Fat

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Fat or sedum is a large genus in the Crassulaceae family. The leaves of representatives of this genus are fleshy, simple, whole, naked, arranged consecutively or collected in a basal rosette. The inflorescences are umbellate panicles or racemose. The flowers are bisexual, usually five-part, less often 4-, 6- or 9-part.

The sepals and petals are in equal numbers, the stamens twice as many as the petals. The carpels are as numerous as the petals, free or fused at the base. The fruits are aggregated, composed of upright or outstretched pods. The seeds are numerous, small, without endosperm. Propagated by seeds and vegetatively.

There are 23 species naturally distributed in Bulgaria, 5 of which are protected by the Biodiversity Act. Medicinal species are Sedum acre, Sedum maximum and others.

Types of fat

Spicy fat / Sedum acre L. / is a perennial herbaceous plant with a thin, branched rhizome with short partly underground shoots. The stems are branched from the base, recumbent or ascending and are of two types: flowering - bearing flowers and sterile - without flowers. Flowering stems are ascending or erect, 5-15 cm tall, glabrous, branched. The leaves of the flowering stems are consecutive, spaced, 2-5 mm long and 2-3 mm wide, ovate, fleshy.

The leaves are densely, tile-like arranged on the sterile stems. At the base of the flowering stems are preserved withered membranous leaves. The flowers are 5-part gathered in apical inflorescences. Petals are 5 long from 5 to 10 mm, golden yellow. The stamens are 10 in number, slightly shorter than the corolla. The spicy fat blooms from May to August. It is found in rocky and rocky places. Apart from Bulgaria, it also grows in Europe, Southwest Asia and North Africa.

The big one fat / Sedum maximum L. / is a perennial herbaceous plant with a thickened root. The stem is erect, 15 to 80 cm high. The leaves are flat, oblong - ovate, 5-13 cm long. The large fat blooms in the months from July to September. It grows from rocky places and bushes. It is distributed throughout the country up to 1500 m above sea level. This species is found in Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, North America.

An interesting species, although only decorative, is the bone fat - Sedum kostovii, which is endemic to Bulgaria. Bone fat is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant. Its stems are flowering and sterile - without flowers or only flowering. The leaves are up to 5 mm long, lanceolate or linearly elliptical, obtuse, on top with a tuft of cartilaginous teeth - specific for the type of scar. The mesenteries are star-shaped. This species blooms in July-August. There are localities of the plant in Stara Planina (middle), Tundzha hilly plain, Thracian lowland, Middle and Western Rhodopes, Rila, Pirin, Mesta river valley and Slavyanka.

Fat composition

Spicy fat contains alkaloids (about 0, 2%), of which are isolated: isopelethierine, sedamine, nicotine, seridine, sedinin and sedinone. The presence of tannins, various flavonoids, including the flavonol glycoside rutin and a derivative of herbacetin, organic acids, sugar (sedoheptulose, glucose and fructose), mucous substances, etc. was also found.

The large fat contains vitamin C, as well as a glucoside, which in hydrolysis gives the essential oil has the aroma of roses.

Growing fat

The fat man is easy to grow. It is a very hardy plant, can overwinter in the cold to minus 5 degrees. The soil in which it is planted should be in a ratio of 1: 1 clay leaf and moist sand. The butterbur impresses us with its beautiful flowers during the autumn months, and in the warmer autumn the flowering continues until the first snow. Fat is an unpretentious plant and can remain without water all winter. If you let the flower overwinter outdoors after cutting the stems very low, you need to cover it with peat. The fathead minnow does not need fertilization, in addition, it multiplies quickly and easily. Separating old plants is the most commonly used way to get a new flower.

Collection and storage of fat

Spicy leaves are mainly used for medicinal purposes fat and the big fat man. They are harvested from July to October during full flowering in dry weather, picking fresh leaves as needed at the time of use. When picking, different species of the same genus should not be mixed. They are dried in the shade or in an oven up to 45 degrees.

The herb is dried in very ventilated rooms or under sheds. The stems are spread in a very thin layer (1-2 cm). The stems and leaves have a high water content and drying is slow. During the first week, the herb is turned every day, then the turns are diluted depending on the condition of the herb and the weather.

Benefits of fat

Large fat is used to treat skin diseases. It is useful in the treatment of inflammation and vaginal infections. Large fat helps in wound healing, it is also a good diuretic. Used for high blood pressure, hypertension, infected wounds.

The herb has anticancer effects, is used in the treatment of cancer. The big one fat helps treat epilepsy. In ancient times it was used to induce miscarriage. The fleshy leaves of the flower contain medicinal juice, which has anti-inflammatory effect, analgesic and anti-bacterial properties.

Two or three drops of squeezed and clarified juice act as an analgesic for ear inflammation. Fat leaves are used to treat boils, calluses, warts and inflamed wounds. They are applied to the affected area after they are crushed and their skin is removed. Used properly, fat has a hypotensive, diuretic and analgesic effect.

Spicy fat has a general stimulating effect. It is used in hypertension, in chronic inflammatory diseases of the eyes, in the treatment of epilepsy, burns, painful hemorrhoids. The plant is effective in chronic inflammation of the liver, skin cancer, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, spasms of the colon, atherosclerosis, scurvy and against malaria.

Folk medicine with fat

In Bulgarian folk medicine, the infusion of hot fat is used in epilepsy, scurvy, as a means of relieving pain and itching in hemorrhoids and others. The infusion of the drug is used in the form of gargling in inflammatory and ulcerative processes in the mouth. Two tablespoons of the herb soak for 1 hour in 500 ml of hot water. Strain and drink 120 ml 3 times a day before meals.

In folk medicine, thick leaves are also used fat. Imposed crushed with peeled skin. They attach to the affected area and stay that way for several hours. In purulent wounds and calluses, repeated dressings need to be changed.

To treat corns, it is good to take a foot bath with warm water in the evening before going to bed, to which 1 teaspoon of baking soda is added. After drying, peeled fresh leaves of the plant are placed on the inflamed and rough skin. Some healers recommend dripping 3-4 drops of wine or apple cider vinegar on them. They are covered with adhesive tape on top and stay up all night. The procedure is repeated for the next few evenings.

The juice of freshly plucked cotyledon leaves is a suitable analgesic for inflammation of the outer and middle ear. For this purpose it is enough to put a few drops of it in the ear canal. It should not be forgotten, however, that they are absolutely contraindicated after medical manipulation or when pus spontaneously leaks from the ear.

Harm from fat

In large doses it is poisonous. Therefore, the plant should be taken only on prescription and under medical supervision. Excessive use can lead to spasms, paralysis, irritation of the mucous membranes, may even stop breathing.