Shchiritsa is a herbaceous plant. Shchiritsa (amaranth) is one of the first agricultural crops grown by humans. How to prepare medicinal raw materials
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Article added by user Natalya K.
13.03.2015
Amaranth - edible agaric
Amaranth- a weed or an extremely useful plant.##Schiritsa - Amaranthus retroflexus L. Homeland - central and eastern regions of the USA. It is currently one of the most common weeds in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It infests crops of most agricultural crops, including grains. The reduction in yield from common acorn grass can be 5-50%. During the flowering period it is a strong allergen. The common acorn is an annual plant that reproduces only by seeds. The maximum fertility of one plant is 1 million 70 thousand seeds. The number of seeds depends on the presence of light; in the shade, its fertility is much lower. Seed germination is stimulated by intense light and high temperature. The optimal depth is 1 cm. Seed germination directly depends on the level of damage to the shell; the more damaged the shell, the higher the percentage of germination. In the soil, seeds can remain viable for more than 20 years, on the soil surface - only 20 months. The germination period of acorn grass extends from early spring to the second half of summer. The fruits of the common acorn are capsules, the shape of the fruit is ovoid, slightly elongated. The box is compressed and opens with a lid. The color of the fruit is usually gray-green. The seeds are round, compressed from the sides. The surface of the seeds is smooth, shiny; at high magnification, a shallow mesh pattern is visible, which is formed by shallow wrinkles. The color of the seeds is intensely black, and if the seeds are immature, they are ruby red. The diameter of one seed is 1-1.25 mm, the width does not exceed 1 mm, and the thickness is 0.5-0.75 mm. Weight of 1000 seeds - 0.3-0.4 g.
Shchiritsa is an indispensable food for animals.
Shchiritsa has a beneficial effect on the life and growth of domestic animals and poultry. They don't get sick. Bulls gain 1 kg of weight per day, pigs - 450 grams. In cows, not only milk yield increases, but also the fat content of milk. Chickens fed with amaranth seeds grow 6 times faster than those fed with millet and get sick less. So, if you do not allow the acorn to grow to the point of seeding, then the red amaranth should be grown in your garden as a nutritious and healing product that can replace meat for us. And for fattening pigs and poultry there is no more profitable feed. Amaranth is unpretentious and can grow in saline and alkaline soils. It does not wither in the driest soil, where not a drop of rain falls during the entire summer period. It owes this endurance to its unusual ability to absorb moisture from the air. Amaranth does not require treatment with pesticides (it is not affected by any insects) and the application of chemical and natural fertilizers to the soil, that is, it is grown as an environmentally friendly product.
Amaranth is a cultivated amaranth.
Starting from the 86th and 90s, when cultivated species of amaranth, amaranth, multiplied in botanical gardens, you could read about it in any newspaper about health and gardening. After such popularization, colorful dark red garden and ornamental amaranths appeared in gardens. Red amaranths - paniculata and caudate - are slightly less prolific - half a million seeds, and only their decorative appearance is squat cockscombs - 100-200 thousand seeds per plant. During the reforms carried out by Peter I, the cultivation of amaranth and the consumption of amaranth bread, which was previously the main food of Russian people, was prohibited, which led to the destruction of longevity on Earth (according to legend, the elders in Russia lived for a very long time, up to 300 years). Agricultural farms do not want to engage in it because our agricultural technology is not adapted to its large-scale cultivation. Its cleaning is not amenable to mechanization. Collecting seeds requires manual work; if done by machine, the seeds fall off. That's why farm agronomists prefer corn, wheat, and barley - it's not so troublesome. If you want to collect acorn seeds on your own plot, then you need to choose the strongest plants and not cut off the leaves from them. They are collected when the lower leaves dry out and fall off, and the stem turns whitish. You need to harvest in dry weather, you need to start cutting the inflorescences from the bottom, the seeds can easily spill out of them, so they need to be cut off a little unripe and dried. Then, mature inflorescences are ground by hand and sifted through a fine sieve. From one plant you can get up to half a million seeds, and their weight can be a kilogram or more. These seeds can be stored for up to five years. And the UN Food Commission elevated amaranth to product No. 1, which will satiate peoples and save humanity from hunger and recognized amaranth as a culture of the 21st century. Many countries grow amaranth: the USA, India, China, Japan, etc. This product is included in dozens of vegetable, confectionery and bread products: salads, cookies, pasta, bread, flour, butter, starch, and this is not a complete list, where it is being used.
