Alocasia - medicinal properties

Alocasia (arma) is an evergreen tropical plant with large thyroid leaves on long cuttings, which is mainly grown as decorative, but also has medicinal properties. As an indoor plant, alocasia is the most common, with a fleshy root slightly resembling the root of ginseng.

Chemical composition of alocacia

Officially, alocasia enters the list of medicinal plants only in some countries where it grows in natural conditions, so its composition is not very well studied in general. It is known that poisonous substances are present in this plant, first of all, the mercuric chloride and hydrocyanic acid.

Healing properties of the plant are due to the content of a number of biologically active substances in alocasia:

• flavonoids (quercetin, hyperoside, lycouroside);
• coumarins;
• alkaloids, one of which is close in composition to quinine.

It also found:

• tannic and anthracene derivatives;
• saponins;
• cardiac glycosides.

Healing properties of coarse root alocacia

The main medicinal properties of alocacia include several main points:

1. Immunomodulator - helps to increase the protective properties of the body, resistance to diseases (including cancer).
2. Strong biogenic stimulant, affecting the regenerative mechanism.
3. Suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria and some fungi.
4. Has anti-inflammatory effect, is used in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis.
5. Has analgesic effect when rubbed into the skin with bruises, injuries, osteochondrosis.

The healing properties of alocasia in folk medicine are used to treat:

• polyarthritis;
• osteochondrosis;
• diseases of the thyroid gland;
• thrombophlebitis;
• inflammatory diseases of muscles;
• gout .

In traditional Chinese medicine, alocasia has long been used to treat cancers, as well as stomach pain and toothache, with pneumonia.

Preparation and use of drugs from alocasia

Since the plant is sufficiently poisonous, the preparation of preparations from it requires compliance with certain rules:

1. For medicinal purposes, leaves are taken that have already begun to die.
2. Cut and recycle raw materials in gloves, avoiding the ingress of fresh juice to the skin.
3. The finished product should be stored in a carefully closed container, separate from food.
4. In fresh form, alocasia is not used, only alcohol tinctures, water infusions, compresses and ointments.

Alcoholation alcohol tincture

For cooking tincture:

1. One shredded plant leaf is filled with 0.5 liters of 40% alcohol (vodka without impurities).
2. Insist two weeks in a dark cool place.

External tincture is used in undiluted form. The napkin moistened in the tincture is applied to the sore spot for up to one hour, once a day for 7-10 days.

For ingestion, a scheme is used in which to take infusion begin with 1 drop per day, diluted in a tablespoon of water, every day increasing the amount by one drop, to 25-30 drops per reception. Then move on the reverse scheme, gradually reducing the number of drops.

To prepare the ointment, alcoholic tincture of alocasia is mixed with a fatty base (smalets, petrolatum, etc.) in a 1: 4 ratio. This ointment is used to treat trophic ulcers, with arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatic pain.

Water infusion of alocacia

When heated, alocasia loses its useful properties, so the infusion is prepared in a cold way:

1. The crushed plant leaf is poured with chilled boiled water in a ratio of 1:10.
2. Insist during the day.

Ready infusion stored for no more than a day, used for compresses, lotions, rinses for skin diseases.

At the slightest sign of allergy or poisoning, treatment with alocasia should be stopped immediately.