What is Alkanet, What are its Benefits? What Is Alkanet Good For, Where Is It Grown?
What is Alkanet root which is preferred especially for problems such as burn treatment and skin spots? What are the benefits, what are they good for? Where does alkanet grow, how is it used? We have compiled all the curiosities for you …
What is Alkanet?
Alkanet is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the borage family, with several species of the plant. This plant has bright blue, yellow flowers depending on the species. The Alkanet plant, whose Latin name is “Alkanna tinctora”, blooms with blue colored flowers. The Alkanet type, whose Latin name is “Alkanna Orientalis”, blooms with yellow colored flowers. The body of the plant can be upright and sometimes leaning. The stem and leaves of alkanet grass are hairy.
The plant blooms bright blue in May and June. It has nut-like fruits. However, these fruits are gray in color and their surfaces are blistered.
The homeland of alkanet grass is Mediterranean countries. In Turkey grows commonly in southern and eastern Anatolia region. This plant likes sandy soil.
The plant has been used frequently by people since ancient times. The inside of the root of this plant is blue, and the outside is red close to black. These roots have been used in various fields as natural dyes for years. The blue color in the alkanet root turns red when the appropriate acid is added. The color of the plant is insoluble in water, with the help of substances such as alcohol, oil or ether.
Especially in ancient times, Alkanet root was used to color alcoholic beverages.
What Is Alkanet Weed Good For?
Alkanet grass can be used as a natural food coloring and is also very beneficial for human health. This herb is especially good for burns, cough, diarrhea, stomach ulcer, intestinal ulcer, intense menstrual bleeding, scars, sunspot, fibroids. Also known as red encik, this herb strengthens immunity and has pain relieving effects. This plant is effective in removing the stains left on the skin due to eczema as well as in the treatment of burns, it is used quite often for this feature.
What Are the Benefits of Alkanet Grass?
The most known feature of the plant is that it is a natural colorant. For this reason, it is preferred in drinks and meals.
It is good for stomach wounds.
It relieves cough, expectorates. It also cleans the lungs and protects lung health.
This herb strengthens the immune system and protects against diseases.
It prevents upper respiratory tract diseases.
It is effective against diarrhea.
It is a natural pain reliever and is good for muscle and joint pain.
It is good for diaper rash and skin irritation.
It is good for cracked heel cream on hands and feet.
It keeps the body vigorous and relieves fatigue.
It balances long and intense menstrual bleeding. It has a cutting effect on menstrual blood.
It is anti-inflammatory, prevents infection in the body.
Alkanet, which is skin friendly, is especially effective in the treatment of burns. It quickly heals 1st degree burns, prevents scarring.
It is good for sunburn.
It is effective against fungal diseases such as eczema and psoriasis on the hair and skin.
It is good for problems such as uterine fibroids and cysts.
It is effective in problems such as wounds and bruises, provides rapid recovery.
It heals diabetic foot wounds.
Used for bed sores.
It is good for diseases such as asthma, COPD and bronchitis.
It is used in the treatment of abscess, inflammation, sprain and injury.
How to Use Alkanet?
Alkanet quite often grass grows in Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey such as Suphan Mountain. In our country, blue flowered Alkanet and yellow flowered Alkanet are growing. The usage area of this self-grown plant is quite common. It is especially preferred as a natural food coloring in beverages and meals. It can be called the source of red color for alkanet root. Thanks to this feature, it has been preferred in alcohol production for centuries. Again, thanks to its color, natural rugs are preferred in textiles for dyeing threads in carpet making. This herb is also used frequently in the cosmetic industry. It is especially preferred in lip gloss and lipstick making. To give a red color to wooden furniture, the plant is powdered and mixed with oil used.
Leaf, root and flower of this plant are used in medicine. However, the root of the plant is preferred among the people.
We mentioned the health benefits of the plant. It is used as tea, Alkanet cream, tincture, ointment, Alkanet oil to benefit from the health effects of Alkanet plant.
Alkanet dried under suitable conditions can be kept in an airtight container in a cool and mold-free place for one year.
How is Alkanet Oil Made?
Materials
10 gr Alkanet plant root
1 glass of natural olive oil
Preparation of:
1 glass of olive oil is taken into a heat-resistant bowl. Olive oil is heated slightly in the lowest heat of the stove, it is important not to burn the oil during this process. Alkanet root is added into the olive oil that has begun to heat. The root of the plant and olive oil is heated for 1-2 minutes by mixing.
