Sunflower root: what it looks like, what it is useful for, what it treats, how to brew and take

Sunflower root is an effective remedy popular in home medicine. But the product can only be beneficial if used correctly.

Chemical composition of sunflower root

The medicinal benefits of the product are due to its rich chemical composition. In particular, the root pulp contains in increased quantities:

pectins and polysaccharides;
substance inulin;
tanning components and hemicellulose A and B;
arginine;
vitamins A, C and D;
potassium and iron;
calcium and phosphorus;
vitamin K;
zinc;
silicon and manganese;
B vitamins - from B6 to B12.

When preparing decoctions and infusions, most of the beneficial substances remain in the medicines.

What do sunflower roots look like?

The photo of the sunflower root shows that it is very thick, dense and well developed. It can go 1.5 m deep into the soil. If you remove the dark peel, the rod underneath will be white. It is the internal part, which contains beneficial substances in maximum concentration, that has medicinal value.

The roots of a sunflower are very strong; when collected independently, they are cut with an ax

What are the benefits of sunflower root?

The main value of the product lies in its diuretic and cleansing properties. When used correctly, the roots:

dissolve oxalate and urate stones in internal organs;
remove salts from joints;
ease the course of arthritis and arthrosis;
relieve pain and inflammation in diseases of the urinary tract;
speed up metabolism and help normalize digestion;
equalizes blood pressure and helps get rid of migraines;
do not allow cholesterol plaques to be deposited on the walls of blood vessels.

The beneficial properties of sunflower root can preventively protect the body from the development of heart diseases. With the use of medicinal decoctions, the condition of blood vessels improves, and the risk of heart attacks becomes lower.

Sunflower root damage

Despite all their benefits, sunflower roots can cause harm. Products based on them are dangerous:

in case of individual allergy to the product;
with exacerbation of chronic diseases, such as pancreatitis or stomach ulcers;
during lactation - a newborn may react negatively to the active substances in the roots;
during pregnancy.

Medicines must be taken strictly according to proven prescriptions. Vitamins and microelements in the composition of raw materials in case of overdose can lead to side effects.

Sunflower roots are rarely harmful, but you need to make sure there are no allergies

It is very important to use only the roots of sunflowers grown in an environmentally friendly environment for treatment. Raw materials accumulate not only useful, but also harmful substances from the soil. Rhizomes should not be used if sunflowers grew on contaminated soil or were subjected to chemical treatment.

Contraindications to sunflower root

In some conditions, sunflower root products may be completely contraindicated. It is not recommended to use them:

with increased allergic sensitivity;
in case of intolerance to certain substances in the raw material;
for gastrointestinal diseases in the acute stage;
during lactation and during pregnancy.

Attention! Although products based on raw materials are beneficial for excess salt deposits in the body, this only applies to those stones that formed in an acidic environment. Rhizomes do not help with carbonate and phosphate stones.

Side effects of sunflower root

If overdosed on medications or used incorrectly, sunflower rhizomes can cause side effects. Namely:

increased blood pressure;
skin irritation and itching;
nausea and intestinal upset;
headache.

If such symptoms occur, you should stop taking medicinal decoctions and wait until the body’s condition returns to normal.

Products based on sunflower rhizomes should not be taken during lactation or pregnancy.

Eating the roots may cause discomfort in the joints and kidneys and a burning sensation when urinating. Such side effects are considered normal; they indicate the successful removal of salt deposits from the body.

What does sunflower root cure?

Sunflower rhizomes are mainly used to combat stones in internal organs. But they can also be used to improve metabolic processes and strengthen blood vessels.

Sunflower roots for gallstones

The cleansing properties of sunflower are used for gallstones. The following decoction is usually used:

a glass of finely chopped dry roots is poured into 3 liters of water;
the raw materials are boiled for 5 minutes;
The broth is cooled and filtered through cheesecloth.

It is recommended to drink the product 1 liter per day in several doses. In total, treatment is continued for 3 weeks, during which time the stones should disappear or be significantly reduced.

A decoction of sunflower roots painlessly dissolves deposits in the bile

Sunflower root for kidney stones

The traditional use of sunflower rhizomes is to prepare a decoction for kidney stones. The same recipe is used:

crushed raw materials in the volume of a glass are poured into 3 liters of water;
Boil for only 5 minutes.

Treatment is continued for 30-60 days. After the expiration of the period, it is necessary to do an ultrasound and undergo tests to make sure that the stones have actually decreased in size or disappeared.

Sunflower root can be a good alternative to ultrasound or surgical procedures. But before using the decoction, you need to make sure that the stones belong to the urate or oxalate group. For stones of alkaline origin, sunflower will not be beneficial.

