One of the smallest plants can be called duckweed. This swamp grass is also called the frog's foot. It grows green carpets throughout the water surface. Surely every fisherman in the summer season came across whole colonies of small leaves that tightly cover ponds.
Sometimes it is too much, which becomes an obstacle to fishing. An unpretentious perennial plant that prefers environmentally friendly stagnant or low-flowing water, multiplies very quickly, especially in favorable climatic conditions. The marsh duckweed differs from other herbs in the absence of a stem. It consists of one continuous plate with one single shoot, which then grows from the edge of the plate. It should be noted that the plant blooms extremely rarely. It has long been used for fishing. Various valuable waterfowl (geese, ducks), as well as livestock (pigs, chickens, cows) regale themselves with this valuable food. The composition of duckweed is close to the composition of cereals, and the protein content in the grass exceeds the amount in some types of legumes.
This is a fairly useful plant that a person uses in cooking to prepare first courses and salads. It is also dried and seasoned for seasoning for meat and fish. Swamp duckweed is valued by folk healers due to the rich content of trace elements.
Biochemical composition
Relatively recently, they began to write about the medicinal properties of a frog leg. Although the anti-allergenic grass has long deserved close attention, since it contains many vital trace elements for the human body, such as calcium, bromine, iodine, iron, protein, copper, vanadium, cobalt and radium.
It is scientifically proven that it contains vegetable protein, fiber and fats. Laboratory experiments confirm the presence of flavonoids and triterpene compounds that have an anticancer effect. In the plant, the predominant amount of amino acids, glutamic and aspartic acids, as well as vitamins of groups A, B, E.
Pharmacological properties
Scientists have found that marsh duckweed (photo is in the article) exhibits not only anti-allergic effect, but also has choleretic, carminative, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic and antitumor properties. Official medicine uses plant-based drugs as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antihelminthic drug.
Medical use
Alcohol tinctures are widely used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, as well as chronic runny nose, hepatitis and rheumatism. Duckweed is effective for edema, erysipelas, glaucoma, polyps, vitiligo, asthma, gout, hemorrhoids, benign and malignant formations.
Infusions and decoctions have a restorative and hemostatic effect. Relieves snake and mosquito bites of marsh duckweed. The use of herbs gives a positive result in purulent wounds and psoriasis. Healers and traditional healers recommend the plant for protracted and chronic inflammatory processes. Practice has verified that the grass helps to get rid of bronchial asthma (in combination with medications).
Contraindications
It would seem that a harmless and small swamp duckweed can not cause damage to the body and provoke undesirable consequences. But this is a profound error. Like all medicinal plants, she also has some contraindications. Its use in vegetative-vascular dystonia and some nervous disorders is undesirable, since the grass increases irritability. Side effects when using it were not recorded.
Cooking homemade potions
If you decide to collect the plant yourself, we recommend that you do this only in clean water, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Then you can begin the process of preparing the medicine. Although you can not bother and buy ready-made tincture or dry leaves in a pharmacy.
Alcohol tincture
Mix half a liter of vodka and swamp duckweed (10 large spoons). The liquid must be infused for seven days in a place protected from sunlight, then strain and drink 30-50 drops two hours after a meal, washed down with plenty of water. If the taste seems too nasty, then you can eat honey or jam.
Healing broth
Dry grass leaves (10 g) and water (a glass) are combined. Boil the solution, let it stand for an hour. Take three times a day, 100 ml (before meals).
Water tincture
A spoonful of dry plant is added to 250 ml of water. Boil, insist an hour and drink in a filtered state 3-4 times a day for ÂŊ cup. Infected eyes, purulent wounds, ulcers and various tumors are rubbed with the same solution.
Ointment
Combine 9 parts of dry leaves of grass and part of butter. It is necessary to mix until smooth, store in a glass container. Lubricate the nasal passages. Relieves inflammation in the ears.
The first positive results will appear in 30 days. These are the unique medicinal properties of duckweed. Treat strictly according to the specified recipes and preferably after consulting a specialist.