Healing properties of kalanchoe

Such species of kalanchoe as Bryophyllum pinnatum and Bryophyllum daigremontianum are popularly called “home-grown doctor” and even “surgeon without a scalpel”. They say that even Goethe used their healing properties – he ate one tablespoon of “baby plants” of these species everyday for body rejuvenation.This is the very beginning of the story about the healing properties.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi, Kalanchoe beharensis, Kalanchoet omentosa and Kalanchoe tubiflora should be named if it comes to the species valued for the decorative properties.

Biochemical composition

The biochemical composition of the kalanchoe’s herbage is not fully examined yet. Scientists still have a lot to be done to explain the succus healing effect on the human body.

Fleshy leaves and stems have up to 94% of moisture.Moreover, the succus contains the following compounds:

• flavonoids (quercetine, kaempferol);
• organic (malic, acetic, citric and oxalic) acids;
• tannins;
• polysaccharides;
• some enzymes (e.g. malic dehydrogenase, oxalic carboxylase);
• vitamins (including C and P);
• mineral salts, micro- and macroelements (aluminium, ferrum, magnesium, calcium, copper, silicon, manganese).

First of all, the biological activity of kalanchoe succus is based on the exceptional combination of chemical compounds entering into its composition.

Flavonoid glycosides have P-vitaminic activity. It means that they exert bactericidal and choleretic effects and help to eliminate toxic and radioactive agents from the body.

Tannins give to the plant binding, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic properties. Enzymes are essential participants of metabolism, acting in it as the catalysts. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the metabolic process, particularly in the oxidation process, at the cellular level; and increases anti-infective resistance.Vitamin P (rutin) strengthens vessel walls.

Pharmacologic properties

Kalanchoe is used for curative purposes for quite a while. It was indoor gardening lovers who paid attention to “the tree of life” first, but not official medical workers. They began to use it not only as topical treatment, but also for oral administration.

People noticed quickly outstanding capability of the plant to heal wounds and mitigate inflammations, cure cold, be helpful in cold-related diseases and act as a preventive remedy in the flu epidemic period. The fresh mashed kalanchoe leaves stop a wound, kill the severe pain, even the toothache, cure panaritium (the purulent inflammation on a nail bed) and mastitis (mammitis); heal wounds, frostbites, burns and fistulas very well. Kalanchoe succus is commonly used to cure skin rash and even eczema. People successfully fight with acne and pigmented spots on the face in cosmetic medicine with the help of the kalanchoe succus.

Careful flower gardeners started to exchange the gained experience, also in news media. In the early 1960s scientific and research health facilities found interesting the messages about the unique healing plant. Kalanchoe was considered as the source of new drugs for the national medical industry. Laboratory research and conducted clinical investigations proved the wonderful properties of the plant. Moreover, its zero harmlessness was established in the row of numerous experiments.

In a short time the succus and the kalachoe succus ointment were enrolled in State Register of pharmaceutical drugs and in the beginning the plant was used only as a topical treatment for persistent wounds, fistulas, burns and sores.

The aboveground part of Bryophyllum pinnatumis used as the drug raw materials. The succus is extracted from fleshy and pulpy leaves and then is prepared in a particular way. The kalanchoe succus has variety of useful properties thanks to the great quantity of biologically-active agents. It possesses:

• bactericidal properties (it kills harmful microorganisms);
• bacteriostatic properties (it neutralizes bacteria and stops their growth);
• anti-inflammatory properties(it suspends the inflammation progression);
• hemostatic properties;
• capability to cleanse wounds from necrotic tissue (sphacelus) quickly
• wound-healing properties (it possesses a beneficial effect on quick epithelization of traumatic and ulcerative surfacesand regeneration of the skin covering).

Therefore it is the irreplaceable drug for the cure of wounds, ischemic ulcer and thermal burns when applied as the topical treatment in the forms of the succus and ointment.

As for internal use, the kalanchoe succus is yet not studied enough by the official medical science. But there is the information, that it exerts choleretic effect, reduces the cholesterol level in blood and regulates the normal activity of a gall bladder. In addition the kalanchoe succus effectively cures damages of mucous membrane in the inflammatory process of a stomach and intestine.

Let’s make a list of the main advantages of this natural drug:

• the kalanchoe succus is low-toxic;
• It does not irritate skin and mucosa;
• It scarcely has contra-indications to use.

