MEDICINAL PLANTS

The hipocístide is a plant parasite that lives off the juices of other plants. If it lacks chlorophyll, can only grow under a dart. Its stem is from two to five inches tall, fleshy and covered with brown or reddish scales. The hipocístide is implanted in a root that is not their own and often choose it quite thick. It consists of two types of leaves: those between the flowers are small and its color is brown or tawny, the others are in the stem and its size is somewhat larger. One grows at the foot of thickets and jarillas of the Mediterranean part of the peninsula, and especially it can be found in the southern half of the country.

FLOWERING

The flowering plant is produced in the spring months. Its flowers are clustered in the thickets and saffron are if rockroses flowers are white, crimson and if flowers are pink in the thickets. The flowers, which form a heart, are of two kinds: males that are at the top and females that are at the bottom. They are divided into four round slices. The fruits are fleshy and have a viscosity colorless, transparent and very sticky. This viscosity has many seeds. The whole plant is harvested, usually in spring to be retained rather longer. It is advisable to use fresh otherwise it loses its effectiveness in applications.

APPLICATIONS

The composition of the hipocístide is quite unknown. In flowers contain mucilage. It also has astringent materials throughout the plant. Its greatest virtue lies in its astringent properties, and so is used to contain periods of diarrhea and heavy periods. Although not a widely studied plant is used for many years it was said to be able to comfort any human body part was affected by a wealth of humor, also thought it was a good remedy for poisons had been ingested.

ADMINISTRATION

Juice. Freshly pressed plant juice is derived collected. It takes a spoon, in an unspecified number. You should use this plant always fresh. The juice of the hipocístide, if not used fresh, can be exposed to the sun in pans for drying, the drying product that is stored in jars and wrapped in tin foil for later use when appropriate.
Cook. She puts the kettle and add 100 grams of the plant. Let it cool and take a cup after meals.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Raflesiaceas
HABITAT: About thickets in the Mediterranean area
FLOWERING: Spring
PART USED: Whole plant
CASTILIAN: Hipocisto
CATALAN: Citinet
GALICIAN: Hipocístide

USES

Strong astringent, Antidiarrheal Moderate, Mild Emenagogo.