Rye in folk medicine: benefits and harms

Rye – a healthy and ancient cereal, without which almost all northern peoples cannot imagine their cuisine. Bread, jelly, and rye-based decoctions are not only a source of energy, but also natural medicines that allow you to recover from injuries, cure a sore stomach, or reduce asthmatic attacks in a child.

The article will tell you about the beneficial properties of rye, its use in folk medicine and contraindications for use.

Composition and calorie content of rye

In folk medicine, they often use not flour or flakes, but whole and sprouted grains or bran - they retain the maximum amount useful substances.

Rye contains:

• high-quality dietary fiber necessary for the intestines;
• vitamins A, PP, group B;
• betaine;
• sterols;
• phosphatides;
• macroelements: potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus;
• trace elements: iron, manganese, copper, selenium;
• amino acids: arginine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, isoleucine;
• Sprouted and whole grains contain fatty acids: folic, palmitic, stearic, linoleic, omega-3, omega-6.

The calorie content of whole and sprouted rye grains is a little more than 280 kcal.

Useful properties of rye

Whole grains contain pantothenic and folic acids - these compounds strengthen the human cardiovascular system. Flakes, bran and cereal products have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Doctors recommend consuming healthy cereals for patients suffering from diseases of the stomach or esophagus, kidneys, and bladder.

Important! Be sure to include rye in the daily diet of people suffering from diabetes.

Cereal improves hormonal levels in women after 40 years of age, restores strength after stress, operations and injuries.

Use in folk medicine

Besides preparing healthy food (bread, cereals, jelly), rye is actively used in folk medicine. Properly prepared grains help fight diabetes, vascular and gastrointestinal diseases, and alleviate colds.

For bronchitis, pneumonia and cough you will need:

• 2 tbsp. l. rye bran;
• 0.5 liters of cold water.

The bran is poured with water and boiled over low heat for about 10 minutes. The decoction, steeped for an hour, can be taken immediately warm, in the amount of 2 tbsp. l. every 4 hours.

For diarrhea

The recipe is almost the same as for bronchitis, but instead of bran you will need 3-4 tbsp. l. whole rye grains. A decoction of grains is given to the patient every hour until symptoms are relieved, then every 3-4 hours until complete recovery.

From parasites and worms

Children have been treated with rye for parasites and worms for decades. For this, 1 tbsp. l. bran is soaked in warm milk and given to a child a third, to an adult - 0.5 cups twice a day for a week. Then take a break for 6 days and repeat the treatment.

For cardiovascular diseases

For diseases of the heart and blood vessels, doctors recommend consuming rye in any form.

Useful:

• whole wheat bread;
• sprouted grains;
• crispy rye bran, which is consumed in the morning with juice instead of cereal;
• infusions of whole grains.

Vitamin B6, which cereal is rich in, improves protein digestibility, accelerates metabolism, releases energy from glycogen, thereby alleviating the condition of cardiovascular diseases.

Phosphorus, which is perfectly absorbed from any rye product, helps the functioning of the heart muscle.

To prevent heart failure

Traditional medicine doctors recommend that patients eat 2-3 slices of whole rye flour bread daily to prevent heart failure. Bread is included in the diet of patients who have suffered a stroke or heart attack - phosphorus, B vitamins, potassium and fatty acids have a positive effect on vascular restoration.

Reference. Research on the effects of rye on patients with cardiovascular disease was conducted on 21,000 volunteers at Harvard over 20 years. In men who ate porridge containing rye grains for breakfast every day, the risk of developing heart failure decreased by almost 30%.

For allergies

Seasonal allergies and allergic dermatitis are softened by a decoction of rye bran:

• rye bran – 50 g;
• hot water – 1 l.

How to cook:

1. Pour the bran with hot but not boiling water.
2. Cover the vessel in which the medicine is being prepared and leave to infuse overnight.
3. Strain the broth, add to the bath and lie in it for about 20 minutes.

Repeat the procedure every evening for 7 days.

For healing wounds and burns

The stalks and grains of rye are thoroughly ground in a blender with lard in a 1:1 ratio. The resulting mixture is boiled over very low heat for about 10 minutes, then cooled. Apply to affected areas of the skin twice a day.

For diabetes

Grains boiled in hot water can normalize blood sugar levels.

Those suffering from diabetes are recommended to eat a handful of bran from a healthy cereal every day, and also prepare a decoction: a glass of rye with 1.5 liters of water.

