In folk medicine, many different herbs are used. Their names are often associated with places of growth, treatment of diseases, and some got their name from Latin. The medicinal properties of immortelle gave a fairly accurate name to the plant. It helps to cope with a variety of ailments, including disturbed water-s alt balance, obesity, and gastrointestinal pathologies.
There are two types of immortelle: meadow (pink) and sandy (cumin). They are found everywhere - throughout Europe and Asia. The healing properties of sandy immortelle have been known since ancient times, but little is known about the benefits of pink. In folk medicine, sandy cumin is used.
Chemical composition
The healing properties of immortelle are determined by its chemical composition. This plant contains many glycosides, flavonoids, sugars, vitamins. In the inflorescences there are elements such as:
- resin;
- dyes;
- tannins;
- micro and macro elements;
- free acids;
- cresol;
- inositol;
- phthalides;
- essential oils.
Where it grows and how to harvest
Sandy immortelle can be found in dry sandy soils of solonchak, forest-steppe, steppe. It grows on the edges, in glades. The plant does not like shading, so it should be looked for in sunny areas.
The grass has a silvery color due to felt pubescence. The height of the stem reaches sixty centimeters. Inflorescences are used in folk medicine.
In the Central part of Russia, the plant blooms from June to the end of July. During this period it is collected. At the dried flower, about thirty centimeters of the stem are cut along with the flower. They are then made into small bundles and dried. Only inflorescences can be cut: they are dried on a newspaper in a well-ventilated area or under a canopy.
At the place of the cut, the grass throws out new inflorescences, which allows you to cut the stems from one bush several times a season.
Properly dried dried flower retains its color. If the grass loses its color, then this indicates a violation of the drying technology: such plants do not have optimal beneficial properties.
Ready raw materials are placed in paper bags, cloth bags or jars, where they can be stored for up to three years.
Plant benefits
Each medicinal plant has indications and contraindications for use. The healing properties of immortelle are due to the richestcontent of vitamins, micro and macro elements and other useful substances. The following properties are attributed to this herb:
- Cholagogue. The high content of essential oils allows you to take sandy immortelle for the treatment and prevention of liver and gallbladder pathologies.
- The plant helps fight endocrine system ailments, normalizes metabolism.
- Promotes the secretion of gastric juice. It can be used for colitis and constipation.
- Used as a diuretic. Decoctions and infusions help fight kidney and bladder stones. In folk medicine, the plant is used to restore the water-s alt balance.
- The plant is used to treat osteochondrosis.
- The substances contained in the grass are able to suppress the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Anti-inflammatory effect.
- Immortelle fights parasites in the body.
- Has a positive effect on blood clotting. This property makes it possible to use the plant for wound healing, with internal bleeding.
- The plant strengthens blood vessels, the heart. It is used for ischemia, to lower blood cholesterol levels, and for arrhythmias.
- Decoction is used as a sedative, helps fight stress, nervous disorders, ANS diseases.
- Used to treat coughs.
The use of immortelle allows you to relieve spasms, remove pain caused by improper functioning of the digestive tract.
Contraindications
Like all medicinal plants, helichrysum has indications and contraindications for use. The latter include hypertension. Cmin helps to increase blood pressure, which is why it is forbidden to use it for people suffering from hypertension. Also, do not use the plant for those who suffer from blood clotting disorders, especially people with thrombophlebitis. Vitamin K, which is part of the composition, increases blood clotting, causing blood clots.
Under the ban grass for those who suffer from gastritis with high acidity. Folk remedies prepared from the plant increase the production of gastric juice.
Also, do not take the plant for those who have intolerance to the substances that make up the herb. In order not to cause complications, immortelle is taken in short courses: long-term use can cause poisoning. This is due to the content of toxic substances that accumulate in the liver, causing blood stasis.
Benefits and harms for women
Helichrysum has a lot of positive properties for women. However, it is worth remembering that this plant should not be taken by pregnant and lactating women.
In gynecology, immortelle is used to treat uterine bleeding, as a prophylactic against this disease.
The plant is able to normalize vascular tone, blood sugar levels in diabetes. Helps with menstrual cramps.
