Horse sorrel: medicinal properties and contraindications, from which it helps, how it looks

Content

Horse sorrel is a popular plant that grows in the wild, on the banks of rivers and in forests, in dachas, and vegetable gardens. The medicinal properties and contraindications of horse sorrel have been studied in sufficient detail. A huge number of folk recipes are known that will help to use sorrel as a medicine for various pathologies. It is important to be able to apply it correctly, to know about situations when it is better not to eat wild sorrel so as not to harm.

What does horse sorrel look like?

Horse sorrel, which is famous for its medicinal properties, is outwardly familiar to many. This is a tall plant that grows up to one and a half meters. The bare stems at the end turn into broad leaves. The thickness of the stem can reach 3 cm. In many vegetable gardens, this medicinal herb is perceived only as a weedy and is trying with all his might to get rid of it. Horse sorrel leaves of two types:

below - with a base in the form of a heart in shape at the same time ovoid and triangular;
small leaves are collected in the form of inflorescences.

Older leaves have a large number of coarse hairs and are quite coarse in themselves. The flowers have 6 leaves. Their shade is greenish yellow. The flowering of horse sorrel begins in May and ends in June.

The grass bears fruit with nuts 4–7 mm in size. In the cold season, they fall off.

Where does horse sorrel grow

Wet soil is preferable for the plant. Horse sorrel does not like dry places. It is easy to find along the banks of water bodies, in humid forests, in ravines and valleys. It can be found singly and in large groups.

It grows on the territory of most of the CIS countries, with the exception of the cold regions of the Far North. It is found in many places on the European continent.

Can you eat horse sorrel?

Wild sorrel is quite edible. Leaves, cuttings are suitable for food, and in most recipes, the root of the plant is used as a medicinal component. The medicinal properties of horse sorrel are described by many traditional healers.

Popular names of the plant: oxalis, wild sorrel, horse oxalis. It is believed that the horse was named precisely because of its size. An average plant can easily grow to a human height. The taste of horse sorrel is non-acidic. Its leaves are used to make salads, pie fillings, various soups and other culinary masterpieces. But it is necessary to apply only young, small leaves, which have the greatest concentration of medicinal properties.

Why horse sorrel is useful

Each of the components of the plant has medicinal properties. This is due to the chemical composition of the sorrel. It contains a huge amount of vitamins, trace elements, acids, flavonoids, tannins, anthrakhone derivatives.

Healing properties of horse sorrel root

The medicinal properties of the horse sorrel root are varied. The rhizome contains:

iron;
calcium oxalate;
organic acids;
anthraquinone;
tannins;
rutin;
carotene;
vitamin C.

Thanks to its components, the root of horse sorrel has medicinal properties for which it is valued. Contraindications are also worth considering. The rhizome is used with benefit for gastrointestinal diseases, especially of an inflammatory nature. The root enhances the production of gastric juice, normalizes digestion processes.

And also other useful properties of the rhizome of wild sorrel have been noticed:

analgesic effect for rheumatism, muscle pain, sprains of tendons and ligaments;
heals wounds;
is a natural antibiotic.

And also the root has an astringent effect, which helps with intestinal problems. But for the astringent properties, you need a very small amount of medicinal herb. If the dosage is increased, the effect will be exactly the opposite.

The healing properties of horse sorrel seeds

The seeds in their composition contain the following substances necessary for every person:

essential oils;
vitamins;
trace elements.

In folk medicine, seeds are used least often. Their effectiveness has been proven when used during dysentery. A decoction is made on the basis of seeds, which perfectly helps to cope with loose stools.

Healing properties of horse sorrel leaves

Leaves are the most popular product to eat, as they not only have medicinal properties, but are also perfect for preparing many culinary masterpieces. The main thing is that these are young specimens, since they have no bitterness and a greater concentration of nutrients. Consuming horse sorrel leaves helps:

narrow blood vessels and strengthen their walls;
relieve inflammation;
remove excess fluid from the body;
stop bleeding;
relieve spasm;
when fighting cancer cells.

Such a number of useful properties is due precisely to the rich composition of the plant, which for a long time was considered just a weed. And even now, many gardeners consider their only goal to be to remove this weed from their site.

What does horse sorrel help with?

The list of diseases for which wild sorrel is used is very wide:

bronchitis and colds (treats cough);
atherosclerosis;
hypertension;
headache;
hemorrhoids;
slagging of the body;
in the presence of parasites (as an anthelmintic);
gastritis;
dermatosis;
cholecystitis.

The list goes on, and each disease has its own peculiarities of application.

