Tincture of fresh cornflower flowers. Cornflower: medicinal properties and contraindications

Cornflower, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which we will consider in the article, is an annual plant whose homeland is considered to be the Mediterranean. It grows in Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan. The plant is often found on forest edges and roadsides.

Legends

Many legends are associated with the origin of cornflower. According to one of them, the centaur cured a wound inflicted by Hercules with the juice of the plant. According to Roman beliefs, a certain young man named Cianus wore dark blue clothes. The goddess Flora did not like this, and she turned him into a flower. And in Ukraine they say that once a peasant named Vasily was mowing rye. The mermaid liked him and decided to bewitch him. Vasily followed her, spellbound. And she, not wanting to let go, turned him into a cornflower (photo of flowers in front of you), which resembles water in color.

Magic

This plant is credited with magical properties. They say that flowers can protect people from evil spirits. For example, on the day of Ivan Kupala, girls wash themselves with infusion from this flower so that evil spells cannot overcome them. And on the wedding day, the bride and groom were baptized with a bunch of cornflowers. It is customary to consecrate them on August 14, the day of Makovei or the First Savior. They also make wreaths from them and keep them at home for a whole year. Cornflower is also mentioned in folk songs. Medicinal properties and contraindications have long been known in folk medicine. Even Hippocrates knew about this flower. It is still used today in the treatment of many ailments.

Science has about 700 species, and they are not only blue, but also white, black, yellow and purple. However, the classic cornflower is blue in color.

Collection, preparation of raw materials and storage

The flowers are collected throughout the summer while they are in bloom. The best ones are those that have fully blossomed. The raw material is blue flowers, which are separated from the tubular bases to achieve better quality of the medicine.

The plucked flowers are ventilated by placing them in a cool, dark place. If the raw material is prepared correctly, it will turn blue, have no odor, and if you taste it, the cornflower will be bitter. Flowers are stored in glass containers or paper bags for two years.

If the sun's rays hit the plant during drying, the cornflower flowers will lose their medicinal properties and become useless for traditional medicine. This, by the way, can be seen by the color - it will turn white.

Compound

The fact that cornflower has medicinal properties and contraindications is explained by its composition. It includes the following microelements and substances:

• potassium;
• magnesium;
• calcium;
• copper;
• iron;
• vanadium;
• chromium;
• cobalt;
• luteilin;
• selenium;
• Pelargonin chloride.

The plant contains a lot of:

• vitamin C, which normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system, activates the activity of the endocrine glands and normalizes hematopoiesis;
• carotene, an immunostimulating substance, as well as an excellent antioxidant;
• resins that have antibacterial, disinfectant and immunomodulatory effects;
• coumarins, which reduce blood clotting, and also have astringent, antiseptic and diuretic properties.

Useful properties of blue cornflower

The healing properties of the plant have long been used in folk medicine. Antipyretic and diuretic drugs are prepared on its basis. An ancient Roman doctor named Galen treated patients’ kidneys with the plant. Until now, cornflower is used for problems in the genitourinary system, for example, neuritis or cystitis.

Other medicinal properties of cornflower include choleretic and cleansing. Thanks to the first, the plant treats liver diseases. Cornflower protects the body from viruses and infections. And the cleansing property is actively used during diets. By removing unnecessary water, cornflower promotes rapid fat burning. Decoctions from it normalize digestion and help eliminate toxins and waste, eliminating harmful substances.

The flower has a known positive effect on vision. So, for blepharitis, cotton pads soaked in an infusion of cornflowers are applied to the eyelids. The same remedy will relieve fatigue after working at the computer for a long time.

Contraindications

First of all, you should not discount individual intolerance. Some trace elements make the plant toxic. We are talking about potentially dangerous cyanide components that cornflower contains. Medicinal properties and contraindications vary greatly in percentage terms, however, it must be borne in mind that the plant is slightly poisonous. Therefore, its use is prohibited for pregnant women, as well as women during lactation and children. It is also known that folk remedies for uterine bleeding are not made from it. Moreover, if you have such a problem, you cannot use it in any form. The coumarins contained in cornflower are very strong anticoagulants; they inhibit blood clotting.

Application

For those who want to normalize the digestive process, improve appetite, or recover from a cold, it is useful to drink tea brewed with cornflower. The flowers are added to black or green tea, and the drink is drunk twenty minutes before meals. It actively eliminates toxins. A healing mixture is also prepared from various components. To do this, take a teaspoon of bearberry and pour 500 milliliters of boiling water and leave on the fire for 3-4 minutes, after which add the same amount of cornflower, cool the solution and leave for several hours. Take the medicine three times a day according to Art. spoon.

Recipes

The following tincture will have an excellent effect as a diuretic for edema and to increase appetite. Take one part of the flowers and pour ten parts of vodka. The medicine is infused for two weeks, after which it is filtered. Take twenty drops before meals, diluted in a tablespoon of water at room temperature.

The decoction is good for making eye lotions for inflammation and fatigue. Take a teaspoon of flowers, add boiling water to a glass and keep on fire for several minutes. Then leave for an hour, filter, moisten cotton pads in a cool broth and apply to the eyelids. It is also taken orally, two tbsp. spoons three times a day an hour before meals for sore throat, bronchitis and laryngitis.

They also prepare an infusion for colds. These same recipes are folk remedies for diarrhea in children and adults, stomach pain and kidney disease. The cooking recipe is as follows. Three teaspoons of cornflowers are poured with 400 milliliters of boiling water, left for a couple of hours, and then filtered. Take the product 4 times a day 15 minutes before meals.

Cornflower for beauty

Look at the cornflower! The photo of the flowers shows how beautiful these plants are. It's no surprise that they are widely used in the beauty industry. The flower has a beneficial effect on the skin of the face, eyelids and hair.

The plant extract is included in many cleansing lotions sold in stores. But they also prepare it themselves. For this, two tbsp. spoons are poured with two glasses of boiling water and left for an hour. It is useful to wash your face in the morning or wipe your face. It is also frozen and rubbed with an ice cube. It perfectly tones the skin and tightens pores. Cornflower is especially suitable for oily and combination skin, as it reduces sebum production and the appearance of acne. If you use it constantly, your face will become matte and fresh.

