The cotton plant is a plant, scientifically known as Gossypium herbaceumwhich has antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, analgesic properties, antimicrobial, hemostatic and healing-stimulating properties, being used to relieve pain, heal wounds and combat rheumatism.
However, the cotton plant, in men, can reduce the amount of sperm produced, as well as affect women’s fertility. For this reason, this plant should not be used without guidance from a healthcare professional, especially during pregnancy, as it can cause malformations in the baby.
The cotton plant can be consumed through its leaves, in the form of tea or tincture and its consumption should be to complement the treatment indicated by the doctor.
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The main benefits of the cotton plant are:
1. Helps relieve pain
The cotton plant has analgesic properties, which can be useful in relieving headaches, stomach pains or joint pains, and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation in the joint, which helps to reduce pain and discomfort.
2. Promotes wound healing
Due to its properties, cotton can be used to promote wound healing, as it is anti-inflammatory, allowing to reduce swelling and redness at the wound site.
Furthermore, cotton has antimicrobial properties that prevent the wound from becoming infected, making it easier to treat and, as it is a natural hemostatic, it helps to stop bleeding, accelerating the healing process.
3. Regulates blood sugar levels
Cotton helps regulate blood sugar levels because it is capable of increasing the production of insulin, which is the hormone produced in the pancreas when the amount of circulating sugar is very high and is responsible for taking sugar out of the blood and into the interior. of the cells. Thus, by increasing insulin levels, it is possible to control blood glucose. Furthermore, some studies indicate that cotton is also antidiabetic, helping to prevent the onset of diabetes.
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4. Fights rheumatism
Cotton has anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to help treat rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, as it helps reduce signs of inflammation, such as pain and swelling in the joints, reducing restriction of the movements.
Furthermore, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces inflammation in bones and joints, reducing swelling and pain.
5. Prevents heart disease
Cotton can prevent heart disease as it contains flavonoids, with antioxidant properties, which regulate bad cholesterol and total cholesterol levels, preventing the formation of fatty plaques in vessels and promoting adequate blood circulation.
6. Helps with depression
The cotton plant has antidepressant properties, which allow it to increase the amount of neurotransmitters that improve mood, and can be used to treat depression or be consumed when a person feels sad, reducing the feeling of sadness and emptiness and giving a feeling of well-being. .
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7. Increases breast milk production
Cotton plant, in the form of a tincture, is a galactagogue, that is, it stimulates the production of breast milk by the mammary glands, and can be used by mothers to stimulate and increase the production of breast milk during breastfeeding. Find out more about cotton dye.
How to make cotton leaf tea
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Cotton tea is an excellent way to get all the benefits of the cotton plant.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of cotton leaves;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation mode:
Place two tablespoons of cotton leaves in a liter of water, boil for 10 minutes, strain and drink warm up to 3 times a day.
Possible side effects
One of the side effects that the cotton plant can have is the decrease in sperm production in men, reducing their fertility.
On the other hand, cotton plants in pregnant women can cause malformations in the baby and miscarriage.
Who shouldn’t use
Cottonseed should not be consumed by pregnant women, as it can cause malformations in the baby and, in some cases, spontaneous abortion.
Bibliography
- FLORIEN. Cotton. Available at: <http://florien.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ALGODOEIRO.pdf>. Accessed on February 17, 2021
- REDDY, Narahari; RAJU, Akondi. Antiarthritic and antioxidant activities of Gossypium herbaceum plant (cotton plant) leaves. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE. 1-7, 2018
- CASALI, Jucileia; PEREIRA, Renata. USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN LACTATION: A DISCUSSION ABOUT SAFETY. ENCYCLOPEDIA BIOSPHERA, Scientific Center Know. 16. 29; 2156-2173, 2019
- LIBRARY. ESTIMATION OF TOTAL PHENOL AND FLAVONOIDS CONTENTS OF GOSSYPIUM HERBACEUM. 2018. Disponível em: <https://1library.net/document/y8gmm9rz-estimation-total-phenol-flavonoids-contents-gossypium-herbaceum.html>. Acesso em 17 fev 2021
- AL-SNAFI, Ali. Chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Gossypium herbaceum and Gossypium hirsutum . Journal Of Pharmacy. 8. 5; 64-80, 2018