Ramson: benefits and harm to the body

At the beginning of spring, when the human body acutely feels a lack of vitamins, nature gives it an invaluable source of nutrients - wild leek. This wild perennial grass is endowed with an abundance of useful properties. It was widely used in ancient times by Slavic peoples for the preparation of ingenious peasant dishes.

The wild garlic was also used by traditional healers. To this day, in the treatment of many diseases, recipes are used, in which wild garlic is present - this is what the people most often call this unpretentious plant. By the way, this perennial herb with a characteristic odor has many names: flask, bear onion, wild lily of the valley and others. Consider what the value of this representative of the onion subfamily is, how to use plants wisely in cooking and folk treatment.

What is wild garlic and where does it grow

Ramson is undemanding to living conditions, so the plant is distributed almost throughout the European space, in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Turkey, Siberia, the Russian Far East and Primorye. Only in areas of the Far North almost no wild onions are found. In the wild, the plant quickly captures new territories, but most of all it likes to settle near water bodies, in meadows, in the forest. As soon as the snow melts in spring, wild garlic, sensing the heat of the sun, makes its way through the soil with thin blades of grass. Waking up after a long hibernation, bears love to feast on fresh herbs. For this reason, wild garlic is called a bear onion. Such a vitamin diet helps the forest owner regain strength, as in the early spring the plant is full of vitamins and useful mineral supplements.

But closer to summer, the bulb becomes bitter and hard. It is interesting that this wild plant with a specific garlic smell is collected not only by clubfoot, but also by people who prefer vegetarian food. True, without knowledge of the matter, this fishing can be dangerous, since there are varieties of poisonous wild garlic that can easily be poisoned. Only experienced herbalists know where the "bear meadows" are located, on which you can collect a rich harvest of vitamin greens.

Outwardly wild garlic looks modest. Under favorable conditions, the plant can reach a height of up to half a meter, and at the time of flowering, white inflorescences similar to umbrellas appear at the very top. It is by the flowers that it is easy to visually distinguish the lily of the valley from wild garlic. It should also be added that thanks to the caustic ethereal component that leaves the plant, wild garlic is able to expand its range with surprising speed, displacing neighbors from its living space.

Is listed in the Red Book

In recent years, scientists have been sounding the alarm about the rapid extermination of wild garlic in different regions. Therefore, in certain regions of the Russian Federation, the plant is listed in the Red Book. Similar actions were taken in many neighboring countries: in Belarus, Ukraine, in the EU countries.Systematic conservation measures are aimed at preserving the population of this unique plant.

Composition and calorie content

Wild garlic, when used properly, has a whole range of positive effects on the human body: it strengthens the defenses, destroys pathogenic microorganisms, normalizes the course of important processes, and shows outstanding ability to treat a huge number of diseases. Of course, such a wide range of possibilities can be provided only by the components that make up the plant. Wild garlic on a set of healthy ingredients may well compete with representatives of overseas flora. Despite the wild lifestyle, this plant contains a lot of useful substances.

We list only the main groups of components that bear bear is rich in:

1. The vitamin complex is represented in the whole variety of B vitamins.
2. High levels of ascorbic, folic acid and provitamin A.
3. There are vital organic acids.
4. Essential amino acids.
5. Mineral salts, including boron, iodine, iron, zinc and other representatives of this group.
6. There are fructose and natural poly and monosugar.
7. Essential oils are also found in high concentration in the plant, especially in its leaves.
8. Starches, ash, volatile, as well as a large amount of fiber is present.

Nutritional value of this plant product (in 100 grams of wild garlic):

• Protein - 2.4 gr.
• Carbohydrates - 6.1 gr.
• Fats - 0.1 gr.
• Food fibers - 1 gr.
• Water - 89 gr.

The caloric content of a 100 gram portion of fresh wild garlic is about 35 kcal, which is a relatively low indicator.

Useful properties of wild garlic

General benefit

The ramson for centuries-old practice gained popularity in the most various life spheres. Therefore, today it is difficult to name the industry where it is used more. The rich composition of wild perennial is in demand in culinary, pharmaceutical industry, cosmetology. An inconspicuous plant has a complex effect on the human body, bringing to normal many vital functions:

1. Stimulates digestion.
2. Improves appetite.
3. Relieves constipation.
4. Helps cleanse your intestines regularly.
5. Thanks to the presence of volatile, grass destroys worms.
6. Effective in confronting colds and viral infections.
7. Helps bring down the temperature.
8. Stabilizes the hormonal background.
9. Lowers blood cholesterol.
10. Normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system.
11. Flask-based drugs have a positive effect on the state of the nervous system.
12. The plant is useful for treating wounds and inflammatory foci, for example, with furunculosis.

