Name: garden quinoa
Chenopodiaceae – Chenopodiaceae.
Popular names: flour grass, wild spinach.
Parts used: grass.
Pharmacy name: quinoa herb – Atriplicis herba (formerly: Herba Atriplicis).
Botanical description. This annual plant reaches 1 m in height. When young, the whole plant is bluish-green, when mature it is light green. The lower leaves are triangular, the upper ones are elongated-lanceolate, notched or serrated, with a powdery coating. Very inconspicuous flowers are collected in loose paniculate false spikes. Blooms in July-August. It grows mainly as a weed in gardens, on fallow lands, along roadsides, in wastelands.
active ingredients. The main active ingredient is saponin. In addition to it, there is an alkaloid and another unknown substance, apparently poisonous. Quite a lot of minerals.
Healing action and application.The exact chemical composition and the basis of the healing effects of quinoa are poorly known, for this reason, scientific medicine does not risk using it. But still, more attention should be paid to this plant, since it enjoys a good reputation in folk medicine. Saponin acts in metabolic disorders and mucus. Use in folk medicine: In the work of Peter Schaffer “The Garden of Health” (1485), the first herbalist printed in German, you can read that quinoa is good for hypothermia, to alleviate swelling and especially for inflammation of the nail bed. This medicinal plant is also successfully used to treat diseases of the liver, bladder, and lungs. The author of this book refers to Galen, Dioscorides and Serapion.
- Quinoa tea: pour 1 teaspoon of herb into 1/4 liter of boiling water and strain after 10 minutes. Dosage: 1-2 cups of tea every day.
Side effects. Quinoa tea does not have any side effects. But still, one must be careful, because the increased consumption of quinoa (cooked like spinach) sometimes leads to skin rashes.