Content
The healing properties of meadowsweet oil are well known in folk medicine. The drug is used as a “cure for 40 diseases,” which already suggests its ineffectiveness. Official medicine does not know about such a medicine. Meadowsweet hydrolate can be found commercially as an aromatic agent. The manufacturer often indicates on the label that the drug is not a medicine, disclaiming responsibility for its use for medicinal purposes. This is reasonable. Just take a closer look at the chemical composition of meadowsweet preparations.
Chemical composition of oil
On sale you can find hydrolate and oil extract of meadowsweet. Popularly, both products are called oil. But this is not entirely correct. The chemical composition and therapeutic effectiveness are also different. The medicinal properties of meadowsweet oil and contraindications for its use are due to its chemical composition, the main components of which are poisonous:
- Methyl salicylate: Particularly toxic if ingested. The extract from flowers contains about 28% of the substance, from seeds - about 11%.
- Salicylic aldehyde: Toxic in large doses, it is a raw material for the production of salicylic acid.The preparation from flowers contains 2.8% aldehyde, from seeds – 12.4%. Main areas of application: in the production of dyes, perfumes, as a fungicide and other non-medical industries.
But these same substances have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, so they are well suited for external use.
Other components included in the “essential oil” of meadowsweet:
- phenol glycosides;
- ionol;
- catechins;
- flavonoids;
- α-terpineol;
- tannins;
- vitamin C;
- fatty acid;
- tannins;
- coumarins;
- ethereal and aromatic compounds;
- camphor.
Meadowsweet hydrosol can be used for external use in the form of compresses and rubbing. It has a pleasant smell. The oil extract is more often used for internal use, since the concentration of active substances in it is not so high.
Flowers and leaves are used to make meadowsweet hydrolate.
Medicinal properties and scope of application of meadowsweet oil
Traditional healers use meadowsweet oil to treat a variety of diseases:
- diabetes mellitus;
- organs of the respiratory system: for pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma;
- hypertension;
- gastrointestinal diseases: spasms or intestinal atony (these are the opposite phenomena), diarrhea, dysentery, gastritis and ulcers;
- epilepsy;
- skin diseases: festering wounds, diaper rash, psoriasis, boils;
- hepatitis A;
- inflammation of large nerves;
- migraine;
- ARVI;
- diseases of the female reproductive system, vaginitis, vulvitis and even infertility, although in the latter case the oil acts as an auxiliary component;
- arthritis and arthrosis;
- inflammation in the genitourinary system;
- helminth infestation.
A very wide range of diseases indicates the low effectiveness of meadowsweet oil. But it does have a slight analgesic effect and can destroy bacteria.
How to make your own butter
In industry, meadowsweet hydrolate with the maximum concentration of substances is obtained from flowers by steam distillation. This method cannot be used at home. You can only prepare an extract based on refined vegetable oil yourself:
- pour the collected flowers into a glass jar, leaving a little space to the top edge;
- fill the raw material with sunflower, olive or corn oil;
- heat in a water bath without bringing to a boil;
- cool, cover with a lid and place in a dark and warm place to infuse;
- After two weeks, strain the contents of the jar and pour the liquid into another container.
As a result of all manipulations, you should get an extract of meadowsweet flowers based on vegetable oil. This is the drug you can most often find in pharmacies and stores.
Oil extract is less dangerous when taken orally than meadowsweet hydrosol
How to use
When taken orally, the benefits of natural meadowsweet oil are questionable, and the harm may be much greater than we would like. The main components of the industrially produced drug are too toxic. A teaspoon of the product once a day for a month can turn out to be a time bomb.
But if we are talking about “homemade meadowsweet oil”, the requirements are less strict. The main component of such a drug is ordinary refined vegetable oil. Substances from meadowsweet are found there in relatively small quantities.Harmful effects are likely to include mild diarrhea. And vegetable oil will be “responsible” for this.
Homemade meadowsweet extract is taken with meals, a teaspoon once a day. The course of admission is 30 days. Then they take a break for a month.
Since the product may cause increased sweating, it is best to take it at night. Or calculate the time so that after taking the drug you stay at home for another hour.
Smarter ways to use meadowsweet oil involve a much smaller dose:
- oral administration: ten drops once a day, course for a month;
- for bath: 10-15 drops in warm water;
- for inhalation: 3-4 drops into an inhaler or aroma lamp.
At this dosage, you can use industrially produced meadowsweet hydrolate.
Contraindications and possible harm
There are no contraindications for external use of the oil. If there is no allergic reaction. But this is individual.
When used internally, there are many more contraindications. This is natural for toxic substances. Meadowsweet oil should not be used:
- hypotensive patients;
- pregnant women;
- people with thrombocytopenia, that is, a low platelet count;
- people prone to constipation.
If you do not take these nuances into account, a factory-made product will do more harm than good. It can thin the blood. The astringents contained in meadowsweet relieve diarrhea, but aggravate constipation.
Conclusion
The healing properties of meadowsweet oil are most likely greatly exaggerated. In any case, before you start taking it, you should consult your doctor. Perhaps this drug will not only not bring benefit, but also cause harm.
