Marigold
Useful properties and use of marigold
Useful properties of marigold
This annual herb is well known to both adults and children, because it is planted every spring in front gardens, garden plots and flower beds. But does everyone know that effective medicines are made from this decorative scent flower?
To prepare raw materials, the flowers of marigolds and grass without the lower part of the stems are harvested manually during the flowering period (June-September). They must be dried no later than 3-4 hours after collection in order to avoid damage and loss of healing properties. The shelf life of the finished product is no more than 1 year.
The leaves of the plant contain a lot of organic acids and vitamin C, the flowers contain essential oil, carotene, phytohormones, phytoncides, mucus, bitter and protein substances, resins, and enzymes. Marigolds are a good honey plant. honey from flowers has increased medicinal properties. Fresh young leaves can be used in salads or as an addition to meat, fish, stewed vegetables.
Application of marigold
This medicinal plant is recognized by both folk and official medicine, it is widely used to treat various diseases. Preparations from it are recommended in all cases when an antibacterial effect is required: for stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, inflammation of the throat and oral cavity. Marigolds have a calming effect on the central nervous system, lower blood pressure and normalize cardiac activity.
In addition, fresh and dried flowers have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and stimulating effects. From them, tinctures and ointments are prepared, which are effective for purulent wounds and skin diseases. They are prescribed as an antitoxic agent for allergic dermatitis and psoriasis, internally and externally, marigolds are used for vitiligo. Studies have shown that the plant contains copper, which greatly contributes to the repigmentation (saturation with natural pigments) of the skin.
The infusion of flowers has a good healing effect for trichomoniasis and anus cracks. The infusion can be used for frostbite, barley and cervical erosion. Fresh juice is a great remedy for dandruff, warts, and rashes. Still preparations from the plant help women in menopause, and they are also a symptomatic remedy for patients with inoperable forms of cancer. Under the influence of decoctions and tinctures, patients' sleep and appetite improve, dyspeptic symptoms disappear, and intoxication decreases.
Infusion of flowers: for its preparation, pour 2 teaspoons of dried flowers with 0.5 liters of boiling water, insist for two hours, strain and drink 3 times a day, 1-3 tablespoons.
Marigold flowers
This plant has beautiful golden-orange flowers in the form of inflorescences-baskets, which reach a diameter of 4-6 centimeters. Flowers are tubular and pseudo-ligate; fruits develop only from ligulate flowers.
At one time, this medicinal plant was grown in large quantities in France. He was loved by the Queen of Navarre Marguerite de Valois. And today, in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, you can see a statue of the Queen with a loose flower of marigolds in her hands.
Flower baskets contain many bioactive substances valuable for the human body: carotenoids (up to 3%), organic acids (up to 6.8%), the bitter substance calendine (10%), resins (about 3.5%), mucus (4%), albumin, polysaccharides and polyphenols. A pleasant specific smell of flowers and their phytoncidal properties are due to the presence of essential oil in their composition (about 0.02%).
Flower preparations well heal purulent wounds, reduce inflammation, increase the secretion of bile and urine, regulate the menstrual cycle and have antimicrobial, astringent and blood-purifying effect.
Decoction of marigold
A decoction of the plant is good for uterine fibroids and other female inflammatory diseases. The course of treatment is three months with a break of two weeks every month.
Recipe 1.2 teaspoons of flowers need to be poured into 0.5 liters of water and boiled in a water bath for about 30 minutes, then wrap well and leave for 8 hours (you can overnight), strain, squeeze and take a drink 3-4 times a day for half a glass.
A decoction of flowers and leaves is an effective remedy for burns and cracked heels. It can be used to rinse the throat and mouth.
Recipe 2. Pour 2 handfuls of flowers into 4 liters of water, boil for 20 minutes and let cool. The broth is used warm for lotions or rinsing. It happens that only 3-4 procedures are enough to cure.
Tincture of marigold
It has been experimentally proven that alcoholic tincture of flowers stimulates cardiac activity, lowers blood pressure and reflex excitability, has a calming effect on the nervous system and has an analgesic effect.
Recipe. The tincture is prepared in a ratio of 1:10, that is, 1 part of fresh inflorescences to 10 parts of 70-degree alcohol (a ready-made tincture can be purchased at a pharmacy). When taken orally, they drink 30 drops 2-3 times a day, for lotions, dilute 2 teaspoons of the tincture in 0.5 cups of water.
Marigolds during pregnancy
It is difficult to overestimate the role of herbal medicine during pregnancy, because medicinal plants are a storehouse of biologically active substances related to the human body. They are not alien to the expectant mother and child. One of these medicinal plants is marigold. And although no contraindications to their use during pregnancy have been identified, the attitude towards the plant is ambiguous among different healers.
According to some sources, this flower is useful for gastritis with reduced secretion and as an antiemetic. Their opponents are wary of the plant, since even in the days of Dioscorides it was believed that if a woman took this flower in her hands, she would throw out the fruit, and they recommend listening to the opinion of ancient medicine.
However, who is right and who is not, it is impossible to say unequivocally. And best of all, if a pregnant woman consults with her doctor about taking medications from the plant.
Contraindications to the use of marigold
You can not take plant preparations with low blood pressure and individual intolerance. They can cause allergies in people with hypersensitivity. You should also not use marigolds at the same time as other sedatives.
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).