For kidney stones, sunflower root can dissolve acid-type deposits

An important feature of the decoction is that it gently dissolves stones, and does not simply remove them from the body. When treated with sunflower root, there is no pain caused by the movement of stones.

Sunflower roots for gout

Gout is an unpleasant and dangerous disease that develops due to salt deposits in the joints and progresses quickly. Sunflower rhizomes can alleviate the course of the disease.

To remove salts from joints, a traditional decoction is used - a glass of dry medicinal raw materials is diluted in 3 liters of liquid and boiled for several minutes. But you need to drink the strained product in other quantities - 1.5 glasses twice a day on a full stomach. Improvement in the condition usually occurs within 14 days, and it is recommended to continue treatment for 4-5 weeks.

For gout, use a regular decoction of sunflower roots for a month.

Advice! When removing salts from joints with sunflower root, it is also important to pay attention to a special diet, otherwise the therapy will not give results.

Sunflower root for joints

Sunflower rhizomes are beneficial not only for gout, but also for most other joint ailments. With the help of infusions and decoctions you can treat:

arthritis and arthrosis;
rheumatism;
osteochondrosis.

The raw material contains many anti-inflammatory components - the main one is vitamin C. With regular use, sunflower roots help relieve pain and inflammation, improve joint mobility and eliminate the feeling of stiffness.

Sunflower root works well for arthritis if you use the decoction externally

For treatment, compresses are used - gauze or cloth is soaked in the medicine and applied to the sore spot overnight.

Sunflower root for cystitis

Women are especially benefited by the diuretic properties of sunflower root. Medicinal raw materials help to cope with inflammatory processes in the pelvis, remove toxins from the body and fight harmful bacteria.

The decoction for cystitis is taken internally according to the following recipe:

200 g of dried raw materials are crushed and added to 3 liters of liquid;
keep on fire for only 2 minutes;
The finished drink is infused for another hour.

The strained product should be drunk three times a day; treatment is recommended to be continued for a month.

The diuretic properties of sunflower root improve the condition of cystitis

Treatment with steam baths based on sunflower rhizomes is also beneficial for cystitis. They are made according to the following algorithm:

200 g of dry product is crushed;
in a large 3-liter enamel bucket, boil the raw materials for 10 minutes;
leave covered for another quarter of an hour.

Then you need to remove the lid from the bucket, securely place the toilet seat on top and warm the small basin over the rising steam for 20 minutes. You should first make sure that the broth has had time to cool down a little, and its fumes will not burn the skin.

Steam treatment with sunflower decoction helps with inflammatory processes in the pelvis

After taking such a steam bath, you need to wrap your thighs in a warm woolen scarf and immediately go to bed. Carry out the procedure daily until the symptoms of cystitis disappear.

Sunflower root for diabetes

Sunflower rhizomes are good at cleansing the body of toxins and regulating metabolism.Therefore, they can be of great benefit for diabetes. With the use of raw materials, the sugar level decreases and the functioning of the pancreas improves.

To treat diabetes, it is usually not the main stem of the sunflower root that is used, but the feeding roots; they look like numerous thin hairs located on the sides. The medicine is prepared as follows:

root hairs are cut, dried and crushed;
pour 1 large spoon of raw material into 2.5 liters of boiling water;
infuse the product for 30 minutes.

Small lateral roots of sunflower are usually used to treat diabetes.

Then the infusion needs to be filtered. Drink 100 ml of the medicine up to 4 times a day, and you need to prepare a fresh portion every day.

Sunflower root for headaches and blood pressure

Sunflower rhizomes have a strengthening effect on blood vessels, help with hypertension and relieve headaches caused by pressure surges. Potassium present in medicinal raw materials regulates the body's water balance and normalizes cardiac activity. Due to this, the risk of developing heart attacks is reduced.

For hypertension and migraines, a decoction of rhizomes can be taken orally, 1 glass twice a day. The product for external use has a good effect:

For 100 g of finely chopped raw materials, take 0.5 liters of water;
keep on medium heat until the liquid has evaporated by half;
cool and filter the resulting broth.

For headaches and high blood pressure, a concentrated decoction of sunflower root is applied to the temples

The finished medicine must be rubbed into the temples 3-4 times a day with strong but gentle movements.

How to brew sunflower root correctly

The main remedy is sunflower root recipe for kidney stones.Prepare a decoction using a simple algorithm:

a glass of dry crushed product is filled with water in a volume of 3 liters;
boil for 5-10 minutes;
Allow to cool under the lid, and then filter and store in the refrigerator.

Important! You can use sunflower roots to prepare a medicinal decoction more than once. Raw materials can be filled with water three times, only the processing time is increased by 10 minutes each time.

