What are the uses of cotton? A complete analysis of the latest uses

Cotton is an annual herbaceous plant of the Gossypium genus in the Malvaceae family. Both its main and by-products have high utilization value. As predecessors said, “cotton is a treasure all over”, being not only the most important fiber crop, but also an important oil crop, a food crop containing high protein, and also a textile, fine chemical raw material and important strategic material. Now let us take a look at what uses cotton has!

Textile use

Cotton fiber can be made into fabrics of various specifications, from light and transparent voile to thick canvas and thick velveteen. It is suitable for making all kinds of clothing, furniture fabric and industrial fabric. It is firm and wear-resistant, can be washed and ironed at high temperature, and is comfortable to wear because it absorbs and releases moisture quickly. Through other finishing processes, cotton fabrics can also be made stain-resistant, waterproof and mildew-proof, improve the wrinkle resistance of the fabric, make cotton fabrics require little or even no ironing, reduce shrinkage during washing, and keep the shrinkage rate below 1%.

Oil crop

Cottonseed is the seed of plants in the Gossypium genus of the Malvaceae family, and its commercial importance lies in its oil and other products. Cottonseed oil is used for salad oil and cooking oil, and after hydrogenation is used as shortening and margarine. The cake residue or seed kernel after oil extraction is used as feed for poultry and livestock. About 200 million gallons of cottonseed oil are used each year to produce foods such as French fries, butter and salad dressings.

Nectar plant

Cotton has 3 types of nectaries: leaf vein nectaries, bract nectaries and flower nectaries. Often the leaf vein nectaries secrete nectar before flowering. The flowering period of cotton in the provinces and regions of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is from late July to early September, in the provinces of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River it is from early July to early August, and in Turpan, Xinjiang it is from mid-July to early September. The main nectar flow period is about 40 days, and the suitable temperature for nectar secretion is 35°C. In the Xinjiang cotton region, colonies generally produce 10-30 kg of honey, with the highest reaching 150 kg. In other cotton regions, because pesticides are frequently applied during the flowering period, bees are seriously harmed and the utilization value of the nectar source is greatly reduced, with colony production generally at 10-20 kg. Since the 1980s, the national cotton area has grown relatively quickly, and some provinces and regions have actively promoted biological control technology. It has become the main local nectar source in summer and autumn.

Medicinal value

[Nature and flavor] Sweet in taste, warm in nature, non-toxic.

[Functions] Stop bleeding. Treat hematemesis, bloody stool, uterine bleeding, bleeding from metal wounds and other conditions.

[Usage] Internal use: calcined and retained properties, made into powder. External use: burn into ash and sprinkle.

1. To treat hematemesis and bloody stool: cotton (burned into ash), bitter orange, musk. Take with rice water.

2. To treat uterine bleeding: cotton, charred human hair, pulvis plantaginis, charred palm, lotus flower center, angelica, cogongrass flower, safflower, wrap in mud and (burn) while retaining properties, add musk, take with wine.