The perennial herbaceous plant, immortelle, is part of the Asteraceae family. It is also popularly called helichrysum, zheltyanka and tsmin. Spectacular inflorescences adorn the branching stems. The flowers are small, tough and quite beautiful. At the same time, they are able not to lose their beauty for a long time, even if they are dried. Immortelle is native to Asia Minor, Australia and Africa, where it can be found in the Cape Region and on the island of Madagascar.
This plant is quite widespread both in landscape design and floristry, and in medicine. The genus unites many species, so if you wish, you can create a spectacular composition. But in order for the bushes to be lush and beautiful, you need to know how to care for them and which area is most suitable for them.
Medicinal properties of immortelle flowers
They consist of choleretic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, litholytic, antibacterial, hemostatic, hypotonic, anthelmintic, diuretic and other effective actions.
The effect of the treatment lies in the high content of essential oils in immortelle flowers (up to 0.8%), tannins, flavonoids, the beneficial properties of which are multifaceted: and have the following effects:
- decongestant;
- vasodilator;
- antiallergic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- cardioprotective;
- antioxidant;
- anti-ulcer;
- antitumor,
- and many others.
Gallic acid, contained in immortelle flowers, stops internal bleeding, helps in the treatment of diabetes, and has a hemostatic effect.
Caffeic acid has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, inhibits the aging of the body.
Chlorogenic acid has laxative and antioxidant properties, helps cleanse the body and lose weight.
The rich content of the above active chemicals allows the effective use of immortelle flower preparations in the treatment of liver and kidney diseases, malignant tumors, and peptic ulcers of internal organs. Improves the functioning of the heart muscle and increases blood pressure.
The good juice effect of immortelle flower preparations is useful for low acidity and slow release of the intestines from contents.
Currently, there are no absolutely healthy people, so the panaceal properties of immortelle flowers can improve health, make life active, and prolong it for every person who does not neglect their use.
When to collect, how to dry
Immortelle blooms buds from June until autumn. It is better to collect raw materials from secondary flowering: it contains more useful substances. Preparation diagram:
- In June, we remove the first buds from the plants. We are waiting for the appearance of other inflorescences that should form at the cutting sites.
- We collect raw materials until the buds are fully opened. For the procedure, we select the day on the eve of which there was dry weather.
- Cut off the inflorescences with stems 1 cm long.
- We lay out the collected raw materials in one layer on a flat surface outdoors under a canopy or in a room with good ventilation.
- Dry for 7–9 days.
Properly prepared flowers look fresh. The collection is stored for up to a year in canvas bags. The period is limited to this period, since at home it will not be possible to hermetically pack the workpieces. The medicinal properties of immortelle are decreasing, so its use is ineffective.
Features of brewing tea
The grass should not be poured with boiling water. Under the influence of high temperature, some useful compounds decompose.
Brew immortelle tea as follows:
- pour 2 tablespoons of flowers into a thermos;
- pour 400 ml of water heated to 70 degrees;
- close the container tightly;
- Infuse tea for 30 minutes.
Strain the drink before drinking. A properly prepared decoction is transparent, yellow in color with a bitter aftertaste.
What herbs does it go with?
The medicinal properties of drinks made from immortelle or sandy cumin can be enhanced with other components.
- St. John's wort. Enhances the antibacterial, sedative, anthelmintic properties of flowers.
- Chamomile. Increases the anti-inflammatory abilities of immortelle. Infusions are effective in the treatment of pancreatitis.
- Calendula. In combination with cumin, it helps to quickly reduce cholesterol. The mixture of herbs is useful for diabetes and the prevention of atherosclerosis.
- Motherwort. Complements the restorative, soothing and wound-healing effects of immortelle.
- Oregano. Stimulates the restoration of liver cells, has an expectorant effect.
- Chicory. Increases the antimicrobial activity of flowers. Used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Types of healing compounds
Depending on the method of preparation, medicinal products receive different concentrations of useful substances and the strength of their effect on the human body. Composition recipes:
- Infusion. Take 1 tablespoon of flowers, pour into a thermos, pour 1 glass of water. If the liquid is at room temperature, leave for 8 hours; when heated to 70 degrees, leave for 2 hours.