This is not a complete list of the possibilities of wild garlic. Therefore, in the treatment of a number of pathologies, doctors often recommend including this useful herb in the treatment complex. But in order for the treatment to be truly productive, you need to know about some of the nuances of using wild garlic. We will tell you what effect the plant has on people, depending on their age, characteristics of the condition and gender.

For women

Although the powerful garlic aroma emanating from wild garlic makes refined ladies wrinkle their noses, the plant is very beneficial for women's health. The presence of nicotinic acid in it has a positive effect on the condition of the hair and nails. B vitamins ensure the stability of the nervous system, as well as these components are able to cope with the negative effects of stress.

Fresh herbs are ideal for dieting while losing weight, and essential oils will help improve the quality of sexual life.

For men

One of the main indicators of men's health is a good potency. Some components of the composition of the flask are able to provide a stable erection for men of any age. By the way, even the ancient Greeks used this property of healing herbs to achieve victories on the love front.

Modern scientists through numerous studies have confirmed that regular use of wild garlic enhances attraction to the opposite sex. If you regularly add fresh vegetation to spring salads, this will not only help to avoid problems in bed, but will also serve as a good preventive measure against diseases of the male genital area.

During pregnancy

But pregnant women are strictly forbidden to eat bear onions. Despite the high content of vitamins and other useful substances in wild vegetation, such an additive can cause miscarriage and other pregnancy complications. True, some nutritionists recommend in moderate portions to add nutritious greens to food in the late stages of gestation. But taking into account all the possible risks, it is better for expectant mothers to abandon such a gastronomic variety.

When breastfeeding

The peculiar smell of wild garlic gives mother's milk a bitter aftertaste. Therefore, babies refuse to breast if the mother adds wild garlic to the dishes. In turn, hunger will provoke a sleep disturbance in the child and can even cause the disease. Wild onions that are not strong after a woman’s body can also cause significant damage, for example, exacerbate gastritis, cholecystitis, inflammation of the pancreas. All of these factors indicate that during feeding, the flask will do more harm than good.

For kids

Rich in vitamins, the wild garlic composition will help to cope with any manifestations of vitamin deficiency after a poor winter diet. But in the children's menu, add nutritious greens should be very careful. Until the age of two, such herbal supplements should not be included at all, and in the third year of the baby's life, you can give him a try a couple of leaves of the plant once a week. But it must be remembered that an overdose can lead to intestinal disorders, sleep disturbances, increased heart rate, and headache.

In addition, parents should be extremely careful about the choice of greenery: due to the similarity in appearance, wild lily of the valley, which is dangerous for children's health, can often be found in a bunch of wild garlic. If the child is prone to allergic manifestations, it is better to postpone acquaintance with wild garlic to a later date.

To all of the above, it remains to be added that, with proper use, a bear bow helps to heal from sciatica and rheumatism, warts and papillomas. This plant is considered a universal treatment for fungal infections and helminthic invasions.

Is pickled and salted wild garlic useful

In the culinary of different countries of the world, the bear bow has found wide application. The traditional cuisine of different nationalities inhabiting Russian territories is no exception. But among the huge variety of wild garlic dishes, which clearly show the characteristics of each national cuisine, there is a common gastronomic delicacy - marinades and pickles.

To prepare such a delicious snack, you need to prepare enameled dishes with a capacity of at least 5 liters. For such a volume, a marinade should be separately prepared: for 1.2 liters of water we take 190 ml of table vinegar (9%), a little black pepper, 3-4 leaves of laurel, sugar (3 l. Art.), Coarse salt (2 tbsp. .). The marinade should be brought to a boil, and then pour the fresh wild garlic cooked in a saucepan. After the solution of the natural preservative cools down, the dishes can be placed in the refrigerator for a couple of days or dropped into the cellar.

Pickled bulb leaves can be added to various dishes or eat separately. A similar dietary supplement in spring will increase working capacity, normalize digestion, and add positive mood.

What is useful ramson for weight loss

Low calorie fresh wild garlic makes the plant attractive in terms of inclusion in the diet for weight loss.But it must be borne in mind that the calorific value of the fried plant product increases almost three times - up to 124 kcal. Therefore, to bring body weight to normal, it is advisable to use fresh stems and leaves of the plant, which are an excellent ingredient for vitamin salads. Fresh herbs can be added to soups.

Ramson is excellent with such vegetables:

• cucumbers;
• bell pepper;
• Tomatoes
• green onions;
• cabbage.

