For some reason, many of us think that we, modern people, can define any concept without any hassle. And here it is not. It turns out that all this is nothing more than a delusion and unfounded self-confidence. Shall we check?
Let's try to write a description of a plant that is known even to a primary school student. For example, moss reindeer moss is … Agree, except for a photograph of deer from a geography textbook, little comes to mind. But in vain, because this representative of the world of flora has been the object of close attention of scientists around the world for several years already.
It is unlikely that anyone will argue with the statement that the flora of the tundra, although rather scarce, still cannot but arouse increased interest in any inquisitive person. Almost unique specimens are found here literally at every step.
This article aims to acquaint the reader with such an unusual representative of the plant world as moss lichen. We will talk about its properties, characteristics and methods of application.
General information
Yagel is a plant that is also called reindeer moss. Hebelongs to the group of lichens of the genus Cladonia. This representative of the plant world grows in both cold and warm climates, in an open, well-drained and ventilated environment. Most often it can be found in the alpine tundra. It should be noted that, in addition to other features, it has an incredibly high frost resistance. This is due to branchy thalli.
Yagel is a unique plant that grows incredibly slowly, it rises only 3-5 mm in a year. By the way, this is why pasture restoration after grazing may take even several decades. This is the main reason for the constant migration of reindeer.
Chemical composition of reindeer moss
Not everyone knows that deer moss contains a fairly strong antibiotic, namely usnic acid. It is able to kill almost all putrefactive bacteria. Local residents widely used such a rather important property. For them, reindeer moss is a kind of refrigerator, and not just he althy reindeer food. Meat was covered with such lichen from all sides, and it could lie for a long time and not deteriorate. By the way, that is why modern people widely use reindeer moss for the production of various antibacterial drugs.
Yagel in nature
The flora of the tundra is fraught with many secrets and mysteries that have not yet been studied. Here, for example, it should be noted that the aforementioned reindeer reindeer moss is not only suitable for eating a huge amountanimals, but is often the basis of their diet. Its main lover is, as many people know, deer, which eats about 10 kg per day of valuable moss. In principle, reindeer moss is a plant that makes up 90% of the diet of these animals. Deer can get this lichen from under the snow, even if it is at a depth of up to 100 cm.
Of course, if the snow cover is much deeper in some places, deer look for reindeer moss growing on rocks or trees. Due to its high nutritional value, this moss is in demand as a fodder plant for many farm animals: pigs, cattle, etc.
Application of reindeer moss in medicine
Information about the medicinal properties of reindeer moss is not yet as much as we would like. For example, it is known that this plant is useful for cleansing and circulating the blood, improving the functioning of the heart and lungs. It is also used in the treatment of thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, atherosclerosis. In folk medicine of the northern peoples, this moss is used as an enveloping agent in the treatment of coughs, as well as stomach ulcers. Yagel helps the liver, establishes a normal metabolic process, improves the functions of the genitourinary system. Among other things, this is an excellent remedy for the thyroid gland: it, like nothing else on the planet, is effective for the resorption of knots in it.
Today, modern chemists have already learned how to isolate usnic acid from reindeer moss, from which alcohol-based or oil-based preparations are produced. They are not yet widely used for the treatment of wounds and burns of variousseverity.
Recipes
Why not make a he althy decoction of reindeer moss? To do this, take 2 tbsp. l. dried reindeer moss, pour 2 cups of cool water over them and bring to a boil, then cool and consume gradually throughout the day.
You can also make healing and very thick jelly from it. To do this, 20-50 g of reindeer moss is poured into 750 g of hot water, and then boiled for half an hour. When cooled, the broth will turn into a thick and rather slimy jelly. It can be strained if necessary. It should be taken half a cup half an hour before meals 3-4 times a day or already 1 hour after meals. Depending on the severity of the peptic ulcer, such treatment can last from 15 days to six months. But, according to herbalists, it is necessary to take breaks in treatment: every month for about 2 weeks.
