MEDICINAL PLANTS

The cabbage is a biennial plant or multi-annual, hairless and glaucous green, with hard and almost woody stem aging, large leaves, somewhat fleshy, more or less divided border. Flowers large, yellow or white, are placed in little tight terminal clusters. The fruits are elongated, with plump vanilla and vein in prominence along each side, ending in a short beak. The seeds are completely smooth and brown. It grows wild in all European Atlantic coast, France, Britain, Ireland, etc.. And in the Mediterranean. There is also a variety grown in gardens as an edible plant is very tasty.

FLOWERING

The cabbage blooms from March or April onwards. This time varies greatly because there are hundreds of varieties grown commercially, so there is cabbage or kale, collards Galicia, the mountain, the gypsies, greens, kale, etc.., Stems more or less prolonged and leaflets, without cabbage, the leaves dented as the rim and Breton, forming a tight little cabbage, also cabbage, in which the leaves are applied over one another head of cabbage. In short, there are many varieties of this exquisite plant and therefore can not give an exact time of flowering. The question that concerns for medicinal purposes-and that it's edible, the leaves of the fresh plant.

APPLICATIONS

Cabbage contains significant amounts of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. It is also quite rich in organic sulfur and phosphoric acid and the seeds can find up to a third of its weight in oil and small amounts of essence. It is mainly used against scurvy, by a large amount of available vitamin C in fresh plant if eaten raw. The juice of freshly picked cabbage leaves crushing and straining the juice (pre-sweetened with sugar) is estimated to be a good remedy for bronchial colds. Also externally, is an effective remedy and healing. Man has eaten cabbage since time immemorial to cure many ills. Even the Greeks attributed the virtue of increasing breast milk in the rearing of infants. Among the Romans it was widely employed as an antidote to such well-known substances such as alcohol. These examples are enough to confirm that the cabbage has been, is and will appeal not only a medicinal remedy but also a delicious food with plenty of dishes to prepare for all tastes.

ADMINISTRATION

Juice. As we discussed in the previous section, the fresh juice is a rich source of vitamin C.
For external use. The fresh leaves, previously pressed with a rolling pin, apply directly on the sores, making them heal quickly.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Crucifer
HABITAT: Rocks on the Atlantic coast
FLOWERING: March and April
PART USED: Sheets of fresh plant
CASTILIAN: Col
CATALAN: Col
BASQUE: Aza, axaborr
GALICIAN: Couve

USES

Fort antiscorbutic, Moderate Vulnerary, Healing Moderate.