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At Ecologista Verde we bring you information about one of the most used medicinal plants in Latin America: the matico. It is also known as "soldier weed”, Because it was formerly used to help stop bleeding on the battlefront. It is a plant from Chile, Argentina and Peru, although it is currently found in more places naturally.
In this article we will explain what is the matico plant for, its properties, benefits and contraindications. So, if you want to know more about this plant, which is one of the most used and known in natural medicine, as well as about its possible preparations and uses, we encourage you to take a look at the information that is offered to continuation.
How is the matico plant
The matico plant, commonly known as soldier's herb and whose scientific name is Buddleja globosa, is a medicinal plant native to Latin America and bush type with great applications in natural medicine. It usually reaches about 4 meters high and has leaves that are lanceolate and that grow opposite each other. These are up to 25 cm long, have a rough touch and a dark green color on their surface and lighter on the back.
As for its flowers, they appear in tubular inflorescences and have a very characteristic intense yellow color and are very aromatic. They usually bloom in winter, between the months of November and January.
Properties of the matico plant
Thanks to its active principles, among the main properties of the matico the following stand out:
- Healing.
- Antihemorrhagic.
- Digestive
- Gastroprotective.
- Astringent.
- Purifying.
- Diuretic
- Painkiller
- Pain relieving.
- Cough suppressant.
- Bactericidal or antibacterial.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Antioxidant
For all these properties, this American plant is widely used in natural medicine. It is used both to prevent and to alleviate conditions and diseases related to the skin, the respiratory system and the digestive system.
What is matico for - benefits
The matico is a plant widely used in the traditional medicine from Latin America and it has become very famous, in recent years, thanks to its ability to successfully treat different conditions: from skin problems or digestive discomfort to respiratory disorders and dental problems. Next, we highlight the main benefits of the matico plant:
Matico for respiratory problems
The matico plant has antitussive, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, it is used in treatments against conditions such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and also to prevent and treat common colds.
Benefits of the matico plant for the skin
This type of plant contains active principles that contribute to the rapid healing of minor infections and wound healing. It is also effective as a soothing against stings. In addition, the benefits against other skin diseases or symptoms such as wounds, ulcers and even acne are known, since its healing, anti-inflammatory, soothing and antibacterial properties act effectively on the skin. However, its greatest effect and use is to stop minor bleeding.
The matico is used to treat fluid retention
It is also a medicinal plant known for its cleansing and diuretic properties, which are perfect for treating fluid retention, eliminating toxins, and improving blood and lymphatic circulation. Likewise, due to these properties, it is also suitable to help in the prevention and treatment of kidney stones, gallstones and inflammations and urinary infections, among other conditions. Although you should always discuss the taking of plants with your doctor in each case, if you suffer from conditions of a certain severity, such as kidney or gallstones or advanced infections, it is still more important not to self-diagnose or self-medicate, either with synthetic or natural medicines. .
The matico plant to take care of the mouth
At the dental level, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, soothing, antibacterial, analgesic and anti-hemorrhagic properties, this plant is used to relieve gum discomfort and even to relieve severe pain after tooth extraction and to prevent possible infections in the mouth.
Serves to improve digestion and digestive problems
Finally, another of the great benefits of matico is that it serves to relieve heavy digestion or to prevent them, as well as to regulate intestinal transit, especially in the case of diarrhea, and it also helps to alleviate the symptoms of stomach ulcers. .
How to prepare the matico and how to drink it
There are several ways to prepare this type of medicinal plant, from extracts and infusions to poultices and ointments. It is also common to find it in some hygiene products, such as soap or shampoo.
But nevertheless, how to take the matico plant to be more effective? The most used method to prepare and drink it is as an infusion. To prepare an infusion of matico, follow these steps:
Ingredients
- 50 grams of matico leaves.
- 1 liter of water.
- Sugar, Stevia, honey, lemon, etc. to taste.
Therefore, the proportion is 50 g of leaves for each liter of water, so if you want to make more or less quantity, you just have to increase or reduce it in this proportion.
Steps to make matico infusion
- Prepare the water and put it on the fire, when it starts to boil add the leaves.
- Leave the infusion over low heat for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the pot or saucepan from the heat and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- Strain the infusion to remove the leaves and keep the liquid to drink or apply it to the skin.
The infusion can also be used as an enema against constipation and to clean the areas affected by hemorrhoids. The powdered leaves of the matico plant are also used to stop minor bleeding and its extract to cure herpes by applying the powdered or infused leaves on the lesion. In addition, the root of the plant can be macerated for a couple of weeks to obtain a product to apply as a poultice and alleviate annoying joint pain.
Contraindications of the matico plant
Finally, we want to indicate the main contraindications of the matico plant:
- Its consumption is not recommended in pregnant women or during lactation.
- Nor should it be used as a healing agent in diabetic people.
- People allergic to any of the components of this plant should not consume it.
- It is very important to consult your doctor before starting its consumption as it can cause harmful effects by reacting with different types of medications.
In addition, it should be noted that some of the components of the matico plant can be harmful to our body if their consumption is abused. This is because they contain a small percentage of low toxicity elements, so if excessive doses of this plant are taken, these elements increase in the body, affecting it.
Here you can watch a video about the matico plant and learn more about what we have discussed.
If you want to read more articles similar to Matico plant: what is it for, properties, benefits and contraindications, we recommend that you enter our category of natural remedies.
