Content
- 1 What does immortelle grass look like?
- 2 The value and chemical composition of immortelle
- 3 What are the benefits of immortelle for the body?
- 4 What does immortelle herb help with?
- 5 Recipes for healing compounds
- 6 The use of immortelle in folk medicine
- 7 The use of immortelle in oncology
- 8 The use of immortelle in cosmetology
- 9 Side effects when taking immortelle
- 10 Restrictions and contraindications for taking immortelle
- 11 Collection and procurement of raw materials
- 12 Conclusion
- 13 Reviews of immortelle herb
Perennial immortelle flowers are able to preserve their beauty for a long time, even when dried. Australia is considered the plant's homeland, where it probably acquired the ability to withstand the scorching rays of the sun without losing its natural appearance. The inflorescences are of particular value because they retain the medicinal properties of the immortelle herb. The main area of application is the treatment of problems of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
What does immortelle grass look like?
A low-growing, inconspicuous plant with bright fiery inflorescences - this is what immortelle looks like. Its name speaks of incredible vitality. Even after cutting flowers, they will retain their natural appearance for a long time. The plant is popularly called dried flower or golden sun. Its medicinal properties have been known to people since ancient times, as clearly evidenced by the legends of Ancient Rus', India and Greece. A detailed description and photo of immortelle flowers can be seen below.
The legends of Ancient Greece mention the daughter of a local king who washed the wounded body of Odysseus with the oil of an immortal plant.
What do immortelle flowers and fruits look like?
The bright yellow inflorescences of immortelle can be seen from afar. They are collected in baskets, the edges of which have dark yellow involucre leaves, and in the middle there are smaller and lighter flowers. Each inflorescence contains from 10 to 100 pieces. The fruits are an achene with a tuft. The flowering period occurs from the beginning of June to the end of September.
How to distinguish immortelle and tansy
Tansy, like immortelle, is a perennial plant. Belongs to the Astrov family. The inflorescences are collected in a basket.The color is dominated by yellow, red and bronze. Tansy is a more toxic plant, its taste is bitter, like wormwood. Its main purpose in medicine is the treatment of lamblia and parasites. Immortelle has a more pronounced choleretic effect. Otherwise, they have many similar features and it is quite easy to confuse them.
Immortelle varieties
There are more than 500 species of immortelle in the world. The most common of them:
- drug;
- sandy;
- meadow;
- field;
- big;
- cat's paw
The medicinal immortelle deserves special attention. It is used for cosmetic purposes and folk medicine. The inflorescences are tubular, collected in a basket, propagated by seeds or vegetatively. The field immortelle flower is very similar to the sandy one, however, it does not like dry areas and high vegetation.
Where does immortelle grow in Russia?
Perennial immortelle can be found throughout Russia - from the Krasnodar Territory to the middle zone and the Caucasus. Its unpretentiousness allowed it to spread even in Western Siberia. The plant prefers dry, sunny places - open forest glades, steppes, young pine forests and foothills.
Flowers of garden perennial immortelle are easily propagated by seeds or vegetatively. To do this, you can collect seeds from flowers cut in advance or dried inflorescences.
Garden immortelle is distinguished by large flowers, a variety of colors and petals that are hard to the touch
The value and chemical composition of immortelle
The main value of the plant is flavonoids and carotenoids - substances that activate the formation of bile and increase the content of bilirubin in it. In addition, the following valuable elements were found in the inflorescences:
- polysaccharides;
- coumarins;
- phthalides;
- tannins;
- essential oil;
- vitamin K;
- ascorbic acid;
- salts of potassium, calcium and manganese.
The healing properties of the plant are due to an increase in the secretion of gastric juice, the tone of the gallbladder and the outflow of bile.
What are the benefits of immortelle for the body?
An inconspicuous plant at first glance can provide invaluable benefits to the body if the dosages and recommendations of specialists are followed. It has many medicinal properties:
- choleretic;
- diuretic;
- calming;
- antioxidant;
- antispasmodic;
- hemostatic;
- healing.
Preparations, decoctions, and infusions based on immortelle are used as means that increase the functional activity of liver cells to get rid of infectious and viral toxins and metabolic products.
