Can the resurrection plant really save lives? Here's how to grow it well
Chinese medicine has a long history, and in traditional Chinese medicine many plants are herbal medicines. Today, the editor will talk about a plant called the resurrection plant. Can the resurrection plant really save lives? Let's follow the editor below to take a look at the introduction to the resurrection plant and its benefits.
The resurrection plant, whose scientific name is Selaginella tamariscina, is a perennial upright evergreen herbaceous fern, 5 to 15 cm tall, with brown stems, clustered branches, and a flat, light green form. It has an extremely strong drought-resistant ability. When the weather is dry, the small branches curl up and shrink into a ball to preserve moisture within the plant. Once it receives rainwater and the temperature rises, the curled small branches spread out flat again.
Origin of the name
The resurrection plant is also called long-life grass, immortality grass, ten-thousand-year grass, and so on.
The secret of the resurrection plant's extraordinary “resurrection” ability lies entirely in the “adaptability” of its cells. When drought comes, all its cells enter a dormant state, metabolism almost completely stops, and it looks as if it were dead. Only after receiving water do all its cells resume normal physiological activity. That is why it is called the “resurrection plant.”
Benefits of the resurrection plant
It can be both ornamental and medicinal. The whole plant has hemostatic and astringent effects. In folk practice, the whole plant is burned into ash; taken internally, it can treat various bleeding disorders, and mixed with rapeseed oil for external use, it can treat various cuts. It is said to also be a beauty medicine: after grinding it into powder and mixing it with egg white for application, it can make the face smooth and clear.
The resurrection plant is also an anti-inflammatory and hemostatic medicine, often used to treat dizziness and headache, stomach pain, waist pain, numbness of the hands and feet, high blood pressure, pharyngitis, asthma, rheumatic pain, bruises and injuries, colds, and other diseases. Applying dried Selaginella tamariscina powder to an infant's navel to reduce inflammation and stop bleeding has a very good effect.
How to grow the resurrection plant well
Growing environment: Selaginella tamariscina is suitable for growing in shaded places and should be placed in soft light all year round.
Growing temperature: Selaginella tamariscina is suitable for growing in a warm room. The minimum winter temperature is 0°C.
How to water: Selaginella tamariscina has a very strong drought resistance, but during the growing period it needs a large amount of watering to keep the potting soil fully moist. The plant likes humidity, and the leaf clusters should be sprayed with warm water every day. Do not spray with cold water, otherwise it is unfavorable to the leaf clusters.
Reasonable fertilization: During the growing period of Selaginella tamariscina, apply a standard liquid fertilizer at 30% concentration once every half month.
Cultivation and repotting: Plant it in sandy loam with good drainage, and it can also be grown in a small water cup. For pot cultivation, a shallow pot is most suitable. Repot in spring; if repotting is not necessary, then refresh the soil in the pot.