Fenugreek (fenugreek, shamballa, helba or chaman)

The fenugreek plant is an annual. It belongs to the legume family.

It also has the following names: shamballa, methi, chaman, fenugreek, blue or blue sweet clover, gunba. They call it the blue goat shamrock.

Names of fenugreek in other languages:

• Trigonella foenum (lat.)
• fenugreek
• le fenugrec (fr.)
• Bockshornklee (German)

Fenugreek is classified as an herbal plant.

The height of the annual varies from 50 to 60 cm.

The stem has few branches.

The flowers are yellow and rather small.

Seeds, brown-yellowish, very small (4 mm) shaped like a rhombus.

Seeds ripen in pods. The shape of the pods is triangular.

The number of seeds in a pod is about 20, but no more.

It is no coincidence that the Latin name of this plant in translation means "goat horns". It's just that the pods are curved, thus resembling the horns of this animal.

There are over 120 plant species.

The most famous types of fenugreek are hay and blue:

• At the fenugreek stems branched and loose. The leaves are oblong. Their length is 2 cm. The flowers are hidden in the leaf axils and are practically invisible. They are very small, have a yellowish-white color with a purple base. Plant height about 60 cm.
• blue fenugreek has a straight stem, and the branches of the plant are directed upwards. The height of the plant ranges from 30 to 80 cm. The length of the leaves is from 2 to 5 cm. The edges are serrated. Flowers of a light blue hue are collected in dense inflorescences.

In ancient times, fenugreek was found in Asia Minor and in the east of the Mediterranean. This territory of the globe can be called his homeland.

The mountains of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Mongolia, Japan, North Africa, Ethiopia, the USA, Southern Europe are all places of its growth.

Shambhala is used as feed for farm animals. It is not only a valuable medicinal raw material, but also a spice. For these needs, fenugreek is cultivated in China, America, and India. France, Argentina, sunny Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco are countries that have recently begun to grow fenugreek.

To make a spice, the seeds of the plant are required. Use the fruits that begin to turn brown. They are dried and thoroughly ground.

When the plant blooms, it is cut and dried in a well-ventilated area. Then it should be ground into powder and used for its intended purpose.

• A flowering plant of fenugreek is surrounded by an aura of a peculiar bitter, but at the same time pleasant aroma.
• And the taste of the fruit is sweetish with a slight hint of bitterness. It becomes much better after roasting, resembling burnt sugar.
• The taste of ground seeds gives dishes a mushroom flavor and aroma.
• The famous and indispensable spice in the cuisine of the East - utskho-suneli - is produced from the seeds of the blue pozhitnik.

Nutritional value and calorie content in 100 grams of fenugreek seeds:

You can learn more about fenugreek by watching the video.

The content of vitamins and minerals in 100 grams of fenugreek seeds

Due to its rich composition, fenugreek is not accidentally called Shambhala, thus drawing an analogy with the mysterious and magical world in which miracles take place. Fenugreek can also be attributed to the plant miracle.

• Shambhala nourishes the most important parts of our body: plasma and blood. It also provides support to nerve cells and bone marrow cells.
• It has a positive effect on the main systems of the human body: stimulates the digestive system; treats respiratory, sexual, urinary).
• Restores the body, becoming a kind of tone for it;
• Means-diuretic.

The use of seeds in the treatment of the following diseases:

• Dysentery and indigestion;
• allergic reactions;
• Bronchial diseases;
• For colds;
• Pain syndromes (teeth, joints).

Watch the program "Live Healthy" about fenugreek: you will learn a lot of interesting things about the beneficial properties of the plant.

• Pregnancy. (Strictly contraindicated as miscarriage may occur)
• Hyperestrogenism.
• Diabetes mellitus (I type).
• Combination with drugs that contain thyroid hormone.
• Gastritis, colitis, stomach ulcers.
• Affects the process of blood clotting (slows down).

In cooking, seeds, fresh or dried leaves of the plant are used.

• Seed use. Raw seeds are part of vegetable dishes, soups. They make tea from them.Dry seeds are roasted and used both whole and in powder. They are added to various mixtures of spices, to dishes containing beans.
• Dry leaves of shamballa are a spice. It is added to various dishes to give them a unique, spicy taste and aroma.
• Fresh leaves. They have a bittersweet taste. Salads, soups, sauces, main dishes - this is the scope of their application.

Fenugreek gives dishes a spicy and nutty flavor. The famous mixtures of curry and suneli hops contain it in their composition. It is often added to adjika.

Another area of ​​application of Shambhala seeds is cheese making. For flavor, ground seeds are added to some types of cheese.

Mediterranean cuisine often uses shamballa in the preparation of confectionery.

To do this, you need 6 kg of tomatoes. From them we need the pulp, which is squeezed into juice. It will come out about 4 liters. We set the juice to boil, but at the same time it is not necessary to cover it with a lid, since it is necessary that it evaporate by half.

A large onion and 4 cloves of garlic are fried in a tablespoon of olive oil. When they turn golden, pour in a glass of apple juice. Cooking lasts another half an hour.

While our sauce preparation is being cooked, you need to take a piece of gauze (you can also use a bandage) and put a mixture of the following spices in the middle: 5 pieces of cloves, 0.5 teaspoon of fenugreek, 8 peas of allspice, a few sprigs of fresh basil. Tie the cheesecloth in a knot so that all the spices are in a bag and then dip into the tomato sauce. Ground spices are added (1 incomplete teaspoon of cinnamon and black ground pepper) and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of white wine vinegar. Everything is on fire for another half an hour. Next, taste the sauce. It is possible that you will need to add a little salt or sugar.

