Herbarium of the Ancients — Detailed NotebookFR · EN
beetroot
Beta vulgaris
Please read before use: the information below describes traditional and informational uses — it does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. In case of doubt, pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing treatment or use in children, seek advice before use.
High consumption of beetroot may color urine and stools red (beeturia), a harmless but sometimes surprising phenomenon. Its richness in oxalates calls for caution in people prone to kidney stones. Its natural content of sugars and nitrates warrants moderate use in people with diabetes or following treatment for blood pressure. In case of doubt or ongoing medication, consult a healthcare professional before any prolonged use.
Fresh juice — Root
Raw beetroot juice
Grate or pass through a juicer a washed and peeled raw beetroot. Consume the fresh juice, optionally diluted with a little water or mixed with other vegetables to soften the taste. Half a glass to one glass per day, in a course of a few days.
Decoction — Leaves
Beetroot leaf decoction
Boil a handful of fresh or dried leaves in water for about ten minutes, then strain. Drink warm, in small quantities. One cup per day.
Poultice — Root
Grated root poultice
Finely grate a raw root and apply directly to the affected area, held in place by a clean compress. Leave on for about twenty minutes then rinse. Dosage should be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Where to find it
Sourcing the plant
Beetroot is easily found in the vegetable garden, at market gardeners' stalls or in grocery stores, fresh, cooked or as juice; the leaves, rarer in commerce, are mainly harvested by those who grow it themselves.
Harvest season
When to harvest it
The root is harvested from summer to autumn, while young leaves are picked in spring and summer, before they harden.
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