Monarda flower: its medicinal properties and contraindications. Monarda - medicinal properties

The monarda genus has about 20 different varieties that grow mainly in Canada, Mexico and North America. perennial or annual plant with stems that can be either straight or more branched. The height of the plant sometimes reaches one and a half meters. Leaves are simple, oblong, toothed. Monarda flowers can be white, pink, red, purple or yellowish. They are collected in dense capitate or racemose inflorescences. Monarda fruit is a nut. The leaves, flowers and stems of the monarda have a pleasant, fragrant aroma, which resembles mint or lemon, depending on the plant variety.

On the this moment Monarda is known to many people. Some people use it like common plant that decorates country cottage area, others use monarda in recipes like a spice. But the plant has medicinal properties, which are widely used in traditional medicine, for example, to treat colds, stomach pain or to reduce body temperature. In its native countries, the monarda is found quite often, sometimes turning into a weed plant with its vast plantations, but in our regions the monarda is valued for its qualities. The most widespread in dachas and land plots was lemon monarda, fragrant, double monarda, dotted, soft, Russell's monarda and other varieties.

Today, as perennials, the species of monarda described below are most often used.

Photo gallery

Monarda double

A plant that came to our lands from the Great Lakes region located in North America. Double Monarda is a perennial plant with a long, horizontal rhizome, its growth reaches 80 cm. The stems are tetrahedral, leafy, erect, have many fine hairs. The leaves of the double monarda are located oppositely on the stems, on short petioles with reddish stipules. The size is about 6-12 cm, the color is light green. The leaves are rounded in shape, pointed and slightly serrated along the edges. Flowers may be purple or lilac, rather small in size. The fruit of the plant is dry, cracks when ripe into four nuts.

Monarda fistulate, or tubular

The tubular monarda was brought to our zones from the forests of North America. We are most often found in the Caucasus. AT European countries the plant is grown as a spicy and aromatic plant, to create condiments. A large number of stems of tubular monarda reaches a height of 120 centimeters. The leaves are pubescent with fine hairs, serrated, simple type. small flowers connected in false whorls and overgrown with red bracts. On each stem there are up to nine inflorescences of a rather large size, about 5-8 cm. Monarda tubular blooms for about 50 days, starting in July.

Monarda hybrid

This name combines a hybrid of tubular monarda and double monarda. The origin of this flower is unknown. Perennial plant, height about 100 cm. Monarda hybrid flowers can be different color starting with small whites and ending with flowers bigger size purple color. Among the varieties of hybrid monarda, many sub-cultivars are distinguished, which mainly differ in the frequency of flowering, the color of the leaves and flowers. If you are interested in a plant, then we are pleased to give you the names of varieties that can be found in our country for planting on your own. land plot: Zinta-Zinta, Pony, Fishe, Blue Stocking, Blaustrumpf, Sunset, Elsise Lavende, Cardinal, Crately Pink, Rose Queen, Schneewithen, Petit Delight, Snoy Maiden and other magnificent varieties that will decorate your flower garden.

The location of the monarda in the garden

Monarda is best suited to sunny areas, but also grows well in partial shade. So that a plant with thin stems does not lie down on the ground and does not bend from the wind and strong storms, planting a monard is required in a quiet, protected place.

Soil Requirements

In fact, the culture is completely undemanding to the soil, however, the monard grows best on light calcareous soils. Completely unsuitable for growing Monarda are acidic and heavy marshy soils. If the plant was planted in poor soil, then for its flowering and maintenance vitality it will be necessary to feed it with a special complex of fertilizers.

Monarda: cultivation and useful properties (video)

Landing Monarda on the site

The place for planting the monards is being prepared starting in the fall. The soil is dug up, completely cleared of weeds and possible remnants of rhizomes of other plants. Next, a mixture of manure, compost and peat is introduced into the soil, about 2-3 kg for each square meter prepared soil. It also does not hurt to add 40-50 g of superphosphate and the same portion of potassium salt per 1 m². If suddenly the chosen place for landing with acidic soil, then liming is required, per 1 m² 40-50 g of lime. Since spring, it will be necessary to add to the soil nitrogen fertilizer, approximately 20-30 g per 1 m². In order for the plant to have sufficient area for growth and nutrition, it is required to plant the monard at a distance of at least 60 cm from each other.

Features and care

In dry weather, the plant necessarily requires watering, moderate, but timely, otherwise the plant may get sick powdery mildew. With a hot summer, the monard needs to be mulched with humus or peat and do not spare fertilizers. The culture is quite resistant to various weather conditions, pests and diseases, but every 3-4 years it is advisable to remove the bushes and re-plant in the garden, you can even change the location, as the monard degenerates.

Features of growing Monarda (video)

Monarda breeding

At proper care monarda grows quite quickly and therefore it will be necessary to divide its plantations every few years. This happens in the spring, when the plant is just beginning to turn green. The monard should be divided by first digging the bush with a shovel along the perimeter of the territory, which should remain behind the plant. The rhizomes are cut into several pieces. Each of them should have several healthy shoots. Next, the monarda is planted like seedlings, fed, watered.

Monarda can also be sown with seeds. They do not have a dormant period and are therefore sown immediately after harvest. Sowing depth - 1-2 cm, area norm - 0.5 g per 1 m². For uniform distribution of seeds over the soil, they are mixed with sand and sown at a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius. Shoots grow slowly, but as soon as they become more visible, they must be weeded so that they are not harassed by weeds.

