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Useful properties and application of sunflower broomrape
Botanical characteristics of broomrape
Broomrape is a perennial, less often annual, parasitic plant of the broomrape family. The specific difference between broomrape is, firstly, modified leaves, which are more like scales, and secondly, the color of all parts of the parasite plant: due to the presence of an extremely small dose of chlorophyll in plant tissues, the plant has a yellowish, light brown, bluish or pink in color.
The root of the plant is short, fleshy sucker fibers that are not fixed in the soil, but reliably adhere to the host plant. Broomrape stalks at the base are clavate or tuberous thickened, simple, erect, fleshy, sometimes they can branch. Flowers - funnel-shaped, bell-shaped or tubular, two-lipped, collected in inflorescences - racemose or spike-shaped, usually bluish-lilac. The fruit is a bivalve, less often a tricuspid capsule. Seeds are small and numerous.
The natural area of distribution of this herb is the southern regions of the European part of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, Moldova, Belarus and the Caucasus. Broomrape parasitizes mainly on the roots of herbaceous plants (most often flowering).
Useful properties of broomrape
The useful properties of broomrape in the treatment of various diseases have been appreciated by folk healers. Medicinal raw materials are all parts of the plant, which are collected during the flowering period. For the drying of medicinal raw materials, large dry rooms are used, in which good ventilation is provided.
The chemical composition of broomrape contains alkaloids (nicotine), sterols, mannitol and tannins. The chemical composition of broomrape grass contains higher fatty acids, alkaloids. Choline (a nitrogen-containing compound), carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenols and carbohydrates are also found in the plant.
Healing infusions and decoctions of broomrape are used as a wound healing, antispasmodic, antiseptic, sedative, analgesic, tonic and general tonic.
Broomrape application
The broomstick has found its widespread use in traditional medicine (both in domestic and eastern). Healing infusions and decoctions due to their unique chemical composition are successfully used for diseases such as neurosis, intestinal colic, flatulence, toothache, diarrhea, enterocolitis, colitis, impotence, loss of strength, edema. Outwardly, a decoction of broomrape is used to rinse the mouth.
The crushed plant has a wound-healing effect, therefore it is used to treat wounds of various etiologies. In oriental medicine, broomrape is used as an effective aphrodisiac (increasing libido).
Broomrape decoction
Recipe No. 1. 1 teaspoon of dry roots (crushed) of a medicinal plant is poured with 200 ml of hot water and placed in a boiling water bath for 5-6 minutes, after which the broth is infused for 60 minutes. The resulting product is filtered into a clean dish and the nominal volume is brought with purified water to the original volume (up to 200 ml). Take this medicine for 1/3 cup 3 times a day for the treatment of allergies.
Recipe No. 2. 2 teaspoons of crushed roots are poured into 200 ml of hot water, and then placed in a boiling water bath. The composition is insisted for 60 minutes, after which it is cooled and filtered into a clean dish. The resulting infusion is used as an external agent (for rinsing the mouth).
Recipe number 3. 2 tablespoons of dry herb (chopped) pour 400 ml of boiling water and insist in a boiling water bath for 3-4 minutes, after which, after removing from heat, insist for another 60 minutes. Then the composition is filtered into a clean container and taken in 100 ml 3 times a day for migraines.
Infusion of broomrape
Recipe No. 1. 1 teaspoon of herbs is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and infused for 30 minutes, then filtered into a clean dish. Take the resulting product inside 15 ml 3 times a day for sleep disturbances.
Recipe No. 2. 2 tablespoons of dry herbs are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and insisted for two hours, after which the resulting infusion is filtered and taken 1/3 cup 3 times a day for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Recipe No. 3. 1 teaspoon of crushed plant roots is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and infused for 60 minutes, then filtered into a clean dish. This medicine is taken 15 ml 4-5 times a day as a diuretic.
Recipe No. 4. 2 teaspoons of broomrape flowers are poured into 200 ml of boiling water and infused for 60 minutes, after which they are filtered into a clean dish. Take the resulting infusion of 30 ml 3-4 times a day for cystitis.
Sunflower broomstick
Sunflower broomrape is a parasitic plant of the broomrape family. The stem of the plant is simple, fleshy, thickened at the base and not branched, it reaches a height of 65 cm. The leaves are reduced scales of a pinkish-purple hue (due to the lack of sufficient chlorophyll in the plant tissues). The flowers are large, purple in color, collected in spikelets. The fruit is a bivalve capsule with numerous small and light seeds.
Due to its lightness, sunflower broomrape seeds are easily carried by wind, insects and rain. After getting on the soil, the seeds retain the ability to germinate for 5-10 years. The natural area of distribution of this species is practically the entire territory of Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Serbia, etc. Sunflower zamanikha parasitizes on crops such as sunflower, tomatoes and tobacco.
Contraindications to the use of broomrape
Since the chemical composition of broomrape is still poorly understood, healing infusions and decoctions from this plant should be used with extreme caution. Broomrape is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, children, as well as with individual intolerance, nervous overexcitation, high blood pressure, acute kidney disease, urolithiasis.
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).
