to application:
- Antimicrobial properties are used when processing a wound surface in dermatology and surgery.
- Removal of a pain syndrome, inflammatory process in the form of syringings at treatment of gynecologic pathologies.
- At nervous exhaustion, chronic fatigue, in a stressful situation, disorders of nervous system, breakdown, a chronic anemia, physical exhaustion of an organism as a result of a disease infusions of a lucerne and its seeds are applied.
- Active ingredients participate in many chemical reactions of an organism, promote outflow of a secret from a prostate, adjustment of work of a blood system of blood and a liver.
- It is applied in the period of a lactation to stabilization of process of development of breast milk.
- Lucerne is a good immunomodulator.
- The chlorophyll which is contained in a lucerne protects an organism from intoxication.
Whether you know? Arabs called a lucerne the progenitress of all food.
Recipes of traditional medicine
The lack of contraindications allows to apply a lucerne in any kind. Different types of medicine contain the different concentration of active ingredients increased by way of preparation.
Types of medical forms of a lucerne:
- infusions;
- tinctures;
- broths;
- juice;
- powder;
- ready pharmaceutical medicines.
Liquid dosage forms are preparing on the basis of fresh or dry vegetable raw materials: leaves and roots of a plant. Pharmacological properties are provided with ability of raw materials to give useful substances to hot water. Broth is prepared by boiling of vegetable raw materials. On a water bath boil within 10 min. 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials in 0.5 l of water. It can be used for syringing. Its medicinal value is that after raw materials drying, in it there are mineral substances, hydrocarbons which will give useful effect.
Broth is recommended at the increased irritability, differences of mood and various psychoemotional frustration.
In dermatology broth is used for imposing of compresses on affected areas of skin as an anti-inflammatory component. Imposing of applique is applied for 20-30 min. With the same purpose powder from escapes of a lucerne is used.
Important! Broth is prepared only in the enameled ware! You can also use ware from stainless steel, the main thing — that metal of ware did not react with active agents of broth.
Infusion is prepared by way of insisting of vegetable raw materials hot with the slowed-down cooling process. It is possible to insist in a thermos, and it is possible by a capacity ukutyvaniye in the heat-insulating subject (towel, a blanket).
For preparation of infusion it is necessary to fill in 1 tablespoon of substance with 0.25 l of boiled water and to insist before cooling. In hot infusion there is an intensive release of essential oils therefore with its help it is possible to do inhalations.
Tincture is cooked from crude vegetable raw materials which are crushed, fill in with alcohol (vodka, cognac). Medicine is infused in dark capacity in the dark dry place 7-21 days. Pharmaceutical pharmaceutical tincture is made on alcohol. It is necessary to take 10 drops for half an hour to food.
Important! It is impossible to cook tinctures on alcohol which fortress exceeds 40%! It will lead to burn-out of useful substances and in your bottle there will be just interesting drink, but already without medical effect.
Juice or fresh juice. From crude raw materials (grass) it is possible to prepare juice. As medicinal juice not really tasty, but useful, them it is possible to dilute with other substances (water, other juice) in the ratio 1:1 and to accept ½ glasses.
It is recommended at a lactation and violations of work of an endocrine system (diabetes).
In the period of a lactation also recommend walnuts, goat milk, a filbert, tomato juice, pumpkin sunflower seeds.
Taking the drug at diabetes, it is necessary to control the content of sugar constantly.
Feature of juice is its saturation oil-soluble vitamins therefore it is necessary to drink it courses: 2:1 — to drink two months, 1 month to have a rest. Also it is connected with a possibility of an organism to lay mineral substances for the future, and the surplus can be harmful to an organism.
One of pharmacological forms of a lucerne are the creams applied at bruises, hematomas and diseases of joints. It is necessary to apply according to the instruction to medicine.
At joint pains
The medical effect of dried raw materials (powder from a lucerne) is provided with the content of vitamins of group B and C, the calcium, fluorine, iron and substances having properties of antioxidants.
Most often for treatment of joints apply outwardly ointments to removal of inflammatory process, and tincture inside for anesthesia and the general strengthening of an organism. Application in the form of compresses from tincture with honey for removal of puffiness on the place of a bruise is possible.
Learn how at joint pains recommend to apply a peppermint, a cranberry, pine needles, horse-radish, essential oil of a cedar, a wormwood bitter, propolis, ginger, bear fat.