Recipe:

1. The grains are poured with boiling water.
2. Simmer over low heat for about an hour.
3. The infusion is filtered, cooled and stored in the refrigerator.

It is better to take the infusion in the morning on an empty stomach, 0.5 tbsp, then three times a day, 2-3 tbsp. l. an hour before meals.

For edema

For swelling caused by kidney problems, an infusion of cereal stems helps.

You will need:

• rye stalks - 2 tbsp. l.;
• hot water - 2 tbsp.

Stems and grains ground in a blender or coffee grinder are poured with boiling water, left for an hour, then filtered.

Drink three times a day before meals, 0.5 tbsp.

For weight loss

Rye bran helps to reduce weight, reduce appetite and get rid of many problems associated with obesity.

Rich in B vitamins and fiber, bran swells in the stomach and creates a pleasant feeling of fullness for a long time. Coarse fiber is an excellent nutrient medium for beneficial microflora, stimulates peristalsis and cleanses the intestinal walls.

Reference. You can eat bran in the form of crispy flakes for breakfast or dinner with any unsweetened fermented milk product.

To prevent gallstones

To avoid slagging your body and prevent the appearance of gallstones, eat a handful of crunchy rye fiber flakes every day or add a spoonful of ground flakes to a glass of natural yogurt.

Doctors say that with such a diet, the risk of developing stones is reduced by 20%, but if you add green vegetables and red fruits to your diet, by more than 50%.

For postmenopausal women

Women suffering from diabetes and heart disease, as well as those susceptible to the development of benign tumors, must consume rye flakes, sprouted grains and bran during menopause.

Rye normalizes hormonal balance, which makes it easier for women to feel better during a difficult period for women.

Reference. According to a study conducted in the USA in 2000, women who consume rye products daily in old age are significantly less likely to suffer from stenosis and atherosclerosis, as well as from problems associated with gastrointestinal diseases.

To prevent tumor diseases

Many scientists, including Professor Rui Hai Liu, MD, of the American Institute for Cancer Research, believe that a diet high in rye fiber reduces the risk of colon cancer. Research on this issue continues today, but its effectiveness has not been proven.

Fiber from grains and fruits protects against breast cancer

In the UK, studies were conducted on almost 36 thousand women who ate foods rich in fiber for several years. After 10 years, it turned out that, unlike their peers who did not consume whole rye and additional servings of vegetables, the study group of women had a reduction in the risk of breast cancer by almost 40%.

Reference. In women predisposed to the disease due to genetics or hormonal problems, who ate rye bran and vegetables, the risk of tumors decreased by 50%.

Whole rye grains and fish for asthma in children

Every year more and more people suffer from asthma, among whom the number of children, including very young ones, is growing.

International studies of allergies and asthma in children have found that an increase in whole grain rye and fresh fish in the diet leads to a reduction in the risk of disease by 50%.

This is interesting:

How to make moonshine from rye at home.

What kind of cereal is made from rye and its beneficial properties.

Cooking sprouted rye grains, recipes

The composition and content of active microelements changes during the emergence of sprouts in cereals. Fats are slowly converted into fatty acids, and carbohydrates are converted into light sugars.

It's easy to germinate grains. For this you will need:

• whole, high-quality grains, unparboiled;
• saucer;
• gauze;
• warm water.

The grains are washed with running water, placed on a saucer, and covered with gauze. The fabric is sprayed with a spray bottle every 10-12 hours. After 24 hours, the grains can be washed and eaten.

Second way:

• the grains are washed with running water;
• placed in a small jar;
• pour lukewarm water;
• The neck of the jar is covered with gauze.

Every 8 hours the grains are washed and filled with fresh water. In 3-4 days cereals with young sprouts you can eat.

Contraindications

People suffering from an increased concentration of gastric juice, as well as patients with stomach ulcers and gastritis in the acute stage, any whole grains are not recommended for consumption.

Rye bread and bran are not given to children under one and a half years old, as well as to adolescents and adults during the period of exacerbation of gastritis.

Conclusion

Capable of preventing many diseases, rye should be in the daily diet of everyone who cares about their health. Rye flakes or bran for breakfast, a piece of rye bread for soup or a sandwich, sprouted grains in a salad are an excellent way to prevent such dangerous ailments as hormonal problems, diabetes, asthma, obesity, and heart failure.