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Curly sorrel is widely used in traditional medicine recipes. Even the ancestors prepared therapeutic compresses from it, which helped relieve inflammation. The root and leaves of the herb have been regularly used as an antiparasitic agent. However, even today, a herbaceous plant can be found in the composition of many medicines. Due to its high efficiency, sorrel-based preparations are gaining immense popularity.
On the basis of a useful perennial, various dietary supplements and medicinal teas are made. The main advantage of these funds is the saving of time for harvesting and the availability of instructions for use to achieve a therapeutic effect.
Description of the plant
The perennial plant has a tap root system. The stem of useful grass can reach a length of 50 to 120 cm. The perennial is able to grow in any climate, adapts well and develops in various conditions. Curly sorrel is native to Japan.
Curly sorrel leaves are long, rod-shaped, sour in taste. In the first 2 years after planting, the plant forms a rosette, which is collected from the leaves, and closer to the 3rd year, the main stem thickens.
A plant of the buckwheat family, has small inflorescences. The bunches are collected in neat brushes, creating a green-red panicle. The fruits are collected in a trihedral achene shape. The plant begins flowering in early June. The final harvest period is July. By this time, the leaves become rough, have an abundant amount of acid in their composition, which, if used improperly, can harm health.
The period of active flowering begins in mid-spring. The flowers are small, neatly collected in buds, green-brown.
Herbaceous perennial refers to crops that love abundant watering. Therefore, for a good harvest, it is important to provide the perennial with enough moisture. Sorrel is quite frost-resistant, not afraid of sudden changes in temperature.
Where grows
Curly sorrel grows in loams and soils with an average ph. In one place, the weed can grow for more than 4 years. Curly sorrel loves moisture, so it can often be seen in wetlands.
Useful properties and contraindications
The plant is quite popular in medicine. On the basis of curly sorrel, not only home remedies are prepared, but also pharmaceutical preparations. For cooking use the root, stem and leaves.
The root contains a huge amount of ascorbic acid, which is responsible for the body’s defenses. Curly sorrel is also rich in vitamins:
- K;
- B1;
- B2;
- PP.
The composition also contains polynuclear compounds, anthraglycosides, iron and tannins.
Useful properties of leaves:
- improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- have an astringent effect;
- accelerate wound healing;
- strengthen the gums;
- used for scurvy.
The root has a rich composition of useful components:
- has a tonic effect;
- used as a sedative;
- increases the body’s defenses;
- used as an antipyretic.
Due to the huge content of acid, the herbaceous plant is not useful for everyone to take. Herbal infusions are not recommended for those who have increased stomach acidity.
The use of curly sorrel is also contraindicated for people who have a stomach ulcer. In any case, the use of medicinal herbs must be agreed with the attending physician.
The use of curly sorrel
The plant has a pleasant taste, so young leaves are regularly used in cooking. Soups are cooked from greens, cold dishes are prepared in the form of okroshka or vitamin salads. Old leaves contain more acid, so they should be used with extreme caution.
The use of perennials does not end there. Grass is widely used not only in cooking, but also in recipes of folk and traditional medicine.
It should be noted that curly sorrel root is used to treat gynecological diseases. Also, such decoctions are good for bleeding. Many doctors recommend drinking infusions with low hemoglobin.
Many women use vitamin infusions for chronic diseases of the genitourinary system. A decoction of the leaves is able to have a diuretic effect – it removes pathogenic bacteria from the body. Thanks to this, you can quickly recover from cystitis, urethritis. The perennial is widely popular for rheumatism and hemorrhoids. Often, the remedy is effective in the treatment of the spleen and lymph nodes.
The most widely used root infusion for the treatment of bronchial asthma and obstructive bronchitis. In addition, the herb of the buckwheat family is considered a very effective remedy for purulent processes in the auricles and conjunctivitis.
Control measures
Curly sorrel is a weed plant, and often cause great harm to planted crops. Often the weed is a source of fungal disease, which is why it has curly leaves. In order to avoid damage to other crops, agrotechnical and chemical methods of dealing with curly sorrel are used.
Agrotechnical methods:
- when planting crops, use seed pre-treated from pests;
- adhere to crop rotation;
- to produce 2-time tillage with top dressing;
- regularly clear the site of weeds;
- in the initial stage of plant growth, make a deep pruning of the root.
Chemical methods include treatment with a special preparation “Iskra DE”.
Conclusion
Curly sorrel has long been recognized in official medicine as a tonic, hemostatic and disinfectant. It is widely used in the treatment of a huge list of diseases. Thanks to infusions from a useful herbaceous plant, gynecological diseases can be cured, the gastrointestinal tract can be adjusted and the body’s defenses can be increased.