At bruises and injuries
Process a wound surface lucerne tincture for knocking over of manifestations of activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Anthocyans render bactericidal effect and stimulate recovery processes in an organism, and vitamins and minerals promote healing.
Lucerne will also have the all-strengthening effect and will fill power balance of cages.
From hemorrhoids
One of ways of treatment of hemorrhoids baths are. For preparation of a bath of 1 tsp of dry raw materials fill in 0.25 l of the boiling water. The water removed from fire directly right after boiling, raging a key is more useful, than that which boiled several minutes.
To allow to infuse 20 minutes then to pour in capacity from 2 l of water. It is possible to accept such baths daily before inflammation removal. Baths relieve pain, stimulate healing of the inflamed body. It is necessary to carry out the procedure 3-5 min.
Whether you know? Water baths treat a lock as thanks to them muscles relax and the motility of intestines improves. The first instructions on hydropathic procedures connect with a name of the prophet Moisey. And here the foundation of a cult of a balneoterapiya was laid by ancient Greeks.
Distinguish baths on liquid temperature:
- warm baths struggle with unpleasant feelings and an itch;
- cold can stop pain;
- hot have antibacterial properties, reduce inflammatory processes;
- steam reduce pain.
Strengthening of tooth enamel
The fluorine which is a part of a lucerne is the substance strengthening teeth and interfering formation of periodontosis and caries. For prevention of diseases of gums it is possible to use plant juice. The main operating component at the same time — vitamin C.
It also promotes strengthening of immunity and is good cold remedy.
As good cold remedy use also cowberry leaves, green onions, sea-buckthorn leaves, tea with a thyme.
Demulcent
The sedative effect renders infusion or broth. For preparation of broth recommend to 2 tablespoons of a lucerne to fill in with a glass of water and to boil on a water bath of 10 min. To infuse the received broth in a thermos, to filter and drink ½ glasses 3 times a day.
Application of a lucerne in food
Seeds of a lucerne are additive to salads and can be used as seasoning. On taste the seeds remind green peas — sweetish and starchy. Mixing of green raw materials of a lucerne with other useful herbs gives strengthening of medical effects.
In summertime it is especially relevant as allows an organism to fill the resources spent in the winter.
Juice from a lucerne can be mixed with juice of green herbs and vegetables: parsley, sorrel, nettle, celery, green onions, cabbage.
Components are crushed to homogeneous mass by the blender and diluted clean (not from the crane) with water.
If you love sweet, then it is possible to add honey to structure. It is possible to take such cocktail 2 times a day on 100 ml. It is considered that green cocktails promote weight loss at the expense of ketones, flavonid and the highest fatty acids.
Whether you know? The first the lucerne began to be used in Ancient China. Observant shepherds noticed with what appetite their animals use this grass and began to add it to the diet. The grass was used both poor people, and the nobility.
Preparation of medical raw materials
Lucerne treats long-term herbs and grows on one place many years in a row. The period of blossoming falls on June-July. In July its leaves gain the maximum quantity of useful substances.
Collected raw materials are dried under canopies without access of direct sunshine and without moisture hit. The sun strengthens processes of development of a chlorophyll, so, leads to reduction of quantity of useful elements in dry raw materials.
And moisture slows down process of drying and promotes solid rotting. It is possible to store dry raw materials within 1-2 years. Semyon can be brought together in August. It is undesirable to bring together them too green or overripe.
Contraindications and precautionary measures
Lucerne has no absolute contraindications, but nevertheless it is necessary to consider that allergic reactions are individual. Therefore to the people inclined to manifestation of an allergy, it is necessary to enter a grass into a diet small dosages and to control reaction of the organism.
A large number of active components does a lucerne not by really desirable substance during aggravation of inflammatory processes of digestive tract.
Contraindication is the children's age — up to 3 years. At this age additional biologically active agents should be accepted only on doctor's orders.
At system diseases, for example, red a wolf cub, all medicines including a lucerne, accept only according to the recommendation of the doctor.
It is connected with the fact that system diseases affect several different systems in an organism at once and often arise for the reasons unknown to science. For this reason it is necessary to approach their treatment most carefully.
We hope that our article answered all questions interesting you. Adhere to the above councils and God bless you!