Donnik: medicinal properties and contraindications

Melilot belongs to medicinal field plants. It is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of our country. It is called yellow clover, Italian grass, ground plant, grass hops and meadow burkun. A large number of the most diverse popular names indicate that the clover has always been popular among people. The name of the plant comes from the word "bottom". So called the lower abdomen in women, so the grass is sometimes called a female clover.

Chemical composition

Scientific studies have shown that yellow clover has a rich chemical composition. It contains important components that are part of many drugs:

• flavonoids (affect the vascular system);
• fatty acid;
• starchy substances;
• coumarin (has a pleasant aroma and contains coagulating substances);
• derivatives of purine;
• essential oils;
• mucous membranes;
• sucrose;
• vegetable protein.

How it looks and where it grows

Melilot is a plant that grows near roadsides and in steppe areas. Grassy culture is often found in the form of thickets. The average height reaches 50 cm. Varieties up to 1.5 m high are found. Leaf sinuses have tassels covered with small flowers of a yellowish-lemon, lilac or white hue. The flowering period lasts from May to June. After the flower petals fall off, fruits are formed in their place, similar in appearance to small beans. For this reason, clover is considered a bean crop. The fruits ripen in late summer. The plant has a straight long stem, from which numerous small branches depart. The flower aroma of the culture attracts bees, so the plant is considered a good honey plant.

A grassy crop is propagated by seeds that ripen in the second year. They are covered with a hard shell, which cracks under natural conditions with a sharp change in temperature. Sprouts begin to germinate at temperatures above 4 ° C.

Views

There are 22 types of yellow clover. The article will consider the most common varieties.

1. Yellow clover. This is the name of the medicinal variety of the plant with an average height of 125 cm. The flowers in the form of elongated brushes have a yellow color. The size of the inflorescences is 6 mm. Herbaceous culture refers to biennial plants. Yellow clover is highly regarded both in folk and traditional medicine.
2. White clover. It can be either one-year or two-year. Its stems are up to 170 cm high. Shoots have rare triple leaves, and the upper part is covered with white flowers. The flowering period lasts only 30 days. White clover contains a lot of nectar and is considered a valuable honey plant. Along with this, this kind of healing herb is considered poisonous. It is used in the preparation of decoctions and infusions only by experienced herbalists. White clover is able to scare away blood-sucking insects, so tourists often make halts near the thickets of grassy crops.
3. Plow clover. The height of this variety reaches from 15 to 100 cm. After some time, the lower part of the stem acquires a reddish hue. The leaves are the largest in comparison with other varieties of the plant. In summer, the shoots are covered with fluffy tassels with small flowers from yellowish to lilac. Their average length is 6 mm.
4. Indian clover. This type of plant has a small height - from 15 to 50 cm. The length of the flowers is about 3 mm. They have a yellow color. Flowering occurs from early June to mid-July.

Collection and storage

The herbaceous culture is harvested during flowering, that is, from May to June. The collection process consists in cutting off the tops of the plant and the side leaves. It is better to collect grass in clear, dry weather. The implementation of this recommendation will simplify the drying process. You should not choose a plant that grows along roadsides, domestic landfills and industrial facilities. Stop the selection should be in the field, located away from roadside sites and settlements.

To keep the collected clover until the next flowering season, it must be thoroughly dried. It is important to carefully sort the prepared raw materials. Then distribute the plant in small bunches and bandage them with threads or a thin rope. Hang blanks or lay them down on a dry surface. The room must be aired during drying, while avoiding direct sunlight. The light of the sun can dry the plant, as a result of which it will crumble.

Many housewives carry out the process of drying the collected raw materials in a special dryer designed for preparing workpieces. The process must be carried out at a temperature of 35 ° C.

If the grassy crop is dried correctly, the harvest will smell like freshly cut grass. In dry form, the plant should not be stored for longer than 24 months. After this time, the medicinal properties of sweet clover are lost. The dried collection can be stored in ceramic or glass containers, as well as in a cardboard or wooden box.

If there is no opportunity to independently prepare a plant for the winter period, healing herbs can be purchased at any pharmacy.