Medicinal properties and contraindications of immortelle for men
Prostate disease is a common problem in men. A decoction based on immortelle acts as an anti-inflammatory and general tonic. It helps in removing kidney stones, relieves pain, destroying harmful bacteria in the genitourinary tract. It is also prescribed as maintenance therapy for prostate cancer.
The healing properties of immortelle herb for women
In gynecology, a herbal decoction is recommended for douching.It helps restore vaginal flora and get rid of leucorrhoea that occurs due to inflammatory processes. A decoction of the plant is also prescribed for the prevention and treatment of benign tumors or ovarian dysfunction.
Is it possible to use immortelle during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Herbal infusions should be taken with caution during pregnancy and lactation and only after consultation with a specialist. Along with beneficial substances, immortelle contains a small amount of toxins, which tend to accumulate with regular use. This can have a negative impact on the functioning of some organs, primarily the liver.
At what age can children
Pediatricians advise taking the medicinal mixture as a specific maintenance therapy for giardiasis in children over 6 years of age. To do this, prepare a decoction of several types of herbs: 1 tbsp. l. immortelle, St. John's wort, tansy. Pour 250 ml of boiling water over them, leave for 5-8 hours, strain. Drink half a glass of decoction in the morning and evening for 2 weeks.
The composition of the drug "Flamin" for children contains flavonoids obtained from immortelle flowers
What does immortelle herb help with?
Dried golden inflorescences help improve metabolism and help the metabolic functioning of the liver. The plant will undoubtedly benefit people who are losing weight and those with hypotension.
Does immortelle help with weight loss?
Immortelle belongs to the group of medicinal plants that improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, remove waste and toxins from the body. Its benefits will have a positive effect on weight loss as a comprehensive approach. You can take a decoction of the inflorescences as tea.
Immortelle lowers or increases blood pressure
The plant has long been known in herbal medicine as a remedy for increasing chronically low blood pressure. Decoctions and infusions based on it bring cholesterol levels back to normal and cleanse the body of waste and toxins. Regular use can cause hypertension, so it should only be taken in courses.
Recipes for healing compounds
Healing compounds in the form of decoctions, infusions, tinctures, and teas will help the body. They even use essential oils.
How to brew immortelle decoction for treatment
To prepare a decoction in the classic version, you need to take:
- 1 tbsp. l. pharmaceutical or dried plants;
- 1 glass of pure distilled water;
- enamel container.
Next, the flowers should be poured into a container, filled with distilled water, placed in a water bath, heated and turned off. Cool the resulting broth, let it brew in a dark place for several hours and then strain.
How to brew immortelle infusion
The instructions for preparing and using immortelle herb are simple. There are 2 ways to obtain the infusion: hot and cold.
- Hot. Take 20 g of dried flowers, pour 200 ml of boiling water over them, let it brew for an hour, then strain.
- Cold. This is the most useful way to prepare an infusion, since there is no heating and the oils do not evaporate. For a cold infusion, take 20 g of dried flowers, pour boiled water at room temperature over them, and leave overnight or for 12 hours.
Tincture
Required: 50 g of immortelle flowers, 400 ml of vodka.
Recipe: pour vodka over the flowers, leave to steep in a dark, cool place for 2 weeks. Strain the tincture and store in the refrigerator.
How to take: to improve digestion and awaken appetite, 1-2 tsp. before eating.
Hand-picked inflorescences can be placed in a vase as a beautiful composition, and over time used for medicinal purposes
Tea
Herbal tea contains a large number of macro and microelements necessary for the proper functioning of the body. By combining immortelle with other herbaceous plants, you can get not only a healthy, but also a tasty drink.
- 1 tsp. chamomile and 1 tsp. pour boiling water over immortelle, leave covered and strain. Drink warm.
- 2 tsp. birch leaves and buds mixed with 1 tsp. crushed flowers, add water and place in a water bath. After 1 minute of boiling, turn off and strain. Drink 1 cup 2-3 times a day.