When working at the computer for a long time, cornflower infusion becomes an indispensable remedy. Compresses are made with it on the eyelids. They also wash the skin around the eyes after removing makeup and before applying cosmetics to the face.

The infusion will help breathe strength into weakened and lifeless hair. It is rubbed into the roots after washing your hair. It’s also good to simply rinse your curls. Cornflower will help stop hair loss and get rid of dandruff.

Herbalists recommend doing flower baths. They relieve fatigue. This is facilitated by the essential oils contained in the plant. Preparing a bath is simple. A glass of flowers is poured with boiling water, left for an hour and poured into the bath. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.

Use in cooking

Cornflower seeds are used as a seasoning. They are added to gravies, sauces, salads, and hot dishes. The leaves are used for pickling and added to pates and sausages. All dishes with cornflower acquire a special, refined taste.

Conclusion

These are the medicinal properties and contraindications they have. Of course, the plant is worth trying for treatment. But before you start taking it orally, you need to make sure there are no contraindications, and also consult a doctor.

Instructions for use:

Blue cornflower, or sowing, is an annual/biennial meadow herbaceous plant of the genus Cornflower of the Asteraceae (Asteraceae) family, with a height of 0.15 to 1 m. It blooms from June to September, the flowers range from snow-white to dark purple, but are used for medicinal purposes only blue, blue and purple flowers.

Cornflower is widespread in Europe, with the exception of its northern and southern regions, in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Siberia and the Far East. It grows everywhere: on forest edges, clearings, roadsides, as a weed in cereal fields and vegetable gardens.

Chemical composition

The medicinal properties of blue cornflower are due to the presence in its chemical composition of the flavone glycoside centaurein, the blue anthocyanin glycoside cyanin, essential oil, bitter and tannins, saponins, mineral salts, diglucosides of cyanidin and pelargonidin, and such phenol and flavone derivatives as luteolin, apigenin, kaempferol , quercetin.

Beneficial features

The use of blue cornflower has the following effects on the body:

• pronounced antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory;
• choleretic and mild diuretic;
• antipyretic, diaphoretic, analgesic;
• normalizes digestion, improves appetite;
• sedative;
• antispasmodic;
• immunomodulatory.

Indications for use

In folk medicine, all parts of blue cornflower have long been used to treat the following diseases/conditions:

• grass: muscle and tendon strains;
• flowers: chronic inflammation of the kidneys and urinary tract, renal edema, urolithiasis, pyelitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis, cardiovascular diseases, cardiac edema, neuroses, diarrhea, jaundice, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, increased fatigue of the visual apparatus;
• inflorescences: migraines, heart disease, stomach pain, delayed menstruation, uterine diseases, diathesis, diarrhea in children, rickets, eczema, rheumatism;
• seeds: warts (for removal), wounds (promote rapid healing);
• bitterness, which is part of all parts of the plant: diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), as well as as part of gastric preparations.

Cornflower is a good melliferous plant; the honey collected by bees is thick, greenish-yellow in color, with a pleasant, light odor of almonds, sometimes slightly bitter.

Contraindications

The plant belongs to the class of poisonous due to the presence of active compounds containing a cyanogen component in its composition, therefore drug therapy with cornflower requires caution.

Such drugs should not be used during pregnancy, or in women with active uterine bleeding, since coumarins in the plant have a strong anticoagulant effect, inhibiting blood clotting.

Before using any product containing blue cornflower raw materials, you should consult a specialist.

Home remedies from blue cornflower

• infusion of flowers: pour 3 teaspoons of dry raw materials with 2 cups (400 ml) of boiling water and leave for 2 hours, then strain; Take 15 minutes before meals, 1 tablespoon 4 times a day. Used to treat colds, coughs, constipation, stomach pain, bladder diseases, kidney failure, poisoning; during lactation, the infusion is drunk to increase milk flow; used as an external agent to make lotions and compresses;
• decoction: chop 1 teaspoon of dried flowers well, add 250 ml of boiling water and boil for about 4 minutes, remove from heat and leave for 1 hour, then strain; take 1 hour after meals, 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. Used as an expectorant for bronchitis, sore throat, laryngitis; used as lotions for eye diseases to relieve inflammation;
• tincture (more effective than decoction and infusion): pour flowers in a ratio of 1:10 with vodka (40% vol.), leave for 2 weeks, then strain; Take 20 drops diluted in 1 tablespoon of warm water before meals, 3 times a day. Used to improve appetite and for the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system;
• oil infusion: pour a tablespoon of flowers into 150 ml of purified vegetable oil (preferably olive) and leave for several hours; to relieve inflammation of the eyelids, moisten a cotton swab with the infusion and place it on the eyelids for 15 minutes, then wipe the skin around the eyes with this swab; as a sedative when taking water procedures, add an infusion to the bath to relieve fatigue and restore the overall tone of the body;
• tea: pour a teaspoon of cornflower petals into a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour, drink 2 times a day. It is used as a mild analgesic and antipyretic, as well as for prevention and cleansing the body of waste and toxins.

Cornflower is a wildflower beloved by many. It pleases us not only with its pure blue color, but also with many beneficial and healing properties. It is brewed to relieve eye fatigue, for boils, cystitis and many other diseases. He is an excellent honey plant that gives us healing and tasty honey.

Cornflower has long been known among people as the first herald of real summer. In mid-June, and in some areas already at the end of May, it appears in fields sown with rye, meadows and along roads.

Everyone knows what cornflower looks like. This is an annual or perennial herbaceous plant, up to 60 centimeters high with a thin stem and lanceolate leaves 1-4 centimeters long. Blue cornflower or field cornflower is a beautiful flower of rich blue color with delicate petals collected in a basket.

It blooms from May, June to September. The seeds ripen at the end of summer.

Cornflower belongs to the Asteraceae family and includes about 734 species, differing from each other in the shape and color of the petals. Southern Europe is considered its homeland, but it grows all over the world: in Europe, Asia, Australia, America.

On our territory, the most common are blue or field cornflower, meadow cornflower, Russian cornflower, mountain cornflower, which grow throughout almost the entire territory, excluding the regions of the far north. Some species of cornflower are listed in the Red Book and are protected by the states of many countries.