The healing properties of amaranth have been known since ancient times.
In ancient Chinese medicine, amaranth was used as an anti-aging agent. It was known to both the ancient Greeks and the peoples of Central America - the Incas and Aztecs. Amaranth bread, according to legend, was called the bread of the Aztecs. Among the ancient Greeks, it was a symbol of immortality, since amaranth inflorescences never fade. The word AMARANTH literally means the bestower of immortality. Mara is the goddess of death, and the prefix “A” means negation in the language (for example, moral-immoral). Seeds of cultivated amaranths can be of various colors. It is noteworthy that light seeds yield more vegetable oil, while dark seeds contain squalene and some other biologically active components in higher concentrations. In terms of the content of useful substances, this plant is many times superior to wheat and other traditional cereals. Amaranth seeds are rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements and contain up to 18% high-quality protein. Leaves and seeds contain all amino acids - essential and essential. Characteristic of amaranth is Aspartic acid, which plays an important role in the synthesis of lysine, an essential amino acid. The most important amino acid - lysine in amaranth is 2.5 times more than in wheat and 3.5 times more than in corn. The Japanese compare amaranth greens to squid meat. Oil obtained from amaranth grains is superior to sea buckthorn oil in all respects. The special value of amaranth lies in the presence in its seeds of a substance such as squalene, which has a strong antioxidant effect, is recommended for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, reduces cholesterol levels, improves the condition of the coronary arteries, helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, significantly strengthens the immune system, promotes the removal of toxins, radionuclides and heavy metal salts from the body. Amaranth seeds are recommended to be used as additives in many dietary products: cereals, baked goods, pasta and confectionery in an amount of 5-20%, preferably daily. Amaranth flour has high biological value and serves as a rich source of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins C and PP. Amaranth flour does not contain gluten and can become the basis for creating products for patients with celiac disease (gluten enteropathy), without the addition of wheat flour. Iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and a rich set of vitamins B1, B2, E, vitamins D, phospholipids, and phytosterols give it healing properties. The rich content of essential amino acids - valine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and tryptophan - makes it a truly medicinal product. The unique chemical composition of amaranth determines the limitlessness of its use as a remedy. The ancient Aztecs used amaranth to feed newborn children; warriors took amaranth grains with them on difficult campaigns as a source of strength and health. A veritable pharmacy, amaranth was used to treat royalty in ancient India and China. Scientists have found that amaranth removes radionuclides from the body. Amaranth helps with many diseases: inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system in women and men, hemorrhoids, diabetes, obesity, neuroses, anemia and weight loss, vitamin deficiencies, impotence in serious illnesses, diseases of the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, various skin diseases and burns , stomatitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, atherosclerosis. Urinary incontinence in children can be cured in just a week by drinking a decoction of the seeds as tea.
Amaranth is also known as amaranth. There are 17 species of this plant found in Russia. Amaranth has truly miraculous healing properties that promote recovery from many diseases.
Description
An annual plant of the amaranth family. The plant can reach a height of 3 meters, with a stem thickness of about 10 cm. The leaves of the amaranth plant are quite large, oblong in shape, with long petioles, wedge-shaped at the base, sharp towards the apex. The inflorescence is like a lush panicle. Its length can reach 1.5 meters, and they can be of different densities and shapes. Amaranth has small seeds. Seed color: pink, white, brown, black. One inflorescence contains about 0.5 kg of seeds. The plant has a very large number of leaves, about 1000.
