The Latin name for the weed is yellow clover. Sweet clover officinalis. Fried sweet clover roots

Melilotus officinalis Desr.
The legume family is Fabaceae or Legummosae.
Common name: moth grass, wild buckwheat, yellow barkun, female sweet clover, hare's chill.

Description

Biennial plant up to 2 m high, with the smell of coumarin (fresh hay). The stem is straight, branched, glabrous, slightly pubescent in the upper part. The leaves are alternate, small, compound, trifoliate with two lanceolate stipules, on long petioles, with serrated edges. The flowers are yellow, small, moth-like, on short pedicels, collected in multi-flowered axillary racemes (with 30–70 drooping flowers). The fruit is a single-seeded, ovoid, naked bean, with transverse wrinkles. The seeds are oval, green-yellow, smooth or finely tuberculate. Propagated by seeds.

Spreading

It is found throughout most of Russia, especially in the forest-steppe and steppe zones, often as a weed of grain crops and clover. Absent in the North, Eastern Siberia and the Far East. Yellow clover grows in the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Crimea, and Central Asia.

Habitat

It is found as a weed in dry wastelands, slopes of ravines, along the edges of fields and near roads, in pastures, and in sparse light forests. It forms large thickets on the flood banks of the Volga. The plant is winter-hardy and drought-resistant. Grows well in soils rich in lime. Promising for the development of solonetz soils of forest-steppe, steppe, and semi-deserts.

Flowering time

Blooms in June–September. The fruits ripen from July to late autumn.

Collection time

June–September.

Harvesting method

The melilot herb is harvested during flowering, cutting off the tops and side shoots up to 30 cm long without thick and rough stems with knives. Do not collect sweet clover herb on roadsides and near dirt roads, where it is covered with dust. Raw materials are harvested in dry weather, when the dew has disappeared, since when wet it warms up and darkens very quickly. The raw materials are immediately sent for drying. Dry the raw materials in attics with good ventilation or under sheds, spreading them out in a thin layer (up to 5–7 cm thick) on paper or fabric and turning them over periodically. Drying is completed when the stems become brittle. You cannot overdry the raw material, as then almost all the leaves fall off. Dry in dryers at a temperature not exceeding 40°C. The smell of the raw material is coumarin (the smell of fresh hay), the taste is salty-bitter. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years. Is an export item.

Chemical composition

The grass contains coumarin (up to 1.2%) - a substance with the smell of fresh hay, dicoumarin, which prevents blood clotting, melilotin, melilotic and coumaric acids, glucoside melilotoside, purine derivatives, fat-like substances (up to 4.3%), up to 21% protein , protein (17.6%), up to 25% fiber and essential oil (about 0.01%), mucous substances, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, carotene.

The plant is poisonous in large quantities!

Applicable part

Grass (tops of shoots with leaves and flowers).

Application

Sweet clover is recognized by official medicine. An infusion of the herb is prescribed as a sedative, diuretic, expectorant, antibacterial, antispasmodic, analgesic and lactogenic agent. In scientific medicine, sweet clover herb is used to prepare an extractable green patch and is included in emollient mixtures that accelerate the opening of abscesses and boils. Dicoumarin isolated from sweet clover is used as an anticoagulant for thrombophlebitis. Employees of the Pyatigorsk Pharmaceutical Institute have obtained a biogenic stimulant "Meliocin" from officinalis and white sweet clover, which is 2 times more active than aloe extract, and FIBS - 3-4 times.

Use in homeopathy. The homeopathic remedy Melilotus is made from fresh flowering plants. Used for severe headaches, migraines and nosebleeds, for menopausal ailments and psychoses due to hyperemia, for melancholy. For children suffering from seizures, Melilotus also provides relief. Dilutions of D4 and Dg are recommended. Take 5-10 drops every two hours or several times a day.

The most widespread use, sweet clover, is found in folk medicine in many countries. In folk medicine, fresh herbs, infusion, tincture, powder and decoction of yellow clover are used:

• As a laxative, it is included in emollient preparations;
• For diseases of the upper respiratory tract and lungs;
• For gynecological diseases;
• With flatulence;
• For hypertension, atherosclerosis;
• In collections - for the treatment of epidemic encephalitis;
• For abscesses, furunculosis, mastitis;
• For articular rheumatism, gout;
• For malignant tumors;
• For the treatment of hemorrhoids;
• For stomach diseases;
• As antispasmodic and astringent;
• As an irritant, distracting, anti-inflammatory, cleansing;
• For insomnia, neurasthenia, heart pain and headaches;
• For cystitis;
• As an analgesic and wound healing agent;
• As an anticonvulsant;
• As a lactogenic agent;
• For thrombophlebitis.

Contraindications

In large doses, it depresses the central nervous system and has an adverse effect on smooth muscles. With prolonged use and overdose, it causes dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, sometimes liver damage, hemorrhages (under the skin, into muscles, internal organs) and even paralysis of the central nervous system. It should not be used during pregnancy, internal bleeding, or decreased blood clotting. The medicinal use of sweet clover is possible only as prescribed and under the supervision of a physician.