Cornflower is considered a weed that infests grain crops. Its most favorite places to grow are along roads, forest edges, and meadows. But my favorite place is the crops of rye, barley, and wheat.

Cornflower beneficial properties

The main components of the chemical composition of cornflower flowers are:

Anthocyanins;

Glycosides;

Flavonoids;

Alkoloids.

In addition, it contains:

Vitamins;

Minerals;

Dyes (protocyanin pigment);

Essential oil;

Coumarins;

Tannins.

The main mineral salts in it are potassium and magnesium salts - two very important minerals for the human body.

The blue cornflower plant is not for a bouquet - once picked, it does not last long in a vase, and the very next day it withers. But it retains nutrients and color very well when dried. Why they love to collect it for bouquets of dried flowers.

Cornflower medicinal properties

The health benefits of cornflower are poorly described, although Aristotle even resorted to treatment using cornflower decoctions. Preparations prepared on its basis have the following properties:

Antipyretics;

Diuretics;

Laxatives;

Tonic;

Stimulating;

Antimicrobial;

Choleretic;

Painkillers.

Cornflower indications for use

In official medicine, blue cornflower flowers are used in collections as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic agent. It is mainly prescribed for renal and cardiac edema, nephritis, cystitis, and urethritis. The choleretic properties of the herb are used to treat the liver and bile ducts.

Its use is much wider in folk medicine, where flower petals, leaves and roots are used for treatment. It has long been used as an effective remedy for the treatment of conjunctivitis, as well as in the form of lotions to relieve eye fatigue.

Preparations from it in the form of decoctions, compresses, infusions are prescribed for:

• Pain in the heart;
• Inflammations of various kinds;
• Disorders of the urinary system;
• Dropsy;
• Jaundice;
• Women's diseases (delayed menstruation);
• Diarrhea;
• Headaches;
• Rheumatism;
• Diathesis (children);
• Eczema;
• Tendon and muscle strain;
• Inflammation and redness of the eyes, barley;
• Chronic kidney diseases.

Cornflower is also used as an analgesic, antipyretic, sedative and bactericidal agent, and for weight loss.

Collection and procurement of raw materials

Blue cornflower or field cornflower is used as a medicinal plant in official medicine. In folk medicine, meadow cornflower, which has pink-lilac flowers, is sometimes used.

The plant can only be harvested during the flowering period, which lasts a long period.

To do this, select fully blossomed specimens, remove limp and faded leaves, and pick flower petals from the flower basket.

The resulting material is dried only in the shade to preserve all the beneficial substances. Petals that have lost color after drying are not used for treatment, as they have lost their healing properties.

To prepare compresses and lotions, heal wounds and remove warts, use dry seeds, previously dried in the same way.

Usually, after three to four days, the prepared material is completely dry and ready for storage. To do this, it is placed in an airtight glass container and used for two years.

Cornflower roots are also used in folk medicine. They are harvested during the flowering period, along with the rest of the plant. The roots are cleaned and dried in the usual way. Paper bags or cardboard boxes are most often used for storage.

Cornflower application

There are a number of recipes in which blue cornflower is used fresh. For example, a drink made from cornflower, the recipe for which is quite simple.

5-7 grams of cornflower petals (a heaping teaspoon) is poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for half an hour.

Tea or a drink with cornflower can be drunk immediately or diluted with boiling water, like tea leaves. This remedy, thanks to the biologically active substances contained in it, will perfectly relieve headaches, fever and swelling, and quench thirst.

Tea prepared in this way perfectly stimulates the appetite if you drink it half an hour before a meal.

Blue cornflower for heart disease

Blue cornflower does an excellent job of restoring the body after heart disease. To do this, prepare an oil extract.

100 grams of herbal mass are crushed, poured with 2 glasses of vegetable oil (preferably olive) and infused in a warm place (preferably in the sun) for 20 days. It is best to use opaque, tightly sealed containers for this. The resulting mixture is filtered and taken 1 teaspoon on an empty stomach every day.

Extraction helps normalize heart pressure, relieve swelling and disinfect the body. The course of treatment is 2 months and can be repeated only after six months.

Collection for hypertension

Take 15 grams of each plant: blue cornflower flowers, chokeberry berries, yarrow, mistletoe leaves, valerian root, hawthorn fruits, horsetail.

Brew one tablespoon of the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. Strain and drink 70 ml after each meal.

To relieve eye fatigue

To relieve eye fatigue, puffiness, and restore eye color, use a collection with cornflower.

Flowers of cornflower, snapdragon, eyebright and elderberry are taken in equal parts, crushed and mixed in a dry container. In a ratio of 1 to 100, the mixture is poured with boiling water and infused in a warm place (preferably in a thermos) for 6 hours.

This infusion is perfect for instillation into the eyes, for lotions that are applied to the eyes for 10-15 minutes, after which the skin should be thoroughly rinsed with warm water.

With constant use, the color of the white of the eye is restored, vision improves, and the mucous membrane of the eye is restored. Treatment is carried out in several stages, each lasting a month with breaks.

An infusion of cornflower, prepared according to this recipe, will quickly relieve eye fatigue.

Cornflower flowers - dry or fresh - are poured with boiling water in a ratio of 1 to 20 (2 tsp per glass) and infused in a warm place for 2 hours, well wrapped. Then strain and use for eye baths.

Collection to stop bleeding

Crushed dry cornflower roots are combined in equal parts with crushed yarrow and horsetail herbs. 10-15 grams of the collection (2 tablespoons) are poured with 100 grams of water (half a glass) and boiled over low heat until the liquid evaporates by half. Take 2 tablespoons every hour until the bleeding stops completely and consolidate the result over the next two days, using the same dose once a day.

Cornflower tincture with vodka

Alcohol tincture of cornflower will cope well with jaundice, genitourinary diseases, and kidney diseases.

To prepare it, you need to infuse the dry petals in vodka (100 grams per liter) for two weeks.

One tablespoon of tincture is taken before meals two to three times a day, washed down with plenty of water.

