What is the biznaga used for? The biznaga is an annual plant, belonging to the umbelliferae family. Native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, the barrel cactus has naturalized over large areas of temperate and subtropical South America, as well as India.
This plant is about a meter tall. It is provided with basal leaves, alternate and petiolate, and inflorescences that curve inward when ripe.
As for its flowers, they are pentamerous, small, with white petals, and marginalized.
The fruit is an ovoidal achene between 2 and 2.5 mm.
It grows spontaneously, in ditches and poorly permeable soils, in the Mediterranean area and as far as western Asia. It is harvested at the end of spring.
Plant parts used
The fruits (seeds) of biznaga are used in herbal medicine.
The fruits are collected in summer before they fully ripen and dry for later use.
The seeds are used in tea, tincture, or capsules, and standardized extracts of the seeds are used in medicine.
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Biznaga medicinal properties
It contains furochromones, the most interesting being khellin, although it also contains khellinin, khellinone, and visnagin or visnagidine. 0t¡ compounds found are flavonoids (pigments derived from quercetol, kaempferol, myricetol), coumarins (visnagano, samidin, drosamidin, visnadin), oils rich in phytosterols, and palmitio-oleic, linoleic, and petroselinic acids.
In ancient Egypt the biznaga was used against various spasmodic states. In Central Europe it has been used since the Middle Ages as a diuretic.
At present, it is still used to facilitate the output of urine and combat the kidney stones, due to its strong spasmolytic action on the ureter and the muscles of the renal system. Said spasmolytic effect is due to its best-known active principle, kelina.
In the digestive system, the biznaga is recommended against gastrointestinal spasms and those coming from the bile ducts. It can also be considered a gastric protector, since it prevents the formation of ulcers.
Regarding the respiratory system, the biznaga acts on the bronchial mucosa, being beneficial in the treatment of irritative cough, asthmatic processes and bronchitis.
The biznaga also has a vasodilator action of the coronary vessels. Therefore, it is also used by people with circulatory and heart problems.
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Biznaga what is it for
Biznaga what it is used for: nephritic colic Boil 30 g of biznaga fruits in a liter of water for 10 minutes. Cover and let cool. Strain and drink 3 cups of this infusion a day.
Biznaga what it is used for: Rheumatic pains Boil 100 g. of biznaga fruits in 1 liter of water for 10 minutes. Pour hot into the bath tub water. Get into the water, still hot, but pleasant to the touch. Stay in this bath for 15 minutes.
Biznaga what it is used for: Ear pain #1 Pour ½ teaspoon of biznaga seeds into a cup of milk and boil until the essence of these seeds permeates the milk. Then soak a cotton ball with this preparation and place, still hot, at the entrance of the ear canal. Leave there for a few minutes. Repeat this remedy several times a day until you get relief.
Biznaga what it is used for: Ear pain #2 Mix 1 teaspoon of biznaga oil and 3 of Sesame oil. Heat it slightly and let it cool for 3 minutes. Apply, still hot, using a cotton ball and leave it at the entrance of the ear canal. Perform this remedy several times a day.
What is biznaga used for: Persistent cough Pour 1 tablespoon of biznaga leaves into a cup of boiling water. Cover and let cool. Take 2 cups a day when discomfort occurs.
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Curiosities
In medieval chronicles the frequent use of the biznaga at the popular level for the elaboration of toothpicks was pointed out.
In the Egyptian markets the pedicels of this plant are sold as a toothbrush.
It should not be given to children or pregnant women.
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Contraindications of the biznaga
Any herbal preparations containing biznaga or its active components should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Pregnant and lactating women should not use the herb in any form.
Prolonged use or high consumption of biznaga can cause side effects such as nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, headache, and sleep disturbances.
The herb can worsen some liver conditions, so people with any liver conditions should not use biznaga
Fruits contain furanocoumarins that can cause phototoxicity (increased sensitivity to sunlight).
The herb can also cause allergic skin reactions upon skin contact.
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