Medicinal properties of clover

Scientific studies have shown that the active components that make up the sweet clover serve as biological stimulants. As an experiment, an aqueous extract of the plant was given to rats. During the observations, an increase in leukocytes in the bloodstream of rodents and an improvement in the general condition was found. Researchers concluded that the substances contained in the sweet clover can prolong life. Also a plant:

• eliminates cramps;
• calms the nervous system;
• helps to reduce pressure;
• normalizes the circulatory system;
• eliminates inflammation;
• restores the work of the heart;
• has a diuretic effect.

Preparations with plant extract have a number of medicinal properties:

• destroy harmful microbes;
• normalize the stool;
• envelop the walls of the mucous membranes;
• increase the number of white blood cells in the bloodstream;
• contribute to the effective discharge of sputum;
• stop pain;
• strengthen the immune system.

For women

The components of sweet clover are used to treat such ailments of the female body:

• cystitis;
• depression;
• insomnia;
• pain during menstruation;
• high blood pressure;
• swelling;
• obesity.

Melilot is often used by lactating women. The medicinal plant is used for the first symptoms of lactostasis and mastitis. From its extract, it is necessary to prepare an infusion. To do this, pour 25 g of grass in a glass of water and insist for at least three hours. Immerse the gauze folded several times in the infusion and attach it to the sore chest. In addition, therapy helps to get rid of cracks that occur on the nipples in the initial stages of feeding.

In addition to alleviating the condition during menstruation, the use of clover infusion normalizes the cycle and serves as an excellent prevention of ovarian inflammation.During menopause, the plant helps to cope with overwork, stress and insomnia.

For men

1. Since ancient times, plant extract has been used to get rid of various male health problems. Preparations containing sweet clover have the following effects on the man's body:
2. Beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system by increasing the number of white blood cells in the blood.
3. They are an excellent way to eliminate thrombosis.
4. Helps eliminate furunculosis and problems with the genitourinary system, such as prostatitis.
5. Increase male libido.
6. They have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

During pregnancy

Despite the many beneficial properties of medicinal herbs, their use is not recommended for pregnant women. Therefore, sweet clover is contraindicated during pregnancy. This recommendation is due to the fact that the composition of the plant includes substances that can adversely affect the condition of the fetus. In addition, during pregnancy it is impossible to predict the behavior of the body when exposed to any substance.

Nevertheless, there are supporters of the use of sweet clover during the bearing of a child. The medicinal plant soothes the nervous system and speeds up the healing process of damaged skin. You can take a clover only under the supervision of a specialist and after passing a medical examination.

For children

Treatment of children with the help of clover must be carried out with caution. Before starting wellness therapy, you need to consult a specialist and pass the necessary tests. In the presence of contraindications, a grassy culture can harm the health of the child.

Baths with a restorative effect
Pour 25 g of dry clover into a glass of hot water and let it brew. Add the resulting infusion to the water when bathing the baby. Repeat the procedure no more than once a week.

Sore throat remedy
10 g of sweet clover pour 200 ml of water and boil for 5 minutes. Pass the cooled broth through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. The resulting product is taken in 10 ml three times a day.

Melilot in folk medicine

Soothing Cough Tea

A tablespoon of clover flowers pour 1 liter of boiling water. Insist for 30 minutes. Take the prepared tea in small portions until the cough is eliminated.

Migraine decoction

Grind 25 g of the dried plant and pour a glass of boiling liquid. Send the resulting mixture to a water bath. After 30 minutes, remove from the stove. Take the broth before eating 10 ml three times a day.

Decoction of diseases of the female reproductive system

Combine extracts of clover, yarrow and coltsfoot. To stir thoroughly. Pour boiling liquid over one teaspoon of the resulting mixture. Insist for three hours. Take the broth three times a day for 50 ml. The duration of the course is one month.

Compress for edema

Extracts of chamomile, sweet clover, calamus, calendula and ashberry pour boiling water and leave for two hours. After this, the infusion must be filtered. To make a compress, you need the remaining mixture of herbs. Gruel from plants must be applied to swollen legs. Before starting therapy, make sure that there are no contraindications.

Abdominal distention

Grind 20 g of dried plant roots and pour a glass of liquid. Cook the mixture over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain the cooled broth. Take three times a day until symptoms are resolved.

Hemorrhoid treatment

Combine 5 g of clover, 10 g of cloves and 5 g of highlander. Grind the ingredients in a mortar until a homogeneous powder is formed. You can also use a coffee grinder. To 15 g of the mixture add a teaspoon of animal fat and send to a water bath. The cooled composition is applied to problem areas before bedtime. Herbal components contribute to the healing of cracks and eliminate pain.

