Wild onion or wild garlic is a plant whose properties, in folk medicine, have been used for a long time. Avicenna also mentions in his treatises the benefits of wild garlic. This plant has not lost its relevance in our time..
Characteristic features of the plant
Herbaceous plant, perennial, belongs to the onion family. It is resistant to frost, can withstand low temperatures, up to 50 degrees... The vegetative period of the ground part of the plant lasts from autumn to spring.
In appearance, the wild onion is very similar to the poisonous lily of the valley until it has a peduncle arrow. A distinctive feature of these plants is the presence of a garlic smell in wild onions, which appears when rubbing the sheet with your fingers. Depending on the place of growth, the color of the leaves ranges from light green to brightly saturated.
Distribution area
Grows in all corners of Russia, especially in the central and southern parts of it. Vast thickets of wild onions can be seen in the Tula forests... Occurs in the Far East, the Caucasus, Siberia and Bashkiria. Wild onion prefers moist soil, therefore it grows near rivers, lakes, in the shade of deciduous forests. Growing up, it forms large thickets, occupying large areas.
Wild onion or wild garlic - this name unites two species of the same plant. Both types of wild onions are the same in composition and properties. The difference between one and the other is in flowering time and size.
Bear onion
It is a herbaceous perennial plant with a root system in the form of a small bulb, about a centimeter in diameter. From each such bulb, two wide lanceolate leaves develop, sitting at the very base of the triangular stem. The stem itself is "naked", without leaves. Its height can be up to 15 - 40 centimeters.
The stem ends with an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. The flowers are small, white or light in color, with a pleasant smell. Blooms in May - early June. And by the end of June - the beginning of July, black round-shaped seeds in a triangular box are already ripening.
Plant vegetation begins in early spring and ends early... In two spring months, bear onions go through a full life cycle, from leaf development to full seed ripening. At the end of June, the leaves with the stem of the plant dry up and die off. Only the bulb sitting in the ground remains viable, which, with the onset of a new spring, wakes up and gives rise to a new plant.
Bear onions are the earliest spring greens that are in high demand. The extermination of this bow in forests has led to a sharp decline in the population of this species. Harvesting bear onions is currently illegal, it is listed in the Red Book.
Victory bow
Unlike bear onion, it is a larger plant. The rhizome consists of several bulbs, one to two centimeters thick. During the growing season, each bulb sprouts, and one plant forms a whole bush... The leaves are wider and larger, lanceolate or elliptical, three in number, pointed, ending in a petiole. The stem is semi-cylindrical or triangular in shape, reaching a height of 70 centimeters.
It ends with an inflorescence of small flowers, in the form of an umbrella, hemispherical in shape, which have a delicate honey smell. The flower size of the victorious onion is smaller than that of its relative.
Onions bloom from May to July, and black seeds, enclosed in a box, ripen in July-August.
Wild onion composition
Ramson is a valuable food product containing vitamins, trace elements, essential oils. All parts of the plant are eaten. These are leaves, stem, bulb. Harvesting of wild garlic leaves is carried out in the spring, before the flowering of the plant... At this time, it contains, in its composition, the greatest amount of valuable and useful substances for the human body.
Vitamins
- Vitamin C - is found in wild garlic in an equal amount and competes with such products as black currant, oranges and lemons, sauerkraut. It helps to increase the body's resistance to various infections.
- B vitamins - have an anti-stress effect on the nervous system, improve the condition of the skin and hair structure, and ensure the normal functioning of the intestines.
- Vitamin A - is a barrier to the development of skin diseases, improves the functioning of the organ of vision, has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.
Essential oils
- Phytoncides - volatile substances with antiviral and antimicrobial effects. They have a therapeutic effect in various inflammatory processes and infections.
- Trace elements - boron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, calcium are involved in strengthening the immune system, helping to slow down the aging of the body.
Beneficial features
The unique chemical composition of the plant makes wild garlic useful for almost all body systems:
- The cardiovascular system - the presence of potassium in wild garlic leads to an improvement in the contractility of the heart, a decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Digestive system - helps to increase appetite and fight intestinal infections, normalizes bowel function.
- Nervous system - has a calming effect and reduces the threshold of CNS excitation.
- Effective when applied externally - treatment of warts, various forms of dermatitis, pustular eruptions, diathesis in children.
Application in traditional medicine
Since ancient times, ramson has been known not only as a useful plant for nutrition, but also as a healer of various diseases, both internal and external. Various decoctions, infusions, compositions were made from wild garlic.
This plant is used as a medicine, and at the present time. A large number of various allergic reactions to one or another medical drug, makes patients increasingly resort to traditional medicine recipes.
Hypertonic disease
Wild garlic tincture: 1 part of chopped fresh leaves is poured with 5 parts of vodka and infused in a dark place for three weeks. After filtration of the composition, the tincture is ready for use. Take 20 drops per 15 ml of water three times a day for three to four months.
Dysbacteriosis
One tablespoon of freshly squeezed wild garlic juice, diluted with a small amount of water, is taken before meals three times a day. The course of treatment is within a month.
Runny nose and colds
Fresh wild garlic leaves chopped into gruel are wrapped in gauze and in the form of tampons injected into each nostril for 10-15 minutes several times a day.
Rheumatism
Wild garlic tincture: one part of crushed fresh leaves is poured with four parts of vodka and infused for one and a half to two weeks. It is used for rubbing sore joints, including arthrosis, radiculitis, twice a day until pain relief.
Pinworm helminthiasis in children
Shredded plant leaves filled with boiled sunflower oil and infused for 24 hours... After filtration, an oily solution of wild garlic is used for microclysters.
Cooking use
Ramson is good not only as a remedy. It is also widely used in cooking in the form of salads, appetizers, in first courses, as an addition to meat and fish dishes.
In winter, pickled wild garlic can be used.
Spring salad
A bunch of wild garlic leaves is finely chopped and combined with three chopped eggs. The peeled fresh cucumber is chopped into thin strips. The ingredients are combined. Salt and ground pepper are added to taste. Salad dressed with sunflower or olive oil.
Vegetarian soup
Potatoes cut into strips are added to the boiling vegetable broth and cooked for 10 - 15 minutes. Onions and carrots are sautéed separately and added to the soup. After a few minutes, add about 200 grams of chopped wild garlic. The soup is seasoned with spices and salt to taste... Optionally, add a spoonful of sour cream.
Garnish of wild garlic
Chopped leaves and stems of wild garlic are laid out in a frying pan with sunflower or olive oil. After the greens are reduced in size, add tomato paste and some soy sauce. The dish has a delicate and pleasant taste with a slight sourish tint.... It can be included in the diet as a separate dietary dish, or as a side dish for meat, mashed potatoes or buckwheat, rice.
Thus, nature continues to give people amazing plants. Keeping wild onions in nature, a person provides himself for many years not only with a green pharmacy, but also with an additional vitamin product.