Spreading
The plant is native to South and Central America. Today, amaranth is cultivated not only in America, but also in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Russia. Breeders develop plant varieties in such a way that they are adapted to certain climatic conditions.
Collection and preparation
Amaranth blooms in June, which is when the plants are collected. Amaranth should be cut carefully without damaging the inflorescences and leaves.
Amaranth can be stored for no more than 2 years. A plant that has reached a height of 20 cm is suitable for drying. The leaves are dried in the open air, in the shade.
Application
Amaranth is used as a seasoning, since its seeds contain a large amount of amino acids and protein beneficial to humans. The leaves of the plant are also used for food, since they contain no less useful elements. They are added to salads, soups, and side dishes. The leaves are also used to obtain protein mass used as protein nutrition.
In folk medicine, amaranth is used in the following forms:
- decoction;
- cold infusion;
- hot infusion;
- Fresh Juice;
- chopped, softened leaves;
- infusion for bathing;
- extract and oil.
Recipes
Decoction of amaranth herb: crushed leaves, flowers or roots of the herb - 2 tbsp, pour 2 cups of boiling water. Cook for 15 minutes in a steam bath. Cool, express. Take 0.5 cups 30 minutes before meals.
A cold infusion is drunk for gastrointestinal diseases: dried amaranth (flowers or leaves) is poured with cold (not ice) water in a ratio of 1 to 10. Infuse for 15 - 20 minutes. Express. Take 0.5 cups before meals.
A hot infusion of amaranth herb is prepared as follows: 4 tbsp. l fresh leaves are cut, pour a glass of boiling water. Leave for about 30 minutes. Cool slightly and strain. Take 0.5 cups several times a day, before meals.
An infusion for bathing will be effective for various skin inflammations. It is prepared according to the following recipe: 300 grams of leaves and flowers are poured with 2 liters of boiling water. Cook for 15 – 20 minutes. Cool slightly and strain. The decoction is added to the bath water, which is taken for 30 minutes.
Fresh juice is used to rinse the mouth: for sore throats, inflammation of the mucous membranes, tonsillitis. The juice is diluted with water in the ratio: 1 to 5.
Amaranth oil
Amaranth oil (oil extract) is used in the treatment of:
- gastrointestinal tract;
- of cardio-vascular system;
- oncological diseases;
- kidney;
- liver;
- diabetes;
- osteoporosis;
- atherosclerosis.
You can prepare oil from the amaranth plant yourself as follows: thoroughly grind the seeds in a mortar. Mix with olive oil, 1 to 1, pour into a glass container, leave in a dark, cool place, shaking occasionally. After 1.5 months, the extract is ready and can be used and stored in the refrigerator. The container should always be closed so that amaranth oil does not lose its properties.
Application in cosmetics
The juice of the amaranth plant is used to make homemade cosmetics:
- lotions;
- masks;
- compresses;
- rinse aids.
The lotion is prepared according to the following recipe: pour 2-3 leaves with a glass of boiling water, leave for 1.5 - 2 hours. Express. Wipe problem areas of the skin 2 times a day.
Masks are prepared depending on skin type.
For oily skin: grind the greens and mix with oatmeal. The resulting mixture is applied in a thin layer to the face. Leave for 10 - 15 minutes, then rinse with water. The mask has the only contraindication that you can determine yourself. If any discomfort is felt during the procedure, the mask must be washed off ahead of time.
For dry skin, use amaranth as a mask according to the following recipe: amaranth herb juice in the amount of 2 tbsp. l mixed with raw egg yolk and 1 tsp sour cream. You can also add amaranth oil - a couple of drops. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and applied in a thin layer for 15 minutes. The properties of the mask are as follows: vitamins and other beneficial substances penetrate the pores of the skin, moisturizing and softening it.
Compresses are used to relieve swelling. Prepare a compress according to this recipe: grind the greens and mix with a small amount of warm milk. The paste is applied to swollen areas of the face. After 15 minutes, wash off.