For constipation

Brew 2 teaspoons of cornflower roots with 200 ml of hot water and leave for 2 hours. Strain and take a tablespoon 3-4 times a day before meals 15-20 minutes.

Cornflower in cosmetology

Cornflower is used to rinse hair and as a lotion for wiping oily skin.

Pour a tablespoon of flowers with 0.5 liters of a mixture of vinegar and water, taken in equal proportions. Leave for half an hour and filter. Rub this mixture twice a day into the hair roots. Before going to bed, rinse your hair with plain water.

This lotion helps restore structure and strengthen hair.

To care for oily skin, prepare a lotion by steeping 50 grams of fresh petals in 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave for an hour and strain.

Wipe your face with this lotion daily. Store in the refrigerator or freeze the cubes.

Contraindications and side effects

The main feature due to which cornflower is used with great caution is its cyanide content. There is currently no scientifically proven and defined safe dose for taking plant preparations.

Therefore, this flower is considered poisonous and must be used very carefully. It is forbidden for pregnant women, women during lactation and infants to come into contact with flowers in any form, and especially with cornflower juice.

You should take infusions and decoctions with great caution, having first consulted with your doctor, especially if you are taking other medications.

If any side effects occur, you should immediately stop taking medications with cornflower and consult a doctor.

Sensitive people, especially those who are allergic to the aster family such as sunflower, dandelion and others, may experience an allergic reaction.

Since cornflower has anti-inflammatory properties, caution should be exercised when treating with anti-inflammatory drugs simultaneously.

Taking herbal decoctions and infusions can cause a relapse of urolithiasis, especially when taken simultaneously with medications used to treat urolithiasis.

The wildflower cornflower is not just a plant. It pleases the eye, heals and helps people in everyday life. This weed perfectly tints woolen products blue, is used for making vinegars and as a seasoning for porridges, soups, gravies and sauces.

Cornflower honey is considered the healthiest and is highly valued by beekeepers. And in the old days, with the help of this flower, rituals were performed, homes were consecrated and protected from the evil eye. The health benefits of cornflower are almost invaluable - everyone can choose their own decoctions, infusions, lotions, oils and much more.

Find out more about the medicinal properties of this beautiful flower

The weedy herbaceous plant blue cornflower is a member of the Asteraceae family and has medicinal properties. It can almost always be found in fields sown with rye, wheat, flax, potatoes and other crops, on roadsides, and along forest belts. In addition to spontaneous spread, cornflowers are also grown specifically for decorative purposes and the manufacture of medicines.

The main plant material used in folk medicine is blue cornflower flowers. They are not very large in size, colored blue or light blue, appear in late spring and persist until the end of autumn. For some diseases, the seeds of the plant, which ripen by the end of summer, are also used for medicinal purposes.

Botanical description

The flowers of blue cornflower, according to the description of the botanical characteristics of the plant, are collected in single baskets, the diameter of which does not exceed 3 cm. They have a common involucre formed by membranous brown leaves with a tiled arrangement. Small flowers in a basket are divided into two types: marginal and internal. The flowers located at the edges of the peduncle are blue, funnel-shaped and asexual. The inner flowers are painted in a bright and rich blue-violet color, have a tubular shape and are bisexual.

The fruits of blue cornflower are an ash-colored or gray-yellow achene with an obovate shape. It has a smooth shiny surface. At one end there is a red tuft of hard bristly hairs, the length of which is slightly less than the length of the fruit itself (2.5 - 4 mm).

The stem is erect and branched and can reach 1 m, but usually its height is no more than 80 cm. The arrangement of leaves on the stem is sequential. They have a narrow and elongated shape, solid at the top of the stem and lobed at the bottom. The stem and leaves are covered with fine cobwebby hairs. The plant has a very developed root system, represented by a thin tap root.

Blue cornflower (photo of flower basket)

Healing properties of the plant

Folk recipes based on blue cornflower are effective in the treatment of many diseases, which is due to the wide range of pharmacological activity of the compounds found in its composition. Among them:

• glycosides (anthocyanins);
• tannins;
• flavonoids;
• vitamins (ascorbic acid, beta-carotene);
• essential oils;
• minerals (potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, calcium);
• alkaloids;
• organic acids, etc.

Important: The quantitative composition of certain compounds in a plant that have a biological effect may differ depending on the place where it grows.

The blue color of the flowers is due to the presence of the pigment cyanidin in their composition.

Folk remedies from blue cornflower have medicinal properties and have the following effects on the body:

• antipyretic and anti-inflammatory;
• pain reliever;
• relaxing and antispasmodic;
• diaphoretic and diuretic;
• wound healing and regenerating;
• antioxidant;
• choleretic;
• antimicrobial.

Blue cornflower as a medicinal plant is taken as part of the complex treatment of colds, diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, nephritis, urethritis, urolithiasis), to relieve edema resulting from disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system or kidneys. Taking it helps cleanse the body of harmful and toxic substances, remove excess fluid and burn fat.

The choleretic effect of cornflower flowers improves digestion processes and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. They are used for diseases of the biliary tract, liver, jaundice, helminthic infestations, as well as to improve appetite as part of herbal preparations or on their own.

Remedies from the flowers and seeds of the plant are used externally for diseases of the skin, joints and eyes (blepharitis, conjunctivitis, fatigue, impaired twilight vision).

The beneficial properties of blue cornflower are also used for cosmetic purposes. Products based on it improve the condition and appearance of the skin in the eye area, face and neck, strengthen hair and prevent hair loss.

Ways to use cornflower

In folk medicine, marginal flowers or, less commonly, cornflower seeds are used for medicinal purposes. The collection and preparation of raw materials is carried out in the summer. First, the entire flower baskets are cut off, and then only the marginal flowers are carefully pulled out of them by hand. The raw materials obtained in this way are laid out on paper in a layer up to 2 cm in height and dried in a dark, ventilated place. Dried flowers are placed in glass jars or fabric bags and used as needed. The shelf life is a maximum of two years in a dry, dark place.

Important: When cornflower flowers come into contact with sunlight during the drying process, they gradually lose their color and a significant part of their healing properties. Such raw materials become unsuitable for use for medicinal purposes.