So kalanchoe equals the hopes that are centered on it with the honor name “home-grown doctor”

Wound and sore healing

A wound or sore is wetted with 1-2 ml of the kalanchoe succus with the help of a syringe through a needle of a small diameter. Then the surface of the injured area is covered with 4-5 layers of cheesecloth richly wetted with the succus. Cloth is cut and placed in such a way so it will duplicate a size and shape of a wound. Skin around the affected area is to be alcoholized or treated with the warm Furacilinsolution beforehand.If it is a septic wound, an antibiotic is added to the succus– please consult your physician to know how to do it domiciliary. In case there appears burning, the plant-based preparation should be dissolved by 0.5-1% novocaine solution in the equal proportion. The dressing is to be wetted with the plant succus twice a day. It is recommended to add insulin into the succus if a diabetic person is wounded. The term of treatment usually lasts 25-30 days.

Pyogenic infection treatment

The kalanchoe ointment is used combined with the Saint-John’s-wort’s oil to treat the different forms of inflammatory processes (furunculosis, panaritium, phlegmonand abscess). The treatment is provided in the following way: the dressing with the Saint-John’s-wort’s oil is applied on the infected wound or the opened suppurative focus.The dressing application should be continued until the mitigation of inflammatory process and the start of the wound granulation (healing). Then the kalanchoe ointment comes into action – it is applied with the dressing. The Saint-John’s-wort’s oil is a powerful antibacterial agent and the kalanchoe ointment rapidly stimulates the wound healing process. This method allows to cut the period of treatment by half and to deliver success of treatment.The kalanchoe ointment with furazolidone is applied for treatment of a major eroded skin area.

Treatment of pressure ulcers

The method is the same as the treatment of ischemic ulcer and pyogenic infection with tissue death. The injured area of the skin is treated with the medication containing the kalanchoe succus. The first three days the dressing is changed every day, then – once in three days. During these intervals a neutral substance (e.g. zinc ointment, vaseline or other emollient) should be put on the damaged area.

Treatment of sunburns and freeze burns.

The treatment of these damages with kalanchoe succus is the same as the treatment of the other skin affections: 2-3 drops of the succus are spread on the damaged area.The treatment course usually lasts 5-6 days.

Treatment of the oral cavity diseases

Dentists use widely the kalanchoe succus for treatment of inflammatory process in the oral cavity – gingivitis, parodontitis, stomatitis. Either applications on mucosa and gingivae or aerosol inhalations are applied. It is very easy to perform domiciliary this kind of the treatment procedures. Applications are made 3-4 times a day for 20 minutes.

When parodontitis is treated this way, the bleeding of the gums is getting reduced, the itch disappears, and on the 10th-12th day the flow of pus stops. By the end of the treatment papillae gingivalis become thick and obtain the natural pale pink colour.

Treatment of diseases of the ear, nose and throat

Otolaryngologists recommend injecting the kalanchoe succus drops nasally as a preventive remedy in the period of flu epidemic, in cold and sinusitis (sinus inflammation). Also this drug helps in such chronic illness as tonsillitis, amygdalitis, inflammatory process of middle ear.

In case of chronic tonsillitis it is the kalanchoe succus electrophoresisis prescribed on the submandibular area every other day.

The succus is injected or gauze tampons wetted with the succus are plugged into the ear if an eardrum is damaged or ear infection occurs.

The succus is dissolved by water in the proportion 1:5 and is dropped by 2 drops in every nostril from 2 to 5 times per day for prophylactic and treatment of maxillar sinusitis and in any inflammatory illnesses of nasal pharynx. It is advized to gargle with the abovementioned solution intonsillitis, amygdalitis and laryngitis.

Eyes illnesses treatment

Ophthalmologists also use the kalanchoe succus in the very wide scope: for treatment of eye burns and injuries, keratitis (corneal inflammation), corneal erosion (the surface abrasion of cornea), as well as for the fighting with dystrophic changes of the eye’s elements.

The typical method of treatment: the kalanchoe succus is dropper in the conjunctival sac. It can be used undiluted or dissolved in proportion 1:1 with normal saline or 0,5% solution of Novocain. These procedures can be performed by you, but after the prescription of an ophthalmologist only and under their control!

Treatment of illnesses

The medicine from “domestic ginseng” are used widely and successfully in the obstetrical and gynaecological practice.

