Mokrica is widely used in folk medicine, cosmetology, diets. She has established herself as an anesthetic, decongestant, hemostatic, and sedative. In the article, we will consider the features of woodlice grass (photo - below) and some methods of its use.
What is useful grass
Wood louse grass grows in almost all regions of Russia. Most often, she likes to settle in gardens, piles of garbage, in gardens and in damp clearings. Characteristic external signs of this grass are leaflets that resemble pointed eggs and small white flowers that are star-shaped. Hence its scientific name is the middle star.
As the name implies, this plant remains always moist even in the dry period. Seasoned summer residents do not eliminate it like an ordinary weed, but use it as mulch.
In addition, wood lice can serve people as a meteorologist. This weed can determine when it will rain.
The grass also has certain benefits for poultry. When chickens eat it, they carry more eggs.
At some point, woodworms began to pay attention to healers, and then scientists who discovered in this plant many substances that positively affect the human body.
The healing properties of the herb lice
The following beneficial properties are attributed to woodlice. She:
- Soothes the pain.
- Fights inflammation.
- Soothing.
- Has an expectorant effect.
- Stops bleeding.
- It removes bile.
Woodworm grass is able to supply various vitamins and minerals to the body. Woodworm is useful in a number of human diseases, namely:
- Strengthens the immune system.
- It helps in the treatment of colds, pneumonia of bronchitis and other lung diseases.
- Anesthetizes when getting bruises, sprains, dislocations, arthritis and rheumatism.
- Increases hemoglobin.
- He is struggling with a breakdown.
- It has a positive effect on the heart, reduces heart pain.
- Useful for kidney disease.
- Eliminates cramping and stomach pain, treats flatulence, hemorrhoids and constipation.
The grass lice also helps with skin diseases and raises the level of lactation in nursing mothers.
Procurement rules
For medical purposes and for food use parts of woodlice grass (photos are presented in the article), growing above the ground. Namely:
The greatest amount of nutrients is, of course, in fresh grass. To use it for medicinal purposes or for food, just cut and rinse. Woodlice can be dried for the winter. So it retains all the useful properties.
The best time to harvest this herb is May. At this time, she is especially tender and juicy. Cutting the grass is best in the morning after the dew has dried.
Keep collected grass in a well-ventilated place, in the shade. After the grass dries, it can be laid out in paper or fabric bags. So it can be successfully stored for approximately 9 months.
Contraindications and side effects
Woodworm has one drawback - it lowers blood pressure. For this reason, it should not be taken hypotonic. It is also worth being alert to people with individual intolerance to wood lice.
The herb woodlice is contraindicated for the treatment of young children, it is a very strong allergen.
However, it is worth remembering the difference between the middle stellate and other herbs of this kind: Stellāria gramīnea, Stellária holóstea, Stellaria holostea. They are dangerous due to the poison contained in them and differ from the woodlice by the structure of the leaves.
Also, alcohol infusion from this herb can cause harm in the treatment of stomach ulcers. Another wood louse can be dangerous if grown and harvested near the road. She absorbed harmful substances: toxins and heavy metals. Therefore, the best option would be the preparation of medicinal potions from herbs grown in ecologically clean areas.
Diets
Due to its beneficial properties, wood lice grass has found its application in cooking, as it is a good source of many vitamins and minerals. It is part of vitamin salads, borsch for vegetarians, some drinks, and even toppings for pies. Here is an approximate composition of vitamin salads:
- Fresh grass, boiled chicken egg, green onion, sour cream and salt. Finely chop the grass with the egg and onion, mix, pour sour cream and season with salt.
- Finely chop 100 grams of woodlice grass and 100 grams of fresh beetroot leaves, mix with a small amount of dill, green onion, parsley, red onion, two boiled eggs, also chopped. Add sour cream and a little salt.
- Stir, after cutting, fresh leaves of grass, one boiled egg and several feathers of green onions. After this, you need to add salt and pour sour cream on the salad.
Application in traditional medicine
The healing properties of woodlice grass have found their application in folk medicine.
From this herb make infusions, decoctions and juices. All this can be used both for internal use and for external. There are many medical recipes using wood lice. An example is the following:
- Soothing decoction. Two tablespoons of wood lice are poured with hot water in an amount of 200 ml, boiled for 10 minutes, allowed to cool and filter the solution after half an hour. Use three times a week before meals in 1/4 cup.
- Juice to increase appetite. Grind the grass in a blender and squeeze the juice from it. 3 to 4 times a day, take one teaspoon, adding honey.
- If the joints hurt and swell. Four times a day to make a compress with the juice of woodlice on problem areas.
- To combat lumbar pain. In a 3-liter jar, add fresh wood lice, pour 500 ml of vodka and add hot water to the brim. Insist for 3 weeks, then strain. Drink before lunch once a day for three weeks.
Application in cosmetology
Useful properties of woodlice grass can effectively use it for skin care in the form of compresses, baths or masks. It has a moisturizing, healing and anti-aging effect. Just a few procedures - and tired skin becomes soft and velvety, as if glowing from the inside.
The following recipes are especially popular:
- Mask for rejuvenation. Mix 30 grams of leaves of woodlice, 4 tablespoons of cream and 4 tablespoons of honey. Keep the mask on your face for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
- From acne should be washed daily with a decoction of woodlice.
- A bathtub with wood lice. 500 g of fresh grass, cut into small pieces, brew a liter of hot water, cover. Insist for 20-25 minutes. Then strain and add the broth to the bathing water. Take a bath for 20 minutes.
We can say that the herb wood lice is widely used in folk medicine. Its medicinal properties make it possible to relieve pain in joints, restore appetite, and keep skin in good shape. And the vitamins in its composition compensate for the lack of useful elements to maintain the health of the whole organism.