Butene or shushan is a plant from the Apiaceae family, which has both beneficial properties and contraindications. Most often, this plant can be found in regions where a temperate climate prevails. The plant's name refers to an ancient Greek word that translates to "pleasant" or "joyful." The name reflects the main property: the leaves emit a pleasant aroma. The grass grows as a wild plant or is specially cultivated.
Description of the plant
Butene always has tubers or rhizomes.Many agronomists, in order to more accurately describe this plant, compare it with carrots and parsnips according to the type of growth. The tubers are as fragrant as the leaves. By the type of pulp, the tubers resemble the pulp of turnips or carrots and have a yellowish-white tint.
Previously, residents of Europe and North America used rhizomes to prepare purees, side dishes or casseroles. Today, tuberous buten or shushan is quite often used as a spice. You can find pickled vegetables on sale. Armenians especially love this dish. In Armenia, small jars of pickled shushan are often sold.
Chemical elements of the plant
As for the chemical composition of this herb, the roots contain essential oil, as well as more than 20% starch. In addition, the aerial part contains flavonoids, coumarins, essential oils and vitamin C.
All these elements make the herb healthy. Due to the fact that it contains flavonoids, the use of rhizomes has a positive effect on blood circulation.
Positive properties
With regular use, there is a positive trend in strengthening the walls of blood vessels, which, in turn, protects against the risk of developing arterial plaques. Vitamin C, which is found here in large quantities, also has a positive effect.
Taking the herb has a positive effect on the immune system. In addition, if you regularly consume properly prepared butene infusions, you can activate collagen synthesis, which is necessary for the skin to remain young and toned. Pharmacists call the main properties of the prepared tincture a diuretic, strengthening, and anti-inflammatory effect.
Contraindications
As for contraindications, there are no particular obstacles to taking it. The only limitation is individual intolerance to some components.
Where is it used
Today in Armenia, grass or tubers are often used for cooking. The tubers are fried or boiled, the leaves are used as an element of salad. The tubers emit a delicate aroma, and when fried or boiled, they resemble roasted chestnuts.
The leaves are also used in Moldavian or Romanian cuisine. When the grass collects juice, the leaves are cut off specifically to prepare green borscht or soups. In addition, buten leaves are placed at the bottom of jars when pickling is made.
Another option is to dry the leaves and then use them as needed. It should be noted that official medicine does not use Shushan.
Medicine
This herb is often used by traditional physicians. All parts of the plant are used for preparations. For example, fresh herbs are taken to prepare special decoctions that can heal the respiratory tract. The juice from the leaves helps against tuberculosis. As for treating children, the juice is also used to treat lymph nodes. The lotions are applied to the nodes and then left for a while. With the help of juice, various wounds and boils are healed; here the juice is not diluted or mixed with other elements.
As for the tincture of the root, if taken with caution, it can be used to cure advanced gastrointestinal diseases.Herbal tincture helps protect the immune system and also becomes a general tonic.
In addition, the herb is used for vitamin deficiency, hypertension, helps as a sedative and is used by prescription if a person has a memory problem.
Cooking
This crop is very popular in Armenia, it grows like a wild herb, is often used for cooking, and the stems are prepared as a very savory snack. Pickling makes the buten stems soft and gives them a special taste. The stems turn light green; they are an independent snack or used as an additional element, as an addition to meat steaks and vegetable salads.
To prepare the plants for further processing, first pick or dig up the tubers and carefully separate the leaves from the shoots. After this, all parts of the plant are washed with warm water. After preparation, they begin to prepare the herbs.
Recipes
Shushan is used to make pickles, marinades, and scrambled eggs. In addition, they make special infusions, decoctions and tinctures that help cure some diseases.
Alcohol tincture
The tincture can be prepared with the addition of pure alcohol:
- 50 ml alcohol;
- 50 ml juice.
They use juice squeezed from tubers. First, it is filtered, freeing it from pieces of pulp. Then mixed with alcohol. The tincture is left for 5-7 days; only glass containers are used for storage. After the product has infused, it can be used undiluted or diluted with water for oral use.
Seed infusion
To prepare, take the seeds, add hot water, and leave for 12 hours. Then the resulting liquid is filtered and used for its intended purpose.The infusion is taken orally or used to treat skin diseases by making lotions. The infusion becomes slightly mucilaginous; this property comes from a combination of starch and a natural element contained inside the stem.
Tuber infusion
Tubers are rich in flavonoids and vitamins. To prepare the infusion, take the rhizomes. Cut into slices or cubes, then fill with hot water. After a day of infusion, filter and store in the refrigerator for 7-14 days.
The infusion is used for diseases of the respiratory tract, stomach, kidney and liver diseases. The infusion is usually consumed daily 3-4 times, 2 tablespoons each.
How to grow buten
As for agricultural technology, there is practically no wisdom here. The tuberous plant is not specially grown, but grows wild.
But in order to strengthen the tuber or make the shoots more stable, it is recommended to plant the crop specifically in the garden. The main condition is sufficient humidity. The seeds do not need to be germinated before sowing - it is enough to plant the seeds before winter. In spring the seedlings will be dense, then they are planted and then watered abundantly.
Grass grows in any soil, even with a high content of sand or clay. Plantings should be provided with regular watering - then the leaves will be thick and green. If the plant does not have enough moisture, the greens become tough and tasteless. As for the landing site, Shushan is not picky here. This is one of the plants that thrives in shade.