Injuries of perineum, cervical erosion, ruptures after childbirth, endocervicitis (inflammation of the cervical canal’s muscous lining) are healed by the plant succus and ointment.

Injuries of perineum and ruptures have the same treatment methods as wound treatment in surgery. How to cure endocervicitis? First of all you need to establish an infection type. The drug treatment is prescribed depending on the type of the pathogen causing inflammation. In case nonspecific inflammation (not caused by virus infection) the hygienical syringing are essential (e.g with chamomile infusion or with other anti-inflammatory and bactericidal plant-based preparations). If the illness reaches the chronic form, physiotherapy is also resorted to – for example, doctors place on the mud treatment or electrophoresis. Kalanchoe acts directly in the endocervicitis treatment – helps to fight against inflammation, to renew affected areas of mucosa faster and to enhance indirectly the effect of physiotherapeutic procedure.

2-3 drops of kalanchoe succus are applied on affected area to treat inflammatory disorders of the female genital sphere.The term of treatment usually lasts 5-6 days.

Kalanchoe is also an irreplaceable helper for nursing mothers. They often suffer from such a painful thing as the cracked nipples. Drugs with the kalanchoe succus will quickly rescue from the skin irritation of breast and from the cracked nipples.The medicine is applied with a dropper (2-3 drops at a nipple) after every nursing.

Gastrointestinal diseases treatment with the kalanchoe

Our “tree of life” helps almost in every illness of digestive organs.Its preparations are applied for treatment of inflammatory process in the stomach and intestine – gastritis, enteritis, colitis and gastroduodenal ulcer. They have combined effect on the ill organ – mitigate inflammation of gastric and intestinal mucosa, stimulate process of regeneration (recovery) of epithelium tissues. However due to the large quantity of gastrointestinal diseases, the dosage and the methods of intake of the kalanchoe preparations are determined by a doctor in any single case.

The following “old-wives remedy” will help to suppress the unpleasant symptom of burning sensation, that often accompanies stomach diseases: when it appears, it is recommended to eat a small leaf of kalanchoe. Usually the effect will come in several minutes.

Skin diseases treatment

Kalanchoe is among the few medicinal herbs, which are applied for treatment of erysipelas. Erysipelas is the inflammation of skin covering and subcutaneous tissue caused by the microbes (streptococcus) which are very hard to suppress.This disease has the severe run, often with the affection of the wide areas of the body, high temperature and lymphadenopathy. Erysipelas is cured by antibiotics, kalanchoe is included in the general treatment plan in the ointment form or liniment. Moreover, the inflamed areas are wetted with the succus from fresh leaves 2-3 times a day.

The kalanchoe succus is also placed on to stop issue of blood from wounds, in furunculosis, skin rash and eczema. The procedure is the same – apply 2-3 drops on the damaged area; in case of furunculosis – on the furunculus and dependent area; it is conducted twice a day. The treatment lasts 5-days usually. For sure, the kalanchoe pharmacy for external use can be also applied successfully.

Wart treatment

Wart is more than unpleasant cosmetic defect.This is a skin disease caused by a virus that is hard to heal.Kalamchoe may help even in the fight against warts. For that purpose you should put applications with mashed fresh leaves on areas where warts appear.The applications should be changed twice a day. If one week course is not enough you need to continue treatment.

Treatment of ischemic ulcer and varicosity.

The gauze cloth wetted with the kalanchoe succus is put on the varix in case of varicosity. The procedure lasts 30-40 minutes.

It is possible to try another method if leg pains and the blue net of small veins take place. 500 ml. bottle is filled with the cut kalanchoe leaves by half and filled to the top with vodka or 70% alcohol. The remedy should be put into the dark place for infusion for a week.The bottle should be shacked from time to time.

When the drug is ready you can start treatment. In the evening legs are rubbed with the infusion from footstep up to the knee and higher. Leg pains will leave you quite soon, however, you are to be patient to reach significant improvement and cosmetic effect. It is recommended to carry out these procedures every day in the course of 4 months.

Kalanchoe in home cosmetics.

Facial cleansing

Start your facial care with cleansing.Remove the leaf skin and wipe the face with the leaf. The healing succus will sink into the skin faster if you tap it with finger tips.Then apply your favorite nourishing cream.Even after the first procedures you will feel tonic effect of this simple product: the skin will be noticeably brightened.By the way, there are factory produced beauty products based on kalanchoe. The cream “Kalanchoe” contains 15% of the plant’s succus and is aimed for treatment of withering skin and anti-age care.