A rinse from the amaranth plant is used after washing your hair. A decoction of amaranth herb has a wonderful conditioning effect on the scalp. Decoction recipe: 5 – 6 leaves are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for 24 hours. Dilute with water: 1 to 1. Use several times a week.
To actively stimulate hair growth, use amaranth oil by rubbing it into the scalp.
Restrictions on use
Amaranth is contraindicated for the following diseases:
- pancreatitis;
- cholelithiasis;
- urolithiasis disease;
- gluten enteropathy;
- cholecystitis;
- individual intolerance.
Popularly considered a weed, but not everyone knows that it also has a number of medicinal properties, which have been used since ancient times in the treatment of certain diseases. Mainly, acorn recursus is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and as a hemostatic agent.
Amaranth upturned is an annual plant, growing up to 0.9 m. The rhizome of amaranth is pinkish in color. You can recognize the aphid by its flowers - they are small and yellowish-green in color.
Shchiritsa cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Seen in all areas. The amaranth family includes 4 more species that are found throughout the country. It grows in vegetable gardens and fields, near roads. Considered a weed.
Edible parts: leaves; seeds.
Culinary uses of shiritsa:
Young leaves- raw or cooked like spinach. They have a mild flavor and are often mixed with stronger flavored leaves. Amaranth is rich in iron and is also a good source of vitamins A and C.
Seeds- raw or cooked. They were ground into powder and used as a grain substitute, and some also added it to salads. The seeds are very small, about 1 mm in diameter, but are easy to collect and very nutritious. The taste will improve significantly if the seeds are roasted before grinding. They are often added to cornmeal. The seeds can be cooked whole and become gelatinous, so some of the seeds will pass straight through the digestive system without being assimilated.
Applications of Amaranth
The plant is used in traditional medicine as a hemostatic agent for certain pulmonary, intestinal, hemorrhoidal and uterine bleeding. Sometimes it is recommended to take aqueous infusions of medicinal herbs for diarrhea, intestinal pain or constipation.
How to use shiritsa
Tart tea made from leaves as an astringent. It is used in the treatment of heavy menstruation, intestinal bleeding, etc. The infusion is used to treat hoarseness.
Grind upturned acorn grass, add 1 to 3 tbsp. l. into a full glass of boiling water, leave for about an hour, then strain. Take 3 times during the day, before meals (divide the resulting composition into 3 equal parts).
1 tbsp. add dry crushed leaves to a glass of water, then cook for 2-3 minutes, then leave for 1 hour, and be sure to strain. Take half a glass 3-4 times a day, before meals.
Other uses
Yellow and red dyes are obtained from the whole plant. Like many other Amaranthus species, this plant can be harmful and even fatal when fed to cattle and pigs in large quantities. However, when supplied in moderation, it is considered an exceptionally nutritious feed.
Photo of upturned acorn and how to fight it?
This plant is considered a weed, so it is found extremely often throughout the territory. Not everyone knows that the amaranth family amaranth can be used in folk medicine, and they want to get rid of the annoying weed plant as quickly as possible.
There are some ways:
- Thorough cleaning of seed material.
- Use of herbicides.
- Mow the grass before flowering.
You can always choose the option that you like - using it in folk medicine or destroying acorns as a weed. You should also always consult your doctor about intake and dosage. Be healthy!
Althaea officinalis L. Amaranth family – Amaranthaceae
Botanical characteristics
An annual herbaceous plant up to 1 m tall. It grows everywhere, as a weed, in crops, orchards, orchards, in vacant lots, and along roads.
The root extends and penetrates far into the depths. The stem is straight, branched, pubescent. The leaves are alternate, ovate-rhombic, elongated into a petiole at the base, with a notch at the apex. The fruit is lenticular black. Blooms from June to September. Fruits until late autumn.
