Carrot tops - medicinal properties and contraindications

Bright carrot root vegetable has long been one of the main on our tables and in folk medicine chests. Many people know about the beneficial properties of an orange vegetable. However, not everyone knows about the healing effects of carrot tops, while it is a valuable medicine. And how often this "gold" grows very close - in its own garden, and it is so easily thrown away. What are useful carrot leaves, how to harvest and apply them - we will tell further.

What are the benefits of carrot tops: composition and therapeutic effect

Everyone knows that carrots are rich in vitamin A, the most valuable healing and regenerative component that helps relieve inflammation, regenerate tissues, and improve vision. In the tops of carrots this substance is not less than in the root crop, and in addition, it contains:

1. Vitamin C, which contributes to the formation of immunity, has a strong antioxidant effect, strengthens the vascular system, accelerates healing, supports the body's strength and helps to stay young.
2. Vitamins of group B, K, which stimulate the nervous and metabolic processes, contribute to the proper functioning of internal systems.
3. Zinc and selenium involved in metabolism, cleanse and improve the condition of the skin and internal organs, maintain hormonal balance, including the necessary for the male body to form seminal fluid and maintain the health of the prostate gland.
4. Potassium, which stimulates the cardiovascular system and kidneys, helps maintain water balance, cleanse the body, normalize blood pressure and heart rate.
5. Furocoumarins and flavonoids that stop the development of malignant tumors, cleanse the body of toxins, reduce cholesterol and the risk of developing fibrous tissue.
6. Chlorophyll and antibacterial substances that have antiseptic and antimicrobial effects, as well as cleansing the blood.

Due to the complex effect of all these substances, carrot tops and drugs from it are used to treat a number of diseases: as an independent tool for relieving mild or chronic symptoms, as well as as a supporting component in the treatment of serious ailments.

Carrot tops helps:

1. To remove inflammatory processes, accelerate the healing of damaged tissues, heal burns and many other types of injuries.
2. Cleanse the skin of fungal diseases, dermatitis of various origins, acne. Restore a healthy complexion, its elastic and toned contour, as well as prolong youth.
3. To clear the blood of toxins, cholesterol, harmful microorganisms.
4. Increase fertility, improve the quality of germ cells and normalize the production of hormones. In addition, this greens helps to keep muscles and vessels in good shape, and this helps both increase the overall stamina of the body and increase potency. The use of such an aphrodisiac in adulthood will help maintain the pleasure of sexual activity until old age.
5. Stimulate kidney function. This material helps to carefully dissolve salt deposits in the tissues, it is used for diseases of the excretory system to relieve pain and accelerate healing. However, with such serious diseases, it is necessary to discuss the use of folk remedies with a doctor.
6. Also, the tops of carrots are recommended in dietary nutrition. Due to its rich composition, which includes valuable proteins and fiber, this seasoning allows you to saturate faster and maintain strength and energy during fasting and with limited nutrition.In addition, the product cleanses the intestines and eliminates unpleasant symptoms, such as flatulence and bloating.
7. The tool can be used for nausea and intoxication for a speedy recovery.
8. Gruel and decoctions of carrot potions are used in home cosmetics, making masks and lotions for face and hair. The tool strengthens the structure of curls and nails, eliminates irritations and rashes, and fights against dandruff. But such cosmetics can not be used for those who have a skin reaction to phytocoumarins. When ingested, these substances are safe, but can cause itching and rash on sensitive skin. Therefore, before use, it is necessary to test the drug in a small area, especially when it comes to treating children.
9. Some experts say that the smells of celery and carrot tops scare away moths and mosquitoes, so rubbing the skin with such a lotion in summer conditions will protect against annoying insects.
10. A feature of carrot components is that they are perfectly absorbed by the body. This means that even one sprig added to food helps to replenish the reserves of vitamins and minerals, as well as improve the health of the body.

How to apply

Carrot leaves and shoots are used in cooking and traditional medicine. They have a characteristic aroma for the entire plant family, and therefore are often used as a spice. The tops of carrots are added to marinades, pickles, in the first and second hot dishes with fish, meat, beans and vegetables. Seasoning goes well with many other spices - coriander, celery, turmeric and curry, basil, garlic. With the addition of such a component, dishes become not only fragrant, but also useful.