A hearty meal will turn out if you combine wild onions with boiled eggs. Cooking is best done with vegetable oil, but you can season meals with low-fat sour cream and yogurt. Forming a weight loss program with the inclusion of wild garlic in the diet, it should be borne in mind that this plant helps increase appetite. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly observe the norm, and it is also necessary to control the amount of food consumed.

A diet containing flasks will improve metabolism and metabolism, which is very important when losing weight. The components of the plant composition perfectly remove excess fluid from the body. If salads and main dishes with the addition of wild garlic do not like, you can brew medicinal tea, regular use of which will also stimulate weight loss. The drink is prepared from finely chopped fresh herbs (1 tbsp) by conventional brewing. After half an hour of infusion, tea can be drunk three times a day before taking the main food in half a glass.

Specialists have not yet developed a special diet based on wild garlic, but a natural product will be appropriate in any low-calorie diet aimed at productive weight loss. True, in the process of such a diet, you need to monitor your own well-being, and with the slightest deterioration in your condition, immediately stop eating wild garlic.

Ramson in medicine

In traditional medicine, wild garlic is not used in its pure form, but doctors are willing to recommend patients with various pathologies to add fortified greens to the diet or prepare alternative preparations based on it. Home medicines are actively used for the following purposes:

• to combat helminthic infestations;
• elimination of manifestations of mycoses on the skin and nail plates;
• strengthening immunity in viral infections;
• relieve cough with bronchitis;
• in the treatment of skin lesions (lichen, corns).

In addition to the listed effects, bear onion has a moderate diuretic property, tones and rejuvenates the skin well. If you regularly drink healing tea with wild garlic, the body will be cleaned of toxic products and free radicals. But, as mentioned above, this wild plant requires caution. Separately, we will examine under what diseases the flask will contribute to a speedy recovery, and when it is not worth using a perennial for treatment.

With diabetes

Endocrinologists strongly recommend that patients with diabetes mellitus supplement their daily diet with fresh herbs. Since wild garlic has an almost ideal ratio of basic food components, as well as a high percentage of vitamins, this herbal product will be extremely useful for them. Adding fresh herbs to salads will help lower your blood sugar. But marinades and pickles with wild garlic are contraindicated in such patients.

Important: glycemic index of wild garlic - 15 units.

With pancreatitis

The pancreas always reacts negatively to supplements such as spices. Therefore, with pancreatitis, you should not even consider the possibility of including bear onions in the diet. Moreover, such strict restrictions also apply to home remedies prepared on the basis of the flask. The fact is that in the leaves and stems of the plant there is a lot of ascorbic acid, which is considered a prohibited component for people suffering from various forms of pancreatitis.Neglect of this rule can provoke an aggravation of the process even in the stage of persistent remission.

With gastritis

An undesirable product is a flask for patients with gastritis and gastric ulcer. Such an acute supplement is not only dangerous to health, it can become a serious threat to the patient's life. The use of such a spice even in small doses can aggravate the condition and lead to serious complications. For example, with an ulcer, a wild garlic diet can cause bleeding. Therefore, experts advise not to take risks with such an ambiguous food product.

For the intestines

Bear bow is a must for a healthy stomach and intestines. It can be used to prevent disorders of the digestive organs, as well as to eliminate such minor disorders as constipation. Among other things, wild garlic is good for dysbacteriosis. There are two effective options for restoring normal microflora with this unique herb:

1. Squeeze the juice from the fresh leaves of the flask, and then drink it before each meal in a tablespoon.
2. This method is more complicated, because you will first have to prepare an infusion of wild garlic bulbs, for which you need to pour 300 ml of boiling water over a teaspoon of leaves. After an hour of infusion, infusion of forest onions should drink 2 tablespoons shortly before meals.

With gout

Since gout causes a significant metabolic disturbance, wild garlic can minimize the negative effects of this common joint disease. Any treatment methods are allowed: local - in the form of compresses and rubbing, you can take cooked infusions with wild garlic inside. But the most effective will be the comprehensive treatment of gout, when alternative methods are connected to help the main therapy.

Wild garlic recipes

For preparing home remedies, all parts of the bear's bow are suitable. Here are some popular recipes that will help you cope with various diseases.

Universal recipe

Fresh ramson juice is ideal for treating wounds and pustular elements. If it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 2, then the resulting solution can gargle with angina or treat the oral cavity with stomatitis in children. Such a composition can be dripped into the nose with a runny nose.

