Monarda - it is a fragrant spice, a plant of the family of the Sponge flowers. His homeland is North America.
Monarda has long been used as a seasoning and medicine. By the XIX century, this herb became known worldwide as bergamot, American lemon balm, lemon mint.
Grass bergamot It is an annual or perennial plant up to one and a half meters high. The leaves of the plant are oblong-lanceolate, straight toothed, fragrant. The flowers of monardy-bergamot are small, they are of different colors: white, red, purple, yellow, speckled. They gather in inflorescences of 6-7 cm in diameter.
Monarda attracts bright colors of flowers and amazing aromas. It is used as a spice in cooking, added to tea, used in traditional medicine.
Chemical composition of monarda
Monarda - This is an essential oil plant. Accordingly, the main biologically active component of the plant are essential oils. Thanks to them, the Monarda exudes a distinctive fragrance. The plant is also rich in vitamins B1, B2, C, it synthesizes amino acids, bitterness, bioflavonoids, tannins, cellulose, pectins.
Essential oil of Monarda contains about 40 components, 16 of which are essential. Most of the samples of essential oil of Monarda contain carvacol and thymol as the main element.
In different plant species, their content is from 41% to 85%. Also in the essential oil of Monarda, a high content of Sabinen, Terpinen, Cymol, Tuyen, Borneol, Tuyol, Linalool, Myrcene, Cyneol. Inside the plant species produce forms that can vary greatly in the composition of the oil.
Important! In dried form it is used to combat domestic parasites. Elements of the plant help get rid of bed bugs and other insects that feed on skin particles.
Healing properties of Monarda
The healing properties of Monarda are provided by its chemical composition. The most valuable product obtained from this plant is essential oil, having bactericidal action of a wide spectrum. Also essential oil of Monarda has antioxidant, reproductive, antianemic, immunomodulatory, radioprotective properties.
Well known antistress properties of monarda. With constant fatigue, the use of this plant affects the central nervous system, its tone rises, vivacity appears, and strength is restored.
The properties of the monarda plant are used to speed up the healing process for eczema, burns, bronchial asthma, and salmonellosis. Fights viruses, fungi, mycoplasmas.
Monarda has medicinal properties that allow you to fight with worms. Thymol contained in the plant has anthelmintic action. But apply the plant in conjunction with other means to combat this problem. Monarda also activates the action of antibiotics, which allows to reduce the number of their use.
The use of monarda in traditional medicine
In folk medicine, the use of Monarda is popular. A positive effect is observed in diseases of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, problems of the central nervous system, gynecological diseases, fungal infections.
The presence of a large number of biologically active components make it possible to use Monarda in homeopathy. In this area, it is used exclusively fresh. Plant extracts have a pronounced antimicrobial effect, positively affect the digestive processes.
Did you know? For drugs, you can use oil extract of Monarda. It is prepared at home by placing a dry plant in a container with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:10, heating the mixture to 60 degrees for two hours. Filtered oil is used for rhinitis and for the treatment of wounds.
The use of decoctions of Monarda allows you to stimulate the immune system. This tool is used for colds, for their prevention. Monarda can be brewed in tea.
In conjunctivitis, eye rinsing with monarda is indicated. You can also wash any wounds on the body, make lotions for them, which speeds up their healing.
When the disease of the mouth, gums, throat is used tincture of monarda. Rinsing tincture contributes to the rapid healing and healing of wounds and ulcers on the mucous membranes. It is useful to make gargles with a monardy with angina.
In case of inflammatory gynecological diseases, douching is applied. There are also medications containing monarda, prescribed for such diseases.
Regular consumption of Monarda helps to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, contributes to the normalization of cell activity. There is a gradual purification of the aorta and blood vessels from atherosclerotic plaques.
Did you know? Monardo in the form of essential oils is used as a "cleaner" of air from germs and pathogenic bacteria. During epidemics, it is very useful to add it to the aroma lamps.
Application in cosmetology
Monarda in cosmetology is used in the form of an essential oil, decoctions. The problem of teenage acne, acne and other skin diseases, including foot fungus, is also solved by the external use of decoctions, tinctures containing monardo in the composition. Effectively used to eliminate the problems of oily scalp, treatment of seborrhea.
From the decoction of the plant masks are prepared with the addition of blue or white clay. To prepare decoction, You will need 2 tablespoons of raw materials and 200 ml of boiling water. Mixture insist 10 hours in a thermos. This decoction is suitable for washing, to stop the inflammatory processes in the pores of the skin.
Butter oil also used to postpone old age. Regular massages using this oil renew the cells and slow down the aging process.
Monardo is added to creams, to skin care products after being under the sun, in anti-aging lines. The use of products with this component tones the skin.
How to use bergamot in cooking
Not only in folk medicine and cosmetology application of monarda thrives. In cooking, this herb is also often used, but more often it is called bergamot.
The leaves, flowers and shoots of the Monarda have a tart pleasant aroma. In recipes it is used in fresh and dried form.
Examples of use of monardy-bergamot in cooking:
- tea making;
- as a seasoning in soups, meat and fish dishes, side dishes, salads;
- in the preservation of tomatoes and cucumbers;
- for flavoring jam, fruit drinks;
- component of sauces, add to pizza.
Preparation of raw materials from monarda
The raw material for drugs and culinary dishes is the ground part of the plant. The most favorable period for harvesting - the beginning of flowering. It is at this time in the plant the highest concentration of essential oils.
The cut grass is dried in the shade, in a well-ventilated area. Thick, coarse stems can be immediately removed, which will facilitate the further preparation of infusions and fees. Raw materials should not be crushed, because it can damage the essential oil glands. If this happens, the essential oil will evaporate, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of the raw materials.
Important! The amount of essential oil and the ratio of components in it can vary depending on growing conditions, variety, collection time. Also, the component composition of essential oils of Monarda can vary considerably even among the descendants of a single plant.
Contraindications to the use
Monarda - one of the most useful plants. However, with excessive use, it can provoke a negative reaction in the body.
Contraindications to the use of Monarda:
- individual intolerance of the plant;
- lactation;
- age up to 5 years.
Monarda benefits in many branches of cosmetology and medicine. But do not forget about the safety rules, and before applying you need to make sure that the components of the plant are well tolerated.