Benefits and harms for men
Contraindications for the treatment of male pathologies with immortelle have not been found. Because of this feature, the plant can be used according to general recommendations. Decoctions and infusions of herbs help to cope with the pathologies of the urinary system, fight inflammation of the prostate gland, prevent pain attacks in case of urolithiasis, remove stones from the kidneys.
Recipes of traditional medicine
There are many different traditional medicine recipes that use immortelle. It is taken as infusions, decoctions and as a tea. There are immortelle recipes where this plant is used in conjunction with other herbs.
Preparing the infusion
To prepare the infusion, take a glass of boiling water and pour a tablespoon of herbs into it. Infuse for twenty minutes, then cool the product, filter. The resulting liquid is divided into three doses. Take the infusion before meals.
If it is supposed to take the infusion as a diuretic, then a spoonful of grass is poured into 0.5 liters of cold water. The composition is infused for eight hours. It is taken as tea or as plain water. During the day, you need to drink all half a liter.
Preparing decoction
In order to prepare a decoction, two glasses of water and two tablespoons of immortelle are taken. The mixture is boiled over low heat for ten minutes. After cooling, the composition is filtered. Taken as a quarter cup thrice daily.
You can make a concentrated decoction of immortelle. For this, the composition is boiled for forty minutes. Remedy receivedtake a tablespoon up to three times a day.
Helichrysum with other herbs
Useful properties of immortelle allow you to use this plant along with other herbs. There are many recipes that use dried flowers.
For the treatment of gastritis, an infusion of corn stigmas, nettle, chamomile, immortelle, mint, yarrow and plantain, taken in equal parts, is used. Then a spoonful of the mixture is poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for half an hour. The remedy is drunk in three visits. For the treatment of cholecystitis, you will need two tablespoons of a mixture of herbs, pour 0.5 liters of water and insist overnight. Strain in the morning, take two spoons during the day.
To cope with the pathologies of the gallbladder, they take in equal parts wormwood, dandelion, corn stigmas, fennel fruits, tansy, calendula, mint, immortelle, chamomile. Everything is mixed. A spoonful of the collection is poured with a glass of boiling water and heated in a water bath for twenty minutes. After straining, a glass of water is added to the composition. Take an infusion of half a glass up to three times a day.
To treat constipation, take three parts of dandelion roots, immortelle, buckthorn and two parts of mint. Then two tablespoons of the mixture are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, let it brew for half an hour. The finished product is drunk per day, dividing the volume into five doses.
Extract
The benefits of the plant have long been appreciated by scientists and doctors. The first managed to obtain from the plant a special drug that helps in the fight against a variety of ailments. Helichrysum extract, sold in pharmacies, helps fight hepatitis,cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, cholangitis. It is used in the combined therapy of diabetes mellitus, obesity, giardiasis. The substance can be applied topically for burns, wounds, ulcers, erosions.
The extract is obtained from immortelle flowers. It is available in different dosage forms: eye ointment, powder for suspension, ready-made suspension, tablets.
Pills are taken at 0.05 g three times a day, before meals. If necessary, the doctor may increase the dosage. Duration of treatment - from ten days.
Powder is used to prepare suspensions. This medicinal substance can be used to treat children from the age of one month.
Using oil
In medicine, immortelle oil is widely used. This tool has a positive effect on muscle fibers, relieving spasms. It fights trigeminal neuralgia, is used in massage. It is rubbed into bruises, bruises, places of rupture of capillaries, small vessels.
According to reviews, immortelle oil relieves moths well: this is the best household remedy in pest control. Also, the oil can affect microorganisms that affect vegetable crops.
Oil is widely used in cosmetology. This tool enhances tissue regeneration after acne, rejuvenates the skin, retains moisture in the cells. The oil helps to smooth out wrinkles, dissolves scar tissue. The remedy is very popular among women, as it helps to cope with the consequences of skin stretch marks.
Constant use of oil helps to remove pigmentblemishes, shrink pores, eliminate dark circles under the eyes.
When using any remedy based on immortelle, one should not forget that this is a potent medicinal plant that has contraindications. No herbal remedies should be used by people suffering from an allergic reaction to the components of the plant. Also, do not use the plant during pregnancy and lactation. Ideally, before using any product, even for cosmetic purposes, you should consult with a specialist. Only after his approval can immortelle oils, extracts and other types of medicines be used.