If your skin is prone to couperosis and redness, the similar procedure can help. In the evening or morning the carefully cleaned dry skin of the face and neck is wetted with succus or with the piece of kalanchoe leaf held in dark cool place. The skin from the leaf should be removed beforehand of the leaf should be cut. Then during 1-2 minutes the succus is smoothly beat into the skin by the finger pads and nourishing cream is applied afterwards on the wet skin.

After the first procedure there may appear feeling of burn or tingling, however it will go away by the 3rd session. The procedure is repeated 10-12 times every other day or two. Also 8-10 drops of succus from the fresh kalanchoe leaf can be applied on the face and neck right before the nourishing cream application.

Fight against wrinkles

You can prolong the youth of yours kin if you use this receipt of the tonic. Preparation is as follows: mix one tea-spoon of honey (better to take not very thick honey) with the kalanchoe succus dissolved by water (2 table spoons on 0,6 glass of water). Wipe your face with this mixture after washing. This wonderful product nourishes and moistens the skin, helps to maintain suppleness and its elasticity.

Anti-acne production

Place 2 table spoons of the minced kalanchoe leaves and add one glass of boiling water. Leave for 2 hours, then strain. Use this tonic after every washing. It eliminates excessive skin oiliness, reduce pore size.

Dark circles under eyes

You can try to kill this annoying thing just putting to the circles the kalanchoe leaves without their skin. Another method: just use tampon application wetted with the kalanchoe succus before going to bed.

Neck and décolleté care

Mix 1 table spoon of the kalanchoe succus with 2 table spoons of thick sour cream or cream.Spread on the skin and hold it for 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water. There is another method of care for sensitive areas – wipe the skin of neck and décolleté with the plant’s succus every day.

Hand skin care

Add several drops of the fresh kalanchoe succus in your hand cream; spread it over the hands thick and put on cotton gloves. It is easier to do this procedure for the night. Also the kalanchoe juice improves condition of the nails. Wrap every nail in the gauze piece wetted with the succus before you put on the gloves.

Freckles and pigmented spots

In these cases people advise to put the mashed leaves on the pigmented area. The effect will appear gradually after the long use. Remember, you shouldn’t apply any whitening and exfoliating products in the eye contour and straight before you go outside.

Medicinal preparations based on kalanchoe

The kalanchoe preparations are produced mainly in two forms – the form of the succus and ointment in the national pharmaceutics. They belong to the dermatotropic pharmaceutical substances group. They possess bactericidal and disinfective properties.

Moreover, productions based on our “tree of life” are biogenic stimulators. Among with direct pharmacological intervention on the local cause of disease, they activate the body immune system in general, enhancing its non-specific stamina to different illnesses.

Succus kalanchoes

It is made from fresh leaves and green part of stems of Bryophyllum pinnatum. For this purpose fresh green mass is washed in flowing water and held within the temperature 5-10°С in the dark place about 7 days, mashed until it becomes homogeneous liquid mass, squeezed. The succus is settled within the temperature 4—10°С, then it is filtered and sterilized, preserved with alcohol up to 20% and bottled.

The ready-made succus is a transparent or slightly opalescent yellow liquid with the orange shade and aromatic scent.It contains the fine suspended solid particles which are easy to mix when shacked.

The kalanchoe succus has the local anti-inflammatory effect, promotes cleansing of wounds from necrotic tissue (sphacelus) and stimulates their healing.

This medication is applied for treatment of ischemic ulcer (indolent skin defects), nonhealing wounds, burns, bed sores (necrosis caused by the unrelieved pressure due to the forced non-motility), the nursing mothers’ cracked nipples,aphthous stomatitis (inflammation of oral mucosa), gingivitis (inflammation of gingival mucosa) and others.

The preparation possesses high tolerability. In case of burning it is dissolved in equal proportion with 1-2% Novocain solution.

The kalanchoe ointment.

This preparation contains Novocain, furasolidone among with the kalanchoe succus, and its base is the anhydrous lanolin. The method of application: once a day the thin layer of the ointment or the gauze cloth wetted with the preparation are applied on the wound surface after the surgical treatment of wound, and cover the wound with the dressing.The ointment action combines if necessary with antiseptics or antimicrobial therapy to suppress infection.The period of the ointment treatment is 10-15 days.