Several species grow. The most common ones are:
- Shchiritsa thrown back– A. retroflorum – pinkish-green plant, flower-bearing branches are collected in a compact panicle;
- Schiritsa tailed– A. cordatus – with purple hanging panicles.
All types of acorns are medicinal, but the tailed acorn has the most healing properties.
Plant parts used
All parts of the plant serve as medicinal raw materials. Raw materials are collected during the entire growing season of the plant: leaves - before flowering; flower panicles - during flowering; seeds - as they ripen; roots - in autumn.
Amaranth as a valuable food crop attracts attention all over the world. In the USA, the Amaranth Institute and research centers are studying this crop and introducing it into the food industry. This is explained by the fact that the plant contains a large amount of biologically active substances, mainly in the seeds from which amaranth oil is obtained.
Chemical composition
All parts of the plant contain nitrogen-containing compounds, betacyanidins: amaranthine, betanin, organic acids, vitamins, dyes, and trace elements.
In addition, amaranth seeds contain a large set of amino acids, including essential ones, as well as protein with a high protein content (up to 18%). The protein of amaranth seeds is equated to the protein of human milk. In terms of nutritional value, amaranth protein is significantly superior to cow's milk protein and almost 1.5 times greater than soy protein.
Amaranth seed oil contains a large set of unsaturated acids and organic acids. The main component of the seeds is squalene (more than 8%). Squalene is a component of human skin and is directly involved in the oxygen exchange of tissues and organs, protects the body from radiation, and ensures the body's resistance to various diseases.
Application and medicinal properties
In the experiment, aqueous extracts of the aerial part of amaranth have bactericidal, protistocidal and diuretic effects. Fatty oil has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and antifungal effects. A decoction of the roots is effective in the treatment of jaundice and guinea worm. Fresh juice and infusion exhibit antitumor activity.
In folk medicine, amaranth in the form of infusions and decoctions is used in the treatment of tumors of various etiologies and localizations, internally and externally; for the treatment of fungal diseases, as a hemostatic agent for various bleedings, for liver and heart disease, gastrointestinal infections; externally - for eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, erosions, endometriosis, colpitis.
A decoction of roots and seeds is used for dysentery; in the form of baths - for various skin diseases, allergies, diathesis, rashes, often with string and chamomile.
Fresh juice in a 1:5 dilution is used to rinse the mouth, for inflammation of the mucous membranes. The juice of a flowering plant is an effective, rejuvenating, cosmetic product that strengthens hair roots and promotes their growth.
The oil is used for burns, bedsores, insect bites, and scars.
Young leaves are eaten; seeds - as a seasoning for dishes.
Preparation
- For decoction take 15 g of roots or aerial parts, chop, pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes, cool for 10 minutes, filter. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day before meals.
- For getting infusion take 20 g of leaves, pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, cool for 45 minutes, filter. Take 2-3 times a day, 1/3 cup before meals.
- For bath take 300-400 g of raw material, pour in 2 liters of boiling water, boil in a saucepan for 15 minutes, cool for 10 minutes, filter and add to 1/2 bath 2-3 times a week for 20-30 minutes.
Shchiritsa is a herbaceous plant, has small red flowers that can be collected in an inflorescence - long, dense, spicate-paniculate. Flowers last for several months. There are other names for this plant - velvet, amaranth, cockscombs, axamite. This type of plant is considered ancient; it began to be grown a long time ago; at first it was distributed in the South of America as a grain crop, it was considered corn. In Spain, they said that this plant was of evil spirits, which is why it was prohibited there. In Europe, shiritsa appeared only in the 16th century, in Russia in the 19th century. In Sweden, a special order appeared for this plant.
Description of shiritsa
Many species of this plant can be found in Pakistan, India, China and the South of America. The wild species of the plant is distributed almost everywhere, it is only absent in Antarctica and areas where the area is warm and dry.
Experts predict that soon this type of plant will occupy an important place in human nutrition, because it is rich in yield and nutritional value.