Poisoning of animals is associated with feeding them spoiled hay or sweet clover silage. When hay rots (under the influence of mold fungi), poisonous dicoumarin is formed, which has an anticoagulant effect. Poisoning develops with a latent period of 3–5 days and is characterized by bleeding, hemorrhages, dyspeptic disorders, depression of liver function, hematuria, and allergic reactions are possible. Penetrating the placenta, dicoumarin can cause fatal bleeding in the fetus. Poisoning is especially dangerous if there is a lack of vitamin K in the diet. In case of poisoning, sick animals are given food rich in vitamin K (alfalfa, clover hay, carrots, etc.). Cattle are administered intramuscularly with 0.1–0.3 g of vitamin K and calcium-containing preparations (calcium gluconate, calcium chloride).

Other uses

• Sweet clover grass and its flowers are sprinkled on clothes to protect them from moths.
• Sweet clover is a good honey plant. It produces 200–600 kg of honey per hectare. Planting it near apiaries, on the slopes of ravines, wastelands and in unsuitable areas is highly desirable. This will allow the plant to be used not only as food and melliferous, but also as fodder, technical and medicinal.
• Salads, okroshkas, and soups are prepared from young and fresh leaves.
• An aromatic mixture of dry leaves and inflorescences is used as a dressing in soups, salads and compotes to improve taste.
• The leaves are used as a flavoring agent in the dairy, meat, fish, tobacco and soft drink industries.
• Dry and fresh leaves are used to make wines, liqueurs, and tinctures.
• Young thickened roots are edible when fried or boiled.
• In the Caucasus, young roots are used as food raw or boiled, and the leaves are used as a culinary spice.
• Used to make green cheese.
• Leaves in Tajikistan and France - for dyeing fabrics yellow.
• Feed for farm animals. It is used to feed livestock as silage (it is poorly eaten fresh). Its nutritional value is not inferior to alfalfa.
• A good green manure enriches the soil with nitrogen. Popular as a good ameliorator of solonetz soils. It has been established that after using sweet clover, the tobacco yield increases.
• Used to flavor soap and as an odor fixative in perfumery.
• Occurs in culture.

Mode of application

Externally, an infusion of the herb in the form of washes, baths and compresses is used for abscesses, ulcers, boils, inflammation of the mammary glands and rheumatic joints. Crushed and boiled flowers with fat or oil increase the suppuration of abscesses. In case of inflammatory infiltration, long-term use of poultices from the sweet clover herb and the use of compresses - herbal pillows - give good results. Crushed leaves are applied to tumors to soften them and to wounds to draw out pus.

When using sweet clover preparations, you should follow the dosage and remember that long-term and uncontrolled use of sweet clover is not advisable.

Powder

Powder of sweet clover herbs and flowers is used to prepare ointments, poultices and in cooking as a seasoning.

Infusion

• Infuse two teaspoons of sweet clover herb in 2 cups of cold boiled water in a closed container. Take 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day for hypertension, headaches, insomnia, irritability.
• Infuse two tablespoons of the herb for 10 minutes in 0.5 liters of water in a closed container on a hot stove. Use for baths and compresses.
• Two tablespoons of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, poured with 200 ml of hot boiled water, covered with a lid and heated in a water bath for 15 minutes, cooled at room temperature for 45 minutes, filtered, and squeezed. The volume of the resulting infusion is brought to 200 ml with boiled water. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take 1/3–1/2 cup 2–3 times a day as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent.
• Brew 200 g of herb in a liter of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, use for poultices, compresses, washes for abscesses, boils, pustules, conjunctivitis.
• Brew a tablespoon of dry raw material with a glass of boiling water and leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Drink 1/2 glass 2 times a day, morning and evening.
• A tablespoon of sweet clover herb in 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain. Use 1/4 cup 3 times a day before meals as an anti-inflammatory.

Tincture

• Pour two teaspoons of crushed sweet clover herb into 0.5 liters of 40% alcohol or vodka. Leave for 15 days. Used as a sedative for headaches, insomnia, neurasthenia, nervous attacks, hysteria and melancholy. Use 5-10 drops 2 times a day.
• Pour 1 part of the herb (preferably fresh) with 10 parts of 40% alcohol, leave in a dark place for 10-15 days, strain, store in the refrigerator for up to 2 years. Use externally for migraines or internally, 15 drops 2 times a day.

Decoction

10 g of raw material is poured into 200 ml of water, boiled for 30 minutes, then filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

Fresh greens. Poultices

Crushed leaves are applied to tumors to soften them and to wounds to draw out pus.

For poultices for cold abscesses, slowly forming boils, flux, inflammation of the middle ear, suppuration of the mammary gland in women (chest, mastitis), use sweet clover flowers steamed in boiling water, which are applied to the sore spot.

