Contents
Useful properties, cultivation and recipes for the use of sweet clover
Botanical characteristics of sweet clover
This low plant is very widely used in folk medicine. Panicles of yellow flowers are located on beautiful branched stems. As a biennial plant, sweet clover belongs to the legume family. The root is taproot, develops an upright branched stem 1-1,5 m high (in culture 1,5-2 m)
The leaves of the plant are similar in shape to eggs, they are serrate at the edges, painted bluish-green on top, but the bottom of the leaves is a little paler in color. Collected in brushes of 6-7 pieces, flowers cover the entire plant during flowering. The fruit of sweet clover is a brown bean containing oval-shaped yellow seeds. Flowering of sweet clover begins at the beginning of summer and continues until the end of the summer period. In early September, the fruits ripen.
Sweet clover grows in Russia, Ukraine, Crimea and the Caucasus. It can be seen at the edge of the forest, along the road, in the meadow, in the fields and even along the ravines. Often sweet clover grows among shrubs and in young plantings.
Useful properties of sweet clover
Since ancient times, sweet clover has been used for medicinal purposes due to the fact that it contains many useful substances. For example, sweet clover grass contains coumarin, lactone, melilotin, and coumaric acid. The coumarin contained in sweet clover is a substance that reduces systolic blood pressure (“Medicinal plants and methods of their use among the people” – Nosal Ivan Mikhailovich), increases the quantitative content of leukocytes in the blood, and also normalizes blood circulation in the abdominal cavity, peripheral blood supply also improves under the influence of this substance. From the flowers of the plant produce the essential oil of sweet clover, which contains coumarin, tannin, resinous substances and choline. Preparations made from sweet clover are used as an analgesic, wound healing and antiseptic agent. Sweet clover also has expectorant and anticonvulsant properties. In folk medicine, sweet clover is most often used as a laxative for gynecological diseases.
Cultivation of sweet clover
Seeds need a temperature of 2–4 °C for germination. A year after planting the sweet clover, the plant begins to bloom (in June-August). And already at the end of summer, sweet clover enters the time of fruiting. Seeds that are just ripe or slightly unripe are viable. While the seeds are stored until they are sown in the soil, the seed coat is compacted, therefore, before spring sowing, the seeds must be subjected to scarification (breaking the seed coat). Due to the fact that sweet clover has a strong root system, it is not picky about soil conditions. Also sweet clover is a drought-resistant plant, so it does not need constant watering. But excessive moisture and acidic soil for this plant are detrimental.
Sweet clover reproduces by seed, but tolerates fertilizers that contain both potassium and phosphorus. In early spring, seeds that have passed the stage of scarification are sown in the prepared soil. Between the rows you need to leave a distance of 3 cm, the approximate number of sowing seeds per 1 meter is 200 pieces.
During the first year of life, the plant is covered with a beautiful green mass, its root is fully developed. And it all dies off in the fall. Only the root neck with the available renewal buds remains to winter. If the plant is flooded with melt water, then after two weeks it will die.
During the flowering period, you need to start cleaning and harvesting the plant for medicinal purposes. The sweet clover is harvested as follows: with the help of scissors, or maybe a secateurs, the tops of the plant are cut off along with the side shoots, but thick coarse branches are not cut off. Drying of cut raw materials is carried out under a canopy or in a shed. For drying, it is necessary to tie the collected grass into bundles and hang them in the form of garlands.
Next, the dried raw sweet clover must be ground and passed through a wire sieve (large stems will separate). The composition of raw materials includes flowers, leaves, fruits and small stems. The raw material has a powerful coumarin flavor. The beneficial properties of the plant can be preserved by keeping the raw sweet clover in closed containers.
The use of sweet clover
Sweet clover has long been very successfully used in folk medicine as a remedy for the treatment of varicose veins. It is used for hemorrhoids. Sweet clover is an adjuvant in the treatment of thrombophlebitis, lymphostasis and post-thrombotic syndrome. Melilot preparations are used both internally and externally. Outwardly sweet clover has found application in superficial hemorrhages, sprains and bruises.
Special pillows are made from sweet clover, which helps to cure inflamed joints or tumors. A tea is made from the plant, which is used for coughs and colds.
A decoction, infusion and tincture of sweet clover are used for bronchitis, inflammation of the ovaries, pain during menstruation, to increase lactation, for edema, and even as sedatives for insomnia.
Sweet clover was widely used as an infusion or decoction for taking baths, preparing compresses and ointments. The dry crushed grass of the plant helps with skin diseases, cracked nipples, inflammation of the eyelids, and even mastitis can be cured with it.
sweet clover honey
In the period from June to August, the bees are busy collecting honey from the flowers of the sweet clover. This miracle honey brings the human body into tone and adds energy for the whole day. sweet clover honey is used internally and externally. It has analgesic, antispasmodic and diuretic effects. Used for inflammation of the respiratory tract, honey relieves inflammation and removes the feeling of pain. For people suffering from heart disease or hypertension, it is enough just to consume honey several times a week – and their condition will improve.
This miracle drug will restore a person who has suffered a severe and serious illness, relieving headaches, shortness of breath and dizziness.
Sweet clover honey is useful for nursing mothers, as it stimulates an increase in lactation.
Due to its unique beneficial properties, this honey is used for various diseases. In addition to the fact that this medicine not only smells pleasant, but sweet clover honey also tastes very good.
And experts say that even a healthy person will benefit from using such a delicacy regularly.
Sweet clover treatment
Sweet clover is used as infusions, decoctions, ointments and teas, which are very easy to prepare. In addition, sweet clover is part of many fees used for various diseases.
Soothing infusion of sweet clover. To prepare it, we take 2 teaspoons of crushed powder from the grass of the plant and pour it with two glasses of water. Let it brew for 2 hours and take 70 ml about 5 times a day as a nerve-calming agent.
Sweet clover tincture for headaches. We collect sweet clover grass and fill it with a third of a half-liter jar. Fill to the top with vodka and leave to infuse for 2 weeks, not forgetting to shake occasionally. After straining the finished tincture, it can be used. We take a few drops of sweet clover tincture on the fingers and rub it with whiskey in the presence of headaches.
A decoction of sweet clover roots for flatulence. The decoction is prepared quickly and easily. We take 15 grams of dry roots, pour 200 ml of boiling water and put on fire for 10 minutes. After this time, cool and filter the finished broth. We take this remedy 3 times a day, 1 tablespoon.
Infusion of sweet clover for external use. To prepare such an infusion, take 30 grams of plant grass and pour a glass of boiling water. Leave everything for 30 minutes without touching or shaking. After straining the infusion, it is used as lotions, compresses and even for baths. In this way, abscesses, mastitis, boils and articular rheumatism are cured.
Contraindications to the use of sweet clover
Do not forget that sweet clover is a poisonous plant! It can only be used after consulting a doctor. Pregnant women are not recommended to take sweet clover preparations. It is necessary to observe the dosage of funds, otherwise an overdose of this plant will cause headache, insomnia and vomiting. Taken in large doses, sweet clover depresses the nervous system.
The preparation of sweet clover should not be used in the presence of internal bleeding, low pressure. Before using sweet clover, talk to your doctor, and only he will give you recommendations on the use of this medicine.