Cornflower blue
Medicinal properties and recipes for the use of cornflower
This plant is no more than 60 cm high with a branched and straight stem. The root system of the cornflower is very developed. The leaves of the plant are linear-lanceolate, at the top - solid, at the bottom - lobed. Beautiful blue or blue flower baskets in diameter reach no more than 3 cm. The flowers inside the baskets are blue-violet in color, they bear fruit. The flowers are sterile along the edge and are slightly lighter in color than the inner ones.
Cornflower fruits are achenes of gray-yellow color, very smooth. The achenes have a red crest. Basil blue begins to bloom in May, flowering continues until the last days of autumn, the appearance of fruits occurs at the end of summer.
Cornflower propagation occurs by seed.
The blue cornflower is found in Europe, in some places in Central Asia, in Siberia and the Caucasus. In fact, cornflower is a weed, but it is also grown for decorative purposes. It can be seen in rye crops, on the roadside, in dry meadows.
The healing properties of cornflower
Cornflower marginal flowers contain glycosides, flavonoids, vitamins, tannins, mineral salts, dyes and alkaloids.
Preparations made from blue cornflower have diaphoretic, antipyretic, diuretic and antimicrobial properties. In addition, cornflower has a choleretic effect. The plant relaxes, heals wounds, relieves pain. And also cornflower is a remedy that relieves spasm of smooth muscles of internal organs, improves digestive processes and stimulates appetite.
Collecting and harvesting cornflower
For medicinal purposes, the marginal cornflower flowers are collected. The collection should be done in this way: first you need to collect the flower baskets, then pluck out the edge flowers with your hands. Flowers plucked and laid out on paper should be ventilated in a dark place. If the flowers have been properly dried, then they will be blue in color, odorless, their taste should be bitter. The dried cornflower flowers are stored in glass jars for two years.
If the sun's rays hit the raw material during the drying process, then the flowers will not only change their color from blue to white, but also remain without their medicinal properties. If this is the case, just throw these flowers away, as they will do nothing.
Cornflower in medicine
Cornflower is used for coughs, colds, edema of the heart and kidneys, cystitis, nephritis and urethritis. Also, the plant is a digestive aid. Cornflower is used for lotions for eye diseases, skin diseases, blindness.
Jaundice, worms, fever, colic, gout - another list of ailments that you can get rid of with the help of cornflower. In folk medicine, the plant is used for headaches, to cleanse the blood. And also cornflower is used to compose herbal preparations and teas.
Infusion of plant flowers is used as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent for conjunctivitis, night blindness and blepharitis.
Infusion of cornflower for washing. To make it, you need to take 1 teaspoon of cornflower flowers, which should be poured with 200 ml of boiling water. Leave this composition to infuse for 1 hour. After straining the ready-made infusion, take it 50 ml 3-4 times every day 20 minutes before a meal.
Infusion of cornflower for colds. Take 2 teaspoons of the dried herb and steep it with a glass of boiling water. Leave to infuse for 2 hours. It is necessary to take such an infusion before meals (20 minutes) 3-4 times daily.
Cornflower laxative. To prepare it, you need to take 2 teaspoons of dry plant roots and pour 200 ml of boiling water over them, insist for two hours and strain. Take the medicine 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day 15 minutes before meals.
Infusion of flowers. It is necessary to pour 10 flowers with 200 ml of boiling water, insist, cool and be sure to strain. You need to take this medicine three times a day between meals, 70 ml.
Infusion for hair. Take 1 tablespoon of flowers and pour 500 ml of a mixture of vinegar and boiling water (in a ratio of one to one). Leave to infuse for half an hour. Store in a dark place. This infusion helps to restore and strengthen hair. It needs to be rubbed twice a day into the hair roots. Rinse your hair with plain water before bed.
Herbal collection. Take cornflower flowers, aronia berries, yarrow herb, white mistletoe leaves, valerian root, hawthorn fruit and horsetail herb - all these ingredients are 15 grams each. Next, take 1 tablespoon of the prepared collection and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it, leave to infuse for half an hour. Do not forget to strain the resulting product. It is recommended to take such a collection for hypertension, 70 mg after a meal.
Cornflower for lotions. It is necessary to pour 1 teaspoon of plant flowers with two glasses of boiling water. Cool the composition and filter. Patients with conjunctivitis are advised to apply lotions 6-8 times every day.
Cornflower lotion. Pour 50 grams of freshly picked cornflower flowers with 500 ml of boiling water. Leave to stand for 1 hour, then strain. This lotion can be stored in the refrigerator. People with oily skin wipe their face with this tool. You should wipe your face with this lotion 1 time per day.
Contraindications to the use of cornflower
Given the fact that cornflower contains active compounds, which include cyan components, it should be used only on condition of consulting a doctor.
Be careful!
The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist
Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).
