Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the four o' clock family called Nyctaginaceae. It grows swiftly in a warm an moist environment. The health benefits of bougainvillea are staggering and uniquely beneficial for the betterment of human health. It’s origin is Brazil, Bolivia and Peru and they come in different colors. These are cultivated in the tropics and a beautiful landscape plant that sustains abundant colorful bracts surrounding its tiny white flowers throughout the year. The real flowers of the plant are actually smaller and are generally white in color. However, each cluster of three flowers is, in fact, surrounded by three to six brightly colored leaves. The colors of the flower-looking spring leaves are yellow, white, orange, red, purple, magenta, or pink.

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Plantation and Care:

• Bougainvillea should be planted in an area with an open sky to get direct sunlight, well-drained soil and relatively dry climate will be great for this to grow healthier. 

• Watering is required only when the top soil gets dry, while over watering can lead to damage to their roots. 

• Fertilization is required once in a year most preferably when the plant is blooming. 

• Bougainvillea plants can grow as high or as wide as 20 feet when not pruned or trimmed. 

• We can shape our pants per our choice or let this climber to rail through the fencing of our entrance. 

• It generally doesn't attract pests. However, they may suffer from snails, greenfly, blackfly and worms. Adding to this, the larvae of Giant leopard moths use bougainvillea leaves as their food.

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Now let's jump onto the benefits this colorful plant has. The uses may range from medicinal to aesthetic. If you have any, which I have missed out, your recommendations are solely welcome in the comment box down below

• Rich source of antioxidants: 

The extract of the bougainvillea flower is rich in antioxidants. It helps in killing all kinds of free radicals in the body.

• Cleans out The Air:
  Unlike plants: Snake plant, dumb cane, Arrowhead, Night flowering jasmine, Dracena reflexa, snake plant, Pothos, Jade, Echeveria, Jade, English ivy, Peace lily, rubber plant, Bougainvillea also improves the quality of air and water. These flowers have a very good effect on reducing pollution caused due to polluted air and climatic change.

• Helps in killing bacteria:
  The extract made of leaves of the bougainvillea is beneficial in treating diarrhea along with other gastrointestinal illnesses.

• Helps treat digestive problems: The compounds in bougainvillea leaves have anti-inflammatory effects which also helps in the minimizing the intestine and various digestive related conditions and diseases.

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• Helps in treating coughs:
  Tea made up of bougainvillea flowers, helps in relieving cough and sore throat too.

• Helps in cleansing the body naturally:
  The bougainvillea flower helps in flushing various toxic substances from the body and in cleansing the organs, specifically the liver.

• Acts as an antitussive agent:
  The flower is a natural expectorant. Thus, it is also beneficial in promoting the discharge of the respiratory tract mucus. And hence it is useful in improving the respiratory system of the body. It also aids the proper functioning of the lungs.

• Curing digestive problems:
  Digestive disorders like diarrhea, stomach acid and stomach bloating etc can also be treated with decoction of leaves bougainvillea. As read earlier the leaves have anti-inflammatory and soothing effects on the intestine. So, Bougainvillea tea helps in minimizing the digestive problems. This is how we can prepare bougainvillea tea: 

1. Take a few strands of leaf bougainvillea

2. Boil 3 cups of water, let it boil and left half a glass only

3. Drink with honey mixture to cure indigestion.

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• Regulates Blood pressure and Cholesterol:
  The amount of LDL and HDL cholesterol in the body depends on the type of food consumed. If too much bad cholesterol can cause problems then cholesterol and increases the risk of disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Extracts from the leaves of bougainvillea are able to maintain balance of cholesterol and blood pressure.
  In Mexico the flower extract bougainvillea is used as a natural drink to cure high blood pressure and regulate blood pressure. The compound resulting from the benefits of dried flowers can impede problem bougainvillea buildup of plaque in blood vessels. It's what makes the blood pressure become more stable with the treatment of interest bougainvillea.

Hope you like reading this article and find it helpful. Do share feedback and pics of your plant on the feedback_benefitsallaroundyou@gmail.com. Feel free to share the article on your social media to spread awareness about the benefits all around us.