Sow thistle: useful properties of herbs and contraindications, harm

The sow thistle, belonging to the Astrovye family, is a weedy perennial. The plant is almost impossible to remove when it appears in the country. The beneficial properties of the sow thistle allow it to be used in folk medicine. The herb has been used for food since ancient times, used for therapeutic purposes for various ailments. Sow thistle is also a honey plant. A beekeeping product based on a medicinal plant is considered one of the best.

What it looks like and where it grows

The external characteristics of the herb depend on its variety. The top layer of the soil is entwined with numerous branched roots with buds, which are adventitious. The height of the sow thistle varies from 50 to 150 cm. Dense stems are both straight and branched. The peculiarity lies in the presence of rare spiny bristles. At the base of the stem are bright green leaves. The shape of the plates is diverse:

• pinnate-alternate;
• whole;
• pinnately lobed.

The edges of the leaves are covered with sharp thorns. The lower plates form a petiole. Small, rounded flowers are usually yellow in color. They are collected in an inflorescence resembling a scutellum. Each plant produces up to 6,000 seeds. Their distribution is carried out thanks to the fluffy tuft.

The reproduction of the sow thistle is due to the roots and seeds.

Sow thist species

Scientists know about 130 plant species. In mid-latitudes, the following options are found:

1. Yellow or spurge... The height of the perennial is 2 m. It settles in meadows, fields, wastelands and on the territory of river valleys. The hollow, straight stem is covered with spiny hairs. The plant is used in the complex therapy of hemorrhoids, diseases of the digestive system.
   
   

   Milkweed flowers resemble a dandelion in shape and shade
2. Rabbit salad or vegetable salad... It is an annual plant, not exceeding 1 m in height. The hollow stem is distinguished by a burgundy color. It is significantly ramified. The species is characterized by large flowers and succulent leaves that can be eaten.
   
   

   Sow thistle is used to treat diabetes mellitus, cystitis, gout
3. Pink or bodysuit. The plant is compact. Dark leaves and purple as well as pink flowers are framed with thorns. The species prefers moist soils. Thistle can be seen in meadows and river banks.
   
   

   With the help of pink thistle, nervous disorders and cancer pathologies are treated

Chemical composition

A valuable plant is a source of nutrients that explain its beneficial qualities. Sow thistle is rich in the following components:

• alkaloids;
• carotene;
• fixed oils;
• ascorbic and organic acids;
• inulin and choline;
• saponins.

It is noteworthy that the weed juice contains rubber.It refers to a high molecular weight carbohydrate used in the manufacture of rubber.

Useful properties of grass sow thistle, field and pink

Leaves and stems produce the following types of effects:

• antihelminthic;
• diaphoretic;
• diuretic;
• wound healing.

The use of products made on the basis of vegetable sow thistle contributes to:

• slowing down the aging process by removing free radicals;
• normalization of metabolic processes;
• saturation of the body with substances beneficial to health;
• stimulation of the endocrine glands;
• relieving headaches;
• disinfection of wounds;
• elimination of fungal skin lesions and warts;
• treatment of tuberculosis;
• normalization of blood pressure and sugar levels, body weight;
• elimination of toxins in case of poisoning.

Sow thistle drugs are used for poisoning, liver, kidney and bladder diseases.

Why is sow thistle honey useful?

The plant is pollinated by bees. High nutritional value is distinguished by honey from thistle or milkweed. It is a multivitamin remedy with tonic and firming properties. The beekeeping product is advised to be included in the diet for ARVI, as well as in the recovery period after infectious diseases.

Preparation and application methods

Sow thistle preparations are suitable for both outdoor and indoor use. They produce a pronounced effect when used in accordance with the instructions.

Tincture

An alcohol solution is used to treat the following pathologies:

• diabetes;
• hypertension;
• obesity.

To make a remedy, you will need:

• 1 fresh sow thistle root;
• 1 liter of vodka.

The tincture is done like this:

1. The fresh root is thoroughly washed and chopped.
2. Raw materials are poured into an alcohol base.
3. A dark glass bottle with the product is placed in a cool place for a month.
4. After the specified time, the composition is filtered and stored in the refrigerator.

Sow thistle tincture is drunk 25 drops three times a day

Infusion, broth, tea

Drinks made from medicinal herbs can improve your well-being and normalize the body's work. To prepare the infusion, use:

• 1 tbsp. l. dried or fresh leaves;
• 1 tbsp. boiling water.

The drink is made in accordance with the recipe:

1. Raw materials are poured with the specified amount of boiling water.
2. The tool is insisted for at least four hours.
3. The composition is filtered off before use.

Sow thistle infusion helps to normalize blood pressure, strengthen blood vessels, eliminate headaches, and increase immunity

The drink can be brewed in a thermos. It is taken before meals. In case of periodontal disease, the infusion relieves bleeding and allows you to freshen the breath. Foot baths with the addition of the drug help prevent colds when cooled.

Decoctions are made on the basis of the leaves of a medicinal plant. Fresh sheets are thoroughly washed, poured with boiling water, boiled for two minutes. The composition is filtered before use.

