Kalanchoe: benefits, harm, how to grow
The healing power of Kalanchoe has been known for a long time. The fleshy leaves of this plant were used by our grandmothers to treat wounds, swelling and varicose veins. Its juice is used to cure colds and improve immunity. But few people know that this plant can also be successfully used in cooking.
Benefits of Kalanchoe
The green part of Kalanchoe contains a rich supply of chlorophyll and vitamins. There is especially a lot in it vitamins A, C, E and all representatives of group B. This plant contains trace elements, fruit acids and phytoncides in sufficient quantities. Such an extensive composition allows Kalanchoe to be used for home cosmetic procedures, as well as for nutrition.
To prevent the unusual taste of Kalanchoe from being felt so strongly, use this plant together with cucumber to make salads. Kalanchoe and avocado, carrots, green peas and salad greens go well together. You can season this summer salad with lemon or lime juice and olive oil.
Kalanchoe is very useful for problematic oily skin. This plant copes with acne, inflammation and acne. Kalanchoe also has a beneficial effect on aging skin. The leaves of the plant are used to relieve swelling and treat varicose veins. The juice can cure skin diseases, gingivitis or stomatitis.
Harm to Kalanchoe
Like any plant, product or medicine, Kalanchoe has its own contraindications. If used incorrectly, this plant can cause harm.
- It may trigger an allergy attack, so it is best not to use it as nasal drops for sensitive people. But even in normal cases, try not to exceed the permissible dose - Kalanchoe is quite capable of burning the nasal mucosa.
- When eating food, do not combine dishes with Kalanchoe and dairy products. This may cause intestinal or stomach irritation.
- If you use Kalanchoe to treat abscesses or ulcers, then do not pierce them, so as not to provoke blood poisoning.
Application of Kalanchoe
You can make a mask from grated leaves and cucumber, which works well against acne and inflammation on oily facial skin. To do this, simply chop a cucumber and a few Kalanchoe leaves and mix. Then apply to your face for a quarter of an hour. If your skin is dry, then mix crushed Kalanchoe leaves with olive oil. For aging and aging skin, a mask made from mashed potatoes with crushed Kalanchoe leaves is very useful.
To treat varicose veins, use a tincture of Kalanchoe in alcohol. You can buy it at the pharmacy or prepare it yourself by crushing the leaves of the plant and pouring them with a bottle of vodka. It is necessary to insist for 10 days, periodically shaking the container. Wipe your feet with the tincture from bottom to top, starting from the very feet. In just a few minutes you will notice that the pain in your legs begins to subside. The course of treatment should last at least four months.
Kalanchoe juice is useful for healing runny nose, sore throats or for various diseases of the oral cavity. Remember that the juice of this plant is caustic, so it is best to dilute it with water so as not to burn the mucous membranes.
The Kalanchoe plant is used to remove some parasites, settled in your intestines. To do this, prepare a medicinal mixture of 150 g of plant juice, 350 g of Cahors and 250 g of honey. Let the composition brew for 5 days in a dark place, and then consume three times a day a few minutes before meals.
Kalanchoe juice perfectly heals wounds, including purulent ones. For treatment, bandages made of gauze soaked in plant juice and irrigation of the wound are used. If the wound festers, then an antibiotic is added to the juice from the leaves of Kalanchoe.
How to grow Kalanchoe
Growing this useful plant is not difficult. It is very unpretentious and does not require any special conditions. Any flower pot of suitable size will be useful for planting Kalanchoe. Be sure to add a layer of expanded clay to the bottom of the pot for drainage. Use a mixture of soil and sand as planting soil. After planting, place the plant in a well-lit place - a sunny windowsill, balcony or loggia.
Kalanchoe does not require abundant watering. This must be done no earlier than the top layer of soil in the pot has dried. Don't use too much water for irrigation. It should not leak into the pan. Otherwise, you expose the Kalanchoe roots to the risk of rotting.
The most favorable conditions for Kalanchoe are about 20 degrees indoors and regular ventilation. Every year the plant needs to be fed with succulent fertilizers. It is best to fertilize in the summer.
