Dorothy FarrarBuckwheat (medicinal plant)
Despite its name, buckwheat is not a grain but a plant. It is used as a food in the kitchen and medicinally to prevent and treat various diseases.
Definition and Occurrence
The pseudo-grain buckwheat, botanically Fagopyrum, belongs to the knotweed family (Polygonaceae). It occurs in the temperate climate zones of Eurasia and East Africa.
The best-known representative of the slightly nutty-tasting food is the real or common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench). The undemanding annual or perennial plant even thrives on nutrient and lime-poor soils.
In some places it even grows as a dwarf shrub. Their 4 to 6 mm long, triangular and grey-brown fruits resemble beechnuts. Semolina, pancakes, pasta , pearl barley, groats and flour are made from the peeled buckwheat grains. Its sprouts serve as salad toppings. Buckwheat sprouts are more bioavailable than the dried seeds. Buckwheat bread has a buckwheat flour content of at least 20%. Medicinally, buckwheat is used as a tea (dried powdered herb) and in seed form.
Most of the findings about the healing properties of buckwheat are empirical values from naturopathy, from traditional Chinese medicine and from various experiments with animals. Buckwheat is available as a finished drug in pharmacies and as food in health food stores and health food stores. It has been cultivated in Mongolia for around 4,600 years. Buckwheat has been known in Europe since the 14th century.
Ingredients, effect and dosage
Buckwheat contains fagopyrin, flavonoid glycosides, all eight essential amino acids , tannins , hyperoside, fats , minerals such as manganese, selenium, magnesium , caffeic acid, phenolic acid, quercetins, naphthodianthrones, rutin, tryptophan, salicylic acid and all B vitamins . Its main active ingredient, rutin, is converted to quercetin-3-glucoside and quercetin-3-glucuronide in the gut. The recommended daily dose of rutin is at least 150 mg.
The substance improves blood circulation, counteracts frostbite and headaches and strengthens blood vessels: buckwheat rutin repairs oxidative damage to the inner walls of blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and prevents arteriosclerosis. The flavonoids in buckwheat protect cells by scavenging free radicals, effectively reducing inflammation. Buckwheat also lowers abnormally high cholesterol levels.
It has a prophylactic effect against edema by preventing water retention in the tissue. It promotes sleep thanks to its tryptophan content . The anti-inflammatory properties of buckwheat improve the general condition of the patient. Buckwheat products are usually well tolerated. In rare cases, fagopyrin can cause photo-allergic reactions in particularly sensitive people. To prevent this, buying husked buckwheat or washing the pseudo-cereal under hot water before processing is a good idea.
What does buckwheat help against?
importance to health
Since buckwheat is free of gluten (gluten protein) and lectins – they make the blood viscous – the pseudo-grain is the ideal diet for people with gluten intolerance ( celiac disease , sprue). You use it best as a grain and flour substitute. In naturopathy, a porridge made from buckwheat is used as a tonic. As a tea, the powdered herb serves as a gentle sleeping aid for patients with insomnia. c Buckwheat products are part of the bases of excess nutrition, relieve itching (pruritus) and help prevent stroke and heart attack. The chiro-inositol contained in buckwheat regulates the blood sugar level: Since the starch can only be broken down very slowly by the body, the blood sugar is only absorbed slowly. The blood sugar level is only slightly increased. The lecithin and the high fiber content promote brain activity and performance. Both substances keep the liver cells healthy and prevent the absorption of cholesterol in the body. As a result, they regulate the fat metabolism and help to prevent obesity .
The healthy ingredients in buckwheat inhibit chronic inflammation in the intestines , spleen , liver and blood. Recent studies confirm the suspicion that buckwheat could even inhibit the growth of cancer cells. To prevent varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), it is recommended in the form of a 4- to 8-week tea cure for users who spend most of their time standing. Patients with CVI who have damaged or malfunctioning venous valves can also benefit from such therapy.
The same goes for people with varicose veins and hemorrhoids. To prepare the buckwheat tea, 250 ml of boiling water is poured over 1 tablespoon of the herb, left to steep for 15 minutes and then strained. The patient then drinks 2 to 3 cups of it daily. Symptoms usually start to improve two weeks after the first application.
In patients with CVI I and II, the edema in the legs caused by the venous weakness recedes after about 3 months. Buckwheat used in homeopathy is made from fresh herbs and in potencies D4 to D6 heals liver and skin diseases.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.