The best folk remedy available to everyone

Buckthorn is one of the most versatile and accessible medicinal plants. Female buckthorn (Plantago major) and male buckthorn (Plantago lanceolata) have almost the same healing effect that has been known for thousands of years. They were used by ancient Greek and Chinese doctors, and in medieval books on medicinal herbs, this highly valued plant was recommended for as many as 24 different diseases.

Both types of buckthorn are used in folk medicine as lotions and potions to solve skin problems, for example, itchy and cracked skin, cuts or other superficial injuries, insect bites or eye inflammation. In internal use, buckthorn acts as a mild expectorant, and the mucus it contains relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes, so it is an excellent remedy for coughs and bronchitis. It can also alleviate the condition of asthma, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, laryngitis, pharyngitis and various allergic reactions that cause breathing problems.

Buckwheat also seems to have antibacterial properties because recent research shows that buckthorn extract works successfully in lung infections. Due to tannins, it acts as an astringent, and due to mucus, it alleviates inflammation. It is used for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and pharynx, and for the syndrome of nervous intestines. In folk medicine, it is used to treat wounds, often in a mixture with chamomile, for rinsing or dressing.

The crushed leaves and their juice prevent swelling and itching from insect bites. Buckthorn leaves were placed in shoes to soothe blisters caused by long walks. Fresh juice is also recommended for spring fatigue, for "cleansing the blood" and stimulating the metabolism. Thanks to the large amount of potassium, it also has a diuretic effect. Young and tender spring leaves of male buckthorn, harvested in March and April, can be used for soup, mixed salads or cooked as spinach. When cooked, the leaves take on a pleasant, slightly aromatic smell and taste reminiscent of porcini mushrooms. The bitter taste can be removed by immersing the chopped leaves in lukewarm water for 30 minutes. In slightly older leaves, fibrous veins can be pulled out from the underside.

Male buckthorn can serve as a healthy spring vegetable. Very young leaves are eaten, gathered before the development of the flower, from March to June. They are added to soup, and after cooking for 10 to 15 minutes, they can be served as a salad or a spinach-like stew. It is best to mix them with other leafy vegetables. In Germany, these leaves are fried in fat with eggs, sugar and cinnamon, and in the Caucasus and the Far East they are put in soups. The leaves are harvested from June to October, preferably before the plants bloom. After each mowing, the bokvvica grows again. It should dry quickly, because otherwise the leaves turn black.

A related species of this plant is the Indian buckthorn. Despite the name, it also grows in our southern parts - on sandy places, along roads and on roofs.

1. Against acne and blackheads

Mix 15-20 grams of freshly squeezed bokvica juice with 10-15 g of greasy cream and add a few drops of rose oil and a teaspoon of calendula fat and mix well. The mixture is used against acne and purulent blackheads.

2. Against gallstones

Buckthorn seeds are also used to kill parasites, amoebae and earthworms. It is recommended as a laxative, especially for children, and in inflammatory conditions of the mucous membrane. Consuming eight grams of seeds a day prevents the formation of gallstones.

3. Fresh juice

You need 500 g of fresh buckwheat leaves. The juice is easiest to prepare in a juicer or chop it well with a stick mixer and strain it through gauze. Drink a tablespoon of juice mixed with half a tablespoon of warm water several times a day. It is taken in the spring for cleansing and stimulating the metabolism, and it is also useful against lung diseases, even tuberculosis.

4. Anti-influenza mixture

Mix 30 g of buckthorn leaves, 30 g of spruce needles, 20 g of coltsfoot leaves and 20 g of plant day and night. For tea, pour two teaspoons of the mixture with 250 ml of hot water and let it stand for ten minutes. Strain. Sweeten with honey or add the juice of called or cherries.

5. Tooth and gum infections

Bokvica is great for quickly healing wounds on the face and mouth. It prevents fertilization and promotes healing, which is due to aucubin. Chewed bokvica leaves placed as a coating on the tooth and gums can prevent tooth infection in the early stages.

6. For pets

Buckwheat is well tolerated by dogs and cats, so you can rinse their rashes or wounds with strong tea. If the animals do not lick the injured area, you can also use ointment, but it is desirable to put an Elizabethan collar on them.

7. Skin problems

The use of bokvica is popular for all types of skin problems, such as wounds, ulcers, cuts, lacerations, bruises, bruises, burns, blisters, blisters, cuticles, insect bites and rashes of various causes. To treat skin problems, wash a fresh leaf and make a paste from it, then apply it to the affected area. Due to the easy availability of bokvica, it is an excellent first aid for stings.

8. Burns

After rinsing them with cold water, put a leaf of buckwheat on them, which you will fix with a band-aid.

9. Quick syrup

You need 4 handfuls of fresh buckwheat, 300 g of sugar and 250 g of honey. Grind the washed buckwheat in a minced meat machine. Add a little water, sugar and honey and slowly heat to a gentle boil. Stir constantly until you get a thick syrup. Pour the hot syrup into jars and store in the refrigerator. For coughs and bronchitis, drink a tablespoon several times a day.

10. Face mask

Cut holes for the mouth, eyes and nose on the gauze. Grind the leaves of young buckthorn and pour boiling water (diameter 1: 3). Let the water boil again and boil for 3 minutes. Soak the gauze in the cooled liquid and keep it on your face

about 15 minutes. Rinse.

11. Buckthorn tea

Pour a cup of hot water over the sliced ​​or crushed buckthorn leaves (2 teaspoons) and let it stand for ten minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey. The tea has a pleasant smell and taste, so it is also suitable for children. Drink two, three cups a day.

12. Cough tea

Mix 25 g of buckthorn leaves, 25 g of coltsfoot leaves, 25 g of sage leaves and 25 g of comfrey root. For tea, pour two teaspoons of the mixture with 250 ml of hot water and let it stand for ten minutes. Strain. Drink two to three cups a day of freshly brewed tea.