The sauce is poured into sterilized jars, rolled up with iron lids. Jars are placed upside down, wrapped in a towel and left for 12 hours. The resulting sauce is quite thick and incredibly aromatic.

The medicinal properties of fenugreek and its effect on the human body are confirmed by doctors, so it is used to treat many diseases. In addition, shamballa is a phytohormonal pantry. In this regard, endocrinologists prescribe it to their patients.

Fenugreek has the following medicinal properties:

• Antibacterial;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Lowers cholesterol levels;
• Stabilization and lowering of arterial pressure;
• Decreased testosterone production (positive effect on the female body as a whole);
• Fight against cancer cells;
• Removal of mucus from the respiratory tract;
• From fenugreek, hair grows quickly (appointed when they fall out);
• Treats acne.

Many years ago, people knew about the healing properties of Shambhala. Egyptians and Indians specifically ate fenugreek seeds to become owners of luxurious hips and beautiful breasts. And the crushed seeds were applied to wounds, then they healed much faster. Helba medicinal preparations can be prepared at home. This does not require any special skills and abilities.

Colds can be cured with fenugreek. Pour 2-3 teaspoons of seeds with a glass of boiling water and put on fire. Boil 15 min. Dissolve honey in a decoction - and the medicine is ready. This decoction should be taken 3 times a day. A similar decoction is recommended to gargle with sore throats. In this case, the concentration of the solution should be slightly stronger. Boil 2 tablespoons of seeds in one liter of water for 30 minutes. Make the fire slow.

To make hair grow faster, you can make a mask from the seeds, which should be crushed into gruel. This mask also prevents dandruff. To prepare such a useful tool, you should soak 2 tbsp in the evening. boats of seeds in the water. After standing overnight, the beans will soak, and they can easily be turned into gruel. It will need to be applied to the scalp for 1 hour. Then rinse your hair well with shampoo.

Fenugreek is very useful for anemia. The following recipe will help increase the level of iron in the blood: mix 1-2 teaspoons of fenugreek with honey and drink milk.

This is a very useful tea based on Shambhala. Seeds are required for its preparation. They are washed and dried.

In a glass of water, 2 teaspoons of seeds are boiled for 7 minutes. Further, honey and lemon are added to the tea to taste. You can drink with milk, ginger. Basically, whatever you like. The drink is healing, refreshing, with a calming effect.

Shambhala is an indispensable tool to make hair shiny, healthy and strong, as well as to maintain a healthy look of facial skin:

• If the hair is lifeless, dull, brittle, then it is recommended to rub a decoction of fenugreek into the roots of the hair. It is prepared from 4 tbsp. spoons of grass and a glass of water.
• Olive oil and chaman (a teaspoon) will help against dermatitis and dandruff. This mixture should be rubbed into the hair roots, then wrap your head with a towel. After 30 minutes, everything is washed off.
• A teaspoon of shamballa and a tablespoon of olive oil (cream is also suitable) will get rid of acne on the face. The mask is kept for 10 minutes and then washed off.
• A mask of yolk and a teaspoon of fenugreek, honey, caraway oil, olive oil will help nourish our skin. The mask lasts 15 minutes.
• Moisturizing the skin. The components are mixed, taken 1 teaspoon each: shamballa, honey, carrot juice, aloe juice. It is applied to the face and washed off after a quarter of an hour.

It is recommended to use fenugreek seeds half an hour before meals to lose extra pounds. Having consumed a few seeds on an empty stomach, a person feels that he already wants to eat much less. This arises from the fact that the seeds absorb liquid very quickly and swell. Of course, there is a feeling of satiety, so the body needs less food.

Fenugreek is used as one of the effective anti-cellulite remedies. It is quite possible to get rid of the unpleasant “orange peel” at home. To do this, grind the chaman seeds (a coffee grinder will help), then pour boiling water over them. Apply a slightly cooled slurry to the needy areas of the skin and wrap with ordinary cling film. Keep for about an hour, then wash off. Within a week, a similar procedure should be carried out twice, and after a month the result will already be obvious.

Whole fenugreek seeds keep for 2 years. Ground ones have a much shorter shelf life. They do not lose their taste qualities for only 3 months. Dried leaves can be stored for a little over a year.

Fenugreek is unpretentious in care, it is resistant to drought and cold.

Location selection:

• The best conditions for it are fertile loose soil with low acidity. Soil with high acidity is detrimental to him. The place of cultivation is better protected from the wind.
• Fertilizer in the form of lime will double its productivity.

Reproduction:

• Fenugreek is propagated by seeds.
• From April to May, the soil is prepared and the seeds are planted to a depth of about 1.5 cm. At 10 degrees above zero, the plants are already beginning to germinate, but the optimum temperature is above 20 degrees.
• Please note that there should be a distance of at least 7 cm between plants. Therefore, if you sow the seeds close to each other, the row is thread.

Care:

• Remove weeds when they appear.
• The plant will bloom in the middle of summer, and the fruits will ripen in August-September.
• Before the appearance of fruits, the plant is watered abundantly, after that watering should be more moderate, when the fruits appear, it is completely stopped.

Now fenugreek is used to make bactericidal patches.

Oriental beauties carefully keep ancient recipes from fenugreek, as it is believed that a honey wrap with it can quickly increase breast size.