Useful properties of woodlice herb
Traditional healers have long discovered the medicinal properties of the familiar woodlice herb, and ancient recipes describe how the Slavs used the plant (wound healing, antiseptic). The plant has long been known in folk medicine and has a lot of beneficial effects, which cannot be quickly enumerated.
It contains numerous vitamins and minerals. The herb contains a lot of vitamins, plus various nutrients from organic acids to essential oils. It is used in the form of tincture, decoctions, juice, lotions and baths are made from the plant.
But it is always necessary to remember that woodlice greatly lowers blood pressure, dizziness and fainting may occur, therefore, it is not recommended for people with a tendency to low blood pressure.
This is what the average starfish looks like.
What does it look like?
Plant
Woodlice has a creeping, branched, cylindrical stem 10 - 30 cm in height, due to which moisture is constantly collected from the air into the plant.
The hairs covering the stem are arranged along one row. But in different internodes, the rows can go alternately. The root has a pivotal expanded form of short length. The plant can be easily pulled out of the ground. It grows in dense, enveloping rows, covering the available space.
Leaves
Small (no more than 2 cm in width and length), ovoid, pointed. The leaves located at the bottom of the plant tend to concentrate on its petioles. The upper leaves are sessile. In general, the leaf arrangement is opposite.
Flowers
They resemble small white stars (thanks to them, the plant was nicknamed the starlet). On long pedicels, bipartite petals are located, which are identical in size to the calyx, and sometimes they are much smaller than it. Most often, 5 stamens can be found on one flower., in rare cases, their number can be up to 10 pieces.
Ripening of stamens occurs in the following order: first, the process of growth of internal stamens is activated, then external, and finally stigmas ripen.
Among the stamens there is 1 pistil with 3 columns. In this case, the calyx is separate-leaved.
Fruit
Woodlice fruits resemble externally a small oblong box, in which there are 6 valves. The valves contain numerous kidney-shaped or round seeds that tolerate cold well and can survive the whole winter even under snow.
The use of woodlice herb in traditional medicine recipes
One of the unique properties of weeds is the ability to rejuvenate our body. From what diseases it just does not relieve: it treats SS, diabetes mellitus, calms the nerves, relieves diarrhea, is used in cosmetology. Woodlice has many useful properties:
Choleretic, diuretic
The same recipe is used as a diuretic, choleretic, it also helps with thyroid problems. Wood lice juice will help prevent these problems. It is best to use in courses - drink for 2 weeks, and rest for 2 weeks. The juice should be drunk 3 times a day before meals, 50 ml each 15 minutes. In winter, make infusions: a glass of boiling water on a large spoonful of dry herb. It is allowed to continue drinking intermittently for up to six months.
Expectorant (lung disease)
To help yourself in the treatment of lung diseases, it is necessary to brew tea from a weed plant. To prepare the product, you need to prepare dry wood lice - 2 teaspoons with 2 glasses of boiling water. The daily dose is 2 cups. If you don't like the taste, then a little honey will correct the situation.
Healing
Lotions can help wounds and ulcers heal. Another option for a therapeutic procedure is a bath. We need dry leaves of a string and a starlet. For 3 liters of boiling water, 1 glass of each of the herbs. Everything should be infused, and you can start the procedures.
For sight
An infusion is made from a star or juice is extracted, it all depends on eye problems. In case of inflammation, it is good to rinse by brewing a few teaspoons of the plant in a glass of boiling water. And the juice should be instilled into the eyes (with cataracts, for example).
For lactation
In order for the milk to arrive, it is necessary to prepare a remedy from honey and woodlice juice (all in equal quantities) and use it several times a day half an hour before meals. In order to avoid a sharp influx of milk, it is better to start with one teaspoon, gradually increasing the dosage to the table.
For stomach and intestinal pain
In these cases, a tincture is prepared from vodka (300 milliliters) and starfish (one large spoon). Everything should be infused in a place inaccessible to light for about 2 weeks. The agent must be taken before meals for half an hour, diluting 20 drops of the infused agent in a glass of water.
For cosmetic purposes
Our health is also our appearance. Mokrichnik is a raw material for masks, compresses and a face wash. If, for example, problem heels, then use a compress from a fresh plant, placing it in socks overnight.
For psoriasis
- A wonderful remedy for psoriasis is made from dry ground woodlice mixed with melted chicken fat or petroleum jelly. The resulting cream is used to lubricate the lesion sites.
- An infusion of vodka is made from raw woodlice: squeezed juice is mixed with high-quality vodka or moonshine in a ratio of 1 to 1. Drink the resulting product before each meal for 1 teaspoon.
