Tobacco belongs to the Solanaceae family and is native to the warm areas of America, possibly the Caribbean, and is cultivated throughout the world.
This is an annual plant with a fibrous root and an erect, round, hairy, branched stem, up to 2 meters high.
The leaves are alternate, sessile, ovate or lanceolate, decurrent, hairy, pale green, large, up to 70 cm long and 20 cm wide, with a prominent vein on the underside.
The flowers are pink, with a corolla composed of five acute segments, grouped in terminal panicles. The fruit is an oval, bivalve capsule with two cells and numerous reniform seeds attached to the receptacle.
The genus Nicotiana has more than 67 different species of tobacco. Its consumption was widespread in America before its discovery, and it was André Thevet, in 1555, who brought it to Europe from Brazil. Nicotiana derives from Jean Nicot, ambassador of Caterina de Médicis in Portugal, who introduced it to the French court.
healing properties
Tobacco contains a liquid and volatile alkaloid, nicotine; a specific essence, nicocyanin; a resin, a fatty oil, tannic acid, gallic acid, etc.
It is a powerful narcotic, sialagogue, diuretic, sedative and emetic. Its effect is ganglioplegic, paralyzing the vegetative nervous system.
For medicinal purposes, the fresh and dried leaves are used externally. It is indicated in the treatment of hemorrhoids and in certain skin conditions. The juice of the leaves is used as a rubefacient liniment in nerve pain.
External enemas have an anthelmintic virtue and parasiticideand are indicated in intestinal infestations by roundworms and pinworms.
Tobacco is used as a poison against insects, macerating the ashes to obtain a water rich in nicotine.
folk remedies
Remedy with tobacco leaves for rheumatism: Moisten a handful of fresh tobacco leaves in very hot water and apply to the sore parts. Care must be taken not to apply them to inflamed skin.
Remedy with tobacco leaves for scabies and jock itch: Boil 30 grams of tobacco leaves for 10 minutes in half a liter of water. Apply said preparation in the form of fomentations on the affected area. These fomentations are also very indicated in chronic itching of the vulva (genital parts of the woman) or the anus.
Remedy with tobacco leaves for erysipelas: Moisten fresh tobacco leaves and apply as a poultice on the affected area. Perform this remedy several times a day.
Remedy with tobacco leaves for gout: Burn 20 to 25 grams of tobacco leaves on a hot iron plate, and apply, still warm, to the affected area, covering it with a piece of woolen cloth.
Remedy with tobacco leaves for ingrown or ingrown toenail: Boil 3 tobacco leaves in a cup of water for 5 minutes and then add 1 tablespoon of salt and 5 drops of iodine. Apply directly or using a cotton ball or cloth on the ingrown toenail. Perform this remedy several times a day. You can also make foot baths with this preparation. To that end, you just need to triple the amounts.
Remedy with tobacco leaves for phlegmon or dental abscess: Boil a handful of dry tobacco leaves in half a liter of water for 10 minutes. Let cool and filter. Make swishes with this preparation throughout the day. Do not swallow this remedy and expel it completely from the mouth.
Remedy with tobacco leaves for sinusitis Heat 1 tablespoon of mutton bait or lard and apply hot (without burning) on the forehead and in the sinus or paranasal sinus area. Then, place a couple of fresh tobacco leaves on top and, finally, put a cloth on top of all the preparation. Perform this remedy for 9 days in a row.
Precautions
The harmful effects of chronic tobacco abuse (smoking) are well known, highlighting its harmfulness on the heart and arteries, and its carcinogenic potential on the respiratory and urinary systems.
Nicotine, which tobacco contains, produces alterations in digestive and circulatory function, and causes vascular contraction, palpitations, cardiac arrhythmia, and arterial sclerosis.
For this reason, only those remedies that are applied externally, such as those presented here, are considered medicinal. If you swish, please expel from the mouth, at the end, all the preparation (do not swallow it).
Also know
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home remedies for pharyngitis
Ancient and medieval remedies
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