Horse sorrel for varicose veins

Varicose veins disease is characterized by the fact that the valves begin to work incorrectly, and this greatly disrupts blood flow. In the treatment of varicose veins, tinctures on horse sorrel are used, and various recipes for external use are also used. With regular use, the walls of the vessels are strengthened, the blood flow is stabilized.

Horse sorrel for diarrhea

For dysentery and other stool disorders, horse sorrel (all its parts) is a useful product. But in this case, the norm should be observed. With moderate use, the remedy will strengthen and the diarrhea will stop, but an overdose of wild sorrel, on the contrary, will lead to more severe diarrhea. It is optimal for diarrhea to take a decoction of seeds, since they are stronger than leaves. The latter can have a laxative effect. Sorrel seeds are especially effective for drug-induced diarrhea, as well as food poisoning.

Horse sorrel for hemorrhoids

Means from acidic acid perfectly normalize the intestinal muscles, help to heal wounds and cracks. They also stop bleeding from the rectum. They are used as infusions and decoctions for oral administration, as well as special agents for external use.

For colitis and enterocolitis

With intestinal inflammation, the most important point is to relieve the spasm.The substances that are part of horse sorrel are excellent in relieving spasms, and also effectively fight the inflammatory process in the intestines.

The best option for fighting colitis is horse sorrel tincture. And also decoctions are used. There are recipes for a course of treatment for chronic forms.

For stomach ulcers

The healing effect of stomach ulcers is based on the fact that all parts of the plant contain a large amount of essential oils that help relieve acute symptoms and pain. In the treatment of stomach and duodenal ulcers, it is recommended to use tinctures, as well as decoctions from seeds, rhizomes, leaves of wild acid for a course of treatment. You can prepare the alcoholic tincture yourself, or you can buy it ready-made at the pharmacy. In any case, it is recommended to consult a specialist before use. Such a tincture is an assistant to the main treatment, but not a substitute for it. Any patient with a stomach ulcer should understand this.

From worms

Helminthiasis, almost any, can be successfully treated with horse sorrel. The presence of worms is a very dangerous disease that many patients do not attach importance to. Parasites contribute to a general deterioration in health, intestinal disorders, constipation, memory impairment, and children may experience delayed sexual development. Therefore, there are a large number of means, including traditional medicine, to combat internal parasites.

In addition to medicinal purposes, horse sorrel tea can also be used to prevent helminthiasis.

For hypertension

The main problem of hypertensive patients is high blood pressure. Each patient has several tools in their medicine cabinet to help relieve blood pressure in the event of a crisis. Some drugs are used on an ongoing basis throughout life.

Tincture of wild sorrel on alcohol perfectly lowers blood pressure and strengthens blood vessels. And also this drug helps with atherosclerosis, increasing the lumen of blood vessels. The pressure can also decrease due to this effect. Alcohol tincture should be taken drip, diluted with water first. It is better to consult with your doctor before use, since such a tincture, both home and pharmacy, has its own contraindications.

From cholecystitis

In case of inflammatory processes in the gallbladder, wild oxalis will perfectly help to remove unpleasant symptoms. In pathology, it is important that the plant has both anti-inflammatory and choleretic effects. These two properties help to establish the normal functioning of the gallbladder with cholecystitis.

For treatment, all parts of the plant are used in the form of decoctions, infusions, plant extracts.

In addition to the above properties and applications, oxalis is used for douching for gynecological pathologies as an external remedy for abscesses, stops all rotting processes in the stomach.

Rules for the procurement of medicinal raw materials

In order for the result from the recipes of traditional medicine to be maximum, it is necessary to properly prepare the raw materials:

The root must be dug up after the top of the plant dies off. It is dug up, cleared of soil and dirt. Then the root is cut into pieces and washed under running water. After that, you should dry the workpiece.
Horse sorrel leaves and flowers can be harvested at any time. Collect and dry.
The seeds are harvested together with the inflorescences, they are also dried and then carefully separated for further use.

Raw materials must be stored in a dark and dry place, preferably in plastic or cloth bags. It is important that moisture does not get there.

How to use horse sorrel in treatment

Horse sorrel has many medicinal properties, but these can vary depending on the form in which the plant is taken. It can be:

tinctures in water or alcohol;
liquid extract;
tea or broth;
leaf juice;
powder or chopped fresh root;
ointment for external use.

In addition, horse acid is also used in culinary recipes. Each of the recipes is preferable to take to combat certain pathologies, so that the effectiveness is at the level.

Liquid extract

The extract can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared by yourself. Few ingredients are needed, and the process itself does not take long. Components:

10 grams of root and flowers of the plant;
60 ml of vegetable oil.

