Description.
The quinoa, and her cousin-mare, are annuals from the family of the Marev, that is, they are close relatives, which means they are very similar to each other. Each plant has many of its varieties. In Russia, grows about thirty species of Mari, as well as several species of swans, for example, spearfish, shiny, garden, Tatar and sprawling. All of them are similar to each other, but experienced herbalists know the differences. On the territory of our country the most common swan is spreading.
The broad-leaved swan belongs to the species of benthic annual plants from the Marevy family. In its structure has a very powerful core root, which at a decent depth goes into the soil. The stem height always reaches half a meter, and sometimes exceeds a meter in height. Unicoloured leaves without a characteristic for many species of mealy plaque have a lanceolate form, are located alternately. The lower leaves can be serrated and opposite. Collected in the inflorescence of flowers are very small and same-sex, but both sexes are located on the same plant. The difference of male flowers from female flowers is a five-membered perianth. Flowering occurs from July to August. Fruit is the seed.
A swan can be found in weedy places, near roads, along river banks and on vacant lots. Quinoa is useful because it absorbs salt from the soil, laying it in leaves, so the swan is sometimes deliberately planted in order to cleanse the earth of excess salt. Also, due to the large amount of salt in the leaves, they can be used as a fertilizer for the soil.
As a product for consumption in food, or as an ornamental plant, the quinoa is recognized as a garden queen, which has leaves of different colors, in particular, green, yellow, red and variegated. This type of quinoa is frost-resistant and can carry the temperature down to -6 ° C.
In food, young shoots and leaves are used, which are collected before the flowering period. You can consume quinoa both raw and dry. Leaves and shoots, as a rule, are not cut off, but the whole plant is pulled out with a root, after 7 to 8 full leaflets develop, but it is necessary before the appearance of flowers.
Composition of the plant.
The value of quinoa lies, first of all, in that the content of vegetable protein reaches 30%, which is why many people could survive the famine with the help of quinoa. The content of plant fiber is 40%, plus a small amount of vegetable fat is present in the plant. Great content of ascorbic acid, carotene, rutin and mineral salts. There is also betaine, which is very actively involved in the metabolism, in particular, in fat metabolism. Seeds of swans are rich in phospholipids.
Use of quinoa in nutrition.
Since the third part of the plant composition is a vegetable protein, the value of quinoa is excellent nutritional properties. Leaves of swans that are used for food, do not have a smell and taste, therefore serve as an excellent basis for soups and salads. The dried leaves of the quinoa are added to the flour in a grinded form, which increases its nutritional properties, and also adds the duration of storage to the prepared products from such flour. Since ancient times, the swan has been used for cooking cabbage soup, cutlets and porridge, which remotely resembles buckwheat.
Application in medicine.
Excellent infusion, antispasmodic, choleretic and soothing properties are infusions and decoctions of young leaves of swans. In folk medicine, decoctions are used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular, pain is significantly reduced. In diseases of the bile duct and liver it is recommended to eat young boiled leaves of the swans.
In addition, the decoction of the young leaves of swans perfectly dilutes sputum, so it is often recommended for coughing, which is accompanied by hard expectoration. Infusion of quinoa is also useful in swelling, neurosis and in violation of menstruation, in particular, has a calming effect. Seeds are laxative.
Along with ingestion, decoctions and infusions of quinoa are very useful for external use as compresses for joint pain. To reduce pain, apply moistened napkins to the hemorrhoidal lumps. If fresh young leaves are crushed, then a remedy with antiseptic and wound-healing properties will be obtained.
Recipes for the preparation of medicines from quinoa.
In the conditions of the house, the following are prepared from the swans:
- Decoction for internal reception:
A tablespoon of crushed dry leaves is poured cold water, then the mixture is brought to a boil, cooked for 5 minutes. Then half an hour they insist, filter and dilute with water to the initial level, take three times a day for a third of the glass;
- Infusion for internal reception:
A tablespoon of chopped dry leaves is poured into a glass of boiling water, insisted for one hour, filtered and taken in the same way, one third of a glass three times a day;
- Infusion for rinsing the mouth:
five tablespoons of crushed dry leaves pour a glass of boiling water, insist for one hour, filter and rinse their throat, as well as the oral cavity with stomatitis and sore throat.