FLOWER

Orange mullein (Verbascum phlomoides)

Common names: mullein, velvet plant

Description:

Orange mullein is a biennial plant belonging to the figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family. In the first year, the plant develops a basal rosette consisting of 20-30 cm long, spear-shaped, pointed leaves with sinuate margins. Its pentagonal, 1.5-2 m long stems appear in the second year. The stems develop alternate leaves. The flowers are arranged in spikes located on the top of the stem. Its vivid yellow flowers grow individually or in groups of 3 to 5. It blooms from June to August, in the early morning.

Orange mullein grows on pastures, roadsides, in dry weed associations. It is a drought and cold-tolerant plant requiring much sunlight.

Collection:

The drug is obtained from the flowers of the orange and denseflower mullein (V. densiflorum) (Verbasci flos), from which only the petals are harvested. The leaves (Verbasci folium) also contain active ingredient. The flowers must be collected on the day they begin to bloom, in dry weather and in the morning. They are very sensitive to pressure. Harvested flowers must be sun-dried or placed into an artificial dryer until they become friable.

Active substances:

The main active ingredients of the mullein flowers are the mucous substances and the saponins. In addition, the plant also contains sugars, flavonoids and carotenoids.

Uses:

Mullein flowers are used for their cough-relieving, expectorant, anticatarrhal, sudorific effects. The plant reduces coughing, is a common ingredient of mucolytic or expectorant tea blends. The plant has antiviral and mild antibacterial effects. Due to its anticatarrhal, expectorant, sudorific effects, it is also commonly used in traditional medicine to treat cold. The cosmetics industry uses the plant to make shampoos for blond hair.

SMALL-LEAVED LIME (Tilia cordata)

Common names: littleleaf linden or small-leaved linden

Description:

The species of lime (Tilia spp.) are tall, deciduous trees with a rich crown, belonging to the linden (Tiliaceae) family. The distinctively heart-shaped, rounded to triangular-ovate leaves are simple, asymmetric with serrated margins, long petioles and they are arranged alternately. The hermaphrodite flowers with type 5 symmetrical petals are fragrant and have numerous stamens. They are whitish-yellow and grouped by 4-15, forming pedunculated umbels. The small-leaved lime (T. cordata) blooms at the end of June while the large-leaved one (T. platyphyllos) blooms a little faster, in early to mid-June.

Small-leaved lime occurs in mountainous and hilly areas, up to an altitude of 1400 m above sea level and prefers slightly acid soils. The large-leaved lime grows in the flatlands, up to an altitude of 1200 m. It prefers fresh soils rich in humus and is not sensitive to acidity. Both species are frequently planted in town parks or along the alley sidewalks.

Collection:

Both in case of small-leaved and large-leaved lime, the drug is contained in the dried flowers (Tiliae flos). It is important that collectors know the differences between these two species used for medical purposes and the silver linden. The flowers are picked when the middle ones bloom. Before drying, it is important to remove all other plant parts (leaves, buds, fruits) from the mixture.

Active substances:

The plant contains flavonoids (quercetin, tiliroside), a small amount of essential oils, tannins, cyanogenic glycosides and mucous substances.

Uses:

Due to its diaphoretic and expectorant effects, the drug obtained from the flowers of both small-leaved and large-leaved lime can be used individually or blended with other teas, especially for treating colds. It is often used as a component of diuretic or stomach-strengthening tea blends, throat or mouth rinse mixtures. It is also known for its mild sedative effects.

From the wood of linden species, activated charcoal can be obtained, which can be used in medical purposes, to treat intestinal infections or enteritis but also as prime material for cosmetics or skincare products.

Linden tea for sore throat:

A teaspoon of linden flowers is mixed with 200 ml boiling water and allowed to infuse for 10-15 minutes. 2-3 cups of tea are recommended daily, sweetened with honey or sugar.

Lime mixture for throat rinse:

A teaspoon of linden flowers is mixed with 200 ml water and a half a teaspoon of baking soda. In case of tonsillitis, use hot tea for the mixture because it is more effective.

