Hoof is the name given to the group of hooves that are part of the same leg of a hoofed animal . Before moving forward with the definition, it is important to clarify what the notions of ungulate and hoof allude to.
A mammalian animal is classified as ungulate when its limbs end in a hoof or hoof . The fingers of these species , with their corresponding nails, are called paws .
The hoof, in short, is the set of hooves on a leg . Horses , cows , sheep , and camels , for example, have hooves.
One of the distinctive characteristics of the hoof is that the nails, formed by keratin , reach a wide development and cover the animal's toes. When walking, the specimen supports its weight on its hooves.
Hoofed mammals whose hooves are made up of an even number of fingers are called artiodactyls . In this case, the hoof stands out for having two toes that are more developed than the rest, generating what is known as a split hoof or sunken hoof . Cows , pigs , goats and sheep have this type of hoof.
Perissodactyls , on the other hand, have an odd number of fingers on their hooves. In this group, rhinos , donkeys and horses appear, among others.
It is known as cow's hoof , cow's foot, cow's hoof or ox's hoof , on the other hand, to a plant that belongs to the group of Fabaceae. With the scientific name Bauhinia forficata , it is a tree that can exceed seven meters in height.
Bauhinia belongs to the Fabaceae family. Its white flowers are very similar to orchids, so much so that they are sometimes confused. Its reproduction takes place through its seeds. Some of the common names that this tree receives are due to the lobed shape of its leaves, which are reminiscent of a hoof print.
Although it is a tropical plant, it can also be grown in cold regions, although in this case it must be done in soil protected from inclement weather until the hot seasons arrive. Since cow's hoof requires exposure to the sun and fresh air, if grown indoors it is recommended to take it out during spring and summer.
The cow's hoof is native to the Asian continent although we can currently find it in several regions of South America. Its wood is one of the reasons why this plant is so appreciated, but its medicinal properties are not far behind.
Let's see below some of the benefits of cow hoof for our health:
* fights dysentery : this infectious disease causes ulcers and inflammation in the large intestine, as well as pain in the abdomen, bloody diarrhea and fever. A treatment with a cow's hoof infusion is recommended, which we can prepare by cooking 5 grams of fresh leaf in 200 milliliters of water;
* purgative action : to cleanse the body, we can add 10 grams of root to 500 milliliters of water and cook everything until it boils;
* antiseptic and healing : this is one of its greatest benefits . To take advantage of them, we must create an ointment by pouring a handful of dried and crushed flowers into half a cup of Vaseline previously heated in a water bath and leaving it on low heat for an hour. Finally, the mixture must be filtered and allowed to cool and then applied directly to the affected area;
* other effects : the medicinal power of cow hoof also reduces blood glucose in cases of type II diabetes. In addition, it helps reduce cholesterol level, acts as a diuretic and can effectively treat hypertension.