Camel-thorn
Useful properties, application and treatment of camel thorn
Description of camel thorn
Camel thorn is a low shrub, the stem of which is branchy and prickly. Strange as it may seem, but this plant belongs to the legume family. The powerful root of the camel thorn is located deep in the soil, the roots can be up to 45 meters long, and therefore the roots reach the groundwater.
The stems are covered with many small thorns, glabrous and green. Modified axillary shoots appear in the form of thorns.
Simple, whole leaves of the plant have subulate stipules. Leaves are located on petioles at the base of the stems and thorns. The upper thorns of the plant are thin, herbaceous, but the thorns below are very strong and short.
On the spines-pedicels, you can see beautiful pink or red flowers, collected in 5-8 pieces. Camel thorn bloom lasts from May to late summer.
The fruits of the plant are beans, which consist of 4–5 kidney-shaped seeds. Seed ripening begins in July.
Camel thorn habitat
The camel thorn can be found in the deserts and semi-deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, Asia and Africa. The thorn grows in the south of Russia, in the Caucasus and in Kazakhstan.
For camel thorns, rubble and clay semi-desert or desert are excellent. This shrub grows in dry steppes, on the banks of rivers and canals, on wastelands and in the sands.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that camel thorns are grown in an area that is not exposed to winds, well-lit by the sun and very warm. The soil for growing camel thorns must be drained and sandy. This plant can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.
Useful properties of camel thorn
The roots of the plant contain vitamin C, tannins, alkaloids and coumarins. The leaves contain organic acids, rubber, essential oils, catechins and flavonoids.
A decoction of camel thorn has anti-inflammatory, astringent, antipyretic and diuretic effects. Infusion and decoction help with dysentery and hemorrhoids, possessing laxative and diuretic properties. The infusion can be used for taking baths when washing wounds.
Angina, purulent otitis media, erosion of the cervix and eczema can also be cured by using an infusion or decoction of camel thorn.
Camel's thorn gives off an amazing substance - manna. Manna (sugar surrogate) is a laxative, diuretic and antipyretic agent.
Camel thorn honey
This light yellow or light honey does not smell, but it tastes good. This honey quickly turns into crystals.
Camel thorn honey contains many trace elements, organic acids and vitamins. Taking such honey, a person will protect himself from the action of dysentery sticks and streptococci. Doctors recommend such honey for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as it removes excess salts and toxins from the body.
If you drink tea with the addition of such honey, then fatigue will be removed as if by hand. Colds can also be cured by taking this honey.
Camel thorn treatment
For medicinal purposes, use the herb of the plant, sometimes the fruits and roots. Broth, infusion and just fresh juice of camel thorn is used as a diuretic or cough softener for colds.
A decoction of the roots of a camel thorn. To prepare it, take 2 teaspoons of the roots, pre-chopped, and fill them with a glass of boiling water. We put the composition on fire for 7 minutes. After insisting in a dark room for 30 minutes, cool the broth. All this liquid should be drunk at one time - in the morning on an empty stomach. The broth has a laxative effect.
Decoction of camel thorn herb for baths. Take 4 tablespoons of the herb of the plant, pour 500 ml of boiled water into them and leave for two hours, then strain the finished product. We take a decoction in the form of baths for cervical erosion, in the presence of wounds, purulent otitis media and hemorrhoids.
Decoction of camel thorn with dropsy. Filled with 250 ml of boiling water, 20 grams of plant roots must be heated over low heat for 25 minutes. Then remove the composition from heat and let it brew for half an hour. Strain the broth with gauze. It is necessary to take such a medicine every day for half an hour before meals - 4 tablespoons three times a day.
Infusion of camel thorn. 250 ml of boiling water, you need to pour 1 teaspoon of crushed plant roots and leave to infuse for a third of an hour. Don't forget to strain the product, of course! This infusion is used for rinsing the throat for pain and feverish heat.
Contraindications to the use of camel thorn
Until now, experts have not identified contraindications to the use of this plant.
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).