Blue cornflower flowers have found use in folk medicine as a separate remedy in the form of decoctions, infusions and tinctures, and as part of herbal preparations prescribed for the treatment of diseases of the urinary system, digestive tract, and hypertension.

Infusion of flowers

Cornflower infusion has antibacterial, choleretic and diuretic effects. It is prepared using the following technology:

1. Flowers in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. place in a small saucepan (enamel) and pour a glass of boiling water.
2. Cover the pan with a lid and place in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.
3. The resulting infusion is gradually cooled to room temperature.
4. The flowers are filtered and squeezed.
5. Boiled water is added to the solution in such an amount that the total volume is 200 ml.

Take the resulting medicinal product 20 ml in the morning, afternoon and evening. It can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

Drinking tea made from ½ teaspoon of cornflower flowers per cup of water helps cleanse the body and relax the nervous system.

Flower decoction

A decoction of cornflower flowers is used for inflammatory eye diseases and colds accompanied by cough. The saponins contained in the flowers have an expectorant effect, therefore facilitating the passage of sputum.

To obtain a decoction, 1 tsp. carefully crushed flowers, pour 0.25 liters of boiling water and boil for 4–5 minutes. Then the product is infused for 1 hour, filtered and taken for laryngitis, sore throat or bronchitis, 40 ml several times a day.

Alcohol tincture of flowers

1. Mix the dried raw materials with alcohol or vodka in a ratio of 1 to 10.
2. Close the container with the resulting mixture tightly and leave for 14 days, shaking daily.
3. Drink 20–30 drops at a time with water.

External use

As an external remedy, blue cornflower flowers have found use for skin irritation, rashes, diathesis, allergic dermatosis, and boils. The decoction of the plant is used to make compresses, lotions, or simply wipe the affected areas of the skin.

In the form of lotions, cornflower is used for eye diseases. To receive the product 1 tbsp. l. flowers, pour 0.4 liters of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, cool and filter. For conjunctivitis, such lotions are used up to 8 times a day.

Recommendation: To relieve fatigue and improve body tone, you can take a bath with cornflower flowers. First, half a glass of flowers along with the baskets is poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water and the mixture is left to infuse for half an hour. The mixture is then filtered and added to a bath with water temperature of approximately 37 °C.

For baldness, it is recommended to rub a warm, freshly prepared infusion of flowers into the hair roots and scalp. A product made from 1 tbsp has a good effect on this problem. l. flowers of the plant, 250 ml of boiling water and 250 ml of table 9% vinegar. The mixture is infused for half an hour, filtered and rubbed into the hair roots.

If you add 20 ml of alcohol or vodka to the infusion, you will get a lotion that can be used to treat oily facial skin. In this case, both dry and freshly picked flowers are used to prepare the infusion.

Use of cornflower seeds

Blue cornflower seeds are an effective remedy in the fight against warts. They are dried and applied to the tumors. They, together with crushed leaves of the plant, can also be used in the form of compresses to speed up the healing of wounds.

Cornflower fruits

Important: Folk remedies with cornflower can be used for treatment only after consulting a doctor, as they have some contraindications, including pregnancy, uterine bleeding, individual intolerance, etc.

Cornflower blue(or voloshka, as this plant is popularly called) is rightfully considered an adornment of fields and forest belts, without which it is difficult to imagine wild nature. But few people know that this plant has medicinal properties, which since ancient times helped our ancestors treat many diseases. About the amazing properties of blue cornflower, about the scope of its application in traditional and

folk medicine

and will be discussed in this article.

Description of the cornflower plant

cornflower is a seed-propagating weed that grows along roads, near forest belts, as well as in crops of winter crops such as rye and

There are about 500 species of cornflowers, the color of which varies from snow-white to dark purple. But only flowers of blue, cyan and violet shades have medicinal properties. The height of the stem of this plant does not exceed 100 cm. Blue cornflower grows mainly in central and northern Russia, as well as in Western Siberia.

Cornflower collection

Cornflowers used for medicinal purposes must be collected during flowering, namely from June to September, the months when the flowers (or corollas) of the plant fully bloom. Medicinal raw materials are made from blue marginal flowers, which are carefully separated from the internal tubular flowers, the inclusion of which in the raw material reduces the quality of the medicinal product.

Storage

The marginal flowers of the cornflower are sorted out, removing not only the receptacle and internal tubular flowers, but also the faded marginal flowers, and then dried in a warm and shaded place. It is best to dry voloska flowers under a canopy, spreading the raw materials in a thin layer (the use of dryers is allowed, the temperature in which should be 40 - 50 degrees). But you can’t dry cornflowers in the sun, since the burnt raw material, which will turn white under the influence of rays, loses its healing properties. The shelf life of dry cornflowers is two years.

Properly dried raw materials have the following characteristics:

• has no smell;
• retains bright blue color;
• has a bitter taste.

Composition of cornflower Anthocyanins Natural dyes, which are the strongest natural antioxidants and secondary metabolites.

The effect of anthocyanins on the body:

• prevention of Alzheimer's disease;
• reducing the fragility of capillaries and blood vessels;
• slowing down the aging process;
• preventing bleeding;
• reducing the risk of cancer and diabetes;
• strengthening the heart muscle;
• improvement of metabolism;
• fight against bacterial infections;
• normalization of the nervous system;
• elimination of inflammatory processes.

Glycosides They have a diuretic, vasodilator, antimicrobial, disinfectant, expectorant, and sedative effect.

Polyacetylene compounds By being involved in the metabolism of an aging body, polyacetylene compounds have an immunomodulatory effect, namely, they cleanse organs directly at the cellular level, providing a restorative effect, contributing not only to the preservation, but also to the strengthening of health.

In addition, the following connections:

• strengthen blood vessels;
• lower blood pressure;
• prevent the development of cancer.

Alkaloids They have the following range of actions:

• pain reliever;
• hemostatic;
• sedative;
• hypotensive (lower blood pressure).

Slime Thanks to the mucus contained in cornflower, medicinal preparations from this plant have enveloping, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Tannins They act on the body as an anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and also an astringent.

