Fenugreek
Using the beneficial properties of fenugreek
Botanical characteristics of hay fenugreek
Fenugreek is an annual plant belonging to the legume family. The stems of the plant are straight, loose and branching. On low stems, petiole leaves are located, having ovoid-oblong leaves. The plant blooms in early and mid-summer. Fenugreek flowers are small, located one or two in the leaf axils. Flowers are arranged on short pedicels and are almost invisible.
Fenugreek is a pod that is straight or curved, hairless or hairy. Each fruit contains seeds that ripen from 10 to 20 units. Light yellow seeds are either square or rhombic. The seed color can be dark brown or olive. Unripe seeds have a shiny surface, while mature seeds are dull on the outside.
Wild fenugreek can be seen in the Mediterranean, Central Asia and the northern Alps. Fenugreek is grown all over Russia and around the world for medicinal purposes.
Growing fenugreek
Fenugreek is an early maturing, drought-resistant and cold-resistant plant. It grows and develops well in fertile, loose and cultivated soil. Fenugreek does not tolerate high soil acidity. If lime is added to the soil, the productivity of the plant will double. The area for growing hay fenugreek must be protected from the wind. Fenugreek grows well only in sunlit areas.
The plant propagates by seed. Seeds are sown in spring in already prepared soil. For sowing seeds, choose a day from the period from April to May. The seeds are buried 1.5 cm into the soil. The distance between plants should be at least 7 cm. Seeds germinate at 10 degrees Celsius, but the best temperature for germination is 20-25 ° C above zero.
If the seeds are sown densely, then after the appearance of the first two true leaves, thinning is carried out. The plant blooms in June, and the fruits ripen in late summer - early autumn.
Before the plant begins to set fruit, it must be constantly watered. When the fruits are tied, watering is slightly reduced, and as it ripens, it is completely stopped. Fenugreek loves to grow in weed-free soil, so when weeds appear, they must be constantly removed.
Useful properties of fenugreek
Fenugreek has diuretic, tonic and antihypertensive properties. The herb lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, inhibits bacterial growth and stimulates the heart. This plant is capable of absorbing solid and mucous tumors. Fenugreek is used for burns and wounds. A decoction of the plant is used for ulcers in the intestines. Fenugreek is used for difficult labor and uterine hardening.
Fenugreek is a good remedy used to increase appetite. People with tuberculosis who use fenugreek drugs not only do not lose weight, but, on the contrary, gain kilograms. Fenugreek normalizes the nervous system and improves the tone of the body. The plant has a restorative effect after severe operations, chronic diseases in the respiratory organs and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
The use of hay fenugreek
Fenugreek decoction is used externally as a hot compress to treat skin conditions such as boils and carbuncles. Inside, fenugreek is most often used as a tonic. Fenugreek is an agent that stimulates intestinal motility. The herb has found application in the treatment of diabetes.
Traditional medicine often uses fenugreek seeds. They contain mucus, thanks to which the seeds have an enveloping effect on the body. If there is not enough vitamin PP in the body, then powder from crushed seeds will help to replenish its amount, which is taken 1 teaspoon before meals three times a day, washed down with 50 ml of red wine.
Decoction of seeds helps in the presence of chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine and stomach. The broth is easy and quick to prepare. To prepare it, you need to take 1 tablespoon of crushed plant seeds, pour 200 ml of boiling water over them and put in a water bath for 15 minutes. After straining the broth, it must be brought with boiling water to its original volume. Take 70 ml before meals.
Fenugreek tea. To prepare it, you need to take 2 tablespoons of chopped fenugreek and pour 200 ml of boiling water. We put the composition on fire until it boils, and then we insist for 3 hours. Take this tea for colds.
Fenugreek compress for rheumatism. Take 1 tablespoon of crushed seeds and pour a glass of boiling water, put on the fire to simmer until you get gruel. The prepared hot gruel must be laid out on a cloth and applied to the sore spot. Such a compress is done three times a day. These compresses are used for purulent wounds and leg ulcers.
Contraindications to the use of hay fenugreek
Despite the fact that fenugreek is a medicinal plant, it should not be used by pregnant women. It is imperative to observe the dosage of fenugreek preparations.
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