Rheumatism Compress

25 g of marshmallow, 30 g of clover and 25 g of chamomile pour liquid and cook over moderate heat for 10 minutes. Strain the cooled broth. Dampen gauze folded several times in it and attach to the problem area.

Infusion with high blood pressure

20 g of dry clover pour a glass of boiling liquid. Insist for three hours. The filtered infusion should be taken three times a day, 50 ml each.

Types of healing compounds

Infusion

To prepare the infusion, you need to pour 50 g of dry grass into 1 liter of boiling water. Insist at room temperature for four hours, then pass through cheesecloth. The resulting volume should be taken twice a day before eating. The prepared infusion is effective in combating insomnia and nervous breakdown.

Tincture

To make clover tincture you will need 50 g of a dry plant and 250 ml of vodka. The ingredients must be combined in a ceramic or glass container and infused for 15 days. The resulting alcoholic infusion is used to restore reproductive function and hormonal failure. Take 10-15 drops of the drug twice a day. The duration of therapy is 10 days. To eliminate a headache, it is necessary to lubricate the area of ​​the temples with tincture.

Decoction

Adherents of traditional medicine use sweet clover to treat skin diseases, as well as an anti-inflammatory agent. To prepare it, 2 tablespoons of dried sweet clover must be poured with cold water and sent to simmer on steam for 20-30 minutes. Before use, strain the cooled broth. A healing product is recommended to be taken three times during the day throughout the week.

Tea

A drink made on the basis of sweet clover has a beneficial effect on the immune system, eliminates signs of a nervous breakdown and normalizes sleep. To make clover tea you will need 10 g of dried grass and a glass of boiling water. To get the most intense taste, it is recommended to brew the drink in a thermos. To improve the taste, you can add a slice of lemon, fresh ginger root and a teaspoon of natural honey to tea.

Ointment

An ointment prepared on the basis of grass has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat furunculosis and abscess. In addition, the use of a healing composition accelerates the healing process of scratches, wounds and other damage to the skin. To prepare a clover ointment, it is necessary to grind 25 g of flowers of a herbaceous plant. To the resulting powder add 1.5 tablespoons of butter, which should be softened. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly and store in a refrigerator. Ointment is recommended to be applied to problem areas of the skin three times a day.

Butter

Sweet clover oil is recommended to be used pointwise, as it can cause an allergic reaction. To prepare it, you need a teaspoon of pre-crushed plants and 100 g of vegetable oil. The resulting composition must be maintained for three hours at room temperature. Before using the product, it is recommended to test it on a small area of ​​the skin, which will help prevent the development of an allergic reaction and save the patient from many unpleasant consequences. Apply oil to problem areas of the skin no more than three times a day until the disease is eliminated.

Application in cosmetology

The herbaceous culture contains many valuable components that have found application not only in the healthcare sector, but also in the beauty industry. Plant extract is a part of products intended for skin and hair care. It can be found in anti-cellulite products, face serums, tonics and milk for removing cosmetics. Herbal remedies have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties due to coumarins, proteins, glycoside, organic acids and fat-like substances.

Plant extract has a calming effect and astringent effect. In addition, it has a positive effect on the vascular system due to the manifestation of the properties of the coagulant. Cosmetics with melilot increase blood circulation, eliminate puffiness and help get rid of varicose veins. In this case, there is a decrease in the permeability of blood vessels.

Tonic containing extracts of rutin and clover is very popular. Rutin, like sweet clover, can affect vascular permeability. In addition, this vitamin is famous for its antioxidant properties. In some cases, tonic is enriched with ascorbic acid. This combination provides the formation of natural collagen.

For hair

1. Rinse broth. Fill 50 g of clover grass with cold water. Send the pan to the stove. Bring the solution to a boil and turn off the heat. The prepared broth is used once a week while rinsing the hair. The broth strengthens the basal hair follicles and accelerates the healing of damaged scalp. To add shine to the broth, you can add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and onion peel.
2. Healing mask. Grind 25 g of the dried plant to a powder. Add 25 g of sour cream and mix thoroughly. Apply the resulting mixture to clean scalp, hold for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly. The mask strengthens the hair follicles and nourishes the skin. The procedure should be performed no more than once a week.

