The benefits and harms of Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a plant of the family Malvaceae. Among a kind is both wild and cultivated plants. Hibiscus is not only shrubs but also trees, and rarely annual herbs.

Hibiscus is widespread in Eurasia, in Africa, in the United States, and it prefers the tropics and subtropics. You will often see marsh, Ternate (North) and the Syrian hibiscus.

The flowers of the plant can be different colors, but blue and black are excluded. In size they are different, and can reach 30 cm in cultivars of many: so far counted more than 300 species.

Properties of hibiscus

This plant is considered very valuable because it is useful not only fruits but also flowers and leaves. And each part of hibiscus is useful in its own way.

Often the hibiscus is familiar to many as a houseplant or a component of a healthy tea. By the way, the tea from this plant is loved in Ancient Egypt, and to this day he is considered the national drink of this country. In other countries it can be applied in industry and cosmetology.

The use of hibiscus

The flowers of this plant differ in the content of useful substances:

organic acids. For example, citric acid, which has antioxidant, antimicrobial and bleaching properties. It is effective in the treatment of bronchitis and other respiratory diseases, cystitis and other illnesses of the urinary tract. Malic acid affects the cells of the body, exerting a stimulating effect and increasing their metabolism, and it also has exfoliating properties. Tartaric acid also helps to remove the dead skin cells, whitens and moisturizes;
vitamin C Is a very useful vitamin, a powerful antioxidant. It helps to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, speed up the healing of wounds, helps in the liver and stimulates the activity of the pancreas;
flavonoids. They have an antibacterial effect, and in combination with the aforementioned vitamin C, they have a positive effect on the blood vessels, reduce their fragility and prevent blood clotting.
In the fruits of hibiscus proteins do not exist (to be precise, they are, but in a meager amount), but there are carbohydrates and fats. Among the useful substances we can mention vitamin C, iron, Niacin, thiamin and Riboflavin.

In the leaves of hibiscus have phosphorus, protein, fats, calcium, cellulose, carbohydrates and ash.

The complex interplay of elements of hibiscus helps:

to clean the liver;
to reduce cholesterol;
if stagnation of urine and bile;
spasms;
at worms;
in reducing weight;
remove toxins;
to strengthen the immune system;
to get rid of constipation;
get rid of insomnia;
to improve potency;
and increase appetite;
remove alcohol from the body.
The use of hibiscus

Hibiscus tea known as karkade. This tea can be consumed alone or with dessert. It is particularly useful to add in tea of the flowers of this plant that helps to fill the daily intake of ascorbic acid. To enrich your body with antioxidants, to get rid of fatigue and cheer up yourself, it is very important to prepare this tea.

The leaves can be added to salads, grind or fry, and then add to the soup either in billet for the future of the confectionery product. The taste they resemble sesame seeds.

The flowers and leaves is applied on non-healing wounds, ulcers, burns, boils. If they grind, it is possible to use a homogeneous mass for the treatment of malignant tumors and ulcers. Flowers can be used to stop bleeding.

Contraindications hibiscus

Despite the numerous benefits of this plant should be aware of its contraindications.

In children under 1 year of age may cause allergic reactions to numerous vitamins and minerals. If at the moment there are acute gall— and kidney stones or a tendency to allergic reactions, the hibiscus can only aggravate the situation. Also hibiscus is contraindicated in stomach ulcers, hyperacidity and duodenal ulcer disease.

You should be cautious for people suffering from hypotension and hypertension. Hypotension (reduced pressure) tea should be consumed solely hot; hypertension (high blood pressure) tea should be consumed only in cold.