Saponins They have the following properties:

• expectorant;
• antisclerotic;
• diuretic;
• antiulcer;
• sedative;
• diuretic;
• tonic.

It is also important that due to the presence of saponins, certain medicinal substances are absorbed much more easily.

Pectins Properties of pectins:

• lowering cholesterol levels in the body;
• normalization of all metabolic processes;
• improvement of peripheral blood circulation;
• normalization of intestinal motility;
• cleansing the body of harmful substances (while the bacteriological balance of the body is not disturbed).

Mineral salts The composition of blue cornflower flowers includes the following mineral salts:
1. Potassium:

• normalizes metabolism;
• significantly strengthens the heart muscle.

2. Calcium

(one of the structural elements of bone tissue):

• responsible for the condition of the teeth and skeleton;
• normalizes metabolism;
• strengthens the cardiovascular system.

3. Magnesium:

• eliminates depression;
• relieves stress;
• strengthens the heart and blood vessels;
• normalizes the digestion process.

Iron– strengthens

immunity

Participating in the education process

red blood cells

Copper– strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) Action of Vitamin C:

• normalization of the central nervous system;
• stimulation of the activity of the endocrine glands;
• improved iron absorption;
• ensuring the normal process of hematopoiesis.

Resins They have disinfectant, antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties.

Carotene A natural immunostimulant that significantly increases the body’s immune potential, regardless of the type of antigen. In addition, carotene is an excellent antioxidant that protects the human body from the negative effects of free radicals and reduces the likelihood of developing cancer.

Coumarins They reduce blood clotting, and therefore plants containing them are indicated for people with a tendency to thrombosis, strokes, and heart attacks. Coumarins have antiseptic, astringent and diuretic properties.

Properties

The medicinal properties of the plant are due to its chemical composition. Cornflower has the following effects on the body:

• wound healing;
• sedative;
• pain reliever;
• antispasmodic;
• diuretic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antipyretic;
• antimicrobial;
• diuretic;
• choleretic;
• immunomodulatory;
• diaphoretic.

Properties of blue cornflower - video
Indications for the use of cornflower preparations

In folk medicine, flowers, seeds and inflorescences of cornflower are used.

Flowers Preparations made from cornflower flowers are used in complex therapy to treat the following diseases:

• chronic inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract;
• swelling caused by kidney disease;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• urolithiasis disease;
• pyelitis;
• nephritis;
• pyelonephritis;
• cystitis;
• urethritis;
• neuroses;
• diarrhea;
• jaundice.

In addition, due to its anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties, cornflower flowers are used in the treatment of:

• conjunctivitis;
• blepharitis;
• increased fatigue of the visual apparatus itself.

The bitterness contained in the plant improves digestive functions, so cornflower is one of the components of the herbs that are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.
Seeds

Crushed cornflower seeds are used to eliminate

warts

To do this, it is enough to sprinkle the new growth with dried raw materials. Also, seeds and crushed cornflower leaves are applied to wounds, which promotes their rapid healing.

Cornflower inflorescence In folk medicine, cornflower inflorescence is widely used, a decoction of which is used for the following conditions:

• heart disease;
• migraine;
• stomach pain;
• uterine diseases;
• delays in menstruation.

Cornflower inflorescence is also used for baths for:

• diathesis;
• rickets;
• eczema;
• rheumatism.

The steamed herb is applied to the affected area for muscle and tendon sprains.
Cornflower recipes

Cornflower preparations have a pronounced antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and mild diuretic effect, therefore they are used by official

medicine

as an additional remedy for the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system. According to the results of clinical studies, cornflower flowers help cure diseases

and bile ducts. Also, its preparations normalize digestion.

In folk medicine, this plant is used as an antipyretic and analgesic for colds and infectious diseases. Thus, cornflower tea improves the digestion process and increases appetite. Lotions made from cornflower infusion are indicated for the treatment of certain eye diseases accompanied by the development of an inflammatory process.

Those who want to lose weight will also appreciate the effect of cornflower, because decoctions and tinctures from the flowers of this plant remove all excess fluid from the body and directly from fat deposits.

Infusion An infusion of cornflower flowers, which has antifever, diuretic and diaphoretic effects, is used in the treatment of:

• colds;
• cough;
• constipation;
• stomach pain;
• kidney and bladder diseases.

In addition, cornflower infusion is indicated during the postpartum period, as it increases milk flow. Thanks to the antioxidants contained in the plant, infusions are recommended for poisoning (cornflower helps remove toxins from the body).

So, to treat a cold you need 3 tsp. dry cornflower grass pour 400 ml of boiling water, after which the product is infused for 2 hours and filtered. Take 1 tbsp infusion. four times a day, 15 minutes before meals. This infusion can be used as lotions and compresses.

Tincture

Cornflower tinctures, which are more effective than decoctions and infusions, are used to increase appetite, as well as to treat diseases of the genitourinary system.

To prepare the tincture, cornflower flowers are poured with vodka at the rate of 1 to 10. The medicine is infused for two weeks and filtered. Take 20 drops (the product is diluted in a tablespoon of warm water) three times a day, before eating.

A decoction of blue cornflower is used as a lotion for various eye diseases as

anti-inflammatory agent

Since this plant has an expectorant effect (thanks to the saponins it contains), preparations from cornflower are recommended for:

• laryngitis;
• bronchitis;
• sore throat.

To prepare the decoction 1 tsp. well-crushed dried flowers, pour 250 ml of boiling water, after which the product is boiled for about 4 minutes. Removed from the heat, the broth is infused for an hour, filtered and taken 2 tbsp. three times a day, an hour after meals, as an expectorant.
Cornflower oil

An oil infusion of cornflower flowers is used to relieve inflammation of the eyelids. To prepare the infusion, 1 tbsp. flowers are poured with 150 ml of oil and infused for several hours. A cotton swab is moistened with the infusion and placed on the eyelids for 15 minutes, after which it is recommended to wipe the skin around the eyes with a swab dipped in the infusion.

Cornflower oil gives the skin elasticity, moisturizing and tightening it. Also, the above-mentioned infusion removes wrinkles (both small and large).

Cornflower oil is recommended as a sedative used during water procedures. The fact is that essential oils, as well as glycosides contained in cornflower, perfectly relieve fatigue, toning the body as a whole.