From fresh leaves, gruel is prepared for healing compresses, teas and infusions, ointments that cleanse the body. And in order to preserve the raw materials for the whole year, the leaves are harvested for the winter in any convenient way.

How to prepare raw materials

The most suitable period for harvesting tops is June-July, by which time the southern imported carrot varieties are already ripening. If you take local options, you have to remove the carrots ahead of time, not allowing the fruits to pour. In fresh thick shoots, the maximum amount of healing compounds and essential oils accumulate, which eventually lose their properties. Therefore, it is the healthy thick leafy top that is collected for drugs.

You need to understand that for the preparation of the medicine it is necessary to take only the greens of homemade carrots grown on their own beds, in the greenhouse or at least on the windowsill or balcony. In-store products most often undergo special processing, and in the process of growth are fertilized with stimulants and accelerators. But it is in the foliage that the remains of nitrates, pesticides and heavy metals accumulate. Therefore, do not use raw materials of dubious origin.

Freshly picked carrots are separated from the greens, the leaves are thoroughly washed under running water and laid out on paper or a clean cloth to air dry. Further, carrots can be processed in 4 ways, so that the healing potion lasts for a long time:

1. Natural drying. Under suitable conditions, the leaves can be dried in the open air for several days. Previously, they can be chopped or simply freely laid out on the flooring. To speed up the process, you can stretch the gauze and distribute the tops on it - this will provide good ventilation from all sides. If the leaves lie on the surface - they need to be periodically turned over.
2. Thermal drying. Such a process is considered even more "hygienic", since the raw materials do not collect dust on themselves for several days - this method is ideal for urban conditions. Pre-washed and chopped greens are laid on a baking sheet and sent to the oven at 40-60 degrees for several hours.Here also the leaves must be stirred so that they dry evenly, according to their texture it will become clear when the product is ready. This may take about 5-6 hours.
3. Freezing Washed and dried greens must be collected in a bunch or chopped, and then spread in polyethylene in the freezer. After the leaves are completely frozen, they can be transferred to a container or a convenient bag.
4. Salting. Prepared greens are placed in a convenient jar and generously sprinkled with salt, after which they are stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months or rolled up. The optimal period of use of such a drug is 3-4 months, then useful substances will disappear. I usually use salty leaves as a spice and rarely for medicinal purposes, although such a drug has elongating properties.

Dry leaves are stored either in linen bags in a dry place without extraneous odors, or in glass or ceramic dishes under the lid, avoiding moisture and sunlight.

Useful recipes with carrot leaves.

To prepare a medicinal potion, you need to know some proportions and methods of using drugs from carrot tops. Here are some helpful recipes.

Skin treatment
Pressure ulcers, burns, frostbite and other skin ailments are treated with compresses and lotions. To do this, in the cold season, you can prepare a decoction of tops, and in the summer use gruel from fresh herbs. The crushed leaves are ground until they give the juice, distributed over a gauze dressing and applied to the problem area until the product dries. After use, you can lubricate the treated area with sea buckthorn oil or baby cream.

To eliminate allergies, you can take baths with infusion on the tops of carrots:

1. 100 g of a mixture of calendula and carrot greens are ground in a mortar.
2. Pour 2 l of boiling water over the mass and insist 3-4 hours.
3. The strained concentrate is added to the bath, which must be taken for 15-20 minutes several days in a row. The result should be the elimination of urticaria symptoms and other skin problems.

Acne
A mixture of carrot infusion with grapefruit oil will help eliminate acne if you wipe your face with such a lotion every day.

Useful infusion
To cure varicose veins, hemorrhoids, atherosclerosis and other vascular problems, inflammation, as well as cleanse the body of infections and toxins, you can drink this infusion:

• 20 g of dry tops are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water.
• Insist in warmth / thermos for about 10 hours.
• Filter the drink.
• Drink 4-5 times a day for a quarter cup, without diluting with water.

The same mixture can be used for irrigation and lotions externally for hemorrhoids, diseases of the pelvic organs. Each individual case must be discussed with your doctor.

Contraindications

Be sure to make sure that you are not allergic to the product before using it for treatment. In the presence of severe diseases of the kidneys or cardiovascular system, as well as inflammatory processes, consult your doctor about the use and combination with carrot drug medications.

Video: the benefits of carrot tops