Melilotus officinalis: benefit and harm, use in traditional medicine

For many centuries in folk medicine accumulated experience in treating various diseases with medicinal herbs. Medication is actively used clover medicinal (Burkun yellow), Latin. Melilotus officinalis. This plant can be found in temperate latitudes, in different areas: in the field, in the meadow, at the road. The beneficial properties of clover are numerous due to its chemical composition.

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of the sweet clover is very rich and contains:

• coumarins and their derivatives;
• protein (17.6%);
• Sahara;
• vitamin C (up to 389 mg), vitamin E (more than 45 mg), carotene (up to 84 mg);
• lactone;
• glycoside;
• flavonoids (robinin, fluvin, kaempferol);
• Melilotin;
• essential oil (0.01%);
• polysaccharides (mucus);
• saponins;
• allantoin;
• hydroxycinnamic, coumaric, melodic acids;
• phenolic triterpene compounds;
• carbohydrate compounds;
• nitrogen bases;
• amino acids;
• tannins;
• fat-like substances (up to 4.3%);
• macro-and microelements (accumulates molybdenum, selenium);
• fatty acids (found in seeds).

Beneficial features

Grass clover has numerous medicinal properties, but do not forget about contraindications. It lowers blood pressure, has an antispasmodic effect in patients with angina, atherosclerosis.

It has a sedative effect on cardiospasms, anxiety, excitability, insomnia, headache, menopause. It is used as a mucolytic agent for coughing, bronchitis, is introduced into the ingredients of a laxative tea. It is used externally for wound healing, treatment of boils, joint tumors, inflammations of upper respiratory tract. Useful properties of clover "work" in donor honey, if there are no medical contraindications. The main ones are allergy to honey, as well as individual intolerance to its constituents.

Medicinal properties of sweet clover honey:

• boosts immunity;
• restores the body in the postoperative period;
• useful for shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches;
• promotes lactation in lactating women, etc.

Collection and storage of therapeutic raw materials

Collect side shoots and flowering upper part of the plants in the summer months. Thick stems are of no value, they should be thrown away. It is recommended to collect grass in meadows, in the field, on forest edges, far from trails, settlements, enterprises, sewage treatment plants, etc.

Dry the collected material in a shaded place, spreading out a layer of 3-5 cm at a temperature not higher than 32 ° C. After drying, they dry up dried flowers and leaves (without stalks).

Store in closed containers in a dry place up to 2 years.

Recipes of traditional medicine

For the treatment of tinned or pharmaceutical Burkun make tinctures, ointments, tea, use sweet clotted honey, steamed herbs.

1. Infusion for internal use: 2 tsp. dry clover pour 1.5 tbsp. distilled water, insist 4 hours and consume 0.5 cups 40 minutes before a meal.It has a sedative, analgesic, antitussive action.
2. For rubbing, compresses: 2 tbsp. l herbs pour 2 cups boiling water. Insist 20 minutes.
3. For baths: 2 tbsp. l dry raw materials pour 1 cup boiling water. Insist 10 minutes (radiculitis, rheumatism, stretching).
4. Preparation of ointment: 2 tbsp. l fresh flowers mixed with 2 tbsp. l butter and heat on very low heat for 7-10 minutes. Apply with furunculosis, ulcers, stretching.
5. Tincture: Pour 100 g of dried yellow burkun with a bottle (0.5 l) of vodka and leave for 2-3 weeks. Drink 10-12 drops before meals 3 times a day. Treats frequent migraines, hormonal disorders, infertility, endometriosis.
6. With pains and tumors joints primatyat bags of steaming grass for 15-20 minutes before going to bed for 8-10 days.
7. Donnic honey is necessary for nursing mothers. Take 1 dessert spoon after each meal.
8. When coughing, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia Honey is mixed with black radish juice and consumed 1 dessert spoon 20 minutes before meals.

Cooking Application

Medicinal clover is used in cooking as a seasoning for fish dishes and soups; salads with this plant, sweet clover tea and honey are also eaten.

• Salad Recipe:

4 -5 fresh cucumbers, 2 boiled eggs, green onions, a pinch of clover leaves, salt. Add sour cream or sunflower oil. Optionally, cut the young boiled potatoes.

• Donnic tea:

3 dess. l dry herbs, 3 tablespoons of lemon or cranberry juice, 3 tbsp. l honey pour 1.1 liters of water. Boil and infuse. Strain necessarily.

Contraindications and side effects

Yellow clover has not only medicinal properties, but also medical contraindications. Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation, reduced blood clotting, bleeding, kidney disease. Donnic honey should not be used by allergies. Before starting treatment, consult a doctor. When used strictly adhere to the dosage. In large doses, it has a depressant effect on the nervous system. Side effects can be insomnia, headache, nausea, vomiting, bleeding mucous membranes.

If you decide to resort to the means of traditional medicine, you should be prepared for the fact that the effect does not come within a day, a week.Herbal medicine and sweet clover is not an exception, it is a long process. It can take months. Be patient. The result will be required!