MEDICINAL PLANTS

It is a tree about ten feet high with a crooked trunk and rather twisted and overall appearance reminiscent apple. The leaves have a long petiole, green on the upper and lower surface of the villus whiter it presents. Originates from the area of Iraq, where it grows spontaneously and gives a small fruit. Subsequently the Greeks brought their crops to Europe, which then spread through Italy and the rest of the Mediterranean basin. Already in the fifteenth century was introduced into central Europe, being then when the species is enhanced for larger fruits.

FLOWERING

Flowering occurs after replacing lost leaves during the winter, around April, although this is variable as it depends on the latitude where they grow. The flowers are large and yellow. Its fruit is known quince, which is lined by a tiny hairs of gray, or reddish hue when it loses the green and reach maturity. The quinces should take from the tree, discarding the fallen or those who are visibly bruised.

APPLICATIONS

In the buds and leaves are a glycoside decomposes giving hydrogen cyanide. In the fruit are a lot of sugar: they represent only 9% of total plant weight. We can also locate tartaric acid, malic acid and tannic acid, which confer-astringent been known since ancient times and is traditionally used to combat diarrhea. The seeds contain high amounts of mucilage (over 22%) in addition to amygdalin, a glycoside with which it must work with caution, because when you prepare a quince seed mucilage they should never be open, because amygdalin breaks down, resulting toxic hydrogen cyanide would do this mucilage, so its use is only valid for external route. In the event that the mucilage be prepared in position, will serve to relieve cough and treat respiratory and digestive.

ADMINISTRATION

Decoction. He added ten grams of seed to 300 milliliters of water, letting the mixture boil for fifteen minutes. The liquid thus obtained is used as a dermal inflammatory.
Syrup. Two quinces are cooked with skin and seeds in sugar water for 20 minutes, then proceeds to a filter and the fluid obtained is extracted tablespoon added to a half glass of water, used to relieve the throat by gargling practice.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Rosaceae
HABITAT: Andalusia
FLOWERING: March and April
PART USED: Fruit
CATALAN: Codonyer
BASQUE: Ira-sagarrondo
GALICIAN: Marmeleiro

USES

Antidiarrheal Strong, Astringency.