Slimming
If there is a need to improve the body's metabolism, it is necessary to take baths from the infusion of starwort (a liter of boiling water for 2 teaspoons of raw materials). For weight loss, they use it by adding it to their usual dishes fresh (in soup, salad, etc.). Drink half a glass of juice before meals every day for about 2 months.
For injuries and sprains
Medium stellate is used for various injuries and sprains. To relieve severe pain, you need to collect fresh wood lice - one bunch, put on a transparent plastic bag. Apply the bundle to the affected area for 2 - 3 hours, securing it with a loose bandage to avoid slipping. It costs at least 3 times to perform such a procedure and the pain will go away.
Woodlice for joint pain
Woodlice treats painful joints due to its ability to relieve inflammation, reduce swelling and relieve pain. It strengthens the connective tissues.
The crushed grass is tied to sore legs and joints. Inside take alcohol tincture. Fold dry plants into a liter container and pour half a liter of vodka. Top up the remaining free volume with cool water. Insist for two weeks and take 10 ml before each meal.
From cracked heels
If various problems with heels often arise: cracking, calluses form and a feeling of fatigue simply arises, especially by the end of the day, our simpleton will help. To avoid such discomfort, take two full bags of mint wood lice.
Put a crushed bundle on top of the surface of the foot, put a plastic bag on the leg, and a tight-fitting sock on top. It is necessary to walk with such a compress at least 2 - 3 hours. The treatment procedure is done 5-6 times.After such compresses, the heels become healthy and soft, like a baby's.
Hand cream
The well-known medium starlet is used in the form of a cream. For cooking, you should grind the plant, mash it with your hands. In a container, crush it with a fork, add any vegetable oil to the resulting mass and mix everything well. Put the refrigerator for a week. So a stunning vitamin cream is ready, which will quickly heal chapped hands and rejuvenate the face.
From burns
Grandmothers say that our friend wood lice is an excellent folk remedy for burns. The recipe is as follows: 1 tablespoon, chopped leaves and stems, pour a full glass of boiling water, let stand for two hours. The resulting infusion must be carefully filtered and can be used.
Increases hemoglobin
The same recipe will help to cope with a naughty heart, and to cleanse the blood vessels. Chickweed increases hemoglobin. Therefore, it is often recommended for women during menstruation.
Baths for skin inflammations
Another valuable property of stellate is its excellent ability to relieve various inflammations. Baths are made with woodlice infusion. You need half a jar (0.5 l) of raw materials, fill with 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 15 - 20 minutes, covered with a towel, then pour into the bath. The recommended time for taking a SPA procedure is no longer than 20 minutes.
Babies from urinary incontinence
It also helps babies with bedwetting. In this case, use a decoction and fresh or steamed dried; put on the feet in socks for the whole night.
What are the sizes?
Depending on the size, wood lice are divided into small, large and giant.
Small
The sizes of such wood lice are from 1 mm to 1 cm. Their color depends on the habitat. It can be blue, pink, yellow, etc. The habitat of small woodlice is living quarters and damp places. They feed on plant waste, mold and moss. Absorb moisture with split tubes on the last pair of limbs. The secretions leave the body in the form of ammonia vapor due to the pores on the shell.
Large
Outwardly, they are no different from small ones. The only difference is their size, which can be up to 4 centimeters. One of these woodlice is the lingual.
Giant
Again, they are no different in appearance, except for their enormous size. In total, there are 9 species of giant woodlice. One of the largest of them is the sea cockroach, the size of which is 10 cm. The habitat of this woodlice is water. She belongs to the deep sea inhabitants. Deep-sea wood lice generally have a body length of 15 to 40 cm. The largest giant wood lice caught was the giant isopod Bathynomus giganteus, which was 76 cm long and weighed 1.7 kg.
Contraindications to the use of woodlice herb
There are few contraindications to the use of medium spider. The plant is able to lower blood pressure. In addition, a person is allergic to herbs, including woodlice. Before treatment, in this case, it is necessary to make a mini-test on the back of the forearm to check for an allergic reaction.
It is categorically not to be confused with the poisonous sister - the lanceolate starlet.
Here is her photo.
Otherwise, the reviews for the use of recipes with this plant are only positive.
Think before weeding out and throwing away the weed, how many nutrients it contains. It may well be useful to you. Medium starfish is a plant that you should be aware of, because it is not only a weed that everyone is in a hurry to get rid of. A familiar plant that has medicinal and health benefits.