- Alcohol tincture. We prepare it like this: pour 20 g of raw materials into a glass container, pour in 200 ml of warm vodka, and close the lid tightly. Place in a dark place for 2 weeks. Strain before use.
- Decoction. Pour 3 tablespoons of raw material into 200 ml of hot water. Simmer in a steam bath for 30 minutes. After cooling, filter.
Alternative and traditional medicine
In alternative medicine, immortelle is used to treat all diseases included in the section of gastroenterology.
In folklore, the medicinal properties of sandy immortelle are used against worms, epilepsy, headaches, to regulate menstrual cycles, for stomach and duodenal ulcers, in the fight against malignant tumors, hepatitis and others, the effectiveness of which is described above.
Medicines made from immortelle flowers have low toxicity, but their long-term use is not recommended due to the accumulation and stagnation of bile in the liver.
Decorative use
The exquisite charm of immortelle plants with airy greenery and bright flowers is difficult to overestimate. They are used in mixed flower beds, near buildings or fences. The plant is also suitable for decorating rock gardens and rock gardens. The flower is very popular in floristry. It is often used in making wreaths, garlands and winter bouquets.
Not fully blossomed buds along with the stem are cut off in the fall. Leaves are completely removed. Drying is carried out in a vertical position with the head down. Don't be afraid to keep immortelle at home. Although dry, dead flowers are a concern, these are just superstitions. Tsmin is considered the guardian of youth and attractiveness. It protects sleep, fights ailments, gives the owner courage and courage, and also teaches him to embrace every day with joy.
Non-medicinal uses of immortelle
Due to its numerous properties, immortelle is used not only as a medicinal drug. It is used to dye fabrics yellow.
The smell of immortelle is not tolerated by moths, and popular observation has led to the use of immortelle for the long-term preservation of clothing.
Immortelle is used to flavor all kinds of drinks and scent compositions by French perfumers.
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The phytoncidal properties of immortelle are used for long-term storage of meat. To do this, it is covered with flowers.
Briefly about the plant
It is important to know the description of the plant in order to plant and grow it correctly. Immortelle flowers can be found in the Caucasus, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
The plant grows on sandy, loose soils, dry mountain hills, in pine forests and forest clearings. Helichrysum reproduces well and forms thickets. The height of the flower is no higher than 50 centimeters. It has heavily pubescent and leafy stems. The leaves have pointed tips. The flowers consist of lemon-yellow baskets. The plant actively blooms in summer. To decorate a summer cottage, helichrysum garden flowers are planted. For rapid development and beautiful flowering, the plant must be fed and watered.
Rules for harvesting immortelle flowers
Due to the fact that the plant acquires medicinal properties at the very beginning of flowering, inflorescences can be harvested when the flowers are not fully blossomed.
However, care must be taken to ensure that fully bloomed flowers do not fall off when harvesting. This happens at the end of summer.
When harvesting flowers, you need to ensure that a certain number of whole plants remain in the place where they grow for their reproduction and the possibility of harvesting them in this place in subsequent years. During the summer, you can collect flowers in one place 3-4 times.
The collection of medicinal raw materials, and not only immortelle flowers, should be carried out in the afternoon, when the dew has dried and in sunny weather. Raw materials must remain dry, otherwise they may rot or become moldy.
When collecting immortelle inflorescences, you must ensure that the length of the stem on the inflorescence remains no more than 1 centimeter.
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The period of intense flowering occurs in July-August. During this period they acquire maximum medicinal value.
When collecting herbs, care should not be lost on the collector. The distinctive feature of immortelle grass is its yellow flowers, similar to small asters, growing on a whitish, felt-like stem.
The whitish or pink flowers, collected in a bunch, belong to the dioecious cat's foot. The plant is also medicinal, but has slightly different properties - hemostatic and as a remedy for hepatitis.
Do not confuse medicinal immortelle with dried flowers with large pink baskets.
Description
Helichrysum in translation means golden sun, since the main colors of the flowers are yellow, orange, and red. And cut immortelle practically does not change the color of the flowers.
Immortelle bract grows naturally on the Australian continent, in countries in southeast Asia, and in most countries of the European continent.
Currently, breeders are developing new varieties of this flowering plant. But it should be remembered that the varietal species of this flower do not have healing properties.