“Kalanchin” – the kalanchoe preparation for internal use.

Lately you can find the preparation for internal use based on kalanchoe in the drugstores. In is called “Kalanchin” and produced in the granule form.It is preparation has a combined action, possesses the anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates regeneration process of epithelium tissue. It provides the protective action in ulceration of gastric and intestinal mucosa, when taken. “Kalanchin” is almost non-toxic, does not irritate epithelium. The granules are recommended for treatment of gastritis, gastroduodenitis and chronic enterocolitis. The only contra-indication usually determined is the preparation hypersensitivity. The expression of such symptoms as feel of burning, diarrhea and allergic disease may take place in case of individual intolerance.

“Kalanchin” liniment is produced for external use. It promotes cleansing of the wound from purulent secretions, mitigates inflammation and accelerates the healing process. It is almost nontoxic as the other kalanchoe preparations.It is placed on for burns of 2-3 degree, freeze burns, septic wounds and ischemic ulcer, bed sores, cracked nipples, cervicitis (inflammation of the cervical canal). Contra-indications: hypersensitivity, allergic reactions. The method of application is the same as of the kalanchoe ointment.

How to prepare the kalanchoe preparations domiciliary.

Leaves and green part of stems of Bryophyllum pinnatum are cut, washed carefully and put in the dark cool place (5-10° С) for 5-7 days to prepare the succus. This raw is minced; the succus is squeezed and left to settle. The succus can be preserved. For his purpose it is dissolved by alcohol – such that the final alcohol concentration does not exceed 20% and plugged withrubber or aluminum cork.

The succus is stored at the temperature to 10°С – e.g in the refrigerator. The term of storage is no more than a year.

You need a porcelain cup with the round bottom to prepare the ointment from the kalanchoe succus. Clean it with alcohol or water and mix 300 ml of the succus with 50 g of anhydrous lanolin, adding 50 g of Vaseline little by little. The ointment is stored in the refrigerator.

The kalanchoe infusion.

It can be used for application for skin diseases, blepharitis, gingival inflammation and for gargarism. To prepare the infusion mince fresh leaves, add water in 1:5 proportion, keep it for an hour, boil for 2-3 minutes, then filter it through the double cheesecloth.

Use of kalanchoe in medicine

The kalanchoe succus is used as the dermatic for treatment for:

• purulo-necrotic process;
• ischemic ulcer of a surae;
• pbed sores;
• fistula;
• burns, cracks and other damages of skin;

 

The other types of wounds and fistula (different injuries, varicose veins and thrombophlebitis) are cured by this plant.

Kalanchoe is widely used in surgery practice in application form and dressings wetted with the succus:

• in skin transplantation;
• in wound preparation for the secondary stitch overlap;
• in septic wounds after the drain of abscess, panaritium and furunculus.

Kalanchoe is an irreplaceable helper of dermatologists. The succus from fresh leaves is placed on to stop the issue of blood from a wound, to treat furunculosis, skin rashes and eczema.

The kalanchoe preparations have got their honour positions in other branches of medical industry: in dentology, otolaryngology, obstetrical and gynaecological practice; in treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and ocular diseases. This occurs because of the unique capability to remove necrosis and stimulate regeneration of the injured areas.

Goethe, the author of “Faust”, ate “babies” of kalanchoe not in vain. This is an perfect remedy for refreshment and power maintenance.

Leaves can be applied externally either fresh or after the keeping them in the dark place. We know that the large quantity of the biologically active substances is produced in this case.

Fresh minced leaves rapidly stop wounds.

Kalanchoe leaves can be also used in throat inflammation, cold, flu (a leaf is chewed on). After the row of such procedures the painful symptoms will disappear.

Minced leaves of this plant help after burns. Put them to the injured area for the several hours: succus provides the soonest healing and, above all, protects from an infection. The paste from kalanchoe leaves is also helpful in freeze burns, septic wounds, ulcers.

It is healthful to intake kalanchoe leaves in case of the body weakness after severe diseases. They clear the blood, neutralizes toxins and helps to protect the body from cold.

You can add fresh leaves, which have been washed and minced, in the vinegret and potato salad as a preventive measure. It isnotably helpful for people suffering from the inflammation of periodont – periodontitis.