MEDICINAL PLANTS

The barrel cactus is a plant that only lasts a year, but take a few stems that can reach three feet in height if ground conditions are good. The leaves are deeply divided, they are hairless and is acute, as the whole plant. The flowers are forming umbels, which is the characteristic arrangement of flowers in this family are very leafy umbels which form large floral bouquets. The fruit is very small, ovoid and laterally compressed. This beautiful grass grows in uncultivated land, fallow and stubble of almost the entire peninsula, especially in the area of Andalusia.

FLOWERING

It flowers from June onwards and the fruits ripen in summer. These small fruits are of interest for its medicinal properties, although the herb most used are the damping off of the inflorescence, very much appreciated as toothpicks. Undoubtedly, this is not a medical use, but once recommended the use of these sticks to keep the teeth and keep it clean. Currently, the preferred use of dental floss to clean interdental spaces.

APPLICATIONS

The fruits of this plant we can find various products with very interesting properties: the most notable are the group of furanocromonas like Quelina and visnagina. There are also derivatives of these compounds, such as quelinona and visnaginona. The main virtue of the Quelina is to be a potent vasodilator, especially bronchial and coronary level, this property is exploited in many diseases, especially those related to respiratory and heart. Thus people suffering from asthma often benefit from using this plant. This disease is characterized in that there is a narrowing of certain respiratory tract, resulting in respiratory failure. The treatment to follow is to administer a bronchodilator to allow air to enter. This herb is also often used as a diuretic, and to facilitate the removal of urinary tract stones. Are not usually bear fruit in the preparation of master formulas, but Quelina is extracted and then works with her, as it is a very active substance should be handled with care and under the supervision of medical staff.

ADMINISTRATION

In the pharmaceutical industry are used properly purified compounds. For home infusion can be prepared which are shown below:
Infusion. To be prepared from the fruits. Are added 30 g. Fruit to a quart of boiling water, cooled and strained. This infusion can take up to 3 cups a day.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Umbelliferae
HABITAT: Uncultivated fields of Andalusia
FLOWERING: June
PART USED: Fruits
CATALAN: Escuradents
BASQUE: Biznaga
GALICIAN: Paliteira

USES

Strong vasodilator, Moderate antiasthmatic, Mild cough.