Jerusalem artichoke, popularly referred to as the earthen pear, like potatoes, came to us from North America. And we call this plant almost the same as the Indians - "Jerusalem artichoke." Its pointed leaves look like sunflower leaves. And his flowers are bright yellow, but much smaller and collected in inflorescences. In terms of chemical composition, root crops are very close to potatoes, but their nutritional value is slightly lower. In Europe, the plant spread in the 17th century. Since then, it was appreciated not so much nutritious and tasteful as the healing properties of Jerusalem artichoke. First of all, it was used in diet food, as it is useful, unlike potatoes, with diabetes. This is due to the fact that it contains fructose necessary for this group of patients, which is formed as a result of splitting when inulin polysaccharides get into the human body (and they can be from 18% to 26% in root crops).
The medical industry makes biologically active drugs from Jerusalem artichoke raw materials and also uses them in the production of food for diabetes patients: bread, confectionery, syrup, juice, flour. But treatment with Jerusalem artichoke is preferably carried out with those recipes in which it is not subjected to harsh heat treatment.
Traditional medicine often used Jerusalem artichoke. The treatment was carried out with boiled root crops, a decoction of them. They were considered an excellent laxative and diuretic.
They insisted on Jerusalem artichoke wine. Treatment with this tool was aimed at restoring the heart and blood vessels.
With an increase in acidity, accompanied by severe heartburn, they were saved by fresh juice. Received it from root crops. It has an interesting property to normalize the acidity of the gastric juice: it lowers if it is elevated and, conversely, it increases the decreased acidity.
Knowing that Jerusalem artichoke is capable of regulating bowel function, its juice treatment can be effectively used for prolonged constipation, pain in the stomach, and intestines. Nausea disappears after taking just one spoonful of the drug. Subject to him and headache, provoked by high blood pressure.
It was noted that small ulcers, wounds, Jerusalem artichoke heals well. Treatment with root juice, respectively, can be successfully used for duodenal ulcers or stomach ulcers. It is also good as a prophylaxis in spring and autumn, when these diseases are often exacerbated.
You can also make kvass from root vegetables, which has the same healing qualities as juice. Need Jerusalem artichoke with a peel (which, incidentally, contains a huge amount of silicon), grind, pour water, boiled and cooled to a warm state. After three days, the drink will be ready. If you add a little sugar and yeast to the water, you can drink it on the second day. You need to drink a day and a half glasses of kvass, dividing it into two or three doses.
Jerusalem artichoke juice is very rich in all kinds of trace elements and vitamins. In early spring, when the winter supply of substances necessary for the body is used up, it will be useful to everyone, without exception.
Therefore, do not neglect Jerusalem artichoke, buy it as often as possible, and if conditions allow, then plant it on your site. In addition, the plant is completely undemanding to the soil, does not require special care, transplants, weeding. Jerusalem artichoke in the literal sense sits once every hundred years and stably yields a crop, unlike other vegetable crops. Moreover, root crops do not even need to be dug up for the winter: they are stored in the earth much better than in the cellar or basement, they become sweeter and juicier. If necessary, you can directly select root crops from the garden throughout the year, even in winter, if the ground is not very frozen and covered with snow.