Wild garlic ointment for eczema

To prepare this external remedy, you need fresh herbs. The raw material is preliminarily crushed to make a gruel-like mass, then sea buckthorn oil and apple cider vinegar are added to it by a tablespoon. The resulting mixture is recommended to be applied to places affected by eczema in the first few days for 4-6 hours, and on the following days, leave the ointment all night. This effective tool will speed up the process of resolving pathology, as well as relieve unpleasant symptoms: itching, irritation.

Joint Health Infusion

A medicine that can help get rid of pain with radiculitis, arthritis and other joint problems can be prepared in a few minutes. It is best to carry out this type of treatment in the season when it is easy to collect fresh plant material - leaves and bulbs of wild leek. Raw materials in the amount of 20 grams must be crushed, and then doused with a glass of boiling water. When the infusion has cooled, it must be rubbed into problem areas.

Alcohol tincture

At home, it is better to prepare such a drug in vodka. In this case, you can use both fresh herbs and raw materials prepared for future use. A few tablespoons of the base base (2-3) is poured with an alcohol-containing product, and then left to infuse for several weeks (1.5 months).The resulting agent can be treated:

• lingering cough;
• persistent runny nose (tampons should be inserted into each nasal passage);
• rheumatism and gout (used as a means for rubbing);
• to normalize the pressure;
• with edema, the tincture will act as a diuretic;
• with manifestations of atherosclerosis.

For internal use, 30 drops of tincture should be diluted with a small amount of water and drunk on an empty stomach.

The tincture prepared in this way will help activate the brain. Such a treatment option as chewing fresh leaves of wild garlic is not excluded. This method will ensure clean oral cavity and healthy teeth.

The use of wild garlic in cosmetology

Wild garlic is indispensable in such an area as cosmetology. The warming properties of the plant help fight intense hair loss.

1. The mask prepared according to the following recipe is effective against baldness. Freshly squeezed bear onion juice should be applied to the basal part of the hair, then wrap the head with polyethylene. During the action of the medicine, a burning sensation will be felt, which is explained by a rush of blood to the site of application of the drug. Due to such a reaction, a positive effect is exerted on the hair follicle. After the procedure, each onion receives oxygen and the necessary supply of nutrients. After several sessions, rapid hair loss usually stops, and in the owners of the bald patches, vegetation begins to break through.
2. The whitening composition will help get rid of freckles and age spots on the face. It is prepared from fresh pulp of wild garlic mixed with yogurt and lemon juice. All the ingredients are mixed well, and then the nutrient mixture is applied to the face. After 15-20 minutes, the composition is washed off with warm water, and a moisturizer should be applied to the skin after the procedure. After several sessions, freckles become barely noticeable.
3. Fresh flask juice is effective in acne and acne. It is enough to wipe the dermis in the evenings with a natural elixir so that there is no trace of unpleasant defects.

Harm and contraindications

Any plant, special as specific as wild leek, in addition to its positive qualities, has its drawbacks. So, fresh plant juice is very aggressive in properties, so it should be used carefully for oral administration. But there are complete contraindications for the use of this plant in any form. In this list:

1. The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding in women.
2. You can not take inside tinctures, decoctions, teas with bear onions to people suffering from gastritis, hepatitis, peptic ulcer disease, pancreatitis and some other diseases of the digestive system.
3. This product is also contraindicated for patients with epilepsy.
4. You can not use wild garlic in all types and for those who have an individual intolerance to this perennial or some individual components of its composition.

To prevent side effects from an overdose of a herbal preparation, you must clearly follow the instructions for use and observe the prescribed dosage. If you do not adhere to this rule, excessive use of the flask can lead to persistent insomnia, diarrhea, and serious cardiac impairment.

The most reasonable is to take a sensitivity test before taking medications and adding greens to the diet by applying a drop of fresh juice to the inside of the elbow. If after a day the skin in this place remains unchanged, then wild garlic can be used.

How to choose and store wild leek

Bear onions are best harvested in late spring or early summer. But you can buy a useful plant from herbalists in the market.If you store perennials correctly, you can cook vitamins-rich dishes all year round or use raw materials for treatment. When buying a flask in the market, you need to pay attention to:

• by smell - it should be garlic;
• quality of greenery - leaves should be free from damage and signs of lethargy.

For long-term storage, it is best to dry or freeze wild garlic. But there are less radical ways of storing plant material:

• vacuum bags;
• a container of water.

True, with these two methods, the shelf life is short.

To dry the leaves of a bear’s onion, you need to decompose the clean parts of the plant in a dark, well-ventilated room. When the material is completely dry, it must be crushed to the state of flour, and then put into storage in a paper bag. Some herbalists offer to dry wild garlic in the oven at a temperature of 40ºC with an open door. True, this method does not allow you to save all the useful components.