Ointment

• Grind two tablespoons of fresh sweet clover flowers with 2-3 tablespoons of fresh butter. Use as an ointment that accelerates the maturation of abscesses for joint diseases.
• 50–60 g of fresh sweet clover flowers are thoroughly ground with 3 tablespoons of butter.
• Sweet clover - 1 part; Highlander - 1 part; Potentilla goose - 1 part; lush cloves - 2 parts; multi-colored carnations - 2 parts. Grind the raw materials in a coffee grinder or mortar to a powder. Grind 20 g of powder with 80 g of melted lard or goose fat, keep the mixture in a water bath for 4 hours, stirring, strain hot (1 part - 1 teaspoon). Use for hemorrhoids.
• Mix 1 part of clover broth, thickened to half, and 4 parts of butter. Use for furunculosis and joint diseases.
• The ointment is prepared from 2 tablespoons of freshly dried and powdered flowers, which are mixed and ground well with 50 g of Vaseline or any fat base. Used for thrombophlebitis, furunculosis and joint diseases.

Collections and mixtures

• Sweet clover, herb - 3 parts; horsetail, grass - 3 parts; valerian, roots - 10 parts; lemon balm, herb - 5 parts; Rhodiola rosea, root - 5 parts; zamanikha - 1 part; chickweed - 1 part; Chernobyl - part 1. Pour 1 teaspoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water, leave in a thermos overnight, drink 1/3 glass 3 times a day 1 hour after meals and at night with 1 teaspoon of honey for excessive excitability, menopause, and nervousness. Course - 21 days.
• Sweet clover, herb - 1 part; meadowsweet - 3 parts; white willow, bark - 3 parts; horsetail - 2 parts; smooth hernia - 2 parts; horse chestnut - 2 parts; golden capillary - 5 parts. Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection into a glass of boiling water in a thermos, leave for 5–6 hours, drink 1/3 glass 3 times a day between meals for coronary heart disease with hypertension. After 3 days, check blood clotting; if there is no effect, add hawthorn, flowers or motherwort to the collection - 5 parts each. Course - 30 days, break 10 days. Repeat the course. Treatment lasts 2–3 years with changes in fees every 3 months.
• Sweet clover, herb - 1 part; centaury umbrella - 1 part; Oregano - 1 part, coltsfoot, flowers - 1 part. Infuse 1 tablespoon of the mixture in 250 ml of boiling water for 2–3 hours, strain. Take 1/3 cup 5-6 times a day for 3-4 weeks for inflammation of the ovaries.
• 12 g of yellow wax are melted with 22 g of rosin and 1 tablespoon of animal fat (goat, goose, badger, etc.). Add 1 teaspoon of sweet clover herb powder and heat over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, strain into a jar and place on sore spots to ripen boils in osteomyelitis.
• Sweet clover, herb - 40 g; chamomile, flowers - 30 g; Marshmallow officinalis, herb - 30 g. Place the mixture in a canvas bag, pour boiling water over it and warm it in a vessel on the stove for 10 minutes. Used for poultice. The poultice heals wounds and reduces pain in joints swollen from rheumatism.
• Sweet clover, herb; marshmallow, leaves; mallow, leaves; chamomile, flowers; flax, seed - all equally. Mix and grind into a coarse powder for compresses. The mixture is placed in a linen bag, which is kept in hot water for 10 minutes and then applied to the sore spot.
• Sweet clover, herb - 1 teaspoon; hops, cones - 1 teaspoon. Pour 250 ml of hot water, cook for 5 minutes, leave for 1 hour, strain. Take 1/4 cup 3 times a day before meals for headaches.

Goodies

There are many recipes for preparing dishes using yellow clover, however, do not overuse sweet clover. Excessive consumption of this aromatic herb can cause nausea (sometimes even vomiting) and headaches!

Sweet clover powder

Ingredients: dried leaves and inflorescences of sweet clover.

Preparation: Grind the dried leaves and inflorescences in a coffee grinder or pound in a mortar and sift through a sieve. Use as a spice for first and second courses, appetizers, sauces, and drinks.

Salad with clover

Ingredients: young sweet clover leaves - 20 g; fresh cucumbers - 50 g; green onions - 25 g; egg - 1 piece; salt - to taste; sour cream (mayonnaise, vegetable oil) - 25 g.

Preparation: Cut young sweet clover leaves, add chopped fresh cucumbers, green onions, hard-boiled egg, salt, mix. Season with sour cream (mayonnaise, vegetable oil).

Cabbage soup with clover

Ingredients: broth or water - 500 ml; potatoes - 80 g; carrots - 40 g; onion - 25 g; sweet clover leaves - 20 g; sorrel - 100 g; tomato sauce - 50 g; egg; sour cream - 25 g; dill and parsley.

Preparation: Boil chopped potatoes in salted broth or water. 5 minutes before readiness, add chopped sweet clover leaves, sorrel, season with sautéed onions, carrots, and tomato sauce. Before serving, place slices of hard-boiled eggs, sour cream, and sprinkle with dill and parsley into plates.