Application of shiritsa
Some countries in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia classify ashiritsa as a cereal crop, a fodder plant, a vegetable, and a medicinal product. The grains are used to make confectionery, flour products and drinks. Because it is rich in fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and has a pleasant nutty taste and aroma.
Traditional medicine uses sprouted grains as medicine and a means to strengthen the body. The leaves, when dry and fresh, can be fried, steamed and canned. They should also be used in Asian cuisine as a vitamin and flavor additive in salads, meat, and fish.
Greek cuisine adds olive oil and lemon juice to shiritsa shoots and consumes them with fish.
Chinese medicine oil with the help of acorn seeds fights tumors, thus you can slow down the aging process. Shchiritsa oil is rich in squalene, which is a unique substance, has wound-healing properties, with its help you can restore the skin and rejuvenate internal organs. It is very good to use this type of oil after radiotherapy, this way you can recover faster after radiation.
Russia grows plants as decoration and animal feed. When it gets into a field or garden, it is considered a malicious weed.
Useful properties of shiritsa
The seeds from this plant are valued because they contain a higher amount of protein, more than soybeans or wheat. They are also rich in amino acids, which is why they are most often used by vegetarians. The leaves and shoots of amaranth contain vitamins B6, C, A, as well as valuable minerals - zinc, manganese, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium. Shchiritsa contains many biologically active substances and fiber.
The plant is healthier than corn and rice, because their composition includes lysine, amino acids and methionine. With its help you can protect yourself from cancer, diabetes, pancreatitis, and hemorrhoids. Shchiritsa is rich in fiber; this type of plant, unlike other cereals, never causes allergies.
But those who are individually intolerant to gluten should not eat ashiritsa, because it contains a lot of this substance.
With the help of agaric, you can get rid of excess cholesterol in the blood, because its composition is similar to oatmeal and pectin. The plant is rich in protein, so it is useful for pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as for children. To ensure that the seeds are well preserved, they must be placed in a dry container.
They produce healthy flour from shiritsa, which contains a huge amount of flour; it makes a tasty flour product.
In Belarus, agaricum is one of the most common plants that grows in gardens and vegetable gardens, which is why it is classified as a weed.
The leaves of the plant are rich in vitamin C, zinc, tannin, carotene, manganese, potassium,.
Medicinal recipes based on shiritsa
1. If you are worried about strong symptoms, you need to brew an infusion from fresh leaves of the herb. To make it, you need to take one tablespoon of acorn grass, a glass of boiling water, and leave for 30 minutes. Drink up to 4 times a day.
2. Juice squeezed from acorn leaves helps with gastritis, liver diseases, and diabetes. To prepare it, you need to thoroughly wash the leaves, chop them well and squeeze the juice out of them. Add cream to it, consume one tablespoon 3 times a day.
3. Ashiritsa oil is rich in squalene; it is extracted from the seeds of the plant. It contains vitamin D, which must be consumed for the full synthesis of the hormone. It is also very beneficial for human skin and has many medicinal properties. Amaranth seeds are rich in vitamin E - this is the best antioxidant. They contain phospholipids, lecithin, phytosterols.
4. Alcohol tincture based on agarica is used for enuresis, hypotension, if the human body is exhausted, also in cases of underweight, weakness in old age, and also after a person has been sick for a long time.
5. An infusion based on acorn leaves should be used for anemia; it can also be used to treat cystitis and pyelonephritis. The course must last at least 10 days.
Thus, shiritsa is a healthy plant, rich in mineral salts, vitamins and balanced protein. The seeds are most valued because they contain many microelements and vitamins, which is why they are the best vitamin-containing plant. Shchiritsa greens also have beneficial properties, which is why leaves from the herb are added to salads and first courses for a reason. Amaranth sprouts are used for preventive purposes; with their help you can protect yourself from cardiovascular disease, oncology, establish lipid metabolism, and prevent the development of endocrinological diseases. When using ashiritsa oil, it is very important to take into account contraindications so as not to cause even greater harm to the body.