Little Orchid: Applications, Treatments, Health Benefits

The Little Orchid is one of the heralds of spring in the year, it is also called Fool’s Cap or Salep’s Orchid. Already from mid-April, its pretty flowers shine in purple or entirely white on meadows, making it one of the first bloomers of the year.

Occurrence and cultivation of the small orchid

Small orchid is not particularly demanding, it even requires unfertilized sites. Little orchid, as its name suggests, belongs to the genus of orchid within the beautiful family of orchids. It has a reputation for being a small herb, yet its sturdy stem can reach heights of up to 50 centimeters. The leaves standing at the base show a lancet shape and grow up to 10 centimeters. The inflorescence usually shows a rich flowering. The lesser orchid has hermaphrodite flowers, three in number. This plant is a so-called false sap flower, because the spur does not contain any nectar. Pollination of the flowers is an absolute prerequisite for its spread, because without this process it can not form seeds. A self-sterility is the reason for this. The herb is European in origin. It is found in the Near East, North Africa and Caucasia, as well as in England, Scandinavian countries and the Baltic States. But this orchid is also at home in southern climes: in Portugal, Crete and Turkey there are still ideal conditions for the plant. The lesser orchid is not particularly demanding, it even requires unfertilized sites. It grows well in moderately moist meadows and sparse forests. In northern Germany its distribution has decreased more than in southern Germany. In the Mediterranean region the plant can be found already one month earlier, from March it can be admired there. Due to the destruction of more and more natural meadow landscapes, the lesser orchid has been strongly pushed back, especially in northern Germany. The Arbeitskreis Heimischer Orchideen therefore chose it as Orchid of the Year in 1991. This measure was intended to draw attention to its endangerment.

Effect and application

The high mucilage content of the lesser orchid has been known for a long time. As early as 800 BC, people were very confident in the effect of the herb and used it as a medicinal plant. Its main effect is on the mucous membranes. Irritated and inflamed bronchial tubes, pneumonia, cough, throat problems or even problems with the stomach lining can be alleviated with it. The reason for this is its own salep tubers, which with their high mucilage content quickly bring relief in these clinical pictures. Tea or tincture – for the effectiveness it does not play a big role. Both oral ingestion in the form of a tea and gargling of the tincture have been found to be effective remedies for inflammatory forms of the mucous membranes. Little orchid has even been used as an aphrodisiac. According to the theory of signatures, the plant visually resembles a testicle. Therefore, due to the principle of similarity, it found this extended application. For this purpose, the tubers of the plant were pounded and rubbed or even distorted. The effectiveness in this application is not proven, but very well the irritation-relieving effect with the help of the mucus with mucous membrane inflammations of any kind. Indications such as irritable stomach, diarrhea, poorly healing wounds or ulcers can also be treated with the lesser orchid. Due to the combination of mucilage and minerals, the medicinal plant is at the top of the list of effective herbs. During the war years, the herb was even used as a foodstuff here in Germany, and in the Mediterranean region this is still the order of the day. Only 150 years ago, a sandwich of butter and a cup of salep was considered an excellent artisan meal, because it was very nourishing. Accordingly, the medicinal herb is also suitable for those who suffer from a weak overall constitution. However, the collection of the herb is strictly prohibited in Germany, the Little Orchid is under strict protection of nature.

Health significance, treatment and prevention.

Since the tuber was the inspiration for the name: Throughout the Near East, a milk drink is very popular and is gladly served to children: it bears the name “Salèpi”. It is obtained from the salep tuber and is highly valued for its high content of minerals and nutrients.Turks use the precious plant in ice cream, custard powder and many other foods, and the popular tuber is also used in Greek cuisine. As a matter of course, it is accommodated in warming dishes in the cold season and still enjoys great popularity. In addition to the effective treatment of irritated mucous membranes, the herb has been known for many years for its tonic effect. The use and trade are no longer allowed due to the protection of species. Salep is still traded in countries such as China, Turkey and the Emirates, and of course internationally. Some traders even offer pure organic Salep, milk instant powder and rice products are also part of the product range. Consumption of the pure tuber is not only discouraged, but also strictly prohibited in Germany. German customs also conducts many inspections at airports and responds to unlawful imports with severe penalties.