8 effective medicinal use of chives

Chives are one of the most commonly used herbs that are used for the lovely aroma they impart to various food preparations. However, chives also offer many medicinal benefits. Here are 8 ways in which regular use of chives is beneficial for our health.

Chive is an herb that is very closely related to garlic and onions. These are shaped as soft and long hollow tubes. Each 100g serve contains about 30 calories, 2.5g of dietary fiber, and 3.2g of proteins, apart from being a good source of vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, E, and K. Chives are also rich in iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese.

With so many nutrients, chives can certainly enhance the health status to a large extent. You may use chives as such in the raw form or extract its fresh juice and add it to various food preparations. Medicinally, chives can be used in many forms by boiling with water, pound fresh chives to extract juice, or eaten in raw form.

Here are some wonderful health benefits of chives including the ones to improve hair and skin.

Anti-inflammatory property. Chives are helpful against all sorts of inflammation if they are used in extract form by steeping fresh chives in hot water.

Cures a sore throat. Drink the steeped extract of chives to naturally find relief against a sore throat.

Antioxidant benefits. The high antioxidant content of chives is very effective against premature signs of aging on skin and hair.

Anticancer benefits. Chives have been found to be effective against colorectal and stomach cancer. The compound organosulphur present in chives is the one which protects tissues against carcinogenesis.

Antibacterial property. If used or consumed in raw form, chives have been found to be potent against E.coli, Staphylococcus, and salmonella bacteria.

To improve hair health. Fresh chive juice can be extracted by pounding it hard and this juice can be applied over scalp and hair to promote hair growth and treat bacterial infections of the scalp. You may also prepare chive extract by boiling a few fresh chives in water, cool, strain this liquid, and then use it as the final hair rinse.

To improve skin health. You may use fresh chive juice in preparing face packs to treat acne. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial property of chive extract is also beneficial to clean wounds.

Improves cardiovascular health. As chives are associated with garlic, the compound allicin present in it helps to lower the LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol levels in the blood. Allicin has also been found to be effective against high blood pressure.