Field Penny-cress is an annual plant with an upright, often branched stem 20-30 cm tall. The plant is bare, a little succulent. The root system is peg-shaped. Leaves simple, alternately arranged, without leaflets; rhizome leaves arranged in a rosette, lower leaves on stems, upper sessile, elongated or arrow-shaped, with toothed margins.

Flowers bisexual, bipartite, symmetrical, small and white, collected in a shield. Fruit - a pod flattened at the edges (about 15 mm in diameter), two-part. Seeds without endosperm, brown, uneven and oily. One plant is able to produce 10-50 thousand seeds, which provide several generations. Field Penny-cress flower begins to bloom gradually around the middle of spring and blooms until autumn. The entire surface part of the plant is used for medicinal and food purposes.

The above-ground part of the plant and its seeds are used in medicine. Collect the plant during the flowering period, starting from May to August, the seeds are collected a little later, when the plant matures - end of August, beginning of September.

The plant is dried in the fresh air or in well-ventilated rooms, hidden from direct sunlight. The obtained drug is stored in cardboard boxes or bags in a dry place. The drug is valid for 1 year.

The chemical composition of the plant has not been studied enough, but flavonoids have been found in it: apigenin, luteolin; thioethers; allisulfidesl glucosinates: in all parts of the plant - sinigrin, glucocaparin; isothiocyanates: in seeds - allyl isothiocyanate, 1-butene-4-isothiocyanate; higher fatty acids: in seeds - linolenic acid, linoleic acid, erucic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, tetracoseic acid, stearic acid, nervonic acid; vegetable fat: in seeds up to 33%. In addition to all this, alkaloids, glycosides, vitamin C, saponins, etc. have also been found

Medicinal significance

In medicine, Field Penny-cress is used due to the presence of many biologically active substances. However, today, as we have already discussed, not all the medicinal properties of this plant are known yet. Experimentally, the extract of the surface part of the Field Penny-cress has been found to have hemostatic properties and shows antibacterial activity. There is also data that preparations containing fennel have wound-healing, antimicrobial, astringent, anti-scurvy, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-bleeding, disinfecting, diaphoretic, expectorant and tonic effects.

In folk medicine, fennel is a very popular remedy and has a very broad spectrum of effects - it is used to treat genital dysfunction, colds, purulent wounds, infectious diseases and skin diseases. In the people, this plant is used in cases of jaundice, gonorrhea, scarlet fever, angina pectoris and uterine bleeding. Its infusions and decoctions have long been used to treat gonorrhea and syphilis, restore the menstrual cycle and men's potency.

It is an excellent diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, wound healing, antimicrobial and purulent healing agent for scars and ulcers.

Most often, in folk medicine, Field Penny-cress is used for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the genital organs of women and men.

Purity money is used as a disinfectant, antihistamine, diuretic-hemostatic, antipyretic, blood-stopping, potency-stimulating and menstruation-accelerating agent.

A decoction of the seeds of Field Penny-cress is useful in case of atherosclerosis, diabetes, inflammation of the eyes, constipation. Fresh juice effectively helps fight skin warts and heals wounds. Preparations of the surface part of the plant remove toxic substances from the body well.

For men

In folk medicine, fennel is used as a diuretic and male enhancement agent. The setting of the plant is used as an arousal in cases of impotence, as well as in case of infertility. The seeds of the plant are used to stimulate male sexual function. On the positive side, the action of  Field Penny-cress seeds is quite fast. Accordingly, the plant can also be used to treat impotence.

Not recommended for use

This herb should not be used during pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage. It is not recommended for people with low blood pressure because it has hypotonic properties. The plant is completely specific and little researched, so any use of it should be considered and justified.

Medicinal Recipes

Against headaches, a particularly useful recipe for hypertensive patients: grind one teaspoon of the drug, pour 1 glass of boiling water over it and keep it on low heat for 3-5 minutes, leave it for 2 hours in a dark room, separate the layers, use 1 tablespoonful, 3 times a day, for 1 week.

In case of female infertility: pour 1.5 tablespoons of the drug with 200 ml of boiling water; set for 3-5h; separate the thickness through cheesecloth, use 6 times a day for 1 tablespoon.

In the event of a menstrual cycle failure: finely chopped, fresh fennel (100 gr) pour 1.5 glasses of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, use 3 times a day, 3 tablespoons each.

Treatment of venereal diseases: pour 1 tablespoon of the drug with 1 glass of boiling water; leave for at least 3 hours, use one tablespoon before each meal.

To improve male potency: grind the drug to a powder state and use it 3 mg, 3 times a day with a glass of water.

In case of diabetes: 1 teaspoon of ripe fruit is poured with 200ml of boiling water, boiled on low heat, left for 2 hours, it is important for this decoction to separate the pulp through a thick layer of cheesecloth. Use one tablespoon, 3 times a day.

Importance of food

The young leaves of Naudula have a characteristic smell of garlic, which makes it easier to recognize. The young leaves of the plant are recommended to be used fresh in salads. Boiling them gives them a bit of a bitter taste!

Diet recipes

Salad from the Field Penny-cress

200 gr. Field Penny-cress leaves, 200 gr. potatoes, 30 gr. mayonnaise or salad dressings, salt.

Purée of Field Penny-cress leaves

Grind the leaves of the Field Penny-cress in a meat grinder. Used as an additive to soups, 2 tbsp. per 1 portion, as well as as an addition to meat dishes.

Fish broth from Field Penny-cress

150 gr. Field Penny-cress leaves, 1L water, salt, pepper, bay leaf, 350 gr. fish broth.