Lime flower bath:

Add 500 grams of dried flowers to 3 litres of boiling water, strain and add it to the bath water. We recommend a 15-20 minute-long bath.

LAVENDER SPECIES (Lavandula spp.)

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Dutch Lavender (Lavandula x intermedia)

Common names: garden lavender, common lavender, narrow-leaved lavender,

Description:

The species of the Lavandula genus are subshrubs belonging to the mint (Lamiaceae) family. Their rhizomes are wooden root systems heavily branched at the bottom. The roots can penetrate the soil reaching depths of even 3-4 m. The plant develops dense, bushy stems from its basal rosette. Older stems of the English lavender are 40-60 cm tall and 80-120 cm wide in diameter. The Dutch lavender is more robust, 80-100 cm tall and 150 cm wide in diameter. The alternate leaves are needle-shaped or narrow-lanceolate. Dutch lavender leaves are slightly larger and fluffy. English lavender blooms in late June or in July while Dutch lavender a little later. The flowers consist of pseudo-whorls forming tubular spikes. The flowers are blue-violet, those of the Dutch lavender having a more grayish hue but light blue or white specimens also exist.

Lavender is a native species to the Mediterranean region and is part of the South European spontaneous flora, reaching altitudes of over 1,700 m. Dutch Lavender grows in southern France and Spain, at altitudes up to 1000 m.

Cultivation:

Lavender species prefer dry, calcareous soils of medium consistency. They are plants which require heat but they are also cold-resistant, being damaged by frost during very cold winters without snow. English lavender is propagated by stem cuttings or with transplanted seedlings. Dutch lavender is propagated only via stem cuttings. The ideal plantation period is during fall, from mid-September to late October. The optimal distance between the lavender rows is of 1-1.5 m and the distance between the stems is of 50 cm. Dutch lavender should have a slightly larger cultivation area. The next year after plantation, in late May or early June, the stems must be cut at a height of 8-10 cm. The procedure should be repeated the following year, this time the cutting height being at 15-18 cm. Subsequently, the stems should no longer be cut. To extract essential oil, lavender flowers are harvested when they are in full bloom, which means a relatively short period. To obtain dried flowers, cut flowers will be dried immediately. From 8-10 kg of flowers one can obtain 1 kg of dried drug.

Active substances:

The drug consists from English lavender flowers (flos Lavandulae) and essential oil obtained from fresh inflorescences (aetheroleum Lavandulae). In case of the Dutch lavender, the drug consists only from the essential oil. English lavender flowers contain 0.5-3% essential oil, having linalool and linalil acetate as main constituents. Dutch lavender flowers contain 0.9-5% essential oil. In addition to essential oils, lavender species also contain flavonoids, sterols, coumarins and tannins.

Uses:

Lavender improves digestion, has sedative and antispasmodic effects. Infusion of dried lavender flowers can be used as an effective sedative in case of surfeit, stress, neurosis or insomnia. It has beneficial effects in case of upset stomach or intestines, accelerates the bile functions. As external treatment, it is used in lotions to treat rheumatism or neuritis. Lavender oil mixed with turpentine, juniper and rosemary oil, is beneficial in case of arthritis or rheumatic pain. Medical baths with lavender flowers have beneficial effects in case of rheumatism or gout and they are well-known tranquilizers. As an internal treatment, lavender oil dripped on sugar cubes is used to treat gastrointestinal problems by patients suffering from neurosis. The cosmetics industry uses the largest quantities of lavender essential oil.

MATRICARIA CHAMOMILA (Matricaria recutita)

Common names: chamomile (also spelled camomile), Italian camomilla, German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, wild chamomile or scented mayweed,

Description:

Chamomile belongs to the order Asterales and the Asteraceae family and is a very commonly used herb. It is an annual plant which frequently appears during autumn and overwinters. The root is fusiform and does not go very deep into the soil. The stem is cylindrical, upright or lying on the ground, depending on the habitat and the environment, being 5-80 cm tall. The leaves are spread, lanceolate-oblong and pinnatisect. The flowers are borne in paniculate flower heads (capitula), the initially hollow receptacle is later swollen and lacks scales. The flowers appear in late April and early May and bloom until mid-summer.