Okroshka with clover

Ingredients: bread kvass - 500 ml; beef - 70 g; potatoes - 50 g; egg; fresh cucumbers - 50 g; sweet clover leaves - 20 g; onion - 25 g; salt, mustard, sugar - to taste; sour cream - 25 g.

Preparation: put pieces of boiled beef, boiled potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, fresh cucumbers, crushed sweet clover leaves and onions, mashed with salt and mustard, and sugar into the bread kvass. Season with sour cream.

Fried sweet clover roots

Ingredients: young roots; vegetable oil; salt - to taste.

Preparation: Wash the young roots, fry in vegetable oil, add salt. Serve as a side dish for meat or fish dishes.

Belarusian-style meatballs with sweet clover

Ingredients: minced beef - 250 g; sweet clover leaves - 20 g; onion - 20 g; raw egg, ground black pepper, salt; breadcrumbs - 15 g; ghee or vegetable oil - 25 g.

Preparation: Add crushed sweet clover leaves, onion, raw egg, ground black pepper, salt to the ground beef and mix thoroughly. Form the mixture into small balls, bread them in breadcrumbs and fry them in ghee or vegetable oil.

Meat stewed with clover

Ingredients: meat - 250 g; onion - 50 g; carrots - 50 g; potatoes - 200 g; sweet clover leaves - 20 g; bay leaf, pepper, dill seeds, water.

Preparation: fry the pieces of meat, transfer to the goose pan, add chopped onions, coarsely grated carrots, chopped potatoes, sweet clover leaves, bay leaves, pepper, dill seeds, add water to cover the surface of the meat, and simmer over low heat until tender.

Drink with clover

Ingredients: water - 1 l; leaves and inflorescences of sweet clover - 10 g; sugar - to taste; cranberry or cherry juice - 75–100 ml.

Preparation: Place sweet clover leaves and inflorescences, sugar, cranberry or cherry juice into boiling water, bring to a boil and cool.

Thank you

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Description of the plant

Sweet clover

This type of sweet clover (unlike white) has been more studied, and therefore is much more widely used in both folk and traditional medicine, in the treatment of the following conditions:

• increased nervous excitability;
• migraine;
• insomnia;
• menstruation disorders;
• hysteria;
• melancholy;
• mastitis;
• furunculosis;
• bronchitis;
• dropsy;
• flatulence;
• purulent wounds.

White clover

Important! White sweet clover is poisonous, for this reason it is used as a remedy only by experienced herbalists.

This type of sweet clover has insecticidal properties, that is, it repels blood-sucking insects, for which the plant must be crushed or mashed until juice forms.

The plant is used for:
1. Removing worms.
2. Increased appetite.
3. Treatment of boils, ulcers, abscesses.

Treatment with sweet clover

Sweet clover grass

In addition, sweet clover herb helps cure the following diseases:

• thrombophlebitis;
• lymphostasis;
• cold;
• cough;
• inflammation of the ovaries;
• skin diseases;
• inflammation of the eyelids

Flowers

As an ointment, the flowers of the plant are used to treat skin diseases and difficult-to-heal wounds.

Collection and storage

It is recommended to collect sweet clover in dry weather: the fact is that a wet plant, collected immediately after rain, quickly warms up and darkens, as a result of which its healing properties weaken. The collected sweet clover should be dried immediately, for which the raw material is laid out on paper under a well-ventilated canopy in a thin layer (layer thickness should not exceed 7 cm), and the raw material must be periodically turned over. Drying the plant stops when the stems become brittle. It is important not to overdry the raw material, otherwise the leaves may fall off.

If a dryer is used to dry plants, the temperature in it should not be more than 40 degrees. Properly dried sweet clover has the smell of fresh hay and a salty-bitter taste. The dried raw material is suitable for use for two years, and due to its strong odor, it is stored in a hermetically sealed container, in a place well protected from light.

Important! Medicinal clover and white melilot, which often grow mixed, cannot be mixed during drying and preparation of raw materials.

Composition and properties of sweet clover

• increased systolic blood pressure;
• an increase in the amount of blood ejected by the heart in one minute;
• an increase in the number of leukocytes in the blood;
• improvement of cerebral and peripheral blood supply;
• improving blood circulation in the abdominal organs;
• CNS depression.

Melilotin
It is from this substance that coumarin is released during the drying process of sweet clover due to enzymatic breakdown.

Kholin
Properties of choline:

• absorption of fats;
• normalization of the functioning of the liver and gallbladder;
• lowering blood cholesterol levels;
• improved attention;
• stimulation of cardiac activity;
• strengthening the nervous system;
• stimulation of intestinal smooth muscles;
• prevention of premature aging.

Mucous substances
They are used as enveloping and emollient agents in the treatment of burns, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, and digestive organs.

Resins
They have a bactericidal, bacteriostatic and anti-putrefactive effect, due to which they are widely used in medicine in the manufacture of plasters and tinctures.

