Horse Sorrel - Useful Properties And Use Of Sorrel, Sorrel Root For Children. Horse Sorrel, Sour, Small

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Horse sorrel

Useful properties and application of horse sorrel

Botanical characteristics of horse sorrel

Horse sorrel is a perennial herb, the height of which can reach 150 cm. This herb belongs to the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). The plant has a thick, multi-headed, branched rhizome and a fairly large root that grows deep into the soil. The stem, as a rule, is single, erect, it is bare practically along its entire length, except for the upper branchy part.

The leaves of the plant are large, alternate. The lower leaves are long-petiolate, heart-shaped, the upper leaves are short-petiolate, ovate-lanceolate. The flowers are small, greenish, bisexual, they are collected in thin, dense and long panicle inflorescences. Horse sorrel blooms from late spring (May) to July. In rare cases, secondary flowering is observed in late summer (August) - early autumn (September).

Full fruit ripening occurs in June-July. The sorrel fruit is a triangular nut of light brown color. The plant propagates with the help of seeds and division of rhizomes (vegetatively). It grows practically throughout the territory of the CIS countries. You can meet him in open meadows, meadows, along rivers and lakes, ditches, and horse sorrel also grows in vegetable gardens. It is known as a meadow weed.

Useful properties of horse sorrel

Horse sorrel is a medicinal herb. Roots, rhizomes and the aerial part of the plant (leaves with petioles, flowers, fruits) are used as medicinal raw materials. Anthraquinone derivatives (up to 4%) were found in the roots of horse sorrel, including chrysophanic acid and chrysophanol; tannins of the pyrocatechol group (up to 15%), flavonoids, vitamin K, organic acids (oxalic, coffee), resins, essential oil, iron.

The fruits of horse sorrel contain tannins and anthraquinone derivatives, while the leaves contain flavonoids, rutin, hyperoside, carotene and ascorbic acid. A large amount of ascorbic acid was found in the flowers. All parts of horse sorrel contain calcium oxalate. The composition of the plant makes it possible to talk about its antibacterial, astringent, hemostatic properties.

Use of horse sorrel

Horse sorrel in medicine (scientific and folk) is used as decoctions and powders. The root and rhizomes of the plant are used by traditional healers as an effective laxative, astringent, antihelminthic, hemostatic, wound-healing, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory agent. Leaves (fresh) are an effective wound healing, antiscorbutic, abscess. The fruits have a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, astringent effect.

Internal use of horse sorrel in the form of powder has a fixing (with a small dosage) and laxative effect (with an increase in the dose of powder). In addition, powders have a positive effect on the body with anemia, regulates the digestive tract. Such a remedy is prescribed for the treatment of the gallbladder (bile sweeping). In the form of infusions and decoctions, the plant is recommended for the effective treatment of colitis, hemocolitis, enterocolitis.

Horse sorrel has a positive effect in chronic hemorrhoids, as well as in anal fissures, hemorrhoids, uterine and pulmonary bleeding. Infusions are prescribed as an antiscorbutic, antiseptic and hemostatic agent. In the form of a powder, the plant is recommended for anemia, and also as a means of improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Horse sorrel is used not only in domestic medicine, but also in foreign ones - in China, Germany, Uzbekistan and other countries.

Sorrel recipes

Recipe No. 1. To prepare the broth, take 1 tablespoon of chopped roots, pour 200 ml of boiling water, put on fire and boil for 15 minutes, then leave for 2 hours and strain the resulting broth. Dosing regimen: 100 ml 3 times a day. The tool is recommended to improve the blood circulation in the vessels of the brain.

Recipe number 2. To prepare the broth, you need to take 1 tablespoon of raw materials (rhizomes with roots), pour 0.2 liters of water, put on fire, for 15 minutes, then leave for 10 minutes. and squeeze thoroughly. Reception scheme: 1 tablespoon up to 5 times a day. This decoction is recommended for bleeding hemorrhoids, rectal fissures, colitis, enterocolitis.

Recipe number 3. To prepare the broth, you need to take 1 tablespoon of raw materials (dried sorrel), pour a glass of water, put on fire for 10 minutes, then leave for 1 hour and strain. Reception scheme: 3 times a day, 70 ml of broth. This remedy is recommended for bloody diarrhea.

Recipe number 4. To prepare the broth, you need to take 2 tablespoons of raw materials (sorrel roots), pour two glasses of water (boiling water), put on low heat for 15 minutes, then leave for 4 hours and strain. Reception method: douching (the broth is designed for one procedure). The number of douching is 12 procedures. The remedy is recommended for uterine cancer.