For skin

1. Acne ointment. Grind 25 g of dried leaves and inflorescences to a powder. To do this, you can use a special mortar for spices or a coffee grinder. Add 25 g of petroleum jelly to the prepared powder. Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly with a wooden stick. The resulting composition is applied to the inflamed areas of the skin.
2. Anti-cellulite body scrub. Grind 50 g of dried stems of sweet clover. Add a tablespoon of ground coffee beans and 2 tablespoons of honey. Mix the resulting mass thoroughly until smooth. Apply the prepared scrub to problem areas of the body, and then massage these areas for 5-10 minutes to enhance the effect. After the composition, rinse thoroughly with warm water and apply a moisturizer or cosmetic oil to the body.

Cooking Application

Dried flowers and leaves of white and yellow clover are often used in cooking. They are added as seasoning to various dishes. Grass emphasizes the taste of the fish and gives it a pleasant aroma. Melilot is also used in the preparation of certain types of cheese. Fresh rhizomes of the plant are used as a vegetable crop, and leaves and inflorescences are added to acute pickles and during the preparation of pickles.

Add clover vegetable salad

Ingredients:

• 2 medium-sized cucumbers;
• 50 g of green onions;
• 2 eggs;
• 350 g of fresh clover leaves;
• sour cream;
• salt.

Rinse cucumbers thoroughly and cut into rings. Add finely chopped onions and herbaceous leaves to them. Boil chicken eggs, cut and send to the rest of the ingredients. Season the salad with sour cream and salt.

Potato and clover salad

Ingredients:

• 400 g of new potatoes;
• 50 g of clover leaves;
• 50 g of green onions;
• vegetable oil;
• salt pepper.

Rinse and boil potatoes until cooked. Cut the cooled vegetable into cubes or half rings, add the clover and chopped onions. Season the salad with vegetable oil and add spices.

Melilot okroshka

Ingredients:

• 150 g chicken fillet;
• 200 g of boiled potatoes;
• 50 g of green onions;
• 50 g of clover leaves;
• 2 cucumbers
• boiled egg;
• sour cream;
• mustard;
• salt pepper.

Transfer the finely chopped boiled chicken meat into a salad bowl. Dice cucumbers, egg and potatoes and send to meat. Add onions, clover leaves, sour cream, mustard, salt and pepper. Thoroughly mix the resulting vegetable mass and pour kvass.

Green cabbage soup

Ingredients:

• 1 liter of vegetable or chicken broth;
• 200 g of potatoes;
• 80 g of carrots;
• 200 g of fresh sorrel;
• 1 small onion;
• tomato paste;
• 40 g of clover leaves;
• salt, spices.

Add diced potatoes to the prepared broth. Finely chop the onion and transfer to a pan, fry for 2 minutes. Grate the carrots and send to the onion. Fry for 3 minutes. Add clover leaves, sorrel, salt and frying to the pan. After 7 minutes, turn off the stove. Green cabbage soup is recommended to serve with half a boiled egg, finely chopped green onions and sour cream.

Fried clover roots

Ingredients:

• plant roots;
• sunflower oil;
• salt.

Wash and fry the roots of the herbaceous culture in a pan with the addition of sunflower oil. The dish can be used as a side dish for meat or fish.

Melilot seasoning

Grind the dried leaves and flowers of the herbaceous culture. To do this, you can use a mortar or coffee grinder. To obtain a uniform powder, the resulting mixture must be passed through a fine sieve. It is recommended to use seasoning in the process of preparing main dishes and vegetable salads. To give the compote a piquant aroma, clover leaves should be wrapped in a bag of gauze and added to the drink. At the end of cooking, it must be removed. To prepare 1 liter of compote, you will need 10 g of seasoning.

Clover drink

25 g of dried grass pour 1 liter of liquid, add granulated sugar to taste. Bring the composition to a boil over medium heat, stirring with a spatula. After the first bubbles appear, remove the pan from the stove. Add cranberry juice. Strain the chilled drink.

Melilot honey: useful properties and contraindications

The plant attracts bees with its floral aroma and is an excellent honey plant. Melilotus flowers secrete a large amount of nectar during the flowering period. Melilot honey is considered a high quality product. It has a pleasant taste, has a golden or light shade and a sweet smell in which notes of vanilla are felt. The product contains 40% fructose and 37% glucose.

