Melilotus officinalis

Useful properties, cultivation and application recipes clover

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Botanical characteristics of Melilotus officinalis

This low plant is widely used in folk medicine. The beautiful stems are branched panicle of yellow flowers. Being a biennial plant, sweet clover belongs to the legume family. Taproot develops erect branching stem height of 1-1,5 m (in culture of 1.5—2 m)

The leaves of the plant are similar in shape to an egg; the edges are serrated, the top is painted in bluish-green color, but the bottom leaves are slightly paler in color. Collected in the brush for 6-7 pieces flowers cover during flowering the whole plant. The fruit of the sweet clover – Bob brown, containing seeds are oval yellow color. Clover flowering begins in early summer and continues until the end of the summer period. At the beginning of September is the ripening of fruits.

Melilotus officinalis grows in Russia, Ukraine, Crimea and the Caucasus. It can be seen in the woods, along the road, in a meadow, in the fields and even in the ravines. Sweet clover often grows among shrubs and young plantings.

Useful properties of clover

Since ancient times clover was used for medicinal purposes – due to the fact that it is full of nutrients. For example, the herb of melilot contains coumarins, lactone, meliloti and coumaric acid. Coumarin, contained in the clover is a substance that increases systolic blood pressure, increases the quantity of blood in the blood and normalizes blood circulation in the abdominal cavity, peripheral circulation is also improved under the influence of this substance. From the flowers of the plants produce essential oil of sweet clover, which contains coumarin, tannin, resinous substances, and choline. Preparations made from sweet clover, is used as analgesic, wound healing and antiseptic. Also clover has expectorant and antispasmodic. In folk medicine, most often clover is used as a laxative in gynecological diseases.

The cultivation of sweet clover

Seeds for germination, a temperature of 2-4 °C. one year after planting clover plant starts to bloom (June-August). And in late summer the clover comes into fruiting. Germinating seeds are just ripe or slightly immature. While the seeds are stored before planting them in the ground, the shell of the seed is sealed, sobefore the spring sowing seeds need to be subjected to scarification (to break the shell of the seed). Due to the fact that sweet clover has a strong root system, it is not demanding to soil conditions. Also, sweet clover is drought-resistant plant, so it does not need constant watering. But excessive moisture and acidic soil for this plant is detrimental.

Clover reproduces by seed, but perfectly transfers the application of fertilizers that contain potassium and phosphorus. Early spring in prepared soil sown seeds that have passed the stage of scarification. Between the rows need to leave a distance of 3 cm, the approximate number of sowing seeds at 1 meter is 200 pieces.

For the first year the plant is covered with a beautiful herbage, its root is fully developed. And it all dies in the fall. Winter remains the only soil available kidneys resume. If the plant is flooded by melt water, then two weeks later it will die.

During flowering you need to start harvesting and harvesting of plants for medicinal purposes. The harvesting of sweet clover as follows: using scissors, and maybe pruning shears, cut off the tops of the plants with lateral shoots, but thick coarse branches are not cut. Drying the cut raw material is produced under the shed or in the barn. For drying, you must associate the collected grass into bundles and hang them as garlands.

Next, the dried raw material of sweet clover need to obsolote and pass through a sieve of wire (to separate the large stems). The composition of raw materials includes flowers, leaves, fruit, and small stems. Raw has powerful kumarinovy aroma. The beneficial properties of plants can be saved, powers raw clover in closed containers.

The use of sweet clover

Sweet clover has long been very successfully used in folk medicine as remedies for the treatment of varicose veins. It is used with hemorrhoids. Sweet clover is an auxiliary tool in the treatment of thrombophlebitis, lymphedema and post-thrombotic syndrome. The preparations of sweet clover is used both internally and externally. Externally the clover has been applied in superficial hemorrhages, sprains and bruises.

From clover made a special pillow that helps to cure the inflamed joints or tumors. Of plants prepare the tea, which is used in cough and cold.

Decoction, infusion and tincture of sweet clover is used in bronchitis, inflammation of the ovaries, pain during menstruation, increasing lactation, swelling and even as sedatives for insomnia.

Broad use of sweet clover received as infusion or decoction for bathing, cooking, compresses and ointments. Dry powdered herb plants helpsfor skin diseases, cracked nipples, inflammation of the eyelids, it can help to cure even mastitis.

Honey clover

In the period from June to August the bees are busy gathering honey from the flowers of Melilotus officinalis. This miracle honey causes the human body to tone and provides energy for the whole day. clover honey is used internally and externally. It has analgesic, antispasmodic and diuretic effect. Used for inflammation of the respiratory tract, honey reduces inflammation and removes the pain. People suffering from heart disease or hypertension, just use honey a few times a week and their condition improves.

This miracle cure will restore a man who has had a strong and serious disease, reducing headaches, shortness of breath and dizziness.

Honey clover is useful for lactating mothers as it causes increase lactation.

Due to its unique beneficial properties of this honey is used for various diseases. In addition, this drug not only smells good and tastes honey sweet clover is also very personal.

But experts say that even healthy people will be useful to apply such a treat regularly.

Treatment with melilot

Sweet clover is used as infusions, decoctions, ointments and teas that are very easy to prepare. In addition, clover is part of the many fees that apply at various illnesses.

A calming infusion of clover. To make it, take 2 teaspoons of crushed powder from grass plants and fill it with two cups of water. Leave to infuse for 2 hours and 70 ml of about 5 times a day as a soothing the nerves means.

Tincture of sweet clover for headache. Collect grass clover and fill it a third half-liter cans. Pour the brim with vodka and leave for 2 weeks to infuse, do not forget to periodically shake the can. Strain the finished tincture, it can be used. Take your fingers a few drops of tincture of sweet clover and rubs it temples with the presence of headaches.

A decoction of the roots of Melilotus flatulence. A decoction is prepared easily and quickly. Take 15 grams of dried roots, pour 200 ml of boiling water and set on heat for 10 minutes. After this time, cool it down and strain the finished broth. Take this remedy 3 times a day for 1 tablespoon.

Infusion of clover for outdoor use. To prepare this tincture, take 30 grams of herb plants andpour a glass of boiling water. Leave everything in 30 minutes, not touching and not shaking. Strain the infusion, it is used as lotions, compresses and baths. In this way cured abscesses, mastitis, boils and articular rheumatism.

Contraindications to the use of sweet clover

Don't forget that clover is a poisonous plant! Use it only after consulting a doctor. Pregnant women are advised not to take medicines from the clover. You need to follow the dosing equipment, otherwise the overdose of this plant will appear headache, insomnia and vomiting. Taken in large doses clover depresses the nervous system. The preparation of melilot can not be used if there is internal bleeding. Before using the clover talk to your doctor, he will give you recommendations for using this medication.