MISTLETOE AND ITS PROPERTIES

Mistletoe is the common name of several plants, but we will speak in particular of the white mistletoe, since it possesses medicinal properties. The Mistletoe is a plant considered magical for the Celts. It was considered as a plant capable of driving away evil spirits.

Currently some of this magic is still conserved this plant, since kissing under a crown of a mistletoe plant is considered to retain love.

The white mistletoe is a medicinal plant that bears the scientific name Viscum Album L. It is one of the medicinal plants belonging to the family Santalaceae. You can find the white mistletoe with the common names of: alloy, mistletoe, lyria and ringworm. White mistletoe is one of the plants that possesses medicinal properties, since it contains viscotoxin.

The White Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic medicinal plant, as it grows over the branches of various types of trees. These medicinal plants can reach up to a meter and their stems are always yellow-green, up to 100 cm. and well articulated.

The flowers of this medicinal plant are of both sexes, and its fruit is a berry of 6 to 10 mm., Which when mature is whitish and contains seeds inside. These seeds are very important for these medicinal plants as they reproduce through them, and these seeds are generally transported by birds.

Medicinal Properties of the White Mistletoe

This medicinal plant in internal uses is used to lower blood pressure, heart rate, diuretic, decrease anxiety and promote sleep.

It is advisable to use these medicinal plants in low doses since otherwise they can be toxic. In external uses this medicinal plant is used to treat arthritis, ulcers in the legs, varicose veins, and rheumatism.

PASSIONFLOWER AND ITS PROPERTIES

Passionflower or also known as passion flower is a climbing vine native to tropical regions of South America but also in the Mediterranean. Its scientific name is Passiflora incarnata and belongs to the family of Passifloraceae. Passionflower flowers are large and pretty so it is very used to decorate this plant's gardens. But in addition the fruit of this plant is the famous and rich fruit of passion fruit.

Medicinal properties:

The leaves and flowers are the parts containing active ingredients and therefore used for medicinal purposes. The fruit has nutritional qualities but is not usually used for curative purposes. But passionflower also has sedative, soothing, antispasmodic, muscle relaxant properties. Passionflower is effective in treating conditions such as anxiety attacks, insomnia, depression, nervous problems, nervousness, stress, premenstrual syndrome symptoms, menopause-related ailments, thyroid disorders, hypertension, gastroduodenal ulcers, circulation problems. It also helps reduce blood pressure, wounds, burns, muscle contractures, tachycardia, withdrawal symptoms in alcohol and drug cases, fatigue, asthma.

Infusion: In order to take advantage of the benefits of this plant you can make an infusion with 2 teaspoons of the plant per cup of boiling water. Leave for 5 minutes in the boiling water to cover the container, it can be sweetened with honey. It is recommended to drink a cup before going to sleep to achieve relaxation, when you are in a nervous breakdown or have unpleasant symptoms and improve them.

Commercial products: With the passionflower different commercial products are prepared like shampoo, cosmetics, among others.

Passionflower contains some substances with some level of toxicity and should be used with caution to avoid negative effects on health. Treatment with this plant should not be extensive. The consumption of this plant is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women. Before starting a treatment with passionflower it is advisable to consult the doctor to avoid negative effects on health due to poor dosage administration. Passionflower is a really useful plant to solve certain conditions but care must be taken so that it does not generate alterations in health.

THE BEET HAS PROPERTIES KNOW EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR BODY

Red beet is a very striking vegetable because of its color and sweet taste. The scientific name is Beta vulgaris and belongs to the Amarantáceas family. This plant is well known all over the world but is not so used in the gastronomy today. The leaves and roots of beets are edible parts but also contain substances with nutritional benefits but also medicinal.

Some of the benefits of beets is that it helps prevent and treat heart disease, cancer and constipation, it brings a lot of iron to the body so its consumption is highly recommended to pregnant and menstruating women, anemia, states of weakness , hypertension, gout.

It is useful for people with stomach disorders, heartburn, gas, fluid retention stones in the kidneys, improves liver function and is very good in cases of bladder infections and urinary system.

This vegetable has rejuvenating qualities for the skin, nails, hair but also the bones and arteries. It also prevents states of chronic moodiness and symptoms of depression by having among its components the hormone called dopamine. It also has antioxidant qualities so they delay the action of free radicals that are responsible for aging.

Beets can be eaten raw or cooked, but when in the fire, it loses important substances and vitamins so it is better to eat it raw because it keeps all its active ingredients. You can eat in salads or prepare juices to drink alone or with other vegetables to drink. The reddish color of the beet after a while of ingesting them will stain the urine of our body of this color but do not have to be scared is natural and normal is only a sign that its positive substances are in our organism.

There are no relevant contraindications in any person only if you are with diarrhea it is not convenient to eat this vegetable because of its laxative effect may increase these symptoms. Children, pregnant and lactating women can consume it without problems. If we have doubts about the use of red beet with medicinal uses we should consult the doctor.

RADISH AND ITS PROPERTIES

The scientific name of the Radish is Raphanus sativus, and belongs to the Brassicaceae family of plants. The stem of this herb is thick at the base. The root forms a tuber of color that can vary between white, red, yellow and sometimes black, depending on what variety is involved. This medicinal plant can measure up to 60 cm. of height. Radish leaves are large and rough to the touch.

The flowers of this medicinal plant are violet, pink to white and have a kind of channels like darker veins. Radish contains great wealth in vitamins C, P, and of group B It also has rafanol, magnesium, sulfur, iodine salts. It is used as a digestive and appetizer.

It is a hepatoprotector, used in cases of hepatitis. It also contains antiseptic properties, is used in cases of asthma, cough, and bronchitis. Radish stimulates the production of bile, and is beneficial in cases of inflammation of the gallbladder, and to eliminate gallstones. It can be consumed raw in salads, conserving all its medicinal properties.

Recipes from this medicinal plant:

Juice: Drink a spoonful of radish juice dissolved in a little water or milk, 30 minutes before the main meals of the day. It is used as a diuretic and hepatoprotective.

Syrup: You take 4 tablespoons a day; for slow digestions, meteorisms and inappetence; even gives good results in cases of irritating cough, bronchitis and asthma.

Fluid Extract: Take 30 drops of Raphanus sativus 3 times a day, in a glass of water before each meal. Indicated in cases of rheumatism, biliary disorders and hepatitis.