How wonderful it is when different plants grow and bloom on the window! And doubly pleasant when these plants are able to treat various ailments. One of the most healing indoor flowers is Kalanchoe officinalis. Let's talk about the benefits that these green home healers bring.
Why do I need to have indoor plants at home?
Probably everyone loves living indoor flowers. They favorably affect our mood and benefit our health. Any, even the most faceless room comes to life with them. Beautiful, well-groomed plants in pots always attract the eye, but few people think how much they do to make people living nearby feel as comfortable as possible.
The green color of plants has a beneficial and calming effect on the human psyche. And their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen while ionizing the air around them makes these little helpers truly irreplaceable.
Healing flowers in a residential building are especially needed. In addition to the common ability of all plants to purify the air, they have unique properties to heal a person from various diseases. The problem is that not everyone knows how wonderful and caring a doctor is growing on their windowsill.
Kalanchoe - home doctor
Want to get the perfect doctor on your windowsill? Here's a tip for you: a wonderful plant called Kalanchoe can cope with a whole list of different ailments. An interesting and easy to remember name of this flower doctor came from the Chinese language, and he hails from the southern warm countries.
Many plant this plant on their windows, mainly because of its appearance, because it blooms very beautifully and smells nice. And they don’t even realize that this unique flower has truly healing power. Its juice is used to treat dozens of diseases, from a runny nose to gastritis. And that makes it even more attractive.
The therapeutic effect is possessed not only by Kalanchoe juice, but also by its “children”, which are located on the leaves. For example, they can be added to salads, or you can eat just like that. They are able to increase immunity and relieve anemia.
The medicinal properties of this plant are recognized by official medicine. Kalanchoe in medicine is used in the appointment of treatment by dermatologists, dentists, surgeons, pediatricians and gynecologists. The plant is used in pharmacology. Based on the juice of the flower-doctor created drugs that are available in two forms: ointment for external and drops for internal use.
Kalanchoe juice is produced industrially from the leaves and stems of a plant: it is filtered, sterilized and canned with alcohol. The finished tincture is poured into ampoules or bottles.
Ointment with Kalanchoe juice is prescribed for the treatment of complex purulent skin diseases: trophic ulcers, non-healing wounds, various dermatitis. Also, the ointment is used as a healing agent after surgical treatment of wounds.
Based on the Kalanchoe juice, the Kalanchin preparation has recently been developed; it can be found in any pharmacy. It is produced in the form of granular powder, is prescribed for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It is absolutely harmless and non-toxic, the only contraindication is hypersensitivity to the components.
Varieties of Kalanchoe
From the point of view of botany, the genus of this wonderful plant is relatively small. It includes about 200 species, but most of them are completely different from each other, and each has distinctive properties. In addition to its extensive medicinal properties, Kalanchoe is also famous for being able to reproduce not only by vegetative propagation by leaves and processes, but also by the so-called "pseudo-viviparous" method. Yes, those same kids. This unique ability to produce, with the help of leaflets, an innumerable number of new living processes, surprised both botanists who distinguished these plants as a separate independent genus (the name of which can be translated from Greek as “generating leaf”), but also by writers and poets (for example, Goethe, who compared Kalanchoe with a source of happiness from one constant love).
Let us consider in more detail the most common and popular in Russian families varieties of the home flower Kalanchoe:
- Famous for everyone is Degremon. It was he who perfectly stuck in our windows, although he was originally from the island of Madagascar. Characteristic features: fleshy, arrow-drawn leaves to the tip with a serrated edge, along which small buds with aerial roots form. Looking up from the leaf, these buds fall to the ground and perfectly take root.
- Cirrus Kalanchoe. This doctor flower also enjoys universal love, mainly due to beautiful inflorescences. In nature, it can reach a meter height. Characteristic features: oval, fleshy leaves with a wavy edge; large flowers collected in a panicle inflorescence. Just like Degremon, it is able to form small "children", albeit in much smaller numbers.
- Blossfeld. It is believed that it was from this type of Kalanchoe that all flowering variations went. Characteristic features: lush flowering lasting 4-5 months, very beautiful tubular flowers of various shades, short stature (about 25 cm), the leaves have a dark red border.
- Laciniata. The better known among the people the name of this species of Kalanchoe is deer horns, due to the amazing similarity of the shape of the leaves with branched horns. Characteristic features: leaves strongly dissected along the entire length, very rare flowering (only under certain conditions), light green color, lack of medicinal properties.
How to care for potted Kalanchoe
This plant is quite unpretentious. However, in order for the medicinal flowers to feel good and please the eye as long as possible, you should nevertheless adhere to some rules regarding watering, temperature, transplanting and protection:
- Watering. Kalanchoe comes from hot countries, so they tolerate drought well. The thick leaves covered with a film help him in this. They are able to accumulate moisture and do without watering for a long time. Therefore, adult Kalanchoe is enough to water only once a week. Excess moisture is dangerous for the plant in that mold can appear on the surface, which is very dangerous.
- Temperature and lighting. Unlike most indoor flowers, Kalanchoe loves light. Therefore, it is quite possible to settle on the window. At the same time, Kalanchoe blooms exclusively in the winter and spring months, when the day is short. If you know this interesting feature, you can try to persuade the plant to bloom at another time, artificially reducing its daylight hours. For this, Kalanchoe is covered or hidden for several hours in a dark place, for example, in a closet.
- Transfer. The root system of Kalanchoe grows very quickly, so it is better to transplant it more often. There are no special requirements to the soil, the main thing is that its composition does not change. Unless you can add a little sand. Extract the plant from the ground very carefully, try not to damage the lump with the roots. The transplant should be carried out in April or May.
