Rhubarb: useful properties of a vegetable

The Buckwheat family is represented in our gardens by rhubarb. A herbaceous plant that came in ancient times from the countries of the East, took root all over the world. It not only decorates the areas with its dark green leaves and pinkish flowers, but also the sour taste of the stems adds sophistication to any dishes, pies. All parts of rhubarb are used in folk and traditional medicine.

In the first days of April, bumps begin to appear in the gardens. rhubarb... The plant comes out quickly, helping people cope with vitamin deficiencies after a long winter. Young leaves are used in salads, and sour stems are good for drinks, pie fillings. They successfully replace apples. The benefits of rhubarb are enormous, although there are contraindications.

Content:

• The composition of rhubarb and its beneficial properties
• Harm and contraindications for the use of rhubarb
• How to choose the right rhubarb
• Harvesting and storage of a plant
• Useful tips: how to grow rhubarb on the site

The composition of rhubarb and its beneficial properties

The plant, from leaves and reddish petioles to the root, contains a supply of substances that help a person maintain health, save from many diseases:

• A set of vitamins of group B, C, iron salts, minerals serve to strengthen the immune system. Elderly people, weakened after illness, eating rhubarb will eliminate weakness, chronic fatigue. It will help restore the level of hemoglobin in the blood, which can reduce the symptoms of anemia.
• One hundred grams of rhubarb will make up for the lack of vitamin K, and the low calorie content will keep the weight normal.
• The high content of polyphenols allows the product to become a product in a number of anti-tumor agents.
• The substance chrysophane glycoside in the plant has a mild laxative effect. This means that the use of infusions from the root, stem of a herbaceous culture will help cleanse the intestines of toxins, destroy putrefactive processes. Also, the urinary system will work in the correct mode, the swelling will disappear.
• Cardiac glycosides in fresh parts of the plant help to strengthen the heart and blood vessels.
• Malic and oxalic acids are contained in the petioles, having a beneficial effect on the function of the digestive tract. The increased secretion of gastric juice and other enzymes will help the food digest better.
• The choleretic effect of the plant is used for diseases of the liver, gallbladder.
• Tannins act as astringents. Eating them in small quantities helps to eliminate diarrhea, a large amount will lead to diarrhea.
• Effectively lowers blood pressure by strengthening the vascular walls of rhubarb stalks.
• Pathologies of the respiratory system, such as chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, are cured with rhubarb.
• The juice obtained from the stems of the herbaceous culture will help to make the skin of the face young, heal it, remove freckles, age spots. A garden plant is often used to strengthen the roots of hair and nails.
• Rhubarb is also used for the successful treatment of psoriasis.

The rich composition of rhubarb allows it to be used in the treatment of many diseases, cosmetology, and a pleasant sour, apple-like taste - in cooking.

Harm and contraindications for the use of rhubarb

The beneficial effect on the human body, which has a stem of rhubarb, can really be so, if the plant is still at the beginning of the growing season. As soon as it begins to bloom, then you cannot eat it. It can harm the kidneys, as a large amount of oxalic acid builds up in the rhubarb at this time. It is dangerous to take this substance in its pure form - heart failure will manifest, a person may experience convulsions.

Heat treatment of the stems also leads to the accumulation of dangerous acids in the body. The harm from the use of the plant is enhanced if more lemon or sorrel... Then you cannot avoid problems with the work of the stomach, intestines, allergic reactions.

Long-term treatment of constipation with rhubarb for the elderly and children is dangerous, the opposite effect will occur.

The absolute contraindications for the use of plant petioles are:

• Acute forms of stomach ulcers, cholecystitis, inflammation of the bladder.
• Do not take rhubarb dishes if kidney stones, peritonitis, appendicitis, hemorrhoids are found in combination with bleeding.

For women during pregnancy, to relieve edema only in minimal quantities, and for nursing mothers, the use of rhubarb is prohibited. Oxalic acid can enter the baby's body, leading to kidney failure.

Harvesting plant roots for treatment should be started after consultation with a specialist. It is not safe to abuse rhubarb, so the dish you like from this plant should be included in the menu as rarely as possible.

How to choose the right rhubarb

It is better to start preparing dishes and rhubarb drinks in early spring, then even tender leaves are suitable for green cabbage soup. As soon as the reddish fibrous petioles get stronger, the leaves will become poisonous. The delicate stems are cut and dipped in sugar and feast on. After that, the body will be saturated with vitamin C, and colds will not be able to take possession of a person. At the same time, you can cook candied fruits, jam from plant stems. Compote is prepared from peeled, diced stems, adding a large amount of sugar.

The root of the plant used in medicinal preparations begins to be harvested only in September. Well washed and cut into pieces, it will dry out. After that, a powder is prepared from it, obtained by processing in a coffee grinder.

There are many recipes for cooking dishes, rhubarb medicines, but we must take them seriously, weighing all the pros and cons:

• When treating hepatitis, ten grams of crushed roots are steamed in a glass of boiling water, then holding the solution over low heat for twenty-five minutes. After ten hours of infusion, consume a tablespoon three times a day. The treatment takes place within two months, it is continued after a break of two weeks.
• Powder from rhubarb roots is taken as a laxative for constipation, diuretic, choleretic. Before going to bed, two teaspoons of the powder will be enough, washed down with water.
• To improve the functioning of the stomach, intestines, crushed stems (50 grams) are brewed with a glass of boiling water. Having strained and cooled, take a drink daily for two tablespoons.

Harvesting and storage of a plant

The harvesting of plant petioles begins from the second or third year of life. Juicy young stems are cut with a sharp knife near the base or torn off, freed from the leaves. The procedure is carried out no later than mid-July, every ten days.

The useful parts of rhubarb harvested for the winter will allow you to take doses of useful vitamins and minerals in winter.

The stalks are stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The stems can be used within 10 days. If it is necessary to preserve the shoots for the winter, then they must be cleaned not only of the leaves, but also of the upper skin. The petioles, cut into pieces, are put in a bag and frozen. If they want to add sugar, then they do it at the rate of a quarter cup for half a kilogram of rhubarb.In this form, rhubarb is stored for up to six months.

Rhizomes, harvested in September and turned into powder, are poured into bags or paper boxes. They can be stored in ventilated dry rooms. The drug can be used as a medicine for 5 years.

Useful tips: how to grow rhubarb on the site

The unpretentiousness of rhubarb is known - it can grow anywhere without fear of frost, pestswithout knowing disease. Among the basic requirements for growing it are several simple rules:

• Rhubarb bushes grow better in the sun, without having those around them who encroach on its territory.
• Mulching bushes will allow you not to worry about the constant moisture of the soil around the plant.
• The appearance of multiple buds will dry out the plant, they must be constantly plucked.
• Rhubarb can grow up to ten years in one place. Division of bushes, the cutting off of clusters of shoots is carried out so that the petioles of the plant are thick and strong. This is usually done in the fall or spring.
• When rot appears in the plant, damaged leaves, stems, and part of the roots are removed. Removing old foliage will help avoid pests.

It is worth planting rhubarb on your site - it will live imperceptibly, helping a person to remain healthy and strong.

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