Today we will introduce you to an agave family cactus that grows naturally in the arid mountains of Mexico. This is an American agave. In wild form, it is found in North Africa, southern Europe, and southeast Asia. We will try to talk about what American agave is. And its application in traditional and traditional medicine, we also consider that (we are sure of this) for many will seem interesting.
Plant description
This perennial is a herbaceous plant with bluish-green large, thick, juicy leaves that collect in a basal rosette. At first glance, American agave is very similar to aloe. But looking closely, you will see that her leaves are much wider.
American agave plant belongs to monocarpics. This is the name of the species of plants that bear fruit and bloom once during their long life, after which they die. American Agave has a well-developed, fairly powerful root system. Both in natural conditions and in artificial cultivation in the soil, it lives 10-15 years. If the plant is a tub culture and develops in rooms and greenhouses, then its life span reaches twenty, and in some cases thirty years.
In the last year of its life, a plant expels a flower arrow, without leaves, up to eight meters long, from the center of the outlet. It is crowned with a huge panicle inflorescence, in which there are several thousand yellowish flowers. They are large, 9 cm long. The flower has a six-membered, corolla perianth with six stamens and a pestle.
American agave flower in the Russian climate blooms in late May. This process lasts about three weeks.
Agave propagated by seeds and root processes. At a temperature of 25 ° C, the seeds will germinate after 7 days. The plant loves light, this must be considered when breeding a flower at home.
The birthplace of agave is Mexico. Under natural conditions, plants reach a height of 10 meters and 4 meters in diameter. In our country, agave in open ground can be found in the Crimea, and in other regions it is grown as a houseplant. The fleshy, succulent leaves of American agave contain essential oils, resins and aloins.
Application
Today, folk doctors (as, indeed, representatives of traditional medicine) are well aware of agave. Description, application of its medicinal properties can be found in many phytotherapeutic and medical reference books.
Agave medicines have a laxative effect on the human body. The laxative effect usually occurs 10-12 hours after taking the drug. In addition, drugs created on the basis of agave have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, antipyretic effect. Such funds disinfect, remove excess fluid from the body, help speed up metabolism, normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and gall bladder. Cut agave leaves can be used as compresses for abscesses, wounds and inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Agave american: treatment
For internal use, cut agave leaves are crushed and insisted on water. It is done like this. Cut a medium-sized leaf from agave, chop it and fill it with a glass of water. After six hours, strain the composition through cheesecloth. As a laxative, take one tablespoon (preferably before meals) three times a day.
Improving appetite
Everyone who suffers from a lack of appetite can try agave juice freshly squeezed from the leaves. It should be taken 5-10 ml about 30 minutes before a meal.
Treatment of the digestive tract
Agave juice is successfully used as an additional tool in the treatment of gastric ulcers, chronic gastritis, accompanied by persistent constipation, a condition after suffering dysentery, as a means of increasing the body's resistance to various infections. It is worth warning our readers: do not self-medicate! Before taking juice, consult your doctor.
Liver treatment
For this, powder is used. Grind and dry the agave leaf, air dry, but in a shaded place. Then crush it and sift it. Use 0.2 g (at the tip of a knife) three times a day.
Abscesses and inflammation
When American agave reaches the age of three years, it can be used freshly externally in the form of compresses for inflammation of the sciatic nerve, abscesses, long-healing wounds. To do this, cut the sheet, cut it lengthwise, attach it to the sore spot with the inside.
It should be noted that sometimes in the treatment of sciatica with agave leaves, some patients with very sensitive skin experience intense heat and even pain. Doctors say that you should not be afraid of such a reaction, but it is better to stop treatment and consult a doctor in case of unpleasant sensations.
Burns, eye diseases
In case of burns, inflammation of the eyes, and even with a beginning cataract, non-healing wounds and ulcers, juice from agave leaves in the form of lotions is used. From prepared from diluted with boiled water juice in a ratio of 1:10.
Skin Disease Treatment
For the prevention, as well as the treatment of skin pathologies, in case of anemia and radiation sickness, an emulsion from agave juice is used. Make an infusion of castor or eucalyptus oils, maintain it for 12 days in the dark at a temperature of +8 degrees. The composition is applied to damaged areas of the skin three times a day with a thin layer. Can be used as compresses.
Agave American: home care
If you decide to grow this perennial at home, then first of all choose a well-lit, sunny place for a flower. Agave responds well to the sun. In the room where the plant will live, the temperature should be within + 18 … +28 degrees. In summer, the flower can be planted in the open ground. But remember that a temperature below +10 degrees is fatal for this plant.
Watering
This unpretentious plant is an American agave. Caring for it comes down to a rather rare watering and periodic top dressing with nutrients.
Agave should not be watered very often. One, a maximum of two times a week for her will be quite enough. In winter, experienced gardeners recommend reducing watering to once a month. Water stagnant in the pot can cause root decay and plant death. Make sure that during irrigation moisture does not get into the center of the outlet.
Agave Diseases and Treatment
In spring, the flower can be fed with cactus mixtures containing a small amount of nitrogen. In winter, rid the plant of all fertilizers.
If the agave got sick or was attacked by pests, take emergency measures, you can’t hesitate, because your flower can die very quickly.
If scabs, thrips hit him, treat the succulent with alcohol, vodka or beer. Such a popular method of treatment gives a good result, but only the Aktellik solution will save the agave if the lesion becomes widespread. For prevention, wipe the leaves with water and garlic or a soap solution.