- Feeding and protection. Fertilizing Kalanchoe is not particularly necessary, but sometimes you can treat it with complex dressings, just use only half of the specified dose. If you go too far with fertilizers, the plant may wither away. Then grayish or white spots will appear on its leaves. Kalanchoe is also very harmful to aphids. Because of it, the leaves turn yellow and fall. If this happens, it is necessary to remove all affected areas, and treat the flower itself either with a special agent or a soap solution.
We treat the ear, throat, nose
Many have heard about the medicinal properties of this flower-doctor, especially in childhood. From time immemorial, all mothers have known that it is useful to drip Kalanchoe juice into the nose in order to break through congestion and clear the sinuses. And the kids are always enthusiastic about the fun procedure of sneezing, and even arrange competitions, who sneezes more than once. Thanks to this sneezing action, the nose is cleansed even of that mucus that cannot be obtained by other methods.
In order for Kalanchoe juice to benefit and cure a cold, follow a few rules:
- It is better to extract juice from the leaves of a plant older than three years. In young Kalanchoe, nutrients are not enough.
- Use only the largest and thickest leaves. Inspect them carefully for damage.
- Hold the torn leaves for a couple of days in the refrigerator. So the concentration of nutrients will become higher.
- Squeeze juice from the leaves of Kalanchoe with gauze or garlic.
- Children are better to dilute the juice with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 1.
- Squeezed juice retains its healing properties throughout the day. Do not harvest it for the future.
A leaf of Kalanchoe has a cold and antibacterial effect, it copes well not only with a runny nose. For example, otolaryngologists advise to dig in the nose with the juice of this plant for prophylaxis in the flu and colds season.
For the treatment of respiratory diseases, inhalations with Kalanchoe juice can be used. To do this, add 15-20 drops of freshly squeezed liquid into a glass of saline and pour it into a nebulizer or inhaler. For each procedure, you need to prepare a new solution.
Kalanchoe juice is very effective in treating middle ear inflammation or in case of damage to the membrane. To do this, a cotton swab moistened with juice is inserted into the ear, or 1-2 drops are pipetted.
We treat varicose veins
With varicose veins, special compresses are applied to the sites of nodules (cones). A gauze napkin is impregnated with Kalanchoe juice and applied for half an hour. This procedure should be carried out regularly.
You can do at home and tincture of Kalanchoe from varicose veins. To do this, the leaves must be cut and folded into a small bottle. Then pour them with vodka or medical alcohol and remove to a dark place. Shake the bottle periodically. Cooking time is a week.
After the tincture is ready, you can rub it with your legs, starting from the feet and moving up. In addition to relieving pain, it is also possible to get rid of the blue venous network with the help of tinctures of Kalanchoe. True, the procedure will have to be performed daily for three months.
We treat skin diseases
Kalanchoe is a real home doctor. It has so many healing properties that almost all skin diseases can be treated. Let's consider some of them:
- Warts, papillomas. From these small bulges on the skin there is practically no harm to health, but from an aesthetic point of view they look very unattractive. The appearance of warts and papillomas is caused by viruses, and they are extremely difficult to treat. Try chopping Kalanchoe leaves and applying them to sore spots, securing them with a gauze bandage for a couple of hours. The effect will be noticeable after just a few procedures.
- Thermal burns and frostbite. Damaged areas are lubricated with fresh Kalanchoe juice. Depending on the area of the burn, three to four drops is enough. A mixture of Kalanchoe juice and egg white also helps.
- Boils, acne. The juice of this wonderful plant also helps to get rid of these ailments. You can use both home-made juice and preparations containing it sold in a pharmacy. For treatment, it is necessary to lubricate both the affected areas themselves and the skin around them.
- Pressure sores. To treat this ailment, it is necessary to use an ointment with Kalanchoe juice. You can buy it at a pharmacy, or you can cook it yourself. To do this, mix 30 ml of juice and 50 ml of petroleum jelly or lanolin. Keep this ointment in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.
We treat cervical erosion
This wonderful flower doctor is a faithful assistant to the woman. With the help of Kalanchoe juice, cervical erosion can be cured, for this you need to soak a swab and insert it into the vagina. The therapeutic effect is achieved in a couple of weeks of regular use. The same treatment can help with birth tears.
For nursing mothers, this plant is useful in that its juice will help get rid of cracks in the nipples and irritation around. To do this, just drop a couple of drops on a sore spot.
Home cosmetics
We clean the face. Wipe the face and neck area daily with a leaf of Kalanchoe. To do this, remove the film from it, slightly knead and hold over the entire skin. To make the juice absorb better, tap on the skin with the pads of your fingers, massaging it. For the same purposes, you can use the Kalanchoe cosmetic cream, which contains 15% of the juice of this wonderful flower.
We fight with wrinkles. A wonderful flower doctor can help to cope with this problem. To do this, there is a very effective tool that you can prepare yourself: half a glass of water, two tablespoons of Kalanchoe juice and one teaspoon of honey. This tool keeps the skin supple and supple.
We get rid of age spots. Pigmented areas of the skin should be covered with gruel from crushed leaves of Kalanchoe. The effect will be noticeable only with regular use. In the same way you can get rid of freckles.
How else can you use the plant?
There are many recipes for using Kalanchoe. For example, from a sore throat, with a runny nose or flu, you can simply chew a leaf, and unpleasant painful symptoms will recede.
Kalanchoe is indispensable as an emergency aid. Crumpled leaves will quickly stop bleeding from the wound.
The flower is also eaten after serious illness, for example, adding leaves to salads and vinaigrette. They remove toxins and help protect against viruses.