Preparation process: grind the medicinal raw material to a powder in any available way, then heat up a little oil, add the resulting powder and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Insist an hour, strain and store in the refrigerator.

It is useful to take the extract internally or externally. With varicose veins, it is rubbed into the legs twice a day for a month. When taken orally, it lowers blood pressure and prevents blood clots.

Root tincture

Also sold at the pharmacy, but there is an opportunity to cook at home. Alcohol tincture requires the following components:

20 grams of medicinal sorrel rhizome;
alcohol - 50 ml;
a small spoonful of sugar.

Cooking algorithm:

Chop the root.
Pour in granulated sugar and add alcohol.
Close and shake.
Insist for 14 days.
Strain.

Take the finished tincture by drip: 20 drops three times a day before meals. Helps hypertensive patients lower blood pressure, improves digestion and cleanses the blood.

Root decoction

An excellent remedy for diarrhea is a decoction of horse sorrel. The medicinal properties help stop diarrhea in both adults and children. To prepare a decoction with astringent properties, you need 20 g of root and a glass of water.

Recipe:

Finely chop the root and cover with boiling water.
Bring to a boil, simmer for 10 minutes.
Insist an hour.
Strain through cheesecloth.

It is necessary to take such a decoction no more than three times a day, 70 ml. Helps with both common diarrhea and bloody diarrhea.

Root powder

The powder is used more often as an external agent, from which various ointments are made against hemorrhoids, with varicose veins, dermatoses and various abscesses on the skin. But oral administration for some inflammatory diseases, in particular, with epicondylitis, is also justified.

It is simple to prepare: you need to take 50 g of the root, wash, dry, cut and grind in a coffee grinder.

For oral administration, you will need a pharmaceutical scale. At one time you need to eat 0.25 g of powder and wash it down with water. So 3 times a day.

Fresh chopped roots

The healing properties of the fresh root help with various skin pathologies. To do this, you just need to chop the root and add cream to it. The consistency should be a paste. It is applied to various abscesses and abscesses for their early maturation. You can grind the roots using a coffee grinder or simply grate on the finest possible grater.

Leaf tea

A remedy for the prevention and treatment of helminths. Components:

medicinal herb leaves - 20 g;
water - half a liter.

Making tea is simple:

Rinse the leaves thoroughly.
Pour boiling water over and cover.
Insist for 15 minutes.

It is enough to drink a glass of such tea 3 times a day before meals, and digestion will always be normal, and parasites will soon leave the body.

Leaf juice

You can also squeeze juice from a medicinal herb. Most often, such a concentrate is used for rinsing for dental problems. Sorrel juice is especially effective if the gums suffer from severe bleeding. It is important to understand that freshly squeezed juice must be taken as medicine, in very small quantities.

Cooking applications

Horse sorrel from the photo of the plant is known even by those who have never seen it. It is successfully used not only as a medicine, but also in many culinary recipes. Most often, sour leaves are used in salads. It is enough to add a couple of leaves to the finished dish to get a full-fledged vitamin dressing.

Dried sorrel is widely used in cooking. It is used as an additive to various soups, fried vegetables, mushrooms.

Contraindications to the plant horse sorrel

Like any plant that has medicinal properties, sorrel has a number of contraindications. First of all, it must be carefully taken by patients with osteoporosis, since the product tends to flush calcium from the bones. Other contraindications:

age up to 7 years;
pregnancy;
individual intolerance;
gout;
renal failure;
urolithiasis disease.

When using sorrel, more than anywhere else, it is important to observe the dosage. In large quantities, the plant can harm the body.

How to get rid of horse sorrel in the area

As for gardeners, many of them know how difficult it is to get rid of this plant on the site. The algorithm of destruction in the area of sour thickets is not as complicated as it seems. It is better to start the fight in early spring. You just need to dig up the roots of the plant.

Otherwise, you will have to use chemicals. This should be done immediately after harvest, in the fall. But you can not plant cultivated plants in the place that is processed for six months.

Conclusions.

The medicinal properties and contraindications of horse sorrel are extensive and depend on the method of use and the amount. If used correctly, it can lower blood pressure, stop bleeding, and remove excess fluid from the body. Leaves, roots, seeds of wild sour cherry help to improve digestion and strengthen blood vessels, lower cholesterol and have an astringent effect in diarrhea. There are many recipes: tinctures, decoctions, teas, as well as root powder. Before applying the medicinal properties, you should definitely consult a doctor - this will help to avoid contraindications.

Horse sorrel: photo, treatment