Chamomile is native to the Mediterranean region and has spread throughout all temperate regions as a weed associated with wheat plantations. They are typical plant species of the saline areas and often occur along roads, in meadows, wheat and alfalfa fields but there are also important chamomile plantations.

Collection:

The drug comes from chamomile flowers (Chamomillae anthodium) and the essential oil (Aetheroleum Chamomillae). The flowers can be collected when the tubular yellow disc flowers are already in bloom and the ray flowers reach their horizontal position. They are collected with a harvester called comb.

Cultivation:

Chamomile can grow in almost any type of garden soil, providing rich harvest especially in the sunny areas. Propagation is done by seeds, in late August and early September. Spring crops are unsafe and will have fewer flowers. Chamomile seeds are sprouting in the light so they must be sprinkled on the ground surface and they should not be covered with soil. Chamomile seeds withstand the winter in the form of basal rosettes and the flowers appear the next year, in May. After harvesting the first flower cycle, in favorable circumstances, new stems will develop at the bottom of the old ones giving birth to a new generation of flowers.

The flowers can be dried both naturally and artificially. In the case of natural drying, the flowers shall be placed next to each other and thus they do not need to be turned and will not break. Overall, 5 kg of fresh flowers will provide 1kg of dried drug.

Active substances:

Chamomile contains a considerable amount of essential oil, an important component of which is chamazulene. Except essential oil, the plant also contains flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, patuletine and glycosides), coumarin but also mucous substances such as pectin.

Uses:

Due to its therapeutic properties, chamomile is one of the herbs used since the ancient times. The plant is known for its antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. It is very effective in treating gastrointestinal ulcers and inflammations. In case of respiratory diseases, chamomile inhaled. Chamomile tea has soothing, antispasmodic, carminative effects, strengthens the stomach and aids digestion. It is used as a mouthwash for gum problems or in case of pharyngitis. In form of compresses, it is used to treat eczema or slowly-healing wounds, inflamed eyes and insect bites. Hip baths with chamomile are effective against hemorrhoids or inflammation of female genitalia. Oil derivatives are used to treat small burns and pressure ulcers.

Chamomile is an important raw material for cosmetics, excellent for making ointments, creams and shower gels. It is also used for hair care products, soothing the irritated skin, treating dandruff and itching. Are ingredient of hair care products, it lightens the blonde hair colour and gives it a silky shine.

WHITE DEAD NETTLE (Lamium album)

Common names: white nettle, white archangel, blind nettle, dumb nettle, deaf nettle, bee nettle

Description:

The white dead nettle belongs to the order Lamiales and the Lamiaceae family. It is a perennial plant with ramified rhizomes. The rectangular stems are 30-50 cm tall and have alternate leaves. The leaves are broad, triangular, with a rounded base and rare hairs and serrated margins. The flowers are about 2 cm long with a welded calyx and a white or yellow corolla; two of the stamens are shorter than the other two. The flowering period begins in May and, depending on the habitat, it can last until September.

The white dead nettle is a common plant for Europe and Asia. The plant prefers nitrogen-rich soils, growing frequently in forests, shrubby areas, along fences and in fresh weed associations.

Collection:

The drug is made from the corolla of the white dead nettle flowers (Lamii albi flos) and from its aerial stems and flowers (Lamii albi herba). In the first case, the corollas are removed from calyces along with the stamens and they are separated from the rest of the flower. They are shade-dried in a thin layer or in an artificial dryer. It is important for the flowers to retain their white colour as long as possible. When collected, the stems are cut a few centimeters above the ground. 1 kilogram of dried drug is made from about 6-7 kg flowers or 4-5 kg stems.

