Native to South America and quite common throughout the Brazilian territory, the plant known as tear of Our Lady belongs to the Poaceae family.

In addition to its rather curious name, the plant ended up gaining fame for the use of its seeds in religious rituals for making rosaries and saint guides.

Added to this, the tear of Our Lady also has medicinal properties that can be used in the process of treating and curing some diseases. Its active principles are based on substances such as fatty and myristic acids, arginine, beta-carotene, coixol, histidine, leucine, lysine, proteins and mineral salts.

Depending on where it is found, the plant may be known by many other names. The main ones are: capiá, capim-de-nossa-señora, capim-de-contas, capim-bead, capim-rosario, de-tear-count, tears-of-job, tears-of-Christ and tears-of-Christ. -Saint Peter.

medicinal properties

In addition to the ornamental use, from leaves, rhizome and seeds, the plant can be integrated into medicinal treatments, spread by the caboclos. It is important to remember that each part of the plant has specific indications. Therefore it is advisable that the doctor be consulted.

In general, the plant can be used in the treatment of lung abscess, acrodynia, catarrhal conditions, appendicitis, beriberi, dysuria, edema, chronic enteritis, muscle and bronchial spasms. Its use is also indicated in cases of nervous excitement, fevers, swelling, hyperglycemia, urinary lithiasis, low back pain, kidney ailments, lumbar pneumonia and rheumatism.

Contraindications

As stated before, it is good to be very attentive to the use of the tear of Our Lady in health treatments. Women who are expecting a baby, as well as those who are breastfeeding, should avoid the plant. Young children are part of the list of contraindications.

Long-term use is also not indicated, as it can cause side effects. Among the main ones identified are respiratory depression, a problem that, depending on the intensity that affects the patient, can lead to death and motor paralysis.

Our Lady’s tear tea

The tea of ​​​​the tear of Our Lady can be prepared using the leaves or seeds of the plant. For this you will need 200 ml of filtered water and a small portion of the roasted seeds or leaves of the dried plant. Bring the water to a boil, once it is boiling, turn off the heat.

Add the chosen part of the plant and let it rest for a few minutes. It is important that you keep the container closed to aid in the herb infusion process. After this time, just use a sieve to remove the plant parts and the tea is ready to be drunk.