The world of medicinal plants is a very diverse world, not only because of the different species that make it up but also because of the multiplicity of functions and benefits that each of these species brings to the health of human beings. One of those medicinal species is the wild estafiate.
What is Estafiate:
Nature is an imperishable source of free health benefits, which we can turn to when the organism is broken. Thanks to these natural resources, whose use by mandates from prehistoric times, when the tribes began to consume them to cure diseases and even undo curses, according to the superstitions inherited from their ancestors, we can naturally solve many of the ailments that we ache. One of these miraculous herbs is the estafiate, which is a wild herbaceous plant that has medicinal properties that man has taken advantage of to relieve pain. The staphiate acts on that perception that is pain, which is generated when nerve endings receive stimuli, such as a blow or pressure, or when it is very hot, or also due to the chemical effects unknown to the body of certain substances.
Western Mugwort, Western Wormwood, Louisiana Sagewort, Prairie Sagewort, Mountain Sage, Simonillo, Itzauhyatl
As already noted, the estafiate is an herbaceous plant, which belongs to the Asteracea family, which includes approximately 23,000 varieties and, in addition, about 1,600 genera are reported. This family also has three subspecies; namely: candicans, incompta, and ludoviciana. In this last subspecies is the Estafiate, which is mostly from Mexico. It is a robust grass, ash-green, aromatic, at its base sometimes seen woody, and that grows on the banks of roads, in spots, which are the areas of land in the fields and bushes very bushy of plants, or also It can be found in plots of rural areas.
It has narrow and double-colored leaves, divided into three, forming slats, which are hairy and whitish on the back and green on the obverse. From August to October, it blooms, generating reddish-yellow flowers grouped into heads, which when pressed give off an intense aroma.
What Is It for?
Many diseases for which pharmacological products have been prescribed, can very well be treated and cured with medicinal plants and the estafiate is one of them and of which the pharmaceutical industry has used its active ingredient to make medicinal extracts.
The estafiate offers relief to various ailments. Let’s see which:
- Improvement of stomach problems, such as intestinal infections, gastritis, nausea, contortions, colic, persistent vomiting, cramping, parasites, constipation.
- Pain reliever for stomach pains or gastrointestinal spasms due to poor digestion.
- Regulator of the menstrual cycle. It helps in the irregular cycles of women, thanks to the chemical contents that regulate female hormonal loads.
- Alternative treatment of diabetes due to its hypoglycemic effect that reduces blood sugar levels.
- It serves as an antidiarrheal due to its antispasmodic effects.
- Relief of skin lesions due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties through applications on the affected area. It prevents bacteria from spreading and makes the healing process faster.
How Is It Used?
Usually, the estafiate is consumed as an infusion or tea and is also applied directly to the diseased skin. From the grass, you can use the leaves, the stem and the petals of the flower, by cooking or crushing them together or separately, depending on the condition that you want to cure. When crushing the leaves, you get better use of the nutrients that this plant gives us.
As an Infusion:
They are cooked in a liter of water with about 10 or 15 grams of the different parts of the plant that will be used depending on the condition to be treated. Let stand and then store in the fridge. It should be taken about three times a day, one rate at a time. It can be sweetened with honey to achieve a better flavor
With sodium bicarbonate: Infusion of estafiate with sodium bicarbonate offers greater effectiveness in eliminating colic and vomiting, as well as nausea.
As Hot Tea:
It helps relieve menstrual cramps, helps correct menstrual flow and eliminates intestinal parasites.
Tea with leaves and stem: it cures the empacho, diarrhea and colic, respiratory infections and is an antipyretic.
Tea directly on skin tissues injured by joint pain, wounds or stings.
Prepared with crushed leaves relieves blisters, spider bites, and boils.
Rubbing the plant through the affected areas: Relieves pain and inflammation in the skin.
Useful for treating respiratory infections, as well as colds and headaches and throat.
These are nutrients that are easily assimilated by the human body. Among them, we have fiber, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamins B, C, D, E, proteins, chlorophyll and other plant nutrients beneficial to health.
As for the benefits offered by the estafiate, one of them is edible medicinal plants, we have the following:
- It helps to have better control inside the stomach and intestines, eliminating any type of infection that can cause diarrhea.
- Reduces sodium, which benefits the destruction of kidney stones.
- It reduces ulcers or inflammations of the liver or colon, thanks to its special proteins that repair any problem that is generating an internal inflammation.
- It helps control fevers and reduces diseases that cause high temperatures in the body, by virtue of the nutrients contained in the staphiate. Avoid having to take pills that cause side effects.
- It prevents infections by easily eliminating bacteria and viruses, due to their antiseptic properties.
- It helps in irregular menstrual control or premenstrual syndrome since it is a natural hormonal regulator.
- Stimulates appetite, as it controls the hormone that regulates the desire to eat.
- It helps to relieve headaches and migraines, for its relaxing effects, reducing the feeling of heaviness. It also helps concentration and sleep.
However, the range of benefits offered by the estafiate, it is important to know that there are certain side effects on its use; namely:
- Avoid intake during pregnancy, as well as in breastfeeding, as there are studies that indicate that it could affect the development of the fetus. Its use should not be exceeded after six days since as it is a bitter plant, it has a certain level of toxicity, so it is not advisable to consume it periodically. This can cause vomiting or dizziness.
- It is possible that it may cause hypersensitivity to plants, fruits or vegetables due to cross-reactions.
- It can cause allergic reactions in previously sensitized people.
- If you are taking another medication, find out its interaction with the estafiate.
- It is recommended in each of these cases to consult the specialist.
In general, every plant that has been listed as a medicinal plant offers many beneficial properties for the human body. Among these common properties, depending on the type of plant, we can mention properties:
- Stomach stimulants
- Cough suppressant
- Carminative or favorable in the reduction of gases in the digestive tract
Is It Useful to Lose Weight?
It is not its main function, but the estafiate plant, on certain occasions, has been used to lose weight, thanks to its liver and gallbladder cleansing properties.
However, it is suggested to use more appropriate treatments to lose weight, as experts in this herb do not recommend prolonged use of it, as it can cause allergies and serious poisoning.
For Stomach Ache:
Estafiate is the herb mostly prescribed by those skilled in the art to cure stomach pain and regulate gastric flows. Its antibiotic properties against infections have been recognized. It has already been noted that it fights diarrhea and helps regulate intestinal transit. Likewise, it helps to eliminate gases from the body in a natural way, inflammation of the intestine and stomach. Its combination with bicarbonate manages to cure the so-called empacho, eliminating colic, vomiting, and nausea, as well as fighting intestinal parasites.
There are many infusions that we can prepare with the many medicinal plants and herbs that exist and since they are natural they are usually harmless. But when it comes to pregnancy, it is necessary to pay more attention, since not all infusions are beneficial for either the woman or the fetus.
This is the case of the estafiate, which is totally contraindicated during the months of gestation of women, since studies and tests carried out in women during pregnancy have revealed that this herb could cause negative effects on the fetus and even generate abortive effects, causing the loss of it.
Other Medicinal Uses of Estafiate in Combination With Other Plants:
This herb can be used in decoction with other medicinal plants, which complement each other’s properties. Thus we find that:
- It serves as a sedative of the nervous system used with orange blossoms.
- Ginger and cheat infusions relieve the discomfort of poor digestion.
- Cactus flowers along with the estafiate improve prostate pain, in addition to its moisturizing and antioxidant effects.
- Using the estafiate with peonies, it is possible to relieve muscle tension.
- Used together with the bitter cold, it is possible to heal intestinal parasitosis. It also intervenes in the healing of ulcers and gastritis.