Oil
Immortelle essential oil can be purchased at a pharmacy. It has a pronounced honey aroma and is golden in color with a reddish tint. It can be used as a wound-healing and bactericidal agent. Recommended for use by people with skin problems: eczema, psoriasis, acne.
The use of immortelle in folk medicine
The main area of application of immortelle in folk medicine is the treatment of liver and gastrointestinal problems. Helps with pathologies of the gallbladder and pancreas.
Immortelle for the liver
A decoction of dried flowers helps with pain in the liver, as well as after eating fatty and heavy foods. Immortelle is also good because it normalizes bilirubin levels.
To prepare the decoction you need to take 1.5 tbsp. l. dried flowers, pour 1.5 tbsp. boiling water and let it brew for about 2 hours.Strain the broth and drink warm 3 times daily for a course of 20 days.
Immortelle for pancreatitis
The active substances of immortelle flowers stimulate the production of liver and pancreatic juice. Its actions are aimed at eliminating muscle contractions, which is necessary during painful attacks of pancreatitis.
An infusion of dried flowers is suitable for the treatment and prevention of the disease. Unlike the decoction, for infusion you should add 1.5 tbsp of cold distilled water. l. dried flowers and let it brew for at least 8 hours (you can leave it overnight). It is recommended to drink the infusion in small sips three times a day, half an hour before meals. The course of treatment or prevention is 2 weeks.
Resin acids, which are part of immortelle, have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Immortelle for gallstones
It has been proven that drinking a decoction or infusion of the dried flowers of this plant reduces the risk of gallstones. Regular use helps resolve formations up to 10 mm in diameter. It is worth remembering that this useful plant is just an additional remedy in the main treatment of formed gallstones.
There are 2 ways to take dried inflorescences for gallstones:
- 3 tbsp. l. Place the inflorescences in an enamel bowl, add 200 ml of boiled water and heat in a water bath over low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove and let sit for about half an hour. Drink one spoonful of this decoction before meals for 3 weeks.
- There is a “dry” method: grind pharmaceutical flowers in a coffee grinder or blender. Take half a teaspoon of powder 3 times a day before meals with plenty of water. The course of admission is 3 weeks.
For diabetes
Treatment for type II diabetes mellitus in combination with diet gives a positive result. But in severe and moderate cases of the disease, taking a medicinal plant is only an auxiliary effect.
If diabetes mellitus is accompanied by diseases such as pancreatitis, cholecystitis or gallstones, then a complex decoction of the following plants will help: St. John's wort, immortelle and knotweed. You need to take 1 tbsp. l. each plant, pour 1 liter of boiling water and let it brew in a dark place for 8 hours or overnight. Take 1/3 tbsp. 3 times a day, warm, before meals. The course of admission is 14 days.
For cholecystitis
The main task of immortelle fruits for cholecystitis is to provide an anti-inflammatory effect on the diseased gallbladder and pancreas. As a rule, patients are recommended to take a decoction or infusion of the flowers of this medicinal plant. You can also buy a concentrate in pharmacies - Flamin tablets. They should be taken in 1-2 pieces. 3 times a day half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is from 14 to 20 days.
For gastritis
To treat chronic gastritis, you can prepare a decoction of the following medicinal plants: corn silk, yarrow, immortelle, St. John's wort and chamomile. All components must be taken in dry form, 1 tbsp. l., mix and brew 1 liter of boiled water. Let it brew for 8 hours. This concentrated decoction should be taken as follows: 1 tbsp. l. dilute in a glass of warm water and drink before meals. Repeat 3 times during the day.The course consists of 14 days.
A decoction of immortelle, St. John's wort, chamomile and corn silk will help cope with chronic gastritis
For constipation
A laxative decoction can be prepared from licorice, immortelle, fennel, calendula, St. John's wort and chamomile. Take 1 tsp. each medicinal plant and pour 2 tbsp. distilled water. Boil and let steep for 8 hours. Take on an empty stomach every morning.
For gastrointestinal diseases
Immortelle contains unique elements - stearic compounds. They regulate the functional functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, improve digestion, and are effective against poisoning. They also help with poor appetite by increasing the production of bile and digestive enzymes.
To improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, especially during diets, you can drink a decoction of the following plants: immortelle, chamomile, St. John's wort, birch buds. It removes waste and toxins and comprehensively cleanses the body. It is enough to take the course once a year, drinking the decoction for 2 weeks.
For the kidneys
Common kidney diseases include pyelonephritis and cystitis. To treat them, experts often recommend taking medications based on beneficial herbs, or preparing decoctions yourself. For frequent urination and pain in the bladder, it is recommended to drink a decoction of chamomile, sage, immortelle, currant leaves and eucalyptus.
For inflammation, you can take medicinal baths. To do this, you need to strain the decoction of the above herbs into a bath of water. Repeat the procedure 2 times a week for a month.
From parasites
One of the main signs of the presence of parasites is regular disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.Among them are frequent attacks of nausea, since microorganisms leave toxins in the process of their vital activity.
An effective remedy for this problem is a collection of immortelle flowers, wormwood, calamus root, burdock, and hawthorn flowers. All components should be taken in equal proportions - 1 tbsp. l. Pour them with a liter of distilled water and bring to a boil in a water bath. Let the broth brew for 5-6 hours. Take half a glass on an empty stomach for 2 weeks.
Immortelle contains active substances that are powerful weapons in the fight against parasites in the human body.
For atherosclerosis
Cholesterol deposits negatively affect the condition of blood vessels, often causing blockage. Immortelle helps reduce the rate, which means it reduces the risk of such an unpleasant disease as atherosclerosis.
For the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic plaques, it is necessary to take a decoction of immortelle flowers. 1 tbsp. l. three times a day half an hour before meals will help improve the condition of the body even in older people. The course of treatment is 14-21 days. You can repeat it no earlier than in a month.
The use of immortelle in oncology
Treatment of cancer does not leave its mark on the body. After chemotherapy, all organs are stressed. Folk remedies help restore strength and improve the functioning of already weakened organs. Immortelle is often recommended for use to improve the functioning of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
Herbal treatment with immortelle stimulates the body's protective properties, improves sleep and appetite, and relieves inflammation.Decoctions or infusions based on immortelle should be taken in between the main drug treatment. Before use, consult a specialist.
The use of immortelle in cosmetology
Immortelle essential oil is actively used in cosmetology. On its basis, anti-aging creams, ointments for allergies and acne are made. It is also actively used as a remedy with an antiseptic effect - for the treatment of wounds and burns. In massage, essential oil is added to the anti-cellulite course, combining it with olive, grapefruit, rose and aloe.
Side effects when taking immortelle
Like many other medicinal plants, immortelle does not pose any particular danger when used wisely. The main thing in its use is compliance with the course of administration and dosage when preparing decoctions and infusions. The following side effects may sometimes occur:
- the occurrence of congestion in the liver;
- allergic reactions in the form of itching, redness;
- increased blood pressure (in people with hypertension).
Restrictions and contraindications for taking immortelle
Despite the many medicinal properties of immortelle flowers, it also has contraindications:
- exacerbations of gastric ulcer;
- acute phase of inflammatory diseases of the liver and biliary tract;
- obstruction of the bile ducts;
- allergic reactions to herbal preparations;
- liver failure;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- children under 5 years of age.
Collection and procurement of raw materials
Although immortelle can be cultivated, in some countries it is listed in the Red Book. Therefore, it should be collected only by cutting off the flower baskets that represent the greatest value in the plant.Flowers should be collected in dry weather, when the side baskets have not yet opened. This way you can keep the main inflorescences from falling off.
After picking fresh flowers, they should be dried in a cool, ventilated area. Spread on fabric in a thin layer to ensure ventilation.
Decoctions and infusions can be prepared independently from dried inflorescences, which are sold in pharmacies.
Conclusion
The healing properties of immortelle herb have been known to folk medicine since ancient times. Even in Rus', dried flowers were kept in a secluded place. It was believed that powdered flowers healed wounds and stopped bleeding. Now the beneficial properties of immortelle are used in cosmetology and in the treatment of diseases - cholecystitis, pancreatitis, gastritis and many others.
