| |
| |
| Health Benefits of Cornflower |
| |
| |
|
Cornflower
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is a herb that belongs to the Compositae family. It is mostly used in cosmetics.
Description
Cornflower is a herbaceous plant with a lifespan of 1 - 2 years. The stem is ramified and covered with leaves which have a stretched out aspect, are deeply dented and displayed randomly. The stem is covered with fine puff, giving the whole plant a green-whitish silky look. The flowers are blue, sometimes white or pink and are grouped together. The herb grows on dry, rocky areas, edges of roads and near crop fields.
Only the blue flowers are used from a cornflower; the white-pinkish ones are removed. It is a good idea to remove them before the herb dries off. The harvesting is done in the months July - August, when the weather is dry and the dew has evaporated.
Proprieties
Because it contains active substances like tannin and potassium salts, cornflower has astringent, weak diuretic, bitter-tonic anti-inflammatory and soothing proprieties.
Treatments
Along with being used as decorative flowers, cornflowers also have a benefic role in health.
Internally, cornflower is recommended in treating diarrhea, renal and urinary afflictions, while being used in infusions. Cornflower is also recommended for alleviating rheumatism and anorexia.
Externally, cornflower has various applications. It has soothing and antiseptic effects and is used under the form of poultices in cases of conjunctivitis, irritations and inflammations of eye lids.
Due to its soothing effects, cornflower is used in treating facial muscles and wrinkles. It is also used in treating afflictions like eczemas and ulcerations.
In popular medicine, cornflower is used as infusion to threat the dark rings bellow the eyes. The active substances contained in cornflower deter the formation of the rings below the eyes, and at the same time smoothes the skin around the eyes. Locally, cornflower detoxifies the body.
Mixtures
Infusion of cornflowers is prepared from one and a half spoonfuls of cornflowers added to 300 ml boiling water. The pot is then left to cool down for 15-20 minutes. It is consumed lukewarm, half an hour before main meals. This is very useful for treating diarrhea. The infusion obtained from mixing cornflowers with cowberry flowers is an efficient diuretic. Also, an infusion from one spoonful of cornflowers added to a cup of water can be easily prepared. Around 2 to 3 cups of this mixture are consumed daily, having the effect of eliminating intestinal parasites.
Poultices made of cornflower are made from on spoonful of cornflowers added to 200 ml water.
Cornflower facial mask is prepared from mixing 1 spoon of sour cream with 2 spoons of milk, a spoonful of honey, a vial of vitamin A and a yolk of an egg. The mask is then applied on the face where is left for 30 minutes. It has regenerative effects, making the face skin smooth and silky.
Face steam with cornflower relaxes the skin. Exposure to the steam lasts 10-15 minutes over a pot with hot tea made from cornflower, marigold and wild camomile. For more efficiency, a towel is placed on the back of the head and let its edges drop around the pot of tea to stop the steam from being wasted.
Warning
In case the sensation of discomfort appears, the treatment with cornflower should be ceased.
| |
| Other Medicinal Plants Articles |
| |
|
|
|
