The hauhechel, also thorny hauhechel, grows on a shrub and is classified as a member of the butterfly family and legumes. The root of the plant is used for blood purification in spring and slimming cures, but finds its use in many other ailments.
Occurrence and cultivation of the hauhechel
The thorny hauhechel is a semi-shrub about 50 to 100 centimeters low, consisting of several upright, branched stems. Known as thorny knapweed, hawthorn is also known as weed or weed war. The thorny knapweed is a low half-shrub of about 50 to 100 centimeters, consisting of several erect, branched stems. The root is stout and up to 50 centimeters long, making it difficult to dig up. The leaves may be glabrous or finely hairy, and there are pointed spines in the leaf axils. The white-pink colored flowers look beautiful, but give off an unpleasant, yet sweet odor. The origin of the knapweed is found in Central Europe and North Africa, but also in Western Asia. It thrives best in a nutrient-poor, sunny, dry and slightly calcareous location, such as roadsides, embankments and forest clearings. The flowering period is between July and October.
Effect and application
Predominantly, however, the root of the hauhechel is used. Already the Greeks and Romans used it as a medicine. Applied the plant as a tincture, gargle solution, but the intake by humans is mostly in the form of a tea. The roots contain, among other things, essential oils, saponins and tannins. Saponins are formed by higher plants and are found in roots, leaves or flowers. These contain substances in which an alcoholic compound is coupled with a sugar compound (glycosides). When saponins are dissolved in water, simultaneous shaking produces a foam that has an emulsifying effect on oil. Many saponins have antibacterial and antifungal (against fungi) properties. In small doses they achieve a positive effect in medicine. The taste when ingested is bitter. The tannins contained in the hauhechel have a diuretic effect. You can find the root of the hauhechel in various kidney and bladder teas and in dragées. The root for the preparation of the tea is collected in spring or late autumn. The root is cleaned and cut into small pieces. To let them dry, they are usually tied to strings and hung in a dry, ventilated room. It is also possible to dry the root in the stove at about 40 degrees. For storage serve jars or well-sealable tins. When preparing the tea, care should be taken not to pour boiling water over the root, as this causes the loss of the saponins it contains. Thus, it loses its effect. After infusion, the tea infuses between 20 and 30 minutes in a covered container. The] Hauhechel is used primarily for urinary tract infections (cystitis), bladder and kidney stones, inflammation of the kidney pelvis, kidney gout, rheumatism, eczema, toothache and bad breath. In folk medicine, the infusion of the root is also used for blood purification. It is also used for the prevention of these diseases. This is because the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses is inhibited by taking it.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
A contemplated treatment by and with hauhechel should be discussed with a pharmacist or in special cases with a doctor,. The diuretic effect has been proven by research, yet there are some ambiguities associated with the herb. For example, the contained isoflavones (hormone-active substances from plants, yellowish plant pigments) show estrogenic activity. In many dietary supplements, the root is an ingredient that is supposed to inhibit symptoms during menopause, for example. The hormone-like effect is not proven. Due to the increased urine volume, toxins, pathogens, kidney stones and kidney gravel are supposed to be flushed out via the urinary tract. A mild antibiotic effect is also attributed to this plant. Experts continue to doubt the effect. They attribute the result to increased fluid intake, which is recommended with the intake of hauhechel. No caffeinated drinks or alcohol should be consumed during the period of treatment.In diseases such as gout and rheumatism, no apparent results have yet been observed after taking hawthorn. Even though it is a medicinal herb, its intake carries a risk. If a person suffers from edema (water retention in the body) due to impaired cardiac activity or even impaired renal activity, he/she should not take hauhechel. This is because the increased amount of drinking increases the blood volume. This would overstrain a weakened heart or diseased kidneys. If the dosage is too high, hemolysis (dissolution of red blood cells) may occur. It is not recommended to take hayseed during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Other side effects when used as directed are not known. Especially women resort to the herb, because it is proven that the female sex more often suffers from cystitis than the male. The reason for this is the shortened urinary tract. In commerce, the root of the knapweed is relatively rare. Selected herbalists or specific online stores offer this medicinal herb. Due to the small quantity offered for sale, it is also difficult for the consumer to judge whether the root holds the quality that is promised. It is important to use a reputable seller.
