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13 Nov
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Posted by admin
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Hibiscus flower of the genus family Malvaceae gets its name from Greek word ?ß?s??? (hibískos), a name given by Pedanius Dioscorides. The species are 200-220 in number with over 10,000 varieties, flowering with various colours from brilliant red to various hues of pink, orange, white, purple and so on except for pure blue or black, six distinctive forms of petal arrangement from single, double to crested etc.
Some of family grows up to 15 feet if not meddled with, growing mostly in warmer climate annually or as perennial plant. It is known as sorrel, hibiscus, flor de Jamaica and as rosemallow. In ancient times in India its leaves and flower were used for its medicinal and cosmetic use which is now a part of ‘Ayurveda’.
The ‘Javakusum’ or ‘Shoeflower’ as it’s known popularly in India, China is used for its medicinal properties as well as an offering to deity. Ironically its lustrous hue makes it to be used to shine the shoes giving it the name Shoeflower.
This showy flower’s plant often used as a landscaping shrub is used to make drink called sorrel in Caribbean islands like Jamaica. Hibiscus is mixed with various herbs, roots as well as spices and sweetened (with sugar) and served as cold drink. At times Jamaican wine or rum is also added to it.
It is also used to prepare tea which is taken hot and cold as well. Because of its diuretic property it is often found in use by dieters and people having kidney problems. It is also known to lower blood pressure. It also help in reducing cholesterol.
One of the species, Kenaf, is used in making paper. In Caribbean especially, Roselle is taken in as vegetable and also to prepare tea and jam. It is also nowadays used as a food colouring agent. Roots used to make an assortment of concoctions are believed to cure mild ailments as cough. The bark contains bast fibres which are very strong and in Polynesia are used to make grass skirts.
They are also used in making wigs. The leaves and flowers are used for hair and scalp treatment as well. Flowers are also used as hair colour.
| Category: Diet Plans, Success Stories | Tag: cholesterol, hair colour, Hibiscus, Hibiscus flower, Hibiscus tea, lower blood pressure, weight loss |