Active substances:

One of the main active ingredients is lamalbid, an iridoids glycoside. The plant also contains phenolcarbonic acids and their derivatives (in particular caffeic acid and its esters) and flavonoids.

Uses:

The therapeutic uses of the white dead nettle are due to its slight diuretic and expectorant effects. In folk medicine, it is often used to treat white discharge and urinary problems in case of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Occasionally, it can be used as a treatment of bronchitis. It can be also used to treat stomach and digestive problems, especially bloating. White dead nettle tea is recommended in case of insomnia. As an external treatment, dried flowering stems are used for rectal or dermatological inflammations and to relieve menstrual cramps.

COWSLIP (Primula veris)

Traditional names: cuy lippe, herb peter, paigle, peggle, key flower, key of heaven, fairy cups, petty mulleins, crewel, buckles, palsywort, plumrocks, tittypines.

Description:

Cowslip is an herbaceous perennial specie belonging to the primrose family (Primulaceae), flowering in early spring. Its rhizome is dark brown, approximately 10 cm long and 0.5cm thick, from which erect the 20-25 cm long roots. Its oval leaves with crinkled surface form a rosette of leaves. The 15-25 cm high stem has a simple cluster of flowers. The nutant yellow flowers have a campanulate corolla with 5 orange spots. Flowering occurs mostly during March and April. Its fruit is an oval capsule with small, brownish gray seeds. It is native throughout temperate Eurasia, first of all in mountain forests, scrublands, fields, especially in limy, alkaline soil.

Collection:

The root leaves and flowers of cowslip are used for medical purposes. The rhizome is collected when flowering or at autumn. The flowers are gathered when fully blown, while the leaves can be picked year-round. The flowers demand a fast drying and depositing in a dry space, otherwise they will lose their color. 3-3.5 kg of roots, 6-7 kg of flowers or 5 kg of leaves results in 1 kg of dried drug.

Active Substances:

Every part of cowslip, but especially the root contains triterpene saponins and phenolglycosides (primverin, primulaverin). The flower contains less saponin, but it contains flavonoids, carotines and a little bit of volatile oils. The saponin content of the leaves is also low, but they contain L-ascorbic acid.

Use:

Cowslip is a good expectorant. It suppresses the hardly passing cough, helps breaking and expectorating phlegm. In case of bronchitis the cowslip rhizome infusion is used. It is effectively used as a diuretic and widely known as a remedy for rheumatic pains and joint gout.

In traditional medicine it was used as diuretic, depressant and for soothing rheumatic pains. The flowers were used as an expectorant, diuretic, sudorific and depressant. Occasionally it is used for dying different tea mixtures. In homeopathy it is used against headache and skin rash.

Tea: place a half spoon of dried cowslip roots or one teaspoon of dried cowslip flower in 2 dl of cold water and boil, then strain it after 10-15 minutes. In case of cough drink 3-4 cups of tea daily. Cowslip root is very rich of saponin, which is why it is the main compound of several cough suppressant tea mixtures.

DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale)

Traditional names: blowball, lion’s-tooth, cankerwort, milk-witch, yellow-gowan, Irish daisy, monks-head, priest’s-crown, puff-ball, faceclock, pee-a-bed, wet-a-bed, swine’s snout, white endive and wild endive.

Description

It belongs to the family of Asteraceae. This perennial plant appears in very varied forms and is native to Middle-, Eastern- and Southern Europe. It appears on fields and unimproved lands, meadows and wet pastures, on ramparts and in gardens. Its root has the form of a spike and grows 10-25 cm deep, is 1-3 cm thick, outside grey, inside white. The rosette of leaves and the stems grow out from the rhizome. The 15-25 cm long lanceolate leaves are serrated. The flower stem is 5-40 cm high, tubular and slightly hairy. The flowers are light yellow, mellific and bloom from March to June. It has silver tufted fruits (blowballs). The whole plant contains a sticky and milky latex.

Collection

The root of dandelion can be collected for medical reasons in autumn and spring, while the leaves and upper parts from spring to September. The cleared roots must be halved and dried in a covered and airy space. The most beautiful and healthy leaves must be cut just above the rhizome and dried in a thin layer at a clean, airy and shady place.

