Sphagnum or peat moss is a perennial marsh plant with more than 300 varieties. Mostly it is found in the Northern Hemisphere - in forests and tundra. In the Southern hemisphere, it can be found high in the mountains.
The main feature of peat moss is that it almost completely lacks the root system. And when the lower part of plants dies, it turns into peat. The upper one continues to grow and develop.
Swamp moss sphagnum - three main properties
This surprising plant has no less amazing properties, among which one wants to highlight the three most striking:
- Striking hygroscopicity , that is, the ability to absorb moisture. Approximately in the proportion of 6 to 1, that is 6 parts of water per 1 part of its own weight. This is its property began to actively use the florists, adding live sphagnum moss to the composition of the soil mixture. It perfectly maintain the moisture of the soil, without overmoistening it.
- Breathability . This useful property also helps in growing other plants. Hollow cells in the stems and leaves of moss make the soil loose and light. The root system of house colors feels very comfortable in such an environment.
- Antifungal and antibacterial properties of moss make the use of peat sphagnum ideal for creating soil mixtures for plant propagation. The percentage of rotting cuttings in it is simply meager. In addition, people have learned these disinfecting properties for burns, cuts, frostbite in the 11th century. And after ten centuries, the therapeutic properties of sphagnum are still used in medicine, for example, in the manufacture of sphagnum gauze tampons.
Household use of peat moss
At home, you can quite successfully use the beneficial healing properties of marsh moss. For example, take peat baths. To do this, you need to collect moss on the marsh, rinse, cut and pour hot water (70 ° C), cool and pour the infusion into the bathroom. To enhance the effect, after taking a bath you need to wrap yourself in a warm dressing gown or lie down under a blanket.
Such procedures are useful as prevention of any skin bacteriological diseases associated with the activity of microorganisms, including staphylococci.
Also, peat water can wash the wounds. To do this, you just need to squeeze the water out of the moss collected in the marsh or apply the moss itself.
If you have a foot fungus, you can make insoles of their sphagnum. Just put a little dried moss in the shoes - it will help to get rid of increased sweating, unpleasant odor and fungus.