Curled sorrel: description, medicinal properties

The sorrel cherry plant can often be found along the roadsides, near houses, along the banks of brooks, grooves, small rivers. It belongs to the buckwheat family. In Russia, until some time, the plant was considered a weed.

Description

Like all representatives of this family, sorrel curly is also a perennial. The height of the stems of this plant can reach one hundred and twenty centimeters. Culture is common in many, even very different in its climatic conditions, but its homeland is Japan.

Roots of sorrel curly have rod type, they are quite long. Its very tender leaves are opposite. On their edges they are curly, why the plant and got its name - "sorrel curly".

The family of buckwheat is characterized mainly by paniculate inflorescences. This type of sorrel is no exception. Multiple bundles are collected in a brush: they create a kind of reddish-green broom. The fruits of the plant have a trihedral shape of achenes. The time of flowering of sorrel is the period from June to the middle of July, depending on the place of growth.

general information

In the early years, a small rosette emerges from the leaves, but from the second year onwards the stem begins to thicken actively, becoming ribbed and reddish down. Shavel leaves are large enough. They have a peculiar sour taste, which you will not confuse with anything. Curled sorrel, like other representatives of the same name, is a moisture-loving plant, so it can often be found near streams or grooves. His young leaves, being softer, are much tastier than large ones. You can cook soup from them, make okroshka, lettuce, etc. But in old leaves much more oxalic acid accumulates . Curled sorrel is widely used in cooking, where its taste and nutritional qualities have long been appreciated. It is highly appreciated and due to its excellent healing characteristics.

Chemical composition

Curled sorrel is included in the list of the most popular medicinal plants. Even in ancient times, the medicinal properties of this representative of the buckwheat family knew the Aesculapius. Miraculous characteristics of it were described in the manuscripts of well-known Arab scholars. Curled sorrel is used entirely: useful as a stem, and leaves, roots and even flowers. Very interesting chemical composition of the plant. In its root system contains a huge amount of vitamins C and K, in the leaves - there is carotene, vitamins B1, B2, PP, as well as multi-nuclear compounds. The rootstock also contains anthraglucoside and tannins, an incredibly large amount of iron and even a little essential oil.

Use in folk medicine

For medicinal purposes, this herb was used by the ancient Indians. In folk medicine, it is used both as a protivosenderynogo means, and to improve the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. Curled sorrel and in our time is very widely used in folk medicine. Its popularity is related to the miraculous properties of the roots, which have an astringent effect. But thanks to the sour leaves of a plant a person can avoid nausea or heartburn. If they are applied to wounds and cuts, they will promote rapid healing. Fresh leaves and broths from the fruits of curled sorrel are used for scurvy, they can be taken externally to strengthen the gums.

Root system - properties

It is the underground part of the curly sorrel that is valued most. Infusion of roots and leaves acts as a tonic, which has a strengthening and sedative effect. It is also used for dyspepsia and leprosy, a common cold or cold, with feverish conditions as a sweatshop and antipyretic.

Already quite a long time, the root of sorrel sorrel is widely used in gynecology. Decoction from it folk healers recommends eating with pulmonary tuberculosis, bleeding, with cough and pleurisy. Sorrel is curly, the medicinal properties of which are known since ancient times, helps with chronic cholecystitis and dyskinesia of the gallbladder, with disorders of bile secretion, as well as in certain diseases of the blood, spleen and lymph glands.

Infusion of rhizomes is a proven tool that helps with bronchitis and asthma, upper catarrh and ulcers. It has long been considered the best remedy for removing secretions, for example, with suppuration of the ears or conjunctivitis.

Other characteristics

Decoction of the herbal part and the roots of curled sorrel is used inside as an excellent hemostatic. It works well for anemia that threatens abortion, as a diuretic for nephritis, cystitis, urethritis, with pain in the heart, schistosomiasis, as well as hemorrhoids or rheumatism.

Compresses from the grass of curled sorrel our ancestors applied to various tumors, including cancerous ones. In addition, it has long been known that its crushed roots and leaves have an antiparasitic effect. The composition is lubricated by those areas of skin that are affected by eczema and scabies. Leaves are widely used by healers and with itching, rashes, abscesses and lichen. Grated fresh roots, attached to the site of the snake bite, will help to avoid an accident. In addition, powder from the roots or a decoction of folk healers recommend drinking to cure alcohol dependence, as well as antimicrobial and antihelminthic.

Today, curly sorrel is also actively used in official medicine. Clinical studies have fully confirmed that alcohol and water infusions from the rhizomes and fruits of this inconspicuous but amazing plant are very effective in such a disease as pellagra. In addition, in the official medicine, sorrel sorrel is used as a laxative, which in its effect surpasses even the rhubarb.