Tobacco is a plant of the nightshade family. Its Latin name is nicotina. It is represented by various species: annual and perennial, growing in the form of grass or shrubs.
Tobacco leaves are usually whole, and the flowers have a wide variety of colors. Their shape is five-pointed, and the fruits look like brown boxes, which distinguishes this type of plant. Tobacco seeds are inside these small formations.
Types of tobacco
Today, about 60 species of the named plant can be found on the planet. In most cases, they are localized in Australia and the Americas. In Russia, only two varieties are the most popular: shag and smoking (cultural).
They are not included in the list of prohibited substances, although they contain many narcotic elements. It should be noted that these plants were obtained during cultivation, so they are not found in the wild. In addition to them, in ourother varieties are also grown in the country: sticky, four-leaf, winged and fragrant tobacco.
The height of the plant ranges from 30 cm to 2.5 m, depending on the variety. For example, the cultural species has the largest dimensions. What does tobacco look like? The plant is very similar to a tree: it is tall and heavily branched. The leaves are arranged in rows and the flowers come in three shades of pink, red and white.
Growing
Since the plant has seeds, it is bred with their help. Loose and well-plowed soil is required for planting seeds. Tobacco feels great both in the open field and in the nursery. Therefore, it is up to you to decide where you want to plant a fragrant specimen. By the way, the seeds of this plant are so small that you will definitely need a special gun.
After the seeds are planted in the ground, it must be insulated with a layer of straw on top. If everything is done correctly, then strong young seedlings will appear after a month and a half. You need to wait until they reach 15 cm in height, and transplant the plant (scented tobacco) to the plantation.
By the way, this area should be protected from the wind. It is best if it is located on a small slope - in such a place the water will not stagnate: the soil will not be washed out by precipitation. In the soil itself, it is necessary to add roots from old plants that are available from previous plantings. In addition, it must be diluted with sand. It will make it easier for the roots to grow and move around.
Care
Tobacco plant, getting on the plantation, requires special care. Every day it needs to be watered, weeded, loosened the soil around it, and also protect the shoots from various pests. Many gardeners say that tobacco leaves can protect themselves from excessive evaporation. But they are so wide that additional irrigation of the soil is simply inevitable. If there is not enough moisture, the plant (tobacco) will stop growing and lose flavor.
By the way, many farmers make so-called bait. Before planting seedlings on a plantation, they fertilize the ground with a bucket of compost or humus - this amount will be needed per square meter. After that, chicken droppings or an infusion of green herbs are periodically added to the soil.
Two top dressings per season will be enough. Tobacco care also includes pinching. And so that it is fragrant and strong, and the leaves are fleshy and large, side shoots are periodically plucked out. This is done when they grow 5 cm. As for the inflorescences, they are removed as soon as they form a bud. If seeds are needed, one or two flowers can be left - no more.
Collecting and harvesting
Tobacco picking begins at the end of summer. Harvesting goes until mid-autumn. Start at the top of the plant. There, the leaves are cut first of all, as they received maximum light and moisture. After the upper tiers are assembled, the lower part has the opportunity to grow and get everything that it lacked - for example, more sunlight.
The cut leaves are placed in the drying chamber. Under the influence of temperature, they lose some of the nicotine. Therefore, the length of stay in such a chamber has a direct impact on the strength, which tobacco will be able to boast of in the future. The plant is further dried in natural conditions. The leaves are laid out on fabric surfaces in the open air in a place where there is a lot of sunlight. They are covered at night to keep out insects.
Useful properties
Today, tobacco is used in everyday life. Hang his leaves in the closet where fur products are stored, and he will protect them from voracious moths. If you have a dry plant available, place it in a fur bag and hang it next to your favorite fur coat. By the way, tobacco, the cultivation and useful properties of which are described in this article, is widely used by gardeners and agronomists. This plant helps to rid the beds of annoying pests. To do this, sprinkle vegetables, fruits and flowers with a decoction of the leaves.
For a person, the benefits of tobacco as a plant are undeniable. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is used to treat epilepsy, motion sickness, eye and skin ailments, and problems of the cardiovascular system. A paste of leaves helps to overcome tuberculosis of the lymph nodes. The plant also promotes the healing of problematic wounds. Paradoxically, it is with the help of tobacco that smokers are helped to get rid of a bad habit.
Treatment with tobacco
Tobacco can be used to treat many diseases. The plant helps if a person is diagnosed with:
- Dermatological diseases. Tobacco decoctions can destroy various bacteria, including those that provoke the development of skin ailments.
- Rhinitis. Inhaling aromatic enzymes that exude from the leaves of the plant can restore the normal condition of the nasal mucosa.
- Throat diseases. The leaves have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Malaria. This disease has been treated with tobacco for decades. Science knows positive cases.
- Indigestion. Saliva, impregnated with plant enzymes, improves the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, enhances metabolism, promotes normal metabolism.
They say that the plant prevents cell division, their improper development. Therefore, there are cases when tobacco stopped the growth of malignant tumors.
Several he althy recipes
The tobacco plant is actively used in folk medicine. For example, a tincture of it, as already mentioned, helps fight cancer. To prepare it, you need to take 30 g of dried, crushed leaves and pour them with 200 g of pure alcohol. The container is tightly closed and placed in a dark, cool place for 20 days. Then filter and place for another week in similar conditions. The finished tincture is used as follows: 1 drop is added to 100 g of boiled water. The drink is drunk in the morningbreakfast. Every day the number of drops is increased - up to fourteen. Then every three days you need to reduce it by one unit. When only one drop remains, the course ends.
To treat the common cold and other diseases of the nasopharynx, simply sniff tobacco leaves every day. In this case, aromatic particles should not fall on the mucous membrane. To get rid of a sore throat, just put a few pinches of the plant under the tongue. Saliva, secreted in large quantities, must be swallowed, but do it carefully so that parts of the plant do not fall on the mucous membrane.
Contraindications
The plant also has them. Tobacco, for example, is not recommended for the treatment of young children, pregnant women and young mothers. And alcohol tincture from it can adversely affect the he alth of even an adult strong person. By the way, the situation is aggravated when self-grown tobacco is used for its preparation.
The first signs of poisoning are as follows: headache, hallucinations, dizziness, fever. If you experience these symptoms, call an ambulance immediately. Even before the arrival of the brigade, you can try to wash the stomach yourself. And remember the main thing - before using any traditional medicine, it is better to consult a doctor!