Active Substances

The plant contains taraxasterol-type triterpene, as well as a bitter substance called lactucopicrin, which decomposes into tranquilizer lactucin compounds. It also contains potassium salts, carotenoids, inulin and saponin. The leaves are rich in L-ascorbic acid, Vitamin A and B.

Use

The bitter substances stimulates digestion, so the dandelion is a good appetite enhancer and digestion improver medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory effects. It has been proved through experiments that the active substances of dandelion have good influence on the organism in case of cholepathia and cystalgia. In traditional medicine dandelion tea is used first of all as a diuretic and depurant, since it gears up liver and kidney functions. Dandelion poultice is good for rheumatic pains and join gout. The young leaves picked before flowering can be used for salads. In veterinary medicine dandelion is used for increasing milk-production.

BLACKTHORN (Prunus spinosa)

Description

Blackthorn belongs to the family of Rosaceae and to the subfamily of Prunoideae. This dense and spiny shrub grows up to 1-2 m on fringe of forests, clearings and pastures. Its small white flowers appear before the leaves come out, the fruits (called sloe) are 10-12 mm large, blue, cindery stone fruits to be harvested after the first frosts. Small song-birds prefer building their nests inside the spiny branches, while sloe serves as food for small wild animals during winter time. Blackthorn is native to Europe and the Middle East, and it is very widely spread also in Transylvania.

Dried fruits, among them wild fruits and blackthorn have always played an important role in traditional nutrition, especially during Lent. In the 17^th century Transylvania, during the rule of Apafi Mihály, dried blackthorn was as valuable that peasant had to pay tenth after the produced quantity.

Collection

The flowers must be picked before the leaves come out, around March-April. The sloe is harvested after the first frosts, when it loses its acerbic taste.

Active Substances

The flowers (Pruni spinosae flos) contain flavonoids (kempferol and quercetin glycoside, rutin) and procyanidines. The fruit (Pruni spinosae fructus) contain organic acids, glycose, proteins, iron, vitamin-B1, -B2- and L-ascorbic acid, as well as tannins.

Use

In traditional medicine the dried flowers are the mostly used parts. Its tea has antihypertensive, slightly laxative and diuretic effects. Infuse 1 spoon of dried drug with 2 dl boiling water, macerate it for 20 minutes, and then strain it. Drink 2 dl of tea 3 times daily. In case of kidney and bladder problems mix it with milfoil, tutsan or golden-rod.

The flower infusion has spasmodic effects on stomach, it is an effective fat burning and fat-reducing remedy to be used during slimming diets. The infusion can be made of 2 spoons of dried blackthorn flower boiled in 250 ml of water for 1 minute. It also can be used for kidney and bladder problems. In order to rest your tired feet pour the infusion into a basin, add one handful of salt and one handful of ash to it and bathe your feet.

Distillated blackthorn flower is used in the cosmetic industry as cover material, invigorator, while the juice of the fruits as invigorator and skin conditioner. Thanks to its high mineral, vitamin and tannin content it tightens, nutrifies and regenerates loose, tired, pale, oily and scaly skin. The sloe can be used for jelly, syrup, wine or spirits.

MILFOIL (Achillea millefolium)

Common names: milfoil, yarrow, mousetail, boneflower, thousandleaf, medical yarrow.

Description

The milfoil is a 50-80 cm high herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the family of Asteraceae, with white flowers and with smell of camphor. It overwinters through its rhizome. The leaves are located dispersedly on the stem. It blooms from June until late autumn.

Legends

This medicinal plant was known already in the ancient times and used by ancient doctors. According to Dioscoride it is the best haemostatic and can be used for any kind of wounds and ulceration. Hippocrates recommended milfoil hip-bath for bleeding hemorrhoids. Its Latin name (Achillea) refers to the fact that Achilles used this plant in order to remedy the bleeding wounds of his fellows. By the Celts milfoil was a cult plant, they had a special ritual to collect it.

