Sickle Medick is a perennial plant, the stems of which can grow up to 50 cm. The stems are lying or raised. The leaves are triangularly composed of three inverted ovoid leaflets. The edges of the leaves are toothed. The spikes of the pilapia are fused half way with the stem.

The flowers are yellow, 15-30 arranged in bunch inflorescences, in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit is a sickle-shaped pod. The plant blooms from May to September.

For medicinal purposes, the above-ground part of the plant, more often only the tops, is collected during its flowering. Drying is carried out in well-ventilated and shaded places, it may be dried in forced dryers not exceeding 40C. Store in a breathable container for no longer than 2 years.

Lucerne contains saponins, alkaloids, carotene, ascorbic acid, vitamin K, flavonoids and coumestrol. In principle, the plant has been studied little, from its medicinal effects, because Sickle Medick is most often used in fodder.

The plant also contains sufficient amounts of calcium and magnesium, steroids, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin B6.

Medicinal significance

In medical treatment, the plant is more often used in folk medicine as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, immunity-boosting, anti-fever, bactericidal, wound-healing, tonic, body-strengthening and metabolism-boosting agent.

Sickle Medick is useful for treating colds, urinary tract, kidney diseases, stomach ulcers, diabetes, pyelonephritis, cystitis, arthritis, gout, anemia, dermatological diseases, atherosclerosis. In addition, the plant will also help in stressful situations to reduce nervous tension, as well as to remove excess toxins and cholesterol from the body.

Not recommended for use

The plant is not recommended for people with increased blood clotting, lupus erythematosus, stomach ulcer and its exacerbations, phenylketonuria, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

The plant is not used to treat children under 3 years of age. Only germinated seeds are used during pregnancy and lactation.

If you use this plant in inadequate doses, you will face digestive disorders, skin rashes, pain in the abdominal cavity.

And what should be known especially for girls! The plant contains hormone-like substances and fat-soluble substances that will promote weight gain, so we do not make the treatment longer than 8-12 weeks. If necessary, the course can be repeated after a one-month break!

Cosmetic significance

Sickle Medick is also popular in cosmetology, thanks to its ability to maintain the youth of the facial skin. It relieves swelling, redness and improves skin condition. The plant also affects hair growth and reduces hair loss!

Importance of food

Most often, it is Sickle Medick that is used in food, of course there are others, but this will be one of the most successful choices and also the easiest to harvest, because it is often found. However, you can also safely eat Sickle Medick . The young above-ground part of the plant is harvested and used in salads, but if you dry it and add it already dried to soups, you will get a completely different flavor. It won't smell fresh. The clover-like plant will smell like hay and give the soup a chicken broth-like flavor.

You can start harvesting the plant as early as April and until autumn. The most valuable part will be the inflorescences and leaves, since the stems themselves have practically no value. Sickle Medick can be pickled in the same way as cabbage, but do not use it in food or during inflammation of any origin!