Salsify

Goatbeard is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. The scientific name of the genus comes from the Greek words, which means “goat”, “beard” in translation and is explained by the fact that after flowering, the basket with unripe fruits visually resembles a goat’s beard. The number of species of herbaceous plant has 140 pieces. The most famous are the meadow goat’s beard and pore-leaved (“oat root”). They are used in homeopathy, cooking, traditional medicine recipes, act as active components of dietary supplements.

The homeland of the plant is the Mediterranean. The goat’s beard is common in North Africa, in Asian, European territory. Meadow is found in Western Siberia, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan. It grows in crops of forage grasses, in glades, along roads, in meadows, forest edges. It is cultivated on an industrial scale in Italy and France.

Goatbeard is a medicinal plant that has anti-inflammatory, choleretic, diuretic, antiseptic, wound-healing effects. Vegetable roots are used to treat colds, dermatological, cardiovascular pathologies. Due to their rich vitamin-mineral composition and low calorie content, they are used to alleviate the condition of diabetics, patients with urolithiasis, overweight people.

Botanical description

Goatbeard is a one-, two- or perennial plant with branched stems reaching 50 – 120 centimeters in height. The root is conical, straight, 4 cm in diameter, 30 cm long. The leaves are broadened at the base, sessile, linear-lanceolate in shape, narrowed towards the top. Root crops are fleshy, edible.

After planting, a goat beard (in the first year) forms a rosette of long (up to 30 centimeters) leaves, gray-green in color. In the second year of life, the plant produces a peduncle (up to 120 centimeters in length), on which the inflorescence is located – a basket. The flowering period falls on June, lasts 1 month. Depending on the species, the color petals are yellow or mauve in color. All baskets are reed. The number of stamens is 5, the anthers converged into a tube. Single column, single-seeded ovary, lower, single-celled, forked stigma.

The fruit of the goatbeard is an achene. A characteristic feature of the plant is the possibility of flowering already at 3-5 years of age, followed by rebirth into a perennial. Seeds are rod-shaped with fluffy tufts, carried by the wind. Their germination lasts up to 3 years.

It is interesting that in ancient times the goatbeard was popular among travelers, hunters and fishermen. They used the ground part of the plant and the roots as an antiscurvy agent.

Properly cooked goat’s beard roots have a characteristic sweetish taste, in which oyster notes can be traced. This served as the basis for the spread of a new name for the plant – “vegetable oyster”.

How to prepare raw materials?

For medicinal purposes, all parts of the goat beard are used: stems, leaves (young), roots. The plants are harvested in autumn from October to November. The roots are harvested exclusively from one-year-old crops. To do this, they are dug up, cleaned from the ground, dried. To eliminate bitterness, the roots are boiled in salted water. If the tubers are dug up from the soil after the first frost, you will find that they taste sweeter. The roots of the goatbeard are fragile, with a sharp movement they are damaged, they begin to rot. Not whole tubers are not suitable for harvesting, they are thrown away immediately after being incorrectly removed from the soil.

The stems of the plant are dense, so the grass is cut with a pruner.

In cooking, the “vegetable oyster” is used to prepare sauces, salads, side dishes, soups, stews. It is fried, stewed, boiled, baked, processed in batter or deep-fried. Goat beard is served in combination with cheeses, herbs, vegetables, fish or as an independent dish.

Due to its characteristic spicy taste, the root is grated and added to salads instead of the usual horseradish. To eliminate bitterness, the product is pre-soaked in water with the addition of citric acid or salt.

Chemical composition

Inulin, vegetable proteins and starch were found in the roots of the goat’s beard. The leaves, flowers and stems of the plant contain fiber (25%), protein (20%), fat (up to 10%), easily digestible carbohydrates, nitrogen-free extractives, milky, bitter juice.

To date, the chemical composition of the Astrov representative is under study.

The root of the goat’s beard is used in cooking and folk medicine. For consumption, the plant is subjected to heat treatment. Thanks to this, the grass stalks are freed from the milky juice that causes bitterness. Root crops are used as a flavoring, aromatic additive to pickled vegetables, salads, ice cream, drinks, side dishes.