Extract

The extract of this plant affects the body as follows:

• reduces swelling of the skin;
• smoothes out small and large wrinkles;
• normalizes the secretion of the sebaceous glands;
• tightens pores;
• relieves the feeling of eye fatigue;
• eliminates swelling.

Tea with cornflower

Tea, which includes cornflower, has a mild analgesic and antipyretic effect, thanks to the biologically active substances it contains. Tea with cornflower is an excellent preventive remedy that cleanses the body of toxins and waste.

To prepare medicinal tea, 1 tsp. cornflower petals are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for half an hour. Drink tea twice a day.

Cornflower for eyes

Due to its anti-inflammatory and tonic properties, cornflower is widely used to treat eye diseases.

Infusion for “night blindness”

2 tsp cornflower flowers (dry or fresh) are poured into 200 ml of boiling water for two hours, after which the infusion is infused for an hour, filtered and used as a lotion, up to 8 times a day.

Treatment will be more effective if you drink 50 g of infusion three times a day, 20 minutes after meals.

Infusion for lacrimation

1 tbsp. cornflower flowers are poured with 400 ml of boiling water, after which the product is infused for one hour and filtered. Used for lotions.

You can also make lotions and eye drops from the infusion of the plant’s flowers, for which 1 tsp. raw materials are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and infused in a thermos for 8 hours. The infusion is filtered through cotton wool and then dropped into the eyes (4-5 drops per eye).

Collection for relieving eye inflammation

Ingredients (taken in equal parts):

• cornflower flowers;
• snapdragon flowers;
• eyebright;
• herbaceous elderberry flowers.

2 tbsp. collection, pour 200 ml of boiling water, then infuse in a thermos for 6 hours. The product is used both for eye drops and as lotions. Duration of treatment is 2 - 3 months.
Conjunctivitis collection

Ingredients:

• cornflower flowers – 2 parts;
• rosehip flowers – 1 part;
• chamomile flowers – 1 part;
• large plantain leaves – 1 part;
• elderberry flowers – 1 part.

3 tbsp. collection, pour 200 ml of boiling water, then infuse until cooled, after which the medicine is filtered through a double layer of gauze and cotton wool. Apply this medicine to the eyes once a day, three drops.
Contraindications to the use of cornflower

Blue cornflower belongs to the class of poisonous plants because it contains active compounds containing a cyanogen component. Therefore, when taking medications with cornflower, you must be careful.

Cornflower is contraindicated during pregnancy and for women with uterine bleeding (the coumarins contained in the plant are strong anticoagulants that inhibit blood clotting activity).

ATTENTION! The information posted on our website is for reference or popular information and is provided to a wide range of readers for discussion. Prescription of medications should be carried out only by a qualified specialist, based on the medical history and diagnostic results.

Summer residents interested in traditional medicine often organize small pharmaceutical gardens on their property. Nowadays, this is justified, because in the wild it is becoming increasingly difficult to find environmentally friendly places with the necessary healing raw materials. And now, while there is time to stock up on seeds and planting material, let’s talk about plants that are easy to grow in your summer cottage. Let's start, for example, with cornflower...

Blue cornflower is good for the eyes This sky-blue flower is indispensable for those who, due to their occupation, have to spend a lot of time at the computer: a decoction of blue cornflower in the form of lotions is used for increased eye fatigue; wash the eyes with this decoction for conjunctivitis and blepharitis. Cornflower flowers are used in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and urinary system, they are included in diuretic herbal preparations, and are also used as a diaphoretic.

For eye washes and lotions prepare a concentrated decoction: 2 tablespoons of crushed dried flowers are poured into 2 glasses of water, brought to a boil and simmered over low heat for 10 minutes. The prepared broth is infused under the lid for 30-60 minutes and filtered.

• 20 g aloe leaves;
• 50 g of eyebright herb;
• 50 g cornflower flowers;
• 600 g honey;
• 0.6 liters of red wine.

Wash and chop the aloe; add herbs and honey, pour in wine, stir. Heat the mixture in a water bath for an hour. Cool, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

• Blue cornflowers and more: growing in the garden

The healing properties of blue cornflower were described back in Ancient Greece. The followers of Hippocrates believed: since a flower has such an attractive, beautiful appearance, it must certainly have beneficial properties. "Centaurea" is translated from Latin as "centaur". The ancient Greeks associated the name of the flower with the centaur Chiron, who was famous for the gift of healing. From ancient Greek medical books, the description of blue cornflower and its effects migrated to medieval herbalists. The petals and seeds of this plant were used to treat a variety of diseases: pestilence, to stop bleeding, as an antidote to the bite of poisonous spiders, inflammation of the eyes, bruises, suppuration of wounds, skin diseases.

Features of the plant

Habitat

The birthplace of this beautiful flower is the Mediterranean basin. Blue cornflower (field, sowing) is a well-known and beloved flower, distributed throughout Russia. It can also be seen in the Far East and Siberia, in the Central Asian and Caucasian regions. Can grow in forest areas and forest-steppe. Abundant in grain fields, especially wheat and rye. It is also often found near roads, in forest belts, and roadside plantings. In dry meadows it can be seen next to chamomile and poppy. Blue cornflower is considered a weed. For many years the plant was exterminated, which led to a significant decrease in the number of cornflowers. Therefore, today this species is protected.

Botanical description, chemical composition and procurement of raw materials

What are the contraindications to the use of blue cornflower? The flower is a slightly toxic plant. In case of an overdose and a long course, cyanine poisoning can occur. Also, with great caution, under the supervision of a doctor, the drug is prescribed to pregnant and lactating women and children under 3 years of age. Many online sources indicate: uterine bleeding is a contraindication. The issue remains controversial, since in old herbalists, on the contrary, the flower is recommended for uterine bleeding.

The healing effect of blue cornflower

What are the beneficial properties of cornflower? For what diseases is it used?

