Parmelia lichen, or cut grass, grows in the desert-steppe zone, as well as in mountainous areas. This plant is resistant to environmental pollution, it is absolutely unpretentious. In Russia, there are about 90 species of cut grass. This plant is widely used in folk medicine. Today, the reader will find out a lot of interesting information regarding Parmelia lichen: application and contraindications, properties, composition. Also find out how to cook a decoction of cut grass.
What does it consist of?
Parmelia belongs both to the group of green algae and to mushrooms. The body of this lichen consists of branched, grooved, leathery-cartilaginous lobes of greenish-gray color. Cut grass has the ability to photosynthesis, it is very resistant to harsh climatic conditions.
Parmelia lichen, whose properties can be read below, has a unique and healing composition:
- Usnic acid - is a strong natural antibiotic.
- Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant.
- Fiber and complex carbohydrates are very important for the normal functioning of the digestive system.
- Proteins, fats, ash.
- A large number of mineral elements, the main of which are potassium, calcium, phosphorus.
When can I use it?
Parmelia lichen, the use and indications of which can be read in this article, has the following properties:
- Antiseptic.
- Bactericidal.
- Hemostatic.
- Wound healing.
- Immunostimulatory.
Cut grass can be used in such cases:
- When coughing. Lichen helps to quickly, gently and harmlessly relieve a person from a lingering, ongoing cough.
- With bleeding gums. It is enough to make a decoction of cut grass and rinse their mouth.
- With diarrhea, acute colitis, duodenal ulcer and other gastrointestinal diseases.
- For heavily healing wounds resulting from injury.
- To combat bacteria that destroy the body, including Koch's wand.
- For the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections.
- To stop bleeding.
- For the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Common types of parmelia
- Cutting grass wandering. It grows 5 cm in height. In appearance it resembles a lot of gray-green plates that swell after rain. With a strong wind, lumps of this type of parmelia come off and are transported over long distances, where later they get along well.
- Cut grass is furrowed. This lichen is leafy, it forms rosettes of irregular shape on the bark of any tree. It can also be found on dry branches, in sheds, on fences, as well as the walls of houses. Furrowed cut grass is bluish-gray in color, black below, covered with straight or curved rhizins.
Where can I collect?
Branches and trunks of coniferous and deciduous trees - this is where parmelia lichens grow. Less often they can be found on stones and mossy soils. Lichen grows well where there is excellent access to the sun. Most often, cut grass can be found in mountain forests. If you do not know where parmelia lichens grow, then you can find out on the market from grandmothers selling various herbs. They will tell you where you can pick up medicinal cut grass. And if you do not want to go in search of her, then you can just buy her from the same lovely women in the market.
Harvesting medicinal raw materials
If you decide that the Parmelia lichen should be in your home medicine cabinet, then you need to know not only where to collect it, but also how to store it for long-term storage. Collecting cut grass is best in late April and May. The collected raw materials must be dried in the wind and the sun. Dried parmelia almost does not smell, it tastes bitter, slightly burning. You can save it for 4 years in a plastic bag or glass container away from moisture and moisture.
Parmelia Lichen Restrictions
The use and contraindications can be found in traditional healers. In general, cut grass has a minimum number of restrictions on use. You can not use this plant with individual intolerance to the body. Also, with the appearance of urticaria, itching on the skin, it is also worth stopping being treated with this lichen. With caution and only after agreement with the doctor, you can use cut grass in such cases:
- To the children.
- Pregnant and lactating women.
Tuberculosis prescription
Parmelia herb is often used to treat such a serious infectious disease. The recipe for an effective tuberculosis medicine :
- Grind dried parmelia (3 tbsp.) And pour 0.5 l of milk.
- Put the mixture on fire, bring to a boil, and then simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
- Strain the medicine.
- Drink up to 1/3 cup three times a day.
The recipe for a cough broth
If a person can not get rid of this unpleasant symptom of a viral infection, then Parmelia will help him. Application and indications for the appointment of this tool can be found in many medical publications. But how to properly prepare the broth, it is not written everywhere. The following is the correct recipe for making a healing cough drink:
1. Take 1 tablespoon of lichen, pour it with 1 liter of water.
2. Place a pot with the contents in a water bath (draw water into a large container, and inside identify the pot with cut grass). Keep about 2 hours.
Ready broth to drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day for 0.5 hours before meals. Preserving the medicine is necessary in the refrigerator. Warm up a little before use.
For the attention of readers! On many sites it is written that to make a decoction of the lichen, you can simply cook for an hour on fire. But this cannot be done, because beneficial substances at a temperature of 100 degrees will simply decompose, without any further benefit. Therefore, to prepare a cough medicine should only be in a water bath.
Recipe for washing wounds, compresses
- Five tablespoons of lichen pour 500 ml of water.
- Boil, cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat, insist at room temperature until the medicine cools completely.
- Strain, squeeze the raw materials into a healing broth.
Use externally for poorly healing wounds.
Ointment preparation
- Take 200 g of body fat. Add 2 tbsp. l Parmelia (you can buy it in a pharmacy or grind it yourself in a coffee grinder).
- Mix all the ingredients, identify them in a saucepan and put in a water bath for 5 hours.
- The final medicine should be viscous.
You can use ointment based on parmelia and interior fat to treat ulcers, cuts, wounds.
Where can I buy?
You can buy cut grass in the market from grandmothers, on the Internet, as well as in a pharmacy.
And there, by the way, you can find out important information regarding Parmelia lichen: use and contraindications, storage conditions, shelf life. If a person wants to save money, then it will be cheaper to buy cut grass from grandmothers.
Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
The famous pediatrician Komarovsky E.O., the host of the program about diseases that children have, gave his assessment of the use of parmelia in relation to children. He notes that the use of this lichen in the fight against lingering cough in boys and girls is not worth it. He says that cut grass is best used topically - to stop bleeding, disinfect wounds. And he categorically does not recommend conducting various experiments on children. Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich once again repeats that in order to eliminate a child’s cough, one does not need to run to the market in and buy parmelia lichen. Parents can rid their son or daughter of this residual symptom of a viral infection by simple methods: by moisturizing and airing the room, by giving the sick child warm tea or compote. And if mom will follow these simple rules, but she will not need any cough parmelia or other drugs from the pharmacy. And by the way, Dr. Komarovsky notes one interesting fact: Americans do not know and do not understand why children should give expectorant drugs. And in post-Soviet countries, this practice is quite common. The pediatrician urges parents not to buy cough medicine and not to stuff the baby with chemicals or dubious herbs.
Conclusion
Now you know a lot of interesting information regarding Parmelia lichen: application and contraindications, appearance, places of growth. Cut grass has long been used in folk medicine to treat tuberculosis, cough, lingering wounds, etc. You can buy it on the market, in a pharmacy, or order it online. You can also pick this lichen yourself, prepare medicinal raw materials and later use it to prepare various decoctions.