2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Mehunka / Physalis alkekengi L. / is a perennial, herbaceous plant of the potato family. The herb is known by many other names that differ in different parts of the country. It is possible to meet it as a slime, munch, cracker, flashlight, red bubble, squash, bitter peppers, wild cherry. The old herbalists also know her as dobrich, dobrich, dobrudjik, lazarkinya, lazar's flower, miunche, meoniche, mehunitsa, bubirche, murdaroti. Others call it licorice, physalis and others.
The mesentery has a creeping rhizome. The above-ground stem is erect, simple or slightly branched. The lower leaves are consecutive, and the upper opposite, on stalks, ovate. The flowers are solitary in the axils of the upper leaves. The petals are 5 pieces, fused in a greenish-white bowl. The fruit is colored red-orange. The melon blooms in spring or after May.
This plant grows in shady bushes and sparse forests, near borders and vines. Distributed almost throughout the country, but in warmer places and usually on limestone. It is found in Central and Southern Europe, North America, Russia, Asia Minor.
Types of bubbles
The melons number about 70 species, about twenty of which have pleasant and edible fruits, the cultivated ones are 4-5. Physalis peruviana is mainly found in specialized chains in Bulgaria. However, it is possible that you will come across two others - strawberry bubble Ph. pruinosa (similar to peruviana, but with strawberry flavor) and Mexican mech Ph. ixocarpa. The Peruvian mech originated in Brazil, but spread naturally west to Peru and Chile, where it was introduced as a Inca culture in the mountains.
Due to the undemanding conditions of cultivation and tolerance to relatively low temperatures, the cultural range of the mech has expanded rapidly to all continents. In temperate climates it is grown as an annual plant, as it dies from prolonged exposure to temperatures below -3 degrees.
Composition of mehunka
The fruits of the bubble contain the bitter substance physalin. They are also a source of carotenoid physaline, vitamin C, quercetin, tannins, caffeic, ferulic, mustard acid. The composition of the herb also contains pectins, mucus, sugars, fatty oil. The aboveground part contains saponins, carotenoids, flavonoids, tannins and mucous substances.
Growing a bubble
The species Physalis alkekengri is mainly used for arranging and is not suitable for consumption, as it has extremely deep red-orange flowers that have a high decorative value. You can sow the seeds of the melon in less nutritious soil, but be sure to water abundantly while the melon grows. When the time of flowering comes, you can limit the introduction of water into the soil, because during fruiting it is good to keep the soil drier. In addition to seeds, the plant is propagated by dividing the tufts.
Collection and storage of mehunka
For medicinal purposes are used mainly fruits harvested July - August to early September after ripening, and sometimes the roots. The picked fruits are cleaned of impurities or waste, then peeled from the skin and dried in the sun, spread on a frame. It is best to dry in an oven at a temperature of up to 45-50 degrees. Drying must be carried out as quickly as possible.
Well-dried fruits are crushed when crushed, and undried fruits are smeared. From 6 kg of fresh fruit 1 kg of dry fruit is obtained. In some parts of the country it is customary to collect the entire aerial part of the herb together with the pods, making small bunches and hanging them for drying in ventilated rooms, and the fruits are detached from the stalks after drying. The well-dried material is packed in standard weight bags and stored in dark and ventilated rooms.
Benefits of mehunka
The bubble has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. The action of the plant is analgesic, diuretic, enhances the growth of integumentary tissues. The mechanism helps to remove urate stones from the kidneys, improves liver function, jaundice and chronic inflammation of the liver. Folk medicine recommends the bladder for difficult urination, pus in the urine, thorns, hemorrhoids.
The main action of the bubble probably due to the complex of substances contained in the bubble, the red dye kryptotoxin and zeaxanthin, the bitter substance physalin, a complex of organic acids, lactic, malic, tartaric, as well as the significant content of ascorbic acid. The presence of the alkaloid thiogloyl oxytropin was detected in the rhizome of the plant. The whole complex of ingredients, along with its diuretic effect, has a certain anti-inflammatory effect. The root of the mesentery indicates a spasmological effect on the uterus and is recommended for heavy menstrual bleeding.
Our folk medicine recommends the fruits of the herb in diseases of the liver, occurring with jaundice and ascites. Externally used compresses with an extract from the leaves of the plant in rheumatism, joint diseases. An ointment with the ashes of the burnt fruits of the melon and oil is prepared, and from this mixture it is used for lichens. Decoction of the fruit is used for gargling for sore throats, for washing wounds. When the oral cavity is injured, it is smeared with infusion of the fruits in brandy.
In veterinary medicine, the fruits are used, mixed with the pig's food against the disease "dove". The dye contained in the fruits is dyed silk in yellow and orange tones.
Folk medicine with a bubble
Decoction of the fruits of bubble has antipyretic, diuretic, helps to eliminate urate stones in the kidneys, has a beneficial effect on the liver in gallstone disease and jaundice, as well as the heart. Eliminates pain in rheumatism and toothache. The decoction of the fruits of the mech suppresses the pathogen of anthrax, tetanus, intestinal bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus. Recommended for colds with fever, active jaundice, angina, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis, dysmenorrhea.
Our folk medicine offers the following recipe for a decoction with bubble: 20-30 dried fruits are covered with 500 ml of boiling water and boiled for 5 minutes. From the liquid prepared in this way drink 1 glass of wine before meals 4 times a day.
It is also recommended to consume 10-15 fresh fruits daily or to drink 20 ml of juice squeezed from fresh fruits.
Mehunka in cooking
The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour and resembles a combination of tomato and pineapple. But not the unconventional taste, but the strong exotic aroma, is the great advantage of this fruit. The fruits of the mehinka can be eaten fresh or in the form of jams, jellies and compotes. If glazed with caramel, and why not with chocolate, they are an original decoration for cakes and cocktails. Sauces and ketchups with mehunka make red meat irresistible.
Damage from the bladder
Although no data on side effects and toxic effects have been reported, we should not forget that the bubble is an herb from the Potato family, and these herbs contain substances with pronounced toxicity, so you should not overdo the use of the fruit.
