Fenugreek is a herb that has been known since antiquity. It was used as a spice and used in folk medicine over vast areas from China to Greece. Originally wild, this plant is cultivated in India and Asia. Fenugreek grows well on the territory of Russia, having learned about its beneficial properties, perhaps you will want to grow it on your personal plot.
Description of fenugreek
The full name of this annual plant from the legume family is hay fenugreek. Fenugreek grows on clay soils, prefers mountainous terrain. In some countries it was used as an ornamental plant with a pleasant and peculiar aroma, in Ancient Greece it was cultivated as a vegetable, and Indian priests used it in their magical rites, where this plant is known as a spice called "shambhala". The erect stem with ternary leaves can reach a height of up to 60 cm. In the axils of the leaves are white-yellow or yellow flowers, growing singly or in pairs.
The fruits are triangular in shape and are beans that reach a length of up to 20 cm, they contain from 20 to 30 brown seeds, in which almost all the beneficial properties of fenugreek are concentrated. Therefore, in folk medicine, it is they who have found the widest application. Seeds are harvested in late summer and early autumn, when they are already dry. They are used to prepare medicinal infusions, decoctions, powders and liquid extracts. Dried young fenugreek leaves are used as a seasoning and added to tea.
Half of the substances that make up seeds are fibers, 30% are mucus, the rest is protein, sugars, lecithin, linolenic and linoleic acids, and nucleproteins. In addition to them, fenugreek seeds contain: phosphorus, magnesium and calcium inositol phosphate, coumarin, trigonelline alkaloid, steroid compounds, as well as steroid sapogenins - yantogenin, diosgenin, etc.
Fenugreek has contraindications for use, it should not be given to children under 16 years old, as well as used during pregnancy and lactation.
Useful properties of fenugreek
Indian doctors investigated the chemical composition of the seeds of this plant and found that drugs based on them lower blood sugar levels, their intake inhibits age-related degeneration of muscle tissues and promotes harmonious physical development at a young age.
The use of fenugreek seeds helps to normalize weight in case of fatigue, accompanied by weight loss, or, conversely, with obesity, concomitant diabetes.
Decoctions and tinctures from fenugreek seeds have heart-toning properties, have hypotensive and diuretic effects. They reduce triglyceride and cholesterol levels, increase tone and performance, and have antiandrogenic hormonal activity. It is a good treatment for anorexia and physical exhaustion. Externally, decoctions can be used as lotions as an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing agent.
