Botanical
Beta vulgarisFamily
ChenopodiaceaeKnown as
Beet Root, Garden Beet, Mangold, Runkelrübe, Zuckerrübe, Rote Bete, Rote RübeOld Use
culinary; medicinalParts Used
herb, leaves, rootsAroma
balsamic, oriental, sweetMedicinal
abdominal pain, anemia, coughs, digestion, fatigue, gastrointestinal, laxative, indigestion, infections intestinalHeart & Circulation
anemiaInfection & Inflammation
fever, flu, skin inflammation, throat infectionsRespiratory System
bronchitis, colds, cough, lung weakness, respiratoryStomach & Intestinal
abdominal pain, cancer, cancer prevention, constipation, digestion, laxative, indigestion, intestinal inflammationProperties
antibacterial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti inflammatory, astringent, aphrodisiac, carminative, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorantDescription
A polymorphic biennial (flowering in the second year of growth), up to 2 m tall when in flower.
Basal leaves forming a rosette.
Flowers are small, green, borne in clusters subtended by bracts, forming dense, usually branched inflorescences. Each flower contains two stigmas (female parts).
‘Seeds’ are actually fruits that are attached to each other and enveloped in a woody covering (calyces).
Properties & Uses
The roots and leaves of the beet have been used in folk medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments. Ancient Romans used beetroot as a treatment for fevers and constipation, amongst other ailments. Beetroot juice has been considered an aphrodisiac. From the Middle Ages, beetroot was used as a treatment for a variety of conditions, especially illnesses relating to digestion and the blood. Platina recommended taking beetroot with garlic to nullify the effects of 'garlic-breath'. Beta vulgaris beets have been used for treatment of disorders of the respiratory tract, fever and infections.
It has been suggested the pigment molecule betanin in the root of red beets may protect against oxidative stress and has been used for this purpose in Europe for centuries.
All parts of the beet plant contain oxalic acid. Beet greens and Swiss chard are both considered high oxalate foods which have been implicated on the formation of kidney stones.
Cautions
none known
Distribution
Beta vulgaris subspecies maritima (sea beet) grows wild along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe, where it is found near the sea shore, particularly in heavy alluvial soils and clays at disturbed sites.
Cultivars of Beta vulgaris are grown throughout Europe and North America.
Constituents
Betanin, vitamin B, potassium, iron, folic acid, oxalic acid.
Of Interest
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