Purchased or self-harvested sunflower root is brewed in the amount of a glass per 3 liters of water.

How to drink sunflower root

To remove salt stones from the kidneys, joints and gall bladder, you should drink 1 liter of sunflower decoction daily. The daily dosage is divided into 3-4 servings, taking the product in small sips. You can consume it both before and after meals, but it is better to do it on a full stomach and not in a state of hunger.

The duration of treatment depends on the condition of the body. On average, you need to drink a healing decoction for a month. You can undergo treatment with folk remedies 1-2 times per year; you cannot use decoctions and infusions all the time.

Sunflower Root Recipes

The use of sunflower roots in folk medicine is not limited to the removal of salts. In addition to the decoction for the kidneys, you can make tea, tincture and ointment for external use using the raw material.

Tincture for joint diseases

For arthritis and rheumatism, a strong tincture has a good effect. They do it like this:

the root is crushed in the amount of 1 cup;
pour 500 ml of vodka;
the raw materials are placed in a dark place for infusion for 4 weeks;
the finished product is filtered through cheesecloth.

A strong tincture of sunflower root is suitable for compresses for joint pain.

The tincture is used only externally - for rubbing and compresses. The product has strong warming properties and helps relieve inflammation and pain.

Tea to strengthen immunity

If you have a weakened immune system and frequent colds, you can prepare a strengthening tea from sunflower rhizomes. They do it like this:

the fresh stem of the plant is cut into 3 large spoons;
the raw materials are poured into a regular teapot and poured with boiling water;
Infuse for 15 minutes and then drink like regular tea.

Drinking sunflower root tea is beneficial for weakened immune systems

The drink does not have a distinct taste, and usually there are no problems with drinking it in its pure form. But if you wish, you can add a spoonful of natural honey to sunflower root tea; the benefits will only increase.

Decoction for cleansing blood vessels

Sunflower root strengthens the walls of blood vessels and prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques. To cleanse the blood and prevent the development of atherosclerosis, you can use a regular decoction:

200 g of finely chopped dry roots are poured into 3 liters of water;
Keep on low heat for 10 minutes;
leave covered for half an hour.

The beneficial properties of sunflower rhizomes help prevent the development of atherosclerosis

You need to drink 300 ml of the product to strengthen blood vessels three times a day, and the entire treatment is continued for at least 2 months.

Ointment to strengthen tooth enamel

For increased tooth sensitivity and microcracks in the enamel, an ointment can be prepared from sunflower rhizomes. They do it like this:

a fresh or dry rod is turned into a pulp in a meat grinder or blender; you can also buy ready-made raw materials at a pharmacy;
the gruel or purchased dry powder is slightly diluted with water to the desired consistency;
The mixture is applied to the teeth twice a day, after morning and evening brushing.

To prepare the ointment, it is better to use purchased sunflower root, it is already crushed to a powder.

You need to keep the healing composition for half an hour, then rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Useful tips

Sunflower rhizomes are an effective and safe folk remedy. However, before removing kidney stones, it is recommended to undergo tests, consult a doctor and do an ultrasound. This will make sure that the stones, by their origin, actually belong to the group that home medicine can handle.

Sunflower roots are good for helping with joint deposits. But it should be remembered that a decoction based on them only dissolves salts, but cannot restore damaged cartilage tissue. It is best to use a folk remedy for the prevention of gout in the early stages of the disease, then it will bring noticeable benefits.

When purchasing raw materials in a specialized store or online, there is a risk of encountering a counterfeit. But checking sunflower root for quality and naturalness is quite simple. To do this, you need to brew it in boiling water for 10 minutes, the infusion should acquire a rich dark brown color and the smell of vegetable oil. If the product looks and smells something different, it is a fake.

A decoction of real dry sunflower rhizomes should be very dark in color

Conclusion

Sunflower root is a well-known folk remedy for kidney and joint stones.When used correctly, it brings a good effect, although the area of action is limited only by deposits of acidic origin.

Reviews about sunflower root

Firsova Elena Fedorovna, 35 years old, Kazan

A year ago, an ultrasound revealed that I had kidney stones. They did not cause any unpleasant sensations due to their small size, but the problem had to be eliminated. To begin with, I decided to try a folk remedy - a decoction of sunflower root. The drink really helped remove the stones; after a month, an ultrasound did not show any deviations from the norm.

Maryina Irina Vladimirovna, 49 years old, Orenburg

I have been suffering from gout for 7 years now, and my joints sometimes hurt so much that it is impossible to sleep at night. Compresses made from a decoction of sunflower roots are a cheap and very effective remedy. During exacerbations, I do them daily, the pain quickly decreases, the swelling subsides and mobility returns.