Saponins
Action of saponins:

• regulation of water-salt metabolism;
• elimination of inflammatory processes;
• decreased blood pressure;
• normalization of cholesterol metabolism;
• strengthening the body's defenses.

• anti-inflammatory;
• diaphoretic;
• restorative;
• emetic;
• expectorant;
• diuretic;
• choleretic.

Starch
Starch is a complex carbohydrate with high energy value. It is starch, passing through the gastrointestinal tract, that is transformed into glucose, which is a source of energy for the work of all muscle groups, including the heart.

Flavonoids
Properties of flavonoids:

• antitoxic;
• antimicrobial;
• antiallergic;
• choleretic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• wound healing;
• antitumor;
• bactericidal;
• diuretic;
• antispasmodic;
• antipyretic;
• antiasthmatic.

Ascorbic acid
Action of ascorbic acid:

• normalization of the functioning of the central nervous system;
• stimulation of the activity of the endocrine glands;
• improved iron absorption;
• normalization of the hematopoietic process;
• removal of toxins.

• stimulation of estrogen production;
• accelerating the healing of skin wounds;
• protection of the skin from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation;
• slowing down skin aging;
• maintaining water-lipid balance, which eliminates skin flaking;
• elimination of acne;
• stimulation of the glands, including the reproductive glands;
• elimination of swelling;
• improving the body's absorption of vitamin A.

Thanks to the listed medicinal properties, the sweet clover plant is used in official medicine as an effective anticonvulsant. And in folk medicine the use of this plant is much wider. Thus, preparations from sweet clover are used as analgesics, antiseptics, wound healing, sedatives and expectorants.

Composition and properties of white clover

• coumarin;
• choline;
• resinous substances;
• vitamin C;
• fixed oils;
• tocopherol;
• okumaric acid;
• tannin;
• essential oil;
• protein;
• ash.

Okumaric acid
This substance has antiseptic properties.

Tannin
A substance belonging to the tanning class, which, in the process of modifying cell protein, forms a protective film, thereby exerting both bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects on pathogens. Preparations of white sweet clover (due to the presence of tannin in the plant) have an astringent effect, as a result of which they are widely used as mouth rinses and wound healing agents for burns. Tannin also helps normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and eliminate the symptoms that accompany poisoning with heavy metals or poisons of plant origin.

Essential oil
Has the following properties:

• painkiller;
• sedative;
• antispasmodic;
• bactericidal;
• antiseptic;
• anti-inflammatory.

Protein
Protein properties:

• increasing immunity;
• participation in building muscle mass;
• ensuring the synthesis of hormones and enzymes.

White clover has the following pharmacological properties:

• anticoagulant (slows blood clotting);
• fibrinolytic (dissolves intravascular blood clots, due to which it is used in the treatment of arterial and venous thrombosis);
• antiseptic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• wound healing.

Use of sweet clover

The plant has analgesic, sedative and antispasmodic properties, due to which it is used to treat the following conditions:

• headache caused by hypertension;
• climacteric neurosis;

• significantly improve blood supply to both the myocardium and peritoneal organs;
• eliminate cramps;
• reduce blood clotting;
• promote liver cell regeneration;
• increase the content of leukocytes in the blood;
• increase milk production in nursing mothers.

Sweet clover has also found application in the treatment of female diseases and disorders, including:

• menstrual irregularities;
• diseases of the female genital organs.

Preparations from sweet clover are effective both internally and externally. Thus, when used externally (in the form of poultices, compresses and powder), this plant promotes rapid maturation, softening and, accordingly, opening of abscesses, ulcers, ulcers and boils.

Also, the external use of sweet clover is indicated for the following diseases:

• rheumatism;

• decoctions;
• infusions;
• tinctures;
• ointments;
• extracts;
• compresses and baths.

Sweet clover decoction

• kidney and liver diseases.

Infusion

Tincture

Sweet clover ointment

Sweet clover extract

Compresses and baths

Sweet clover honey is widely used in the treatment of the following conditions:

• joint tumors;
• inflammation of the mammary glands;
• bronchitis;

Yellow clover (medicinal) (Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall.) is a biennial herbaceous plant from the legume family. The root is taproot, branched. The stem is straight, tall, up to 1 m, branched, dense, woody at the base. The leaves are trifoliate. The middle leaf is long-stalked, the two lateral leaves are almost sessile. The flowers are yellow, fragrant, moth-like in shape, collected in elongated racemes. The fruits are one- to two-seeded beans, small, ovoid. One individual produces up to 17,000 seeds. Blooms in June-September.

Sweet clover is a plant of dry wastelands, slopes, edges of roads and fields. Contains 0.4-0.9% coumarin and its derivatives, the plant has the smell of fresh hay, which intensifies when dried. In addition to coumarin, the plant contains mucus, choline, tannins and resins, and flavone glycoside (in flowers).

