Spanish moss is a common lichen belonging to the Bromeliad family. It contains a lot of useful components, so this plant has long been used to treat people. It can be found in pine forests and in the tropics.
Origin history
The homeland of this plant is not Spain at all. Spanish moss (photo in the article) came to Europe from South and Central America. It got its name thanks to the thick beard of the Spanish colonialists. The Indians of America, who never wore a beard, were amazed to see a long shoot on the face of the Spaniards. With them, she immediately began to be associated with a long, soft-falling moss growing in trees.
A beautiful Native American legend is also associated with this plant. According to legend, Spanish moss is nothing more than the hair of a beautiful girl. After her death, the inconsolable groom cut off the long black braids of his beloved and hung them on the trees. Over time, the hair turned gray and turned into moss. It is noteworthy that in the United States, in the homeland of this plant, Spanish bearded moss is called "Louisiana".
Description of appearance
He has thin threadlike stems with small leaflets in the form of spikes. They are completely covered with scales that are used to nourish the plant. As they grow, the old stems gradually die off. They form long whitish rags resembling gray beards. Outwardly, this plant looks unusual and bewitching. Its roots, it is fixed to the trunks of trees, from which it receives part of the nutrition. Favorite trees are cypress and oak.
These plants reproduce mainly in the vegetative way, although they form seeds in boxes. With the help of tillandsia (the so-called Spanish moss) on trees, you can make beautiful compositions in the garden or in the home greenhouse. Growing it is not so difficult. He loves regular watering and spraying. And this plant is bathed in the bathroom no more than once every seven days. Propagate it using lateral shoots or seeds. In winter, this plant is in hibernation.
It is often affected by a fungus or aphid. But in general, this plant can be considered resistant to disease. Spanish moss is an excellent material for stuffing pillows or mattresses. And with the dry stems of this plant, Voodoo dolls were always stuffed.
Chemical composition
The composition of this amazing plant contains the following substances:
- Vitamins representing group B: B1 and B12.
- A sufficiently large number of antioxidant vitamins - A and C.
- Acids inherent in all lichens: protolichesteric, usnic and lichesteric.
- About three percent of the total mass is the substance cetrarin. This element has healing properties, due to which tillandsia has long been used in traditional medicine.
- The composition of this plant also contains such an important trace element as iodine, due to which Spanish moss has pronounced wound healing properties.
- In addition, it is a source of elements such as zinc, copper, chromium and sodium.
- About eighty percent are plant carbohydrates, isolenicin and lichenin.
- There are a lot of sugar and wax in tillandsia.
- And also this plant contains a fairly large amount of folic acid.
All of these components are of particular value to human health.
Therapeutic action
Moss has the following properties:
- He proved to be an excellent laxative, which is why it is used in folk medicine for the preparation of drugs for constipation.
- Based on it, tinctures are made, which are subsequently used for wound healing and diaper rash.
- Tillandsia broth also has a diuretic property. It perfectly tones the body and cleans it of toxins.
- It has Spanish moss and anti-inflammatory properties.
He is able to cope with bronchitis, as well as smoker's cough, despite the fact that this symptom is quite difficult to treat. In addition, people who have experienced a decoction of this plant, were able to calmly quit smoking.
Cough treatment
In order to prepare the drug, pour dry raw materials into the container and pour hot milk. The ratio of the components is usually standard and amounts to one tablespoon of the dry parts of the plant per two hundred milliliters of liquid.
You can prepare the product in milk in another way. The raw material is poured with cold milk and simmered over low heat for thirty minutes. Thus, raw materials will have more opportunities to transfer their beneficial components to milk broth. Use it throughout the day in an amount not exceeding one hundred milliliters. It is especially recommended to drink this remedy before going to bed.
Use in cosmetology
Means based on this plant relieve dandruff, heal boils, relieve rosacea. A ready-made broth is rubbed on the skin of the face twice a day. Thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties, the drug copes with acne and inflamed acne. Moreover, to get rid of this cosmetic problem, a decoction is used not only externally, but also inward. Often on the Internet you can find advice on the use of tillandsia in cosmetology. If you use moss regularly, then no problems with the skin of the face and body will arise.
Gastrointestinal diseases
The mucus, which is part of this plant, envelops the walls of the stomach and heals them. Tea from it can be used to treat gastritis and stomach ulcers. The medicine is made as follows: flax seeds, moss and crushed roots of the marshmallow grass are taken in equal parts. Pour dry mixture with boiling water and drink like tea during the day.
From tuberculosis and whooping cough
Agents based on this plant have long been used to treat tuberculosis. The broth is prepared in a water bath or over low heat. Take this tool dosed, in a small amount.
In the treatment of whooping cough, in addition to this plant, thyme was also taken. Both components were brewed in boiled water and taken in small quantities throughout the day.
Alcohol tincture
For its preparation use medical alcohol diluted with water in a ratio of one to one, and Spanish moss. The healing properties of this plant go into tincture. After the plant is infused, the alcohol is filtered through double gauze and poured into a separate container. Use tincture in the usual way: two to three tablespoons a day half an hour before meals. It perfectly treats diarrhea and loss of strength, accompanied by loss of appetite. And also heals a sick stomach well.
Contraindications
This plant is not used for complex autoimmune diseases. Despite the anti-inflammatory properties, it is undesirable to use Spanish moss at high temperatures (more than 39 degrees). During the acute stage of gastritis or cholecystitis, the use of funds based on this plant should be discarded. In addition, large quantities of Spanish moss can cause constipation. Usually when using this plant side effects do not occur. Exceptions to the rules are people with individual intolerance. Thus, Spanish moss, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which have been practically studied, can bring obvious benefits to human health.