Recipe number 5. To prepare the broth, take 30 grams of raw materials (chopped sorrel roots), pour 6 glasses of water, put on a low heat for 60 minutes, then leave for 30 minutes and strain. Reception scheme: 0.5 cups twice a day. The decoction is recommended for liver diseases.

Salad recipes

Sorrel is also used to prepare delicious and, most importantly, healthy salads.

Recipe number 1. You need to take 50-75 grams of sorrel, wash thoroughly with cool water, and then chop. Additional ingredients: hard-boiled egg, salt, sugar, pepper, herbs. For dressing, use sour cream or mayonnaise.

Recipe number 2. You need to take sorrel (100 g), fresh cucumbers and tomatoes in equal proportions (100 grams each), green onions and radishes (50 g each), cut the food into a container. Additional ingredients: green peas (50 g), boiled or fried meat (150 g), hard-boiled egg, herbs, salt. For dressing, you can use sour cream or mayonnaise.

Horse sorrel root

The roots and rhizomes of horse sorrel are rich in medicinal substances. They contain anthraquinone derivatives - chrysophanic acid (chrysophanol); tannins (8–12%); emodin; caffeic acid and flavonoid are not identical. Also, the rhizomes contain oxalic acid calcium (up to 9%). In the roots of horse sorrel, useful macroelements (K, Ca, Mg, Fe) and microelements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, Al, Ba, V, Se, Ni, Sr, Pb, I, B) were also identified.

Recipes for making decoctions from the roots and rhizomes of horse sorrel

Recipe number 1. To prepare the broth, it is recommended to take 1 tablespoon of raw materials, pour a glass of water (200 grams), put on fire for 15 minutes, then leave for 2 hours and squeeze the raw material thoroughly. Reception scheme: up to 5 times a day, 1 tablespoon of broth. The remedy is recommended for atherosclerosis.

Recipe number 2. To prepare the broth, you need 1 tablespoon of chopped roots, pour 200 ml of boiling water, put on fire and boil for 15 minutes, then leave for 2 hours, strain the resulting broth. Dosing regimen: 100 ml 3 times a day. The decoction is recommended to improve the blood circulation in the vessels of the brain.

Recipe number 3. Powder prepared from plant roots. Reception scheme: take 0.25 grams 3 times a day. The powder is recommended for diarrhea.

Growing sorrel

In the spring, the human body suffers from a lack of vitamins. It is during this period that it is recommended to add sorrel leaves to salads and other dishes, thanks to the composition of which you can easily satisfy the onset of vitamin hunger. In addition, sorrel significantly improves digestion, it minimizes the development of putrefactive processes in the intestines.

Sorrel can be grown both in the garden and at home. For growing in ordinary home conditions, the following varieties should be chosen: "Altai", "Maikop", "Odessa broadleaf". The plant easily tolerates shade, the ideal temperature is from 5 to 20 ° C. Sorrel loves soils rich in humus, you can use slightly acidic soil "Begonia". Sorrel seeds are sown in grooves 0.8–1 cm deep. The distance between rows of 6–7 cm must be observed.

The prepared grooves are fertilized with humus. The plant is sown throughout the year, the main thing is to maintain an interval of 30 days. In summer, sorrel is sown for one and a half year use, in spring - for two years. It is quite simple to care for sorrel: as soon as the first shoots appear, they are thinned out, it is necessary to leave a distance of about 4 cm between them.

An important step in mass planting is the preparation of the soil for sorrel, namely, weed removal. After harvesting the predecessors of sorrel (for example, perennial grasses), the soil must be peeled to a depth of at least 6–8 cm. With increased weediness, the use of ammonium nitrate is required in order to accelerate the germination of weed seeds. After 10 days, it is recommended to re-plow to a depth of about 14 cm and sprinkle the area with organic fertilizer.

Sorrel does not like fresh manure fertilizers. Watering is done regularly, it is important to ensure that the soil is constantly moist. Top dressing is recommended 2-3 times a month. Reproduction of the plant takes place with the help of seeds and rhizomes, which are specially harvested and planted in September in pots or boxes.

Sorrel for children

Sorrel contains calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. In addition, sorrel is rich in vitamins B1, K, C and organic acids. It is these substances that are of particular value to humans, since they are contained in rare products. Sorrel has the same value as all other greens, which is why it should not be singled out in a separate group and avoided in the child's diet. Children can consume sorrel from the same time as dill, parsley, salads, etc.