For medicinal purposes, the above-ground part of the plant with flowers is used, excluding the lower woody parts of the stem. Sweet clover herb is included in the extractable plaster and is used for emollient poultices for abscesses and suppurations. Such poultices help open abscesses and furunculosis. A decoction of the herb is taken internally for coughing.

In folk medicine, a decoction of the sweet clover herb is drunk for coughs and abdominal pain; nursing mothers use it to increase the amount of milk. Vapors from the herb when boiled affect sore ears due to inflammation of the middle ear. Sweet clover infusion is taken for migraines and menopausal complaints. Externally, the infusion is used for swelling of joints affected by rheumatism, for inflammation of the nipples in nursing women, and for purulent wounds. An infusion of sweet clover for external use is prepared from two teaspoons of the herb, which is poured with half a liter of boiling water and left for 20 minutes in a well-sealed container, consumed cold. An infusion for internal use is prepared from two teaspoons of crushed herbs, poured into two glasses of water and left for 2-3 hours (daily dose). When taking sweet clover preparations, you must be careful, since excessive doses cause vomiting, headache, drowsiness, and toxic doses can cause liver damage and hemorrhage.

The no less widespread white clover is very similar to the described species. It is distinguished by the white color of its flowers. In folk medicine, a decoction of its herbs was used for fever and abdominal pain. An ointment was prepared from its flowers and leaves, mixed with butter, which was used to heal cuts and for colds. But the effect of the white clover herb is somewhat weaker than the yellow one.

Both types of sweet clover are good honey plants and good forage plants. They tolerate soil salinity well and are therefore promising for the development of salt marshes. Sweet clover is part of hay, causing its pleasant smell. In some places, pots float with yellow sweet clover grass to prevent milk from souring.

When collecting, you should not mix two types of sweet clover. Collect the flowering tops of plants with leaves and flowers, separating them from the rough stems. Dry the raw materials in the open air or in a well-ventilated area.

In folk medicine it is used mainly as a remedy for seizures and hemorrhoids. The favorite form is tea, but ointments made with pork fat are also made. They are used by sweet clover to care for veins and as a rub for swelling of the legs.

Latin name: Melilotus officinalis.

English name: Yellow Melilot, Ribbed Melilot or Common Melilot.

Family: Legumes - Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Common names: bottom grass, Burkun, Burkunets, female sweet clover, wild buckwheat.

Pharmacy name: sweet clover herb - Meliloti herba (formerly: Negba Meliloti).

Parts of the medicinal plant and preparation used: They collect the flowering herb Melilot officinalis, preferring the upper, non-coarse parts. Dry in the shade. Temperatures above 35°C are undesirable. The aroma intensifies during drying, so dry it slowly.

Botanical description: Sweet clover is a biennial plant with a branched, ascending or erect stem. The height varies between 50 and 150 cm. The leaves are trifoliate, with a serrated edge. Numerous yellow butterfly flowers are collected in long, loose, spike-shaped racemes. The whole plant smells of coumarin. This smell intensifies significantly as it dries. Sweet clover blooms from June to August. The usual habitats of sweet clover are gravelly wastelands. It is also found along forest edges, wastelands and railway embankments. The tall clover (Melilotus aliissimus Thuill.) differs little from the described species. It is also used for medicinal purposes. Less effective is the white sweet clover (Melilotus albus Med.) - with white flowers.

Habitat: continental Europe, Minor, Middle, Central Asia, the Caucasus. In Ukraine and Russia it is found everywhere. Sweet clover grows in wastelands, meadows, and along roads.

Active ingredients: melotin, from which coumarin is released during drying by enzymatic cleavage; saponins, tannins, flavonoids, mucilage and some essential oil (primarily in flowers).

Sweet clover - healing properties and uses

The effect of sweet clover extends mainly to the veins. We can say that thanks to sweet clover, capillary resistance (the resistance force of the thinnest blood vessels) increases and capillary permeability decreases. The main area of ​​application of sweet clover is varicose veins and hemorrhoids. There are numerous herbal preparations that are taken orally, as well as ointments containing the active ingredients of sweet clover. Due to the changing content of the active ingredients of sweet clover in pharmaceutical raw materials, many doctors believe that the use of tea should be abandoned, but I think that it can still be recommended for vein diseases.

In the monograph developed by the commission of the German State Health Service, under the heading of the use of sweet clover and its preparations, it is indicated:

Internal use of sweet clover: disorders in chronic venous insufficiency, such as a feeling of pain and heaviness in the legs, night cramps in the calves, itching and swelling. As an adjuvant in the treatment of thrombophlebitis, post-thrombotic syndrome, hemorrhoids and lymphostasis.

External use of sweet clover: bruises, sprains and superficial hemorrhages.

• Recipe for herbal tea from sweet clover: 1-2 teaspoons of crushed raw materials are scalded with boiling water and left for 10 minutes. After straining, the tea is ready to drink. Dosage: 2-3 cups per day.