A decoction of sow thistle or vegetable can be used to treat wounds and inflammatory skin elements

As a strengthening, as well as a diaphoretic, it is recommended to use tea made from sow thistle. For its preparation, take dried leaves of a medicinal plant. They are brewed with boiling water and the drink is filtered after 15-20 minutes.

Sow thistle tea is drunk on an empty stomach before breakfast or two hours before bedtime to prevent insomnia

The juice

Fresh stems of the plant are used to obtain nectar. They are cut off, and warts and papillomas are treated with juice. The procedure can be performed until the complete disappearance of benign formations.

When processing outgrowths with sow thistle juice, it is important not to go beyond the affected tissues

Honey

The beekeeping product has a light yellow hue and a pleasant floral aroma. The nectar crystallizes rather quickly without losing its valuable properties. Honey is recommended to be consumed with tea in old age and in the presence of gastric ulcer. External treatment with a sweet mass is possible in the presence of furunculosis.

Sow thistle honey has anti-inflammatory properties

The use of sow thistle in traditional medicine

The medicinal plant is actively used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. The weed has a rich chemical composition. The use of funds based on sow thistle helps to saturate the body with nutrients.

With pulmonary bleeding

The plant is used not only in the form of compresses or lotions. To prepare a decoction for bleeding, use:

• 1 tbsp. l. herbs sow thistle;
• 1 tbsp. boiling water.

The tool is made as follows:

1. Crushed raw materials are poured with boiling water.
2. The potion is boiled for four minutes and then cooled.
3. The agent is filtered off before use.

Sow thistle broth is taken three times a day

With nervous disorders

The infusion has a calming effect. It includes:

• 1 tbsp. l. herbs;
• 1 tbsp. boiling water.

To prepare the potion you need:

1. Pour boiling water over the raw materials.
2. Insist the remedy for an hour and a half.
3. Filter the composition.

In diseases of the nervous system, a decoction of sow thistle is drunk four times a day, 1 tbsp. l.

From hemorrhoids

To eliminate nodes and heal anal fissures, it is recommended to use an infusion, including:

• dried raw materials - 1 handful;
• hot water - 1 liter.

The preparation method for external use is simple:

1. The required amount of raw materials is poured with hot water.
2. The composition is brought to a boil, and then simmer for ten minutes over low heat.
3. The drug is filtered and poured into a bath of warm water.

To eliminate the symptoms of hemorrhoids, procedures are recommended to be taken three times a week for 20 minutes

To normalize digestion

The firming agent is made on the basis of:

• 3 sheets of sow thistle;
• 1 tbsp. boiling water.

The drug is prepared as follows:

1. The leaves of the medicinal plant are dried.
2. Raw materials are brewed with the required amount of boiling water.
3. The tool is insisted for 15 minutes.
4. The composition is filtered before use.

Sow thistle infusion improves the functioning of the digestive system

From periodontal disease

For the treatment of the inflammatory process, an infusion made from the following components is used:

• fresh or dried leaves - 1 tbsp. l .;
• water - 1 tbsp.

The drug is made, focusing on the following steps:

1. Raw materials are poured with boiling water in the required amount.
2. The composition is left to infuse for 2-8 hours.
3. Filter the product before use.

It is recommended to rinse the oral cavity with an infusion of sow thistle for both periodontitis and gingivitis.

With oncopathologies

Tincture is classified as the most concentrated form used in the complex therapy of malignant tumors. To make a drug, take:

• sow thistle root;
• 1 liter of medical alcohol.

Preparation of the tincture includes the following steps:

1. Fresh root is crushed using a meat grinder or blender.
2. The raw materials are placed in a glass jar and filled with an alcohol base.
3. The drug is insisted for three weeks.
4. Filter the product before use.

Store the finished medicinal composition in the refrigerator. The effect of use is due to the accumulation of alkaloids in the body.

Sow thistle tincture begins to take two drops three times a day, gradually increasing and then reducing the dosage

Contraindications to the use of sow thistle

The medicinal herb has no serious contraindications. The use of herbal products is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, people with a tendency to allergic reactions.

Collection and procurement

Sow thistle, pink, garden is a medicinal plant. In folk medicine, all parts of the herb are used to make medicinal potions. It is noteworthy that the roots of the weed contain more useful components. They are more often used for the treatment or prevention of various pathologies.

Rhizomes should be dug up in the fall, from October to November. This period is distinguished by the completion of flowering. The roots are cleared of soil, cut and dried under a canopy in the open air. Raw materials are stored in a dark place using canvas bags for no more than two years.

The aboveground parts of the plant, which include flowers, leaves and stems, are usually harvested during the flowering period. They are cut with a sharp knife. It is important to clean the raw materials from dust and dry them in natural conditions. To prevent the loss of valuable properties, direct sunlight must be avoided. Dry parts of the plant are stored in glass jars or cotton bags for up to a year.

Important! Sow thistle is a poisonous plant. When harvesting raw materials, it is necessary to avoid getting juice on open skin areas.

Conclusion

The beneficial properties of the sow thistle and contraindications are not well understood. The medicinal plant has a unique chemical composition, which makes it useful for therapeutic purposes. It should be remembered that thistle is not only beneficial, but also harmful due to the presence of alkaloids. These substances are able to accumulate in the body, causing unwanted reactions.