Sorrel seeds

Sorrel is not afraid of cold weather, its seeds, with which reproduction takes place, can germinate freely at a temperature of only +3 ° C. On the 8th, maximum 14th day after sowing, shoots appear. Slight shading conditions are considered favorable for sorrel seeds. The seeds of the plant contain tannins.

Sorrel leaves

Sorrel leaves are suitable for human consumption. They are collected in spring and in the first half of summer - at a time when other greens have not yet appeared. Sorrel is rich in vitamins, it is able to compensate for the vitamin deficiency that forms in the human body after winter. Delicious green cabbage soup is prepared from sorrel leaves, it is used as a filling for pies, and is used in all kinds of vegetable and meat salads.

Sorrel leaves have a specific sour taste, which gives the plant the acids that make up its composition (oxalic, malic and citric). In addition, crude protein, tannins, ascorbic acid, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, PP, salts of sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, molybdenum, zinc, nickel, fluorine and other substances.

Calorie sorrel

Sorrel, like any other greens, is a healthy and low-calorie product. The calorie content of a fresh product is only 19 kilocalories, boiled (it is recommended to cook no more than 3-5 minutes in order to preserve the vitamin composition) –15 kilocalories.

Sorrel varieties

The most common varieties of sorrel are Belleville, Large-leaved, Shirokolistny, Maikop, Spinach, which differ from each other in color, size, taste and other characteristics.

Belleville variety is distinguished by its large, fleshy leaves, which are characterized by a light green color. They have thick petioles. The variety brings a high yield, easily tolerates cold weather. Sorrel taste slightly acidic.

The broad-leaved variety is characterized by medium-sized leaves and an ovoid shape. The color of the plant is green. The variety gives a high yield.

Large-leaved variety: leaves are large enough, oval-ovoid, light green in color. This variety gives a large harvest. The taste of the plant is medium acid. Large-leaved sorrel is not afraid of cold weather, it is resistant to frost.

The Maikop variety is also distinguished by large, fleshy, broad ovoid leaves. It has a light green color with a barely noticeable yellowish tinge. The taste of the variety is medium acid.

The spinach variety also has wide, large, dark green leaves. It ripens earlier than other varieties. Its leaves contain less oxalic acid than other varieties, but more citric and malic acid. The taste of the leaves is slightly acidic.

Sour sorrel

Sour sorrel is a perennial herb up to 1 meter high. The stem of the plant is erect, ribbed, as a rule, at the base it is dark purple in color. The stem ends with a paniculate inflorescence. The plant is dioecious. Sour sorrel leaves are different: basal - long-petiolized, with a pronounced vein in the center, whole-edged, sour taste; stem leaves are alternate, almost sessile.

Flowers are collected in cylindrical panicles, they are characterized by pink or reddish color. Seeds are small, triangular, pointed, their color is black-brown. Sour sorrel is used as a medicinal and food plant. The leaves and stems contain proteins, lipids, flavonoids, tannins, vitamins B, C, K, iron salts, carotene, and oxalic acid.

Sour sorrel is used by folk healers to normalize the digestive process, to increase appetite, and also as an effective antiscorbutic diuretic and blood purifier. Tea made from dry herbs is an effective remedy for skin diseases.

Small sorrel

Small sorrel (or passerine sorrel, sorrel) is a perennial herb, the height of which ranges from 15 to 55 cm. Its rhizome is creeping. Stems are erect, slightly branched. The leaves are long-petiolate at the base, and the stem are sessile or short-petiolate, the leaves on which, as a rule, are bent towards the lobes. This plant is dioecious. Its flowers are unisexual, green in color with a characteristic reddish tint. Flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences.

The sorrel tastes small - sour, with an astringent effect. This species blooms from May to June. In its composition, the plant contains oxalic acid, tannins, essential oil, resins, vitamin K, due to which it is used as a medicinal raw material in folk medicine. Preparations prepared on its basis are recommended for diarrhea, joint diseases, and urinary retention. Small sorrel is effective as a hemostatic agent, it is prescribed for heavy menstruation.

This species grows in southern North Africa, Japan, Turkey and southern America. It is also widespread in the CIS, it is widely represented in Siberia, the Far East and the Caucasus.

Contraindications to the use of sorrel

Sorrel, despite its benefits, is highly discouraged to consume in large quantities, nor can it be consumed daily. Sorrel promotes the leaching of calcium from the body, the formation of kidney stones. It is contraindicated during pregnancy. Large amounts of oxalic acid can contribute to the development of osteoporosis, as well as impaired kidney function.

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).