Sweet clover in folk medicine

In folk medicine, sweet clover is used mainly as a remedy for seizures and hemorrhoids. The favorite form is tea, but ointments made with pork fat are also made. They are used to care for veins and as a rub for swelling of the legs. A herbal cushion of sweet clover is placed on inflamed joints and tumors; they also try to use it on boils and carbuncles so that they ripen. Tea from sweet clover is also used for coughs. A German reference book from 1926 lists a collection called “softening herbs,” which includes sweet clover. This mixture is still used today, so I present its recipe.

• Emollient herbs: marshmallow leaves, mallow leaves, sweet clover, chamomile, flax seed are mixed in equal quantities and ground into a coarse powder for compresses. The mixture is placed in a linen bag, which is kept in hot water for 10 minutes and then applied to the sore spot.

Side effects. There is no need to worry about side effects when using sweet clover. Sometimes, however, it causes headaches in sensitive people when taking tea, which is due to the presence of coumarin.

The yellow sweet clover plant has found wide use in traditional medicine. On branched beautiful stems there are panicles of bright yellow flowers. Sweet clover, being a biennial plant, belongs to the legume family. Its root system is branched and taprooted on the sides.

The leaves are shaped like eggs, they are serrated at the edges, colored bluish-green on top, while their bottom color is slightly paler. The flowers, collected in clusters of six, completely cover the plant during flowering. The fruit is a brown bean containing yellow oval seeds. The beans ripen in early autumn. Yellow clover blooms all summer.

The plant grows in Russia (in the Caucasus and Crimea), in Ukraine. It can be found along the road, at the edge of the forest, in fields, meadows and ravines. Often yellow sweet clover, the properties of which will be described in this article, grows among bushes.

Beneficial features

This plant has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times due to the fact that it contains a huge amount of different beneficial substances: lactone, coumarin, coumaric acid, melotin and others. The herb sweet clover, due to coumarin, increases arterial systolic pressure, increases the content of leukocytes in the blood, and normalizes blood circulation in the abdominal cavity. Also, under its influence, peripheral blood supply improves.

Sweet clover flowers are used to produce essential oil. They contain tannin, coumarin, choline and resinous substances. Preparations created from the plant are used as antiseptic, wound healing and painkillers. But this is not the only place where sweet clover has found its use. The medicinal properties of the plant allow it to be used as an anticonvulsant and expectorant. In traditional medicine, the herb is mainly used for gynecological diseases and as an effective laxative.

Spreading

Yellow clover is found in New Zealand, Great Britain, North America, and also in southern South America. Although its homeland is considered to be Europe, Central, Middle and Asia Minor.

In our country, the plant is distributed everywhere: on roadsides, meadows, wastelands, and quarries. It often grows next to white sweet clover, which differs from its counterpart in the color and shape of the beans.

Growing

Sweet clover seeds germinate at a temperature of 4°C. A year after planting, the plant blooms. At the end of summer it already enters the time of active fruiting. It should be noted that seeds that have just ripened or are slightly unripe are considered viable. While they are stored, their shell becomes compacted, therefore, before sowing, they must be scarified. Due to the fact that the plant has a very strong root system, it is not demanding on soil conditions. In addition, sweet clover is drought-resistant, so it does not need constant watering. At the same time, acidic soil and excess moisture will be destructive for it.

Sweet clover reproduces exclusively by seed, and it tolerates the application of various fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. In the prepared soil in early spring, seeds that have passed the scarification stage are sown. It is necessary to leave a distance of about 3 centimeters between the rows; the approximate sowing density is 200 seeds per 1 meter.

In the first year of life, the plant is covered with a beautiful green mass, its root is fully developed. In the fall, all this dies off, and only the root collar, on which the renewal buds are located, remains to winter. If the sweet clover is flooded with water, it will die in two weeks.

During flowering, it is necessary to begin harvesting and preparing the plant for medicinal purposes. Using pruners or scissors, cut off the tops along with the shoots. Rough thick branches should not be touched. Drying of the resulting raw materials is carried out in a barn or under a canopy. The collected grass must be tied into bunches, and then hung in the form of garlands.

Next, the dried grass must be threshed and passed through a wire sieve. The finished raw materials include leaves, flowers, small stems and fruits. It has a strong coumarin aroma. It should be noted that the beneficial properties of the herb can be preserved if you keep it in closed containers.

Blank

Sweet clover, the medicinal properties and contraindications for use of which will be discussed below, is of great medical importance. Harvesting of grass should occur at the time of flowering, since it is during this period of time that the plant contains the maximum amount of biologically active substances.

The yellow sweet clover is cut with a knife, but not the whole one is taken, but only the top, the length of which reaches 30 centimeters. Thick and rough stems are not suitable as medicinal raw materials. You should only use grass that grows away from roads and large populated areas.

Collection must be done in dry weather, since the raw plant deteriorates very quickly. Drying cannot be delayed for the same reasons. It is produced using the standard technology described above, or in ovens and stoves at temperatures reaching 40 degrees. Raw materials are stored in airtight containers for up to two years. It has a strong smell of freshly cut hay and has a specific salty-bitter taste.