The most common flowers are the sandy immortelle, which is planted along with other flowers in flower beds in gardens and squares and decorates front gardens. This plant has erect stems that grow to a height of 45–50 cm.
Tsmin sandy
The foliage is slightly elongated, short with sharp tips, light emerald green. Rhizomes are small in size, slightly branched. The tops of the stems are decorated with large inflorescences of small yellow flowers with a lemon tint. In natural conditions it can grow, filling entire meadows with a yellow cloud of its flowers.
This subshrub blooms throughout the summer season, so from June to the end of August these lemon flowers can be seen in fields and forest edges.
This species grows mainly on loose sandstones, so its main habitats are Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Belarus, where there are many regions with a similar type of soil.
Treatment with immortelle preparations
The variety of medicinal properties of yellow immortelle also determines the variety of ways to use it.
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Gastroenterology in its diversity is generated by tasty and unhealthy food, fatty, flavored with alcohol, which is difficult to refuse, especially on numerous holidays.
Abstaining from taking it requires enormous willpower, and the friends and relatives around us drown out this feeling with insults and persuasion, demanding to poison ourselves with delicious-smelling, beautifully decorated, salivating and appetite-stimulating dishes.
Eventually, with age, there is a need to consult a doctor or practice herbal medicine. Immortelle inflorescences are a panacea that will help before the disease from gluttony completely destroys the body.
Traditional recipes, tested for centuries, help overcome the above-mentioned diseases. It should be remembered that the treatment process is long, and recipes and methods of their use are selected for each organism individually.
Offered by traditional medicine, they are of a general nature, and the patient must monitor and adjust their effect daily from the start of use.
Plant varieties
Immortelle comes in different types. The most popular varieties are:
- Helichrysum monstrosum has a tall stem and numerous double round flowers;
- Gomphrena globosa forms a branched bush, the flowers of which have a pink, crimson or orange tint;
- Statice sinuata is a very beautiful flower with bright colors and pretty leaves;
- Sandy immortelle has simple, erect, numerous leaves, pubescent on top. Small flowers. They have a golden yellow or orange tint;
- To decorate rock gardens and rockeries, coral varieties of immortelle are planted. Their height is 24 centimeters. On the branches sticking out in different directions there are many small leaves with gray pubescence. The small inflorescences themselves are painted white or yellow;
- The margarite-flowering variety of helichrysum grows to a height of 8 centimeters. The bushes bloom in early summer in the form of a mat with small, pubescent gray leaves. The short flower stalks of the plant are dotted with dry white inflorescences. The bushes grow very quickly and can reach a diameter of 50 centimeters;
- The most original type of immortelle is the Milford variety. The reed flowers of the perennial are painted white on the inside and pink-carmine on the outside. When the flowers open, you can see white clouds. Blooms from late spring to early autumn;
- Helichrysum selago has creeping stems on which grow shiny whorled leaves of a dark green color. The perennial has small baskets of white and yellow flowers;
- A perennial variety called Tien Shan blooms with yellow inflorescences. In appearance, it resembles a sandy plant variety;
- The narrow-leaved variety of helichrysum grows to a height of 30 centimeters. It has white-silver leaves. Flower growers decorate borders with this variety.
General recommendations
An infusion of immortelle is prepared by infusing a tablespoon of flowers in a glass of boiling water for 15 minutes. The cooled infusion is filtered. The medicine is ready for use in three doses, half an hour before meals.
Infusion of a tablespoon of dried flowers per 0.5 liters of cold water. Leave for 8 hours. Drink in any form - tea, drink to obtain a choleretic effect.
To prepare the decoction, add a tablespoon of flowers to two glasses of water and boil for 10 minutes. Take the strained broth three times a day in a warm form.
Outdoor care
Immortelle is very unpretentious, so caring for it will not be difficult. First you need to choose the right place. The plant needs a lot of sunlight; only some species prefer shaded areas. The soil for helichrysum should be loose and fertile, without stagnant water. Acidity is preferably neutral or slightly acidic.
Before planting, the area is carefully dug up. If necessary, add a mineral complex for flowering plants and compost. A layer of drainage material is poured onto the bottom of the planting hole.