There is another storage option - preservation of fresh leaves in a jar: for 1 kg of wild garlic - 700 g of salt.

Is it possible to freeze

It has already been noted above that freezing is the best way to preserve all the nutritional ingredients. But first, the raw materials must be prepared for long-term storage by freezing: thoroughly rinse the leaves, then finely chop, lay in bags, and send them to the freezer. The maximum shelf life of a frozen product is 6 months.

What can be cooked from wild garlic: recipes

With wild garlic, you can cook a lot of delicious and healthy dishes. This plant with a specific garlic smell can be the basis of the pie filling or the main ingredient in the original salad. Fresh vegetable component can be added when baking fish and meat. Unusually delicious soups are prepared with wild garlic.

Let’s cite a few recipes as an example.

Salad

A simple meal and a festive table will be decorated with a salad made from the following components:

• wild garlic - 1 bunch;
• boiled eggs - 3 pieces;
• radish - 150 g;
• cucumber - 100 g;
• canned corn - 1 can.

We cut the wild garlic and vegetables, it is better to divide the eggs into slices. After mixing the main ingredients, the salad needs to be seasoned with sour cream, and before serving, the top can be decorated with greens and egg crumbs.

Wild garlic soup

In the first dishes, bear onions should be added a couple of minutes before removing the soup from the heat. But you can try to cook a delicious soup puree according to the following recipe:

1. First, potatoes, ordinary onions are chopped in arbitrary shape.
2. A bunch of wild garlic should be cut into large pieces.
3. Onions are pre-simmered in vegetable oil (1 tbsp), then vegetable broth is added to the pan, and then all the other preparations are sent.
4. Soup is cooked until potatoes are cooked.
5. At the end of cooking, add salt, pepper, 30 ml of dry wine (white), sour cream to taste. Before serving, it is recommended to beat the soup puree with a blender.

Fried wild garlic

Wild garlic is harmoniously combined with potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini. Therefore, you can cook combined dishes with it or fry only one product. We offer the simplest version of a delicious dish:

1. Before the cooking, rams (800 g) should be soaked for half an hour in warm water.
2. Pour a little water into the pan, add a couple of tablespoons of oil, put greens.
3. Simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.
4. If the liquid remains, it is necessary to fold the flask into a colander.
5. Then again the wild garlic is laid out in a pan, the remaining oil (2 tablespoons), tomato paste (350 g), spices are added.
6. It is necessary to stew the dish for another ten minutes, and after cooling, you can serve it to the table.

A combination of wild garlic with mushrooms is very tasty.

Korean wild garlic

Often such a salad is sold in vegetable markets, but it can be safely prepared at home. This will require:

• carrots - 1 pc.;
• olive oil - 30 ml;
• a pinch of salt;
• unrefined sunflower oil - 40 ml;
• a mixture of herbs - 10 g;
• wild garlic - 4 bunches.

Cooking process: first you need to boil water, then put the whole wild garlic, cook a little to remove the smell. Throw boiled greens into a colander so that the glass is water. Then a green blank is put into a salad bowl, grated carrots and all spices are added to it. Then, in a separate bowl, mix the oils, bring to a boil, pour into a salad bowl, mix quickly. After cooling, the dish can be served.

How to cook wild garlic for the winter

The methods for preparing wild garlic for winter storage have already been described above. Some housewives prefer to freeze greens, others prefer to dry a plant product. But few people know that bear onions can be pickled and pickled. But you can still put the chopped leaves and stems into jars, and then completely fill the green mass with vegetable oil. Such a blank should be stored for no more than three months.

Is it possible to give wild garlic to parrots

Although most plants are good for bird health, wild garlic, with its high ester content, can cause incessant diarrhea in the parrot. Therefore, the flask should not be given to birds.

How to remove wild garlic smell from your mouth

The characteristic garlic smell after eating wild garlic can be removed in several ways:

• chew mint leaves;
• hold a little pinch of dry mustard in your mouth;
• well mask unpleasant odors dill and green tea;
• fresh milk has long been used to neutralize bad breath;
• coffee beans will do an excellent job if you chew them.

Interesting facts about wild garlic

1. The Germans worship wild garlic and even organize colorful festivals in honor of this wild plant. In Germany, many dishes are prepared with a flask and are even added to bread dough.
2. In the Caucasus, bear onions are mixed with cheese, and then traditional Ossetian pies are baked with this filling.
3. Thanks to archaeological excavations, it was possible to establish that even 5 millennia ago wild garlic was used by Celts and Romans as a preventive measure during epidemics of cholera and plague.

Photo wild garlic