Use in medicine

Sweet clover has different medicinal properties and contraindications. It has long been successfully used in folk medicine as a treatment for varicose veins. It is also used for hemorrhoids. The plant is an auxiliary remedy for the treatment of post-thrombotic syndrome, lymphostasis and thrombophlebitis. Preparations from it are used internally and externally. As a local remedy, sweet clover is used for sprains, superficial hemorrhages and various bruises. It is used to make herbal cushions that help heal tumors or inflamed joints. A tea is made from the plant, which is drunk for colds and coughs.

Infusions of sweet clover are used for inflammation of the ovaries, bronchitis, pain during menstruation, swelling, to increase lactation and for insomnia as a sedative. Yellow sweet clover is widely used as a decoction for medicinal baths. It is included in various ointments. Crushed dry herb helps with cracked nipples, skin diseases, inflammation of the eyelids, and mastitis.

Sweet clover is a honey plant

All summer long, bees collect pollen from this plant. Miracle sweet clover honey tones the human body and supplies it with energy for the whole day. It is consumed internally and used externally. Honey has a diuretic, antispasmodic and analgesic effect. Used for respiratory diseases, it eliminates pain and relieves inflammation. People who suffer from hypertension or heart disease only need to consume honey a couple of times a week, after which their health will noticeably improve.

This miracle medicine can normalize the condition of a person who has suffered a serious illness, relieve him of dizziness, shortness of breath and headaches. Honey is also useful for nursing mothers, as it stimulates increased lactation. Due to its unique beneficial properties, it is used for a variety of diseases. This medicine smells very pleasant and also has a very delicate taste. Experts say that such a delicacy is useful for regular use even by a healthy person.

Calming Infusion

As already mentioned, sweet clover herb is actively used as a component of decoctions, infusions, teas and ointments. In addition, the plant is included in various preparations, which are then used for various diseases.

To prepare a soothing infusion, you need to take 2 teaspoons of powdered sweet clover herb and pour them with two glasses of clean water. The resulting mixture should be left to brew for 2 hours. Take 70 milliliters 5 times a day as an effective sedative.

Root decoction for flatulence

This remedy is prepared quickly and easily. You will need 15 grams of dry plant roots. They are filled with 200 milliliters of hot water and heated over low heat for 10 minutes. The finished broth should be cooled and filtered thoroughly. You should take it one tablespoon three times a day.

Tincture for headaches

You need to take the grass and fill a third of a half-liter jar with it. Fill the container to the top with vodka and leave to infuse for two weeks, remembering to shake occasionally. Strain the finished tincture. That's it, now you can use it. You should put a few drops on your fingers and rub them on your temples if headaches occur.

Infusion for external use

You need to take 30 grams of grass and pour a glass of hot water over it. Leave the mixture for half an hour without shaking or touching. After filtering the resulting product, it is used as compresses, lotions and for baths. Using this infusion, you can cure mastitis, ulcers, articular rheumatism and boils.

Contraindications

Do not forget that yellow clover is a poisonous plant. It can be used for medicinal purposes only after consultation with a specialist. It is not recommended for pregnant women to take herbal preparations. In addition, it is necessary to observe the dosage, since in case of overdose, severe headache, vomiting and insomnia may occur. Sweet clover, taken in too large doses, depresses the human nervous system.

The herb should not be used if there is any internal bleeding. Be sure to visit a doctor before starting treatment using sweet clover, since only a specialist, based on your state of health, can give accurate recommendations for the use of this plant.

Among medicinal plants, sweet clover is one of the most effective and used for a wide range of indications. Its beneficial properties have stood the test of time, so the use of sweet clover for treatment remains relevant today.

For medicinal purposes, only two varieties of the plant are used - white and sweet clover or yellow. The first type is a poisonous plant, so its use is limited and requires careful handling, compliance with the dosage and frequency of administration.

Therefore, yellow sweet clover, which has similar properties, is used much more often. However, there are still fundamental differences in the chemical composition, so the indications for use of these herbs will be different.

• pregnancy at any stage;
• individual intolerance and allergic reactions;
• internal bleeding;
• hypocoagulation;
• kidney dysfunction;
• hemorrhagic diathesis.

The plant is classified as poisonous. Therefore, when taking it, you must follow the dosage. Otherwise, an overdose can lead to:

• dizziness;
• attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• drowsiness;
• muscle weakness;
• liver dysfunction;
• formation of subcutaneous hemorrhages;
• in rare cases - paralysis.

Important! If the first symptoms of an overdose appear, you should immediately stop taking sweet clover products and consult a doctor.

The use of natural remedies in treatment can contribute to a speedy recovery. However, depending on the disease, it cannot replace drug therapy. If you have any doubts about the advisability of taking sweet clover, it is recommended to consult your doctor.

Sweet clover is a medicinal plant of the legume family. It has healing properties, therefore it is widely used in folk medicine. It is a low stem with small yellow flowers. During the period...