Active substances

Its astringent effect is thanks to one of its active substances, called tannin. Beside this some other substances make milfoil being a very useful plant in our home pharmacy: flavonoids, alkaloids, cumarin and its volatile substance, as well as azulene. Its high proazulene content is heritable attribute, changing from one plant to the other. Its level is not proportional with the volatile substance content. The species bred for cultivation contain a medium level of active substances (40-60% of volatile azulene).

Collection

The drug becomes either from the 30-40 cm long sprouts picked with the white flowers on the top (Achilleae herba) or the flowers picked with a 3-4 cm long stem (Achilleae flos). One can gain 1 kg of dried drug form 4 kg of sprouts or 6 kg of fresh flowers.

Curative effects

It is an excellent anti-inflammatory, can be used in case of vagina and uterus inflammations, for the mucous membrane and gingivitis. It is a good astringent, heals wounds. It soothes menstrual cramps and decreases bleeding. It can also be used for abdominal pains, tympanitis and it is a good appetite enhancer. At the same time milfoil stimulates gall liquid production. It is indispensable in case of diseases of the urinary and respiratory tracts.

Use

Make a light milfoil tea from a teaspoon of dry drug and 2,5 dl water for stomach cramps. Drink one cup of this before breakfast and dinner, twice a week. Later on continue with 2 cups, once a week for a whole month. Liver- and gall-bladder diseases can be treated in the same way: drink one cup of tea on an empty stomach every second morning for two weeks. In case of large but irregular period, drink one cup of tea in the mornings for 2-3 weeks before and during your period. For ovary, cervix or uterus inflammation drink 3 cups of tea per day, before main meals. If it is not a candida inflammation, you may use milfoil as a hip-bath (use 2,5 dl tea daily, in two parts, mornings and evenings). In case of candida infection vaginal irrigation is not recommended, since the irrigator cannot be properly disinfected. Keep the tea in the vagina as long as you can (for instance use a tampon while sitting in the bath with uplifted legs).

For climax mix it with shepherd’s purse, lady’s mantle, lavender, lemongrass, hop and hawthorn in order to gain a harmonizing effect. Drink one cup before going to bed.

In order to enhance appetite drink one cup of milfoil tea before your meal. If you drink it after you meal, it will help digestion and stimulate gall liquid production.

For bleeding hemorrhoid prepare a hip bath of 2 spoons of dried drug and 2 l of water. Sit into the bath not longer than 20 minutes.

For urinary tract infections drink one cup of tea weekly before your meal 4 weeks long. Pay attention that you consume enough fluid, since the stagnant urine is a real seed-bed for bacteria. In case of diseases of the respiratory tract you can use milfoil for inhalation: make a tea of 1 l of water and 1 spoon of dried drug and inhale fume. Drink one cup of tea daily for one week.

Milfoil can be used externally: the freshly crushed leaves stop the small wounds bleeding. For larger wounds use it as a poultice.

Tincture: push 3-4 handfuls of fresh milfoil flower into a jar and pour on with schnapps of 40% alcohol content. Keep the jar closed on a warm place for 2 weeks.

Unguent: warm 90 g of unsalted butter, add 15 g of freshly minced milfoil flower, 15 g minced strawberry leaves and fry them over. After one night warm this mixture again and squeeze through a canvas. Put it into a clean jar and keep in the refrigerator. It can be used for eyes, face cream or emollient.

Researches

We dispose of relatively little bibliography about this frequently used medicinal plant even though it proved to be very useful in many cases. Its tea and volatile oil have anti-inflammatory effects, while the azulene content of the flower sooths allergies. The sesquiterpene lactones contained by milfoil have anticancer effects. The achilein and flavonoid agents are used as haemostatic for internal and external bleedings. Most probably the flavonoids are responsible also for its antispasmodic effect.