Where does such a wonderful plant grow? There are many places in Russia where it is possible to find this herb. It is known not only as wood lice, but also as an average stellate. It grows in a wide variety of places - it can be trash bins, abandoned sites, and landfills.Due to the fact that it is found in such unpleasant places, it was considered a weed and harmful plant.
Video: wood lice herb medicinal properties
Detailed description of the appearance
Its appearance is rather unremarkable. The color can be white, gray, light brown or brown.
The body is oval in shape and tapers towards the bottom. Consists of segments and is covered with a shell. It has a strong chitinous membrane, on which there are many pores, because of this, the body does not retain moisture well. In the back of the body there are bifurcated tubes, it is through them that water enters the body. On the back, some species may have a pattern.
The body has a head and abdomen. Woodlice have 7 pairs of legs from two branches. One pair overlaps the other, and the outer branches create a solid body. And on the internal vapors there are respiratory outgrowths and they perform the function of gills.
The front legs have respiratory organs in the form of air cavitiesthat unfold from the outside. The first segment of the abdomen covers the head; the last segment has a deep notch.
There are two pairs of antennae on the head: antennae and antennae. The anterior pair is not fully developed. The second helps to orientate and perceive the world around. The eyes are located on the sides of the head. The upper jaws have no tentacles.
Reference! The chitinous shell, which covers the body, periodically becomes small and then molt occurs in woodlice. They dump it. There can be as many rulers as wood lice grows.
Use in the kitchen
- Stellate will benefit your health when consumed with your meals. It should be added to a salad, seasoned with sour cream or yogurt.
- You can improve your morning omelet by adding fresh woodlice leaves during cooking.
- Spices are made from herbs by combining it with horseradish and garlic.
- The herb is perfect for filling pies, along with other available herbs.
- Woodlice is also drunk instead of tea (a handful of herbs should be brewed like a regular tea leaves), but no more than 1 time per day.
Add it to various salads. It goes well with meat and fish dishes, and is added to cocktails with fruits. With imagination and desire, there are many recipes.
Chicken salad recipe
For a light vitamin salad, take a bunch of woodlice greens, green onions, young dandelion foliage. The dandelion leaves are scalded to get rid of the bitterness. Cut the whole grass, mix with chopped egg (2 pieces), and small pieces of soft cheese (like mozzarella). Pour everything with unsweetened yogurt or sour cream. Add salt and sugar to taste.
Woodlice herb with its medicinal properties should appear in the first-aid kit, cosmetic bag and in everyone's kitchen. After all, this budgetary tool can save you from many problems. It is also surprising that there are practically no contraindications for use. The main thing is to use the funds received in moderation and not to overdo it in the treatment. But before getting seriously carried away with this raw material, still consult your doctor.
On this I say goodbye to you. Until next time on the blog of Maryvlada. Be healthy!
Biting midge lifestyle and nutrition
The name directly indicates that insects love wet places. Indeed, all phases of biting midge development, except for adults, take place either in water bodies or in very moist soil.
On a note!
Representatives of this family of bloodsucking do not like running water.
They prefer to breed in reservoirs with standing or low-flowing water. Although the chances of meeting these insects are quite high near the river, since there are always small quiet backwaters in the river, where the current is very weak.
Like any representative of the "gnus complex", the biting midge has 4 phases of development: eggs, larva, pupa, imago. Egg development takes 3-6 days, larvae 2-3 weeks, pupae 3-7 days.Larvae of various species of this family can be predators or saprophages.
On a note!
Saprophage is an insect that feeds on rotting organic matter.
In accordance with their feeding habits, the larvae live either in water bodies or in abundantly moist soil. If the summer is warm and long, the biting insect can give 5 generations of new bloodsuckers.
Hunting techniques and biting midge prey
The main hunting time for biting midges is in the evening and morning. At this time, they are actively looking for prey. At other times, they have a wait-and-see tactic. Insects sit on leaves, waiting for prey. When a victim appears, part of the bloodsuckers takes off and pursues the food source, the other part tries to crawl from below along the legs.
The biting midge is to some extent a cannibal. Insects drink blood not only from mammals, but also from birds, lizards, snakes and butterflies (hemolymph serves as food). Mosquitoes and mosquitoes are not attacked by all types of "micro-mosquitoes". Those who have adapted to "rob their relatives" drink fresh blood directly from the stomachs of other bloodsuckers. When attacking a person, the taiga gnat, which includes biting midges, can kill its victim overnight.
On a note!
In the taiga, the number of bloodsuckers of this species attacking humans can reach 10,000 individuals in 5 minutes.
