Rockenbolle is quite a rare subspecies of garlic. It is not only tasty, but in its benefits also located in medicine. There it is used both in folk medicine and in traditional medicine against various types of ailments.
Occurrence and cultivation of the Rockenbolle
The stem of Rockenbolle earned it the name snake garlic because it curls like a snake as it grows. The scientific name of the skirt bulb is Allium sativum var Ophioscorodon. Other names attributed to it are Snake Garlic, Rocambole, and Hardneck Garlic. The subspecies of garlic was mentioned in a work by the well-known English writer John Seymour, thus bringing it back to people’s memory. The stem of the Rockenbolle earned it the name Snake Garlic because it curls like a snake as it grows. Its leaves are long and flat and bent lengthwise in the middle. Instead of flowers, so-called brood tubers are found on the plant. These contain small garlic cloves. The flower stalk sprouts the Rockenbolle in midsummer, and the individual cloves can be used for reseeding. It survives winter at up to -12°C and is a biennial plant. Its height of growth is up to sixty centimeters. Moreover, it is uncomplicated to cultivate and widespread mainly in Austria. However, it can also be found throughout the Mediterranean and Central Europe. On the one hand, it is used in the kitchen, but on the other hand, it is also used in medicine. There it fulfills various tasks. Its properties are very similar to those of garlic. It is primarily a cultivated plant, which does not grow wild in the wild. In the garden it should be planted especially in sunny places.
Effect and application
The cloves of the skirt bulb can be eaten as well as those of the conventional garlic. Likewise, they can also be used in the kitchen when cooking. The main difference lies in the taste, which is not quite as pronounced in the Rockenbolle. The cloves are much milder and a little smaller, and can be used both the bulbs and the thicker bulbs, which lie under the ground. The somewhat smaller cloves can be pickled well. For this purpose, the skin does not have to be removed. The Rockenbolle is used like the normal garlic in salads, curds, spreads, for refining or seasoning or in herb butter. There are many possible variations, and garlic can also be replaced by Rockenbolle in recipes. The disadvantage here, however, is its early sprouting season. Often the bulbs sprout before they have reached a useful size for eating. In addition to the toes, the leaves can also be used in the kitchen. If they are still young, they can be used in a similar way to chives. The use of rocket bulb in cooking is dubbed as having similar health benefits as garlic. It is beneficial to health in many ways and shows its effects not only in food. Thus, in addition to internal use, it can also be used externally. Externally, it is used especially against skin diseases. It is usually sufficient to cut open a tuber and place it on the affected area. For medicinal use – especially externally – the toes of the rock tuber should preferably be used raw. In addition to essential oils, it contains various vitamins, including B1, B3 and C, among others. In addition, there are various minerals, phosphorus, calcium and carbohydrates.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
According to traditional medicine, the tuber of the rock tuber has an anticoagulant effect. In addition, it is blood pressure and cholesterol lowering and has been proven to inhibit fungi. In addition to the fresh tuber, powder or the pressed juice of the individual cloves can also be used. In traditional medicine the plant is mainly used against arteriosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia. Arteriosclerosis is a calcification or hardening of the arteries. The disease of the arteries leads to deposits of calcium, thrombi or blood fat on the walls of the vessels. Hypercholesterolemia, on the other hand, is the technical term for high cholesterol levels in the blood. Both diseases can be counteracted with Rockenbolle. In folk medicine, however, there are many more applications for the plant. There it is also used for intestinal detoxification or against worm infestation.Accordingly, it also has an antiparasitic effect. It is also used for circulatory disorders, to prevent thrombosis and relieve menstrual cramps. In addition, it has a positive effect on digestive problems. It stimulates the appetite and strengthens the digestive tract. It is also said to relieve flatulence. Another effect of the plant is in the field of immune defense. It has an immunostrengthening effect and thus prevents diseases. It is also antibacterial and disinfectant. Thus, it can also help against various types of infections. The Rockenbolle is also said to have a positive effect on skin diseases. These include skin fungi as well as warts. When cut open, the toes can be applied to warts with a plaster. The contained ingredients make warts recede after repeated use. Thus, its range of action is very similar to that of garlic. Due to the essential oils, it can also be used against insect bites and to relieve itching. The plant was already used in the Middle Ages. Thus, it is already mentioned by the woman of the toilet Hildegard von Bingen. She also attributes a warming effect to the tuber, while it is also said to be aphrodisiac. Hildegard already knew about the effectiveness of eating the individual cloves raw.