Then it is left to cool. The cooled Alkanet oil is filtered and poured into a glass container. Alkanet oil is ready to use. This oil is stored in the refrigerator.
The usage of alkanet oil is as follows:
It is applied to cuts and wounds.
It is especially applied in the treatment of first degree burns.
It cures sunburn fast.
1 tablespoon per day is consumed for stomach ulcer, intestinal ulcer.
It is used in situations such as bruises and injuries.
It is used for psoriasis, eczema.
How to Make Alkanet Cream?
Materials
10 gr. Alkanet root
1 glass of olive oil
10 g beeswax
Preparation of Alkanet cream for burn;
Beat the alkanet root and cut it into small pieces.
Pour the olive oil into a heat-resistant bowl and heat it over low heat. Add the roots, which are divided into small pieces, into the heated oil and heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring.
Then let it cool. Strain the cooled oil with a clean cloth.
Heat the obtained filtered Alkanet oil again in a double boiler. Add beeswax into the warmed oil. Stir the beeswax so that it melts. When the wax has completely melted, remove the cream from the heat and pour it into a glass container. Allow the prepared Alkanet cream to cool, then keep it in the refrigerator.
The benefits of Alkanet cream are as follows;
It is effective in the treatment of first degree burns, accelerates healing, does not leave a burn spot.
It removes the spots that occur in skin problems such as psoriasis eczema.
It is used in the treatment of wounds, cuts, abscesses.
It relieves muscle and joint pain.
It removes the blemishes on the skin.
How to Make Alkanet Herb Tea?
One of the benefits of this plant is; It is an antitussive, expectorant. Also, this herb cleanses the lungs, strengthens the immune system.
It can be consumed as a tea to take advantage of these properties of the alkanet plant. However, tea is made from the flowers, leaves and roots of this plant.
How to make tea from alkanet root?
Materials:
1 teaspoon of Alkanet grass root
1 glass of water
Preparation of alkanet root tea:
Let’s start with powdering Alkanet root. Let’s beat the roots in a mortar and powder them. Some parts of the plant root can be quite hard, but it should be powdered as much as possible.
Let’s boil a glass of water. Let’s add Alkanet roots powdered into boiling water. Next, let’s brew the tea for five minutes. Let’s consume alkanet tea by straining it on an empty stomach. It is not recommended to consume this tea unfiltered and drink more than one glass a day. You can sweeten alkanet tea by adding honey.
Making tea from alkanet flower and leaf
Materials;
1 teaspoon Alkanet flower or leaf
1 glass of water
Preparation of;
A glass of water is boiled. Alkanet leaf or flower is added into the boiling water. Then it is left to brew for 5 minutes. Alkanet flower tea is strained and consumed on an empty stomach. This tea should not be consumed more than one glass a day.
The benefits of alkanet tea are:
It is diuretic.
It cuts cough and expectorates.
It protects lung health.
It strengthens the immune system.
It reduces the long menstrual bleeding seen in women.
Supports cyst and fibroid treatment in the uterus.
It removes edema from the body.
It supports the treatment of diseases such as bronchitis, COPD and asthma.
Alkanet Cure that Protects Against Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Corona
One of the important benefits of alkanet root is to protect lung health. Thanks to this feature, the plant is known as “liverwort” in some regions. It supports the treatment of asthma bronchitis, COPD, pneumonia, strengthens the immune system, protects the body against the corona virus. Alkanet cure is recommended especially for the protection of lung health of smokers.
Necessary materials for alkanet cure are:
1 teaspoon of unsalted butter
Half a teaspoon of Alkanet root powder
1 teaspoon of honey
Preparation of alkanet cure:
Take the butter in a suitable container and heat it. Add a teaspoon of Alkanet powder into the melted butter, stir for 1-2 minutes and keep it on the stove. Then drain the butter from the stove. Add honey into the filtered butter and Alkanet mixture. Consume this mixture on an empty stomach before it cools down. It is recommended that the alkanet cure be made fresh and consumed fresh, so the effect will be more. Those who are allergic to honey should not use this cure. It is not recommended for babies under 1 year old. It is recommended to be consumed before bedtime for the treatment of COPD, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and corona. In addition, other food and water should not be consumed after consuming this cure.
Damages of Alkanet
This herb has no known side effects. However, the root of the plant can cause constipation in some people in overdose. Pregnant women and children, chronic patients, blood pressure patients, people who use regular medication should not use without consulting a doctor.