Melilot honey is considered a medicine that helps with problems with the digestive system, high blood pressure, migraines, depression and overwork. Honey massage is recommended for arthrosis and arthritis. In the acute phase of the disease, the use of a valuable product is contraindicated.

Melilot honey contains a huge number of useful components:

• folic acid;
• vitamins;
• zinc;
• calcium;
• chromium.

Due to its rich chemical composition, honey has a beneficial effect on the human body:

• normalizes cholesterol;
• strengthens the immune system;
• has a tonic effect;
• dilutes blood;
• It is used as an antispasmodic.

It must be understood that any honey, including clover honey, is not a treat. This product, in addition to the healing components, contains an impressive amount of fructose and sucrose, therefore, it can be useful with moderate use.

An overdose of melilot honey is accompanied by an upset stomach, nausea, chills and weakness. In some cases, liver damage and paralysis of nerve endings may occur.

Contraindications:

• renal failure;
• liver pathology;
• internal bleeding;
• diabetes;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• pregnancy and lactation.

Melilot honey should not be introduced into the diet of children under the age of three, as the use of the product can cause severe allergic reactions.

Is it possible to give clover to rabbits

Field grass is an important part of the rabbit diet. It is important that the food is not only saturating, but also useful. The grass feeding period is in spring and summer.At this time, green food makes up the bulk of the rabbit's diet. In the autumn and winter, animals feed on special food and hay. This plant is quite common, so many breeders are interested in whether it is possible to feed domestic rabbits with a clover. The plant is allowed to safely enter the diet of the animal. Clover along with clover is a fairly common fodder plant. Feeding should begin with a small portion, after which it is recommended to assess the condition of the animal. The essential oils that make up a plant can scare away a pet. If the health of the rabbit has not changed, then you can gradually increase the amount of feed.

Collect and harvest grass for the animal in proven places. The territory should be remote from industrial facilities, large settlements, landfills and highways. Grass collected in this area can harm the health of the rabbit and even cause death.

Melilot for a pet can be harvested in the form of hay for the winter. Dried stems become coarse and help to clean the animal’s teeth.

Contraindications

Along with useful properties, clover has a number of contraindications, so before using a herbaceous plant, you should make sure that there are no health problems. To do this, you need to consult a specialist and undergo a series of laboratory tests. Melilot has the following contraindications:

• hepatic and renal failure;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• high blood pressure;
• lactation period and pregnancy;
• internal bleeding;
• childhood;
• tendency to allergic reactions;
• bleeding disorders.

An overdose can accompany migraines, tremors, general weakness of the body, clouding of the mind, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. In some situations, hemorrhage in the internal tissues or paralysis of the central nervous system may occur. Clover intake should not be combined with drugs that increase blood thinning. This can cause problems with stopping blood in the event of cuts. In addition, the use of sweet clover must be abandoned a month before any surgical intervention.

The use of any extracts of medicinal plants is beneficial if they are used in small quantities. Large doses often have a detrimental effect on the human body and can cause serious health problems.

Interesting facts about clover

1. In America, clover is used as the main honey plant.
2. Dried leaves and inflorescences of the plant have found application in cooking. They are used as seasoning for main dishes, drinks and salads. Melilot condiment is especially famous among residents of the Caucasus and Central Asia. Some varieties of grassy plants are used to flavor beer drinks.
3. You can deter parasitic insects due to the insecticidal properties of the plant. In ancient times, people placed dried grass in small cloth pads and laid out in places inhabited by moths and mosquitoes.
4. Scientific studies have shown that the seeds of some varieties of plants are able to maintain their properties for 70 years.
5. Grassy hay is a nutritious feed for livestock. Preparations containing plant extract are often used to treat animals.
6. In ancient times, women washed their face with dew of sweet clover. It was believed that after this procedure, the face looks fresh, and the cheeks are rosy.
7. Young girls believed that with the help of a clover, you can bewitch the lover. A bouquet of plant flowers was placed at the window and waited for the return of the beloved.
8. Don Cossacks used grass to give tobacco a special flavor.
9. In Russia, 10 species of clover grows.
10. In France, a plant is used for dyeing tissues.

Photo of clover