It is important to know that it might cause mugwort cross-allergy, what means that if someone is allergic to mugwort, most probably will be allergic to milfoil too. The volatile oil content of the flower may cause strong headache, diseasedness, nausea, that is why its consumption is not recommended.

By those sensible the pure touch of the plant might cause an irritation, while its tea causes an itching skin irritation. For someone with allergies the consumption of this plant or any of its preparations is strictly forbidden.

BLACK ELDER (Sambucus nigra)

Black Elder (Sambucus nigra)

Origin, botanical description

This 6 m high shrub in the family Caprifoliaceae is native to Europe and Asia, also widespread in our country. The elder branches change to coarse grey with furrowing. The elliptical leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and have serrated margins. The flowers are born in flat corymbs with a diameter of 15-25 cm, having 5 main petals. Some flowers are very small not growing over 6 mm. The fruit is a glossy black berry.

The black elder might not be confused with the lower danewort or dwarf elderberry (Sambucus ebulus), which has smelly flowers with dark purple stamens. The latter is not a medicinal plant.

Active agents

The flower contains flavonoids, a bit of volatile oil, saponins and mucilage.

The color of the berry is due to the substances with phenol content (for instance cyanidin).

Histroy

The black elder was known and used already in the ancient times (by Hippocrates and Galenos). The latter has recommended elder for catarrhal colds and irritations of the mucous membrane. There are lots of legends about black elder: it is a symbol of the witches, the magic wand is made of elder tree. Another legend says that on elder trees live fairies and we need to sing under the blooming tree so that the fairies have plenty of time to escape. The elder tree was never cut out, since it protects our home from the evil spirits, but it was never used for a cradle, because it would not leave the baby growing. According to the German legends the magic flute was made of elder tree.

In the Hungarian traditional medicine it is the mostly used medicinal plant next to the chamomile. Gipsy women used every part of the tree for healing: flower, fruits, leaves, bark and roots.

Collection

Pick the jonquil flowers with pleasant smell with a short stem in May and June, when the sides of the umbrella start blooming. Dry them on dry and warm place, otherwise it will get brown and loses active substances. From 6-7 kg fresh flowers we will get 1 kg dry drug. When it get dried, pick the flowers from the stem and use them for medicinal tea. The fruits are dark berries with currative power. The latter can be collected at the end of the summer, in August or September.

Curative effects

The elderflower tea is a well-known diuretic with digestive and cough relief effects. In case of a cold or bronchitis it can be used as a sudorific and it stimulates the immune system. The fresh elder sprout and flower is a strong laxative. It is also used for blood purification, earache or huskiness. The elderberry is a sudorific, in a large quantity works as laxative but it is also recommended as a remedy for oedema and rheumatism. Its fresh juice or the jelly made of the berries is a proved remedy for tuberculosis. The bark of the elder tree has expelling effects, works as a vermifuge. It is a diuretic, used for kidney inflammation and recommended for oedema.

The leaves are diuretic and laxative, relief for rheumatic pain. It is also used against fever. In case of populous fever (rubeola, scarlat) and rheumatic fever, as well as in case of catarrhal infection (bronchitis, flue) it can be used as an effective sudorific. It is rarely recommended for oral use. It is mostly used for bleeding and flash burn.

Use

Medicinal tea: in case of a cold drink 2-3 cups of very hot elder tea daily. It is even more efficient if you drink elder tea while taking a footbath, then go to bed. This way you „sweat” the cold, detoxify your organism and quicken the healing.

In case of stuffy nose, cough elder is ideal for inhalation, since it clears well the respiratory tract and works as a good expectorant.

One cup of elder tea in the morning has diuretic effect.

Elder tea is also used in order to lose weight. Drink 5 cups of tea daily for a whole month or until you reach the weight wanted.

It is one component of cough syrups made of: elderberry, plantain, blackcurrant, liquorice, anise, candy, honey and a little bit of salmiac.

External use: Thanks to its sedative effect it can be used as a compress in case of pleurisy, hematoma, gout, frost-bite, psoriasis and eczema. Use it as a wash lotion for ophtalmia and stye.