Portulac: use, therapeutic properties and contraindications

Purslane widespread in southern latitudes. Once in the garden, he stubbornly appears there and in subsequent years. Therefore, it is called garden purslane. It is an annual herbaceous plant with fleshy leaves, branchy and often creeping stems. Yellow flowers are placed in bunches in branches of stems and in the leaf axils. Flowering occurs in June-August, the fruit appears in September-October.

Purslane is grown as an edible herb for the preparation of various dishes. Portulac is also known for its healing properties. In this article, we find out what is useful for purslane and what are the ways of its use.

Chemical composition of purslane

The plant contains:

• proteins;
• carbohydrates - glucose, sucrose, galactose, maltose, fructose;
• glycosides;
• minerals;
• alkaloids;
• organic acids;
• vitamins C, K, PP, E;
• carotenoids - lutein, beta carotene;
• flavonoids;
• micro- and macronutrients - calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, sodium.

Scientists have discovered that among the portulaca leaves, among other things, there are dopamine and norepinephrine. And the seeds of the plant are rich in unsaturated fatty acids - oleic, linoleic, palmitic. They also have starch and cellulose.

Caloric portulac is 16 kcal per 100 g. Energy value: carbohydrates - 3.43 g, proteins - 1.3 g, fats - 0.1 g

Therapeutic and beneficial properties of purslane

First of all, it is worth noting that garden purslane is used for treatment, although there are several varieties of it.

Due to the chemical composition of the plant, it has the following therapeutic effects:

• antioxidant;
• antimicrobial;
• regenerating;
• anti-inflammatory;
• anti-toxic;
• diuretic;
• hypoglycemic;
• anti-ulcer;
• laxative;
• antihelminthic

For medicinal purposes they use flowers, stems, seeds, leaves, that is, all parts except the roots.

The useful properties of purslane include its ability to cleanse the body, restore power in the bodies of elderly people after an illness. Portulace leaves are beneficial for snake bites, insect bites, dysentery and sleep disorders. Portulaca is also taken in case of kidney and liver diseases.

Garden purslane is also used for the following problems: scurvy, flatulence, avitaminosis, impotence, trichomonas colpitis, scaly lichen, internal bleeding, diabetes mellitus, wounds, ulcers, hemorrhoids, headaches, conjunctivitis, arthritis, bladder diseases, stomach pathology, hypotension, enterocolitis.

Healing components increase heart rate, constrict blood vessels, lower blood sugar, cholesterol levels, increase blood pressure, relieve inflammation. Also with the help of purslane, asthma is treated and used to treat malignant and benign tumors.

How to procure and store raw materials from portulaca

To use all the benefits of the plant, you need to stock up on raw materials. Preparation of portulac raw material is produced during the flowering period of the plant. The leaves and seeds of the plant are collected for drying, placed separately, so that they are well dried. With the full loss of moisture retains all the beneficial properties of the plant.

Also for medicinal purposes, use the juice of the plant. During the flowering period, it is possible to pluck and salt the purslane in order to continue to use the raw materials.

Store harvested purslane can be no more than a year.

Recipes of traditional medicine: treatment with purslane

Portulac in folk medicine is applied from a variety of ailments. Its beneficial properties, allowing to treat various diseases, are present in medicines that are prepared from purslane. Purslane is used in the following dosage forms: infusion of fresh herbs, fresh juice, decoction of dried herbs, decoction of seeds.

The portulac plant is used in various healing recipes.

Bronchial asthma

In case of bronchial asthma, dried purslane seeds are taken, they are ground with honey. Take the medicine on a teaspoon before meals three times a day.

Heat

Antipyretic abilities are the next useful property of purslane, which is used in traditional medicine. To bring down the heat, carefully pressed seeds of portulaca need to pour boiling water and insist six hours. A patient with a high temperature is given to drink this infusion before eating 4 times a day.

Wart removal

For removal of warts in traditional medicine apply portulac juice. Warts need to be smeared with fresh juice of the plant. Over time, they should disappear.

Rashes, eczema and lichen

For rashes on skin, eczema and lichen, you can use purslane in several ways. One of them - in the form of infusion.Lotions are made on water or burdock oil with powdered purslane seeds.

If purslane seeds are mixed with butter, you will get a good purslane ointment, which is also effective for the listed skin diseases. It is rubbed evenly three times a day into the affected area.

Liver and kidney disease

For kidney diseases, portulaca stalks are poured with boiling water. The mixture is infused for four hours and taken three times a day before meals.

In diseases of the liver and gallbladder, a decoction is prepared from 10-20 g of grass, 2 g of purslane seeds and a glass of boiling water. The broth should be drunk three times a day in a tablespoon.

Ulcerative colitis

A decoction of purslane well helps with ulcerative colitis. To prepare the broth will need 1 tablespoon of dried portulaca grass and 200 ml of boiling water. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes, after which it should be infused for two hours. The broth must be filtered and take 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day.

Impotence

When impotence take infusion portulaca garden. To prepare the infusion you need to take 1 tablespoon of dry grass and 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse mixed ingredients for one hour at room temperature, then strain. Take this infusion should be 3-4 times a day for 2 tablespoons.

The use of purslane in cosmetology

Since ancient times, purslane is used as a cosmetic. Plant components promote cell regeneration, the skin becomes softer and silky. The effect of cell rejuvenation occurs, shallow wrinkles disappear. Can be used on any skin type. Purslank is also useful in hair care.

Recipes with purslane in cosmetology:

• Mask for dry skin: mix 2 tablespoons of herbs with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply the mask to face and hold for 10-15 minutes. After that, you can wash it off with a tampon dipped in warm green tea. Wash with boiled cool water;
• Nutritious mask: mix 2 tablespoons of pounded leaves of the plant, 1 teaspoon of sour cream, 4 tablespoons of cottage cheese. Apply the mask to face, neck and decollete. Hold the mask for 15 minutes, then rinse with a warm decoction of chamomile or parsley and apply a moisturizer;
• Mask for oily and normal skin: mix gruel from young greens plants (2 tablespoons) with oatmeal (1 tsp). Apply the mask to face.It can hold for 15 minutes, then rinse with water at room temperature;
• Infusion for washing the head from dandruff: brew 1 tablespoon of dry grass in a glass of boiling water for 1 hour, after which the infusion should be drained. The resulting cosmetic infusion to rub into the scalp after each wash.

Before using purslane for cosmetic purposes, it is worth discussing this with a beautician.

Contraindications and side effects

Portulac, of course, provides invaluable benefits to the body, but if used improperly, it can also cause harm. Reception of this plant should be limited to hypertension, as in large quantities the plant is able to increase blood pressure. You also need to be careful with eating the plant in bradycardia.

Do not forget that the portulaca contains oxalic acid, the excess of which can lead to the formation of kidney stones, problems with the joints and other troubles.

When using portulac, you need to consider that it stimulates the release of insulin and can cause hypoglycemia. Also, the plant is not recommended for people prone to increased seizures.

It is contraindicated to take purslane during pregnancy, because it increases the tone of the uterus.

As you can see, portulac can have a truly healing effect on the human body. One has only to remember in what states its use should be stopped or limited.