Agave is an excellent plant that is found in Mexico and some parts of United States. This is an ancient plant that has a lot of history. For instance, it is associated with tequila. There are several species of this plant and a wide range of ways of how it can be used. From fiber to food, people have utilized this plant in its entirety. The following are some of the uses of this excellent agave plant:
Sweetener
Do you need a natural sweetener? Well, you have it covered. If you have tasted the sweet nectar, then you know you have a good substitute for refined sugar and honey. In fact, this is an excellent substitute. To extract sweet nectar, leaves are cut to the core. The sap is extracted from the core, then filtered and then heated to break it into sugar.
Medicine
Scalp infections, dysentery, jaundice, and constipation are some illnesses that are treated by healing powers of the agave roots, leaves, juice, and sap. However, it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, you can use it to heal burns, skin irritations, and wounds. It can also be used to treat toothache. You can apply a gum that is made out of leaves and roots to a troubling tooth to sooth pain. In the past, it was used to treat snakebites.
Soap
If you have a natural smell, you can use agave extract to cure the problem. The plant has been used to soap making. The roots and leaves contain saponins that can make a cleaning agent. The extract can also be used to make soap. You can check videos online to learn how to make soap from the agave plant.
Tattoos
This may be quite surprising. Before the modern day ink and needles, this plant was used to make tattoos. It has a tip that is perfectly pointy and sharp. Moreover, it provides the ink too. The leaves of harvested from the plant are harvested and grounded into charcoal. In this way, you can get ink source. It is even better than using a chisel and a needle.
Thread and Needle
The agave plant provides a natural sewing kit. When the thorn is removed, the fiber remains intact. Removing the thorn through pounding of the leaf is easy. You can also scrap the leaf until you get the fiber. You can use the fiber as a thread whereas the thorn is used as a needle. However, you should be careful with the process as the plant can cause skin rash when it comes into contact with the skin.
Rope
Agave has been used in making rope. The leaves are burned until they are charred and then soaked in water. They can also be boiled for a considerable amount of time. When you are done boiling or charring the leaves, you can then remove the fiber. You can wound it into a rope.
Landscaping
If your home is located in a desert or a place that receives little rain, agave plant is a good solution. The good thing about this plant is that it is low maintenance plant that requires little amount of water to survive. In fact, it requires a lot of sun and little soil. Other than the excellent looks, these plants can be ideal for landscaping. Instead of spending a lot of money on water and maintenance, why not opt for agave plant?
Food
Stalk, roots, and flowers are all edible. In the past, the leaves were roasted in pits. This process takes a lot of time and is labor intensive. This plant can be grounded into powder and then stored for several years. Thus, it can become handy when there is food storage. Nowadays, agave is consumed in form of tequila and nectar.
Paper
Just like papyrus, this plant can be utilized to make paper. You can make paper by peeling the leaves and then leaving them to dry. Also, waste produced from tequila can be used to make paper. This is a great way of minimizing waste.
Nowadays, agave plant is mainly used as a sugar alternative. This explains why it is a coveted plant. It is a good idea to plant an agave in your garden. It grows well in a warm, dry climate.…