Useful Properties

Goat-beard has antiseptic, wound-healing, diuretic, anti-inflammatory effects.

Effect on the human body:

• increases potency (in men);
• improves digestion;
• normalizes metabolism;
• stimulates appetite;
• It strengthens the immune system;
• relieves constipation, diarrhea;
• removes radioactive compounds from the body;
• increases sexual desire (in women);
• treats and prevents the development of scurvy;
• reduces internal and postpartum bleeding, relieves abdominal pain;
• normalizes blood pressure, reduces the risk of developing heart pathologies, prevents thrombosis.

Preparations based on goat’s beard (infusions, decoctions, powders) are used in the treatment of respiratory diseases (bronchitis), rheumatism, edema, kidney stones, purulent wounds, tumors, skin diathesis, phlegmon, bedsores, rashes, ulcers.

Direct contraindications to the use of medicinal plants have not been found. The exception is individual intolerance. With caution, it is recommended to introduce goat’s beard into the diet of pregnant women, lactating women and children under two years old, only after prior consultation with your doctor.

Use in folk medicine

In the dry mass of goat’s beard, the content of inulin (a dietary fiber that normalizes blood glucose levels) exceeds 50%, which makes the plant an indispensable tool in the fight against diabetes.

Interestingly, all parts of the plant are considered medicinal raw materials: flowering tops, roots, leaves, stems.

Health Recipes:

1. Tincture. Restores salt metabolism, has a sedative, anti-allergic, blood-purifying effect. It is used in the treatment of mental illness, fever, convulsions, gout. Method of preparation: pour 15 grams of goat’s beard grass with 200 milliliters of boiling water, leave for 4-5 hours. Take 15 milliliters 8 times a day.
2. Decoction. Removes phlegm from the bronchi, relieves coughing. Goat beard roots (15 grams) are poured with water (200 milliliters) and boiled for 15 minutes. Take 15 milliliters 4 times a day.
3. Infusion of alcohol. Eliminates bad breath, thanks to its disinfectant properties (kills bacteria that cause stench). Recipe for the preparation of the remedy: the roots of the plant (100 grams) are peeled fresh, chopped, put in a glass container and poured with alcohol (1 liter). Close the jar tightly with a lid, leave for 10 days in a dark place, strain. To eliminate an unpleasant odor, the oral cavity is rinsed with infusion (as needed).

For the prevention of scurvy, young leaves and stem of the plant are recommended to be added to vinaigrette, mashed potatoes, soups, salads. Meadow goat’s beard is recognized as one of the best spices in cooking, which improves the taste of fish, meat, and has a tonic effect on the human body.

To eliminate bitterness, the top of the vegetable oyster is beaten off well. The root of the culture is roasted, ground and added to coffee. A drink prepared on the basis of goat’s beard increases appetite, gives energy and strength.

Conclusion

Goatbeard is a medicinal plant with high nutritional value and low calorie content. The composition of the roots includes: fats, asparagine, proteins, choline, B vitamins, K, E, C, PP, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, iron, calcium, potassium, zinc and sodium. Due to the unique balanced composition, goat’s beard is indicated for use by people with diseases of the kidneys, heart, liver, and those suffering from diabetes. Infusions and decoctions based on this plant are an excellent choleretic, wound healing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory agent that normalizes the digestive tract and eliminates signs of anemia.

With regular use of the green and underground part of the oyster culture, the human immune system is strengthened, appetite, hair growth, and skin condition are improved. Currently, a detailed study of the properties of goatbeard is underway to justify the anti-cancer properties of the plant. Crushed fresh leaves can be consumed not only inside in the form of salads, decoctions, but also externally as a compress for purulent wounds and ulcers.

The medicinal plant is used as a component of anti-dandruff hair rinses and masks for the care of sensitive skin. The juice from the raw goat’s root root relieves irritation, improves the condition of the dermis.