Immortelle has good drought resistance, but to get beautiful, profusely flowering bushes, you cannot do without watering. Before use, it is advisable to let the water stand and warm it slightly in the sun. Irrigation is carried out in the morning or closer to sunset so that the plants do not get burned by drops of water.
Regular fertilizing is needed mainly for perennial varieties. It is enough to apply a solution of mullein or mineral fertilizer 2-3 times per season. Weeding and weed removal should be carried out periodically. Wilted inflorescences, dry shoots and leaves are also cut off.
Plant diseases rarely threaten immortelle. Among the parasites, nematodes are the most annoying. Conventional insecticides will not help against them, since the pest hides inside the stems and leaves. Affected areas are usually simply cut off and destroyed.
Immortelle against excess weight
For this purpose, which is the concern of the majority of the population of planet Earth, immortelle is used in teas together with chamomile, St. John's wort and birch buds.
All these components can be bought at the pharmacy, but you can also assemble them yourself. This is not difficult to do, because... These plants grow throughout our country.
The tea mixture is prepared by mixing equal proportions of the ingredients and brewing one tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water. After half an hour, the infusion is ready. Take in the morning on an empty stomach in two doses and in the evening before bed.
A simplified, but no less effective way to lose weight is to brew two tablespoons of flowers with a liter of boiling water in a thermos. Take a glass of infusion after dinner.
Important! While taking these infusions, you should not drink alcoholic beverages. Accumulating them in the body, immortelle infects the blood, causing liver and gallbladder diseases.
Important! At the end of treatment, you must follow a modest diet and stop drinking tea for five years. Hypertension, shortness of breath, allergies are the result of violating these rules.
Origin
Why was this lovely plant called immortal? It turns out that helichrysum is a universal plant that decorates a flower bed, stands in a vase for a long time after cutting, and when it dries, it decorates any winter composition of dead wood that has been standing without water all winter. The homeland of cumin is the Australian continent , but currently it can be found in flower beds in different countries of the world, and the number of varieties of helichrysum has exceeded 450 items. But most of them grow only in natural conditions. And only about 28–29 species of them have been cultivated.
Homeland of the immortelle
In addition to its beautiful appearance and variety of colors, immortelle contains many active substances, thanks to which the flower is also used for medicinal purposes.
Decoction against worms
A glass of water and two teaspoons of flowers steamed for half an hour in a water bath is an effective remedy against worms. The decoction is finally ready for use after filtering and diluting with water to 1.5 cups. Drink 0.5 cups before meals.
Contraindications to the use of immortelle.
Like any medicine and medicinal herb, immortelle flowers have limitations in their use. Increased acidity, pregnancy, breastfeeding - these are serious restrictions on the use of immortelle.
The maximum period for taking immortelle preparations is three months. Increasing the period leads to the accumulation of toxins in the liver, and a friend becomes an enemy.
The effect of immortelle on the liver is very strong. Be careful and check with your doctor when taking immortelle preparations.
Treat your health with immortelle preparations, but be careful!
Features of flower propagation
Seed propagation
The annual variety of cumin is propagated from seeds. They can be collected immediately after the bushes bloom. Seeds are sown for seedlings in greenhouses. Young plants grow from the seeds, which, after planting in open ground, take root well and bloom earlier. Planting seeds for seedlings is carried out immediately after the onset of warm days, when morning frosts are no longer a concern. Fresh soil, peat and sand are poured into each hole.
Immortelle photo
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Growing cut flowers
If you want to grow immortelle for cutting, it is important to feed it once every 14 days, especially when the plant grows and develops. In this case, it needs to be fertilized with complex fertilizers. Fertilizer must be applied to the soil warm. And then water the bushes with flowers. When the flowers are cut, they need to be cleared of leaves and hung upside down in small bunches. It is recommended to dry them in a ventilated, dark place. Low-growing varieties of immortelle are used to decorate panels and colorful compositions. They are also often used to decorate cards and souvenirs.
Now you know what the description of the immortelle flower is. How to grow it and care for it. It is important to plant correctly and provide all the conditions for rapid growth and beautiful long flowering of helichrysum. Since it is often used in folk medicine, treatment with drugs based on the plant can only be done after consulting a doctor.
