Espán de Gañán, properties and natural recipes
It is also known as Mastuerzo de Indias, Espuela de Gañán and Llagas de Cristo.
Herbaceous perennial plant of the family of the Tropeolaceae, about 20-40 centimeters high, leaves rather large, petiolate, round, grayish green, with patterned nerves, which starting at a point, spreading around.
The petioles and stems are provided with tendrils with which the plant can climb and stick to the walls or other plants. The flowers, supported by fragile stems, of red or orange corollas, have five esperonados petals and the three inferior ones are gracefully frayed of the center, attracting the insects, with which the pollination is ensured.
Vegeta spontaneously in any place that is provided with sufficient moisture such as streams, watercourses, rivers, these often having their slopes covered by this plant. They are beautiful and small plants, perhaps a little rustic, but not deprived of a certain grace, which are cultivated by their polychrome flowers that give a cheerful note on balconies, orchards and gardens. They are lightly scented; the leaves and stems squeezed between the hands, emit a strong and penetrating aroma. The plant, whose curative properties are depurative, diuretic and detergent, must be used fresh. It is eaten raw, in a salad and its flavor recalls that of watercress, perhaps a little stronger; It should be seasoned only, with lemon juice and a little salt.
Source
Parts of the plant to be used: the most tender and fresh leaves.
PREPARATIONS
Depurative, Diuretic
Fresh juice: collect several handfuls of fresh leaves, wash them, crush them and then squeeze the juice well. Drink the juice in the morning fasting, about 100 g each time. The treatment should continue for two weeks.
Wounds, sores, ulcers
Decoction: for washing and poultices: thoroughly wash two handfuls of fresh leaves, put them in a pot with little water. Boil them for a minute, leave to temper the liquid and use it to clean the wounds. The leaves should be placed on a gauze folded several times, crushed to extract the juice and applied to the diseased part, which will promote healing.
To health
Fresh juice As a depurative and diuretic. Wash several handfuls of fresh leaves of nasturtium, crush them and then squeeze the juice well. Drink the juice in the morning fasting, about 100 gm each time. Follow the treatment for about two weeks.
Decoction. For washing wounds and sores and for poultices. Put two handfuls of fresh leaves in a pot with little water. Boil for one minute, let temper the liquid and use it to clean wounds, sores and ulcers.
For poultice, the leaves should be placed on gauze, folded several times, crushed to extract the juice and applied to the diseased part; will promote their healing.
For the kitchen
The nasturtium is taken raw, in salad and its flavor recalls that of the watercress, perhaps a little stronger; It should be seasoned only, with lemon juice and a little salt.
Its unripe fruits, macerated in vinegar and salt, are an excellent appetizer. They are known as capers of the Indies, substituting well the other capers.
For Beauty
To avoid hair loss and stimulate its growth, this friction is used: 200 gm of leaves and fresh seeds of nasturtium in a liter of alcohol of 90 degrees. Let the crushed plant macerate for two weeks, then filter it and then perfume it with any of the essences used in perfumery. Friction the scalp with this preparation.
Decoction or cooking. Cooking, liquid cooked with the plant, also called tisane.
Cataplasm.Tópico of soft consistency usually, soothing or emollient. It is done by cooking the plant, crushing it later and holding it hot between two gauzes.