• For urinary tract infections. The plant is part of diuretic tea. Helps with problems with the kidneys and bladder, relieves swelling well, and removes excess fluid from the body.
• For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Acts as a mild choleretic agent for hepatitis and cholecystitis. It is used for acute and chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, biliary tract and liver. Flowers are part of stomach preparations that improve appetite and digestion.
• For ARVI, influenza. Cornflower flower is used for fever as a diaphoretic, which leads to a decrease in temperature.
• For cardiac disorders. Has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and nervous system.
• External use. The flower is famous for its bactericidal properties. Therefore, it is used as an external remedy for suppuration, boils, eczema, ulcers, warts, eye inflammation of various natures - stye, blepharitis, conjunctivitis. The infusion of the plant also treats night blindness.
• Analgesic effect. An alcoholic tincture of the flower is used for toothache.

The flower is actively used in homeopathy. First of all, they treat eye diseases. Also, galenic drugs are effective for headaches, hepatitis, cough, kidney, bladder, and blood diseases.

Application and preparation at home

In folk medicine, decoctions and tinctures are made from the flower for oral administration. They can also be used externally - in the form of lotions, compresses, rinses.

• Water tincture of cornflower. To prepare it you will need: 1 teaspoon of flowers and 1 glass of boiling water. You need to leave for 2 hours, then strain, take ¼ cup before meals. This tincture can be taken as a preventive measure; it cleanses the blood and body of toxins well.
• Alcohol tincture. It can be purchased at pharmacies. Also for external use, when caring for oily skin, it is recommended to add alcohol or vodka to the water tincture (for 1 glass of decoction, 1 tablespoon of alcohol).
• Hair tincture. Vinegar is added to the decoction of cornflower flowers (2 tablespoons of vinegar per half liter of decoction). Used as a mask for rubbing in, as well as for rinsing after washing your hair.
• Diuretic tea recipe. To prepare tea, take a mixture of the following herbs: 1 teaspoon of cornflower flowers, 1 teaspoon of licorice and 3 teaspoons of bearberry. The herbal mixture is poured with 1 glass of boiling water and left for 1 hour. Take a tablespoon before meals.

Features and medicinal properties of other species

There are about 500 varieties of cornflower. The most common of them are blue, white, meadow, whitened, mountain, pink, yellow, large-headed, oriental, spreading, Phrygian, rough and others. Garden varieties of cornflowers have also been bred. In addition to Europe, the flower is found in America and Asia. Two more species of wild cornflower are widespread in Russia - meadow and Russian.

meadow cornflower

Russian cornflower

• Where does it grow? Russian cornflower is found in the Caucasus, the Urals and Altai, Central Asia, as well as in the southeastern regions of Europe. Loves steppes, dry meadows, shrub areas, rocky slopes, limestone and chalk rocks. In a number of Russian regions, this flower is protected and listed in the Red Book.
• What does Russian cornflower look like? This is a perennial herbaceous plant. The stem is covered with down, from 50 to 150 cm in height. The leaves are wide, divided into narrow lobes. The flower is yellow in the form of a single basket. Flowering period: from July to August.
• How is it used in folk medicine? Russian cornflower is not used as widely in folk medicine as meadow and blue cornflower. Its medicinal properties have been little studied; there is no information about side effects when using this type of plant. Its bactericidal properties are known; the decoction is used for digestive disorders. The seeds contain oils suitable for food and are used for technical purposes. Not only flowers are harvested, but also leaves and stems.

The use of blue cornflower has a wide range, since the plant has a diuretic, diaphoretic, choleretic, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effect. But still, experienced herbalists classify it as an auxiliary supplement for diseases of the digestive system. In folk medicine, blue cornflower is most often used as an external remedy for eye ailments.

Bright blue flowers, known to everyone as cornflowers, have not only beauty, but also a lot of useful properties. Since ancient times in Rus', cornflowers have been collected, dried, and then used to prepare medicinal teas, decoctions, tinctures and elixirs. The petals of these flowers contain ascorbic acid, mineral salts, including magnesium, calcium, copper, iron and potassium. Cornflowers are also rich in pectins, saponins, tannins, anthocyanins, glycosides, alkaloids, polyacyteline compounds, carotenes, coumarins, resins and mucilages.

Medicines and medicinal drinks prepared from cornflower can have a sedative, wound-healing, disinfectant, astringent, immunomodulatory, diuretic, diaphoretic, antipyretic and analgesic effect on the body. Cornflower tea is recommended for colds, bronchitis, chronic fatigue and depression. This drink perfectly cleanses the body of toxins, relieves pain and lowers temperature.

Cornflower tea is contraindicated for allergy sufferers, pregnant and lactating women.

Green tea with cornflower

To prepare two servings of this drink you will need:

• 500 ml water;
• 2 teaspoons of crushed dried cornflower flowers;
• 1.5 teaspoons green tea;
• sugar or honey to taste.

Place green tea leaves in a teapot, fill one-third with boiling water and brew for five minutes. Then add cornflower petals to the same kettle, add boiling water to the end, cover with a lid and leave for about five more minutes. Before serving, the tea is filtered and poured into cups, adding sugar or honey.

Diuretic tea with cornflower and licorice

To prepare one cup of this medicinal tea you will need:

• 200 ml water;
• 20 g dry cornflowers;
• 20 g of dry licorice root;
• 3 tablespoons of dried bearberry.

All herbs are mixed in a mortar and pounded until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. Then one tablespoon of the resulting mixture is poured with boiling water, left for 30 minutes and filtered. The decoction should be taken three times a day fifteen minutes before meals, diluting a tablespoon of infusion in half a glass of water.

• Sea buckthorn herbal tea

  Sea buckthorn is a real storehouse of nutrients and vitamins. The bright yellow berries contain literally a “horse dose” of vitamin C, as well as antioxidants, vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the bark contains serotonin, otherwise called the “happiness hormone.” Jams and compotes are made from sea buckthorn berries...

• Green, golden, fried – mate comes in this form too

  The Paraguayan drink is so unique that it simply cannot afford monotony and is always made the same way. Depending on how it is processed, it can turn into green, golden or roasted mate. ...

• English tea

  England remains one of the world leaders in tea consumption, and the famous "five o'clock" has forever merged with the image of the inhabitants of this country. The British prefer black tea, which they receive from India, South Asia and Ceylon. ...