Monarda is one of the herbaceous plants, the healing properties of which were known in antiquity. The flower was often used as a medicine, and was also added to food as a spice. Monarda emigrated to our country in the 19th century, and for a long time had a decorative purpose. Today, the plant is widely used to treat various ailments, strengthen immunity, and solve cosmetic problems. Let's get acquainted with useful plant closer.

Description, history, varieties

The flower belongs to the Lamiaceae family, grows in fields and meadows. The wide popularity and name of the plant was given by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. Monarda was named after Nicholas Monardes, who wrote a work on the new flowers and plants of America back in the 16th century.

Monarda has the following appearance: straight stems, lanceolate-shaped leaves of light green color, basket-shaped inflorescences, flowers are presented in the form of funnel-shaped tubes, can be painted in various shades lilac. The plant bears fruit in the form of dry nuts.

Today, there are about 20 varieties of plants, among which are both perennial and annual flowers. The most popular are the following:

• double monarda- common in America, Asia, Europe. It is a perennial plant type;
• monarda fissile- has a special pronounced aroma of citrus fruits. The flower is not only decorative, but also medicinal;
• lemon monarda- also has a pronounced citrus aroma, which is reflected in the name of the plant. It blooms well in lighted places;
• Monarda pygmy- in most cases it is used for the production of spices.

Medicinal properties and contraindications

The plant is a real treasure trove. useful substances, it contains healing essential oils, biologically active compounds, groups of vitamins. Thanks to this, the flower has a wide list of useful properties:

• bactericidal action;
• antiviral effect;
• immunomodulatory effect;
• antioxidant properties;
• anti-sclerotic agent;
• antispasmodic effect;
• radioprotective effect;
• eliminates the oppressed emotional state, helps to fight depression;
• anticarcinogenic agent.

Depending on the purpose, monarda can be used dry, in the form of a decoction, in the form essential oil. Monarda oil is a remedy that can fight radiation sickness and protect the body from radiation effects. The use of the plant also helps people recover from chemotherapy after chemotherapy.

Application areas of the flower

In most cases, the plant is used to treat respiratory diseases. Monarda has an anti-inflammatory effect, eliminates the symptoms of the disease, accelerates recovery. In this case, the treatment occurs through inhalation or aromatherapy.

The flower accelerates the regeneration processes in the body, due to which it is used for burns, ulcers and fractures. Wounds should be washed with drops of oil, compresses are applied to fractures.

Monarda is widely known as an anthelmintic. Spread oil on the stomach and rub well. This will get rid of the worms. efficient plant will also be in the fight against foot fungus.

Other use:

• mouthwash for the treatment of inflammatory processes;
• elimination of eating disorders;
• treatment of abscesses;
• eye wash;
• elimination of inflammation in gynecological ailments;
• elimination bacterial diseases legs;
• with pneumonia;
• tuberculosis;
• anemia;
• to eliminate chronic fatigue syndrome - an excellent tonic, allows you to restore vigor and strength.

A flower can be useful in domestic issues. A solution of plant oil with water can effectively fight mold, a common problem in residential areas with high humidity.

The flower was also widely used in cosmetology. It has been scientifically proven that Monarda slows down the aging process and rejuvenates the cells of the body. In this connection, the flower has become a frequent ingredient in masks, creams and tonics. The oil can be used for whole body care. It is often applied during massage.

Monarda is effective in dealing with problem skin. The use of the plant allows you to eliminate acne, acne, narrow pores and normalize the activity of the sebaceous glands.

Contraindications

The flower has a lot of useful properties and is safe. However, as with other types of herbs, care must be taken with the dosage of monarda and how it is used. Large doses may cause side effects. It is not recommended to use women in position, since the effect of the herb on the body of the expectant mother has not yet been fully studied. Do not give weed to young children.

Healthy Recipes

In cooking, the herb is most often used in dry form. It is added as an ingredient for pickles and preservation, used as greens for salads, added to teas. To prepare a hot drink, you need to chop the inflorescences and leaves of the plant, add lemon and, pour boiling water and let it brew for about 20 minutes.

Monarda can be used as a dressing for first courses. Leaves, stems and even inflorescences of a plant are suitable for this. The flower can also be used dry.

The plant will fit well into the recipe for light salads. For example, spring salad: lemon mint branches with leaves, green onion, sour cream, boiled eggs, Monarda leaves. The ingredients are crushed and mixed together. Monarda along with green onions sprinkled on top.

In the summer useful and extremely delicious cocktail becomes a buttermilk cocktail. To do this, dilute 4 cups of buttermilk with one glass of water, add a tablespoon of chopped herbs, you can add vanillin to taste. Shake the contents and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Medical applications - simple recipes

• from foot fungus - apply plant oil to a cotton swab and make a compress in the affected area. Wash off after an hour;
• for wound healing - pour 100 g of chopped grass with boiling water, let it brew, strain. Lubricate areas near wounds with liquid. Boiled gruel should not be thrown away, it can be applied to a bandage and applied to the wound;
• to relieve stress - pour a tablespoon of grass with a glass of boiling water, let it brew, take a spoonful before meals;
• from a cold - pour the crushed flowers and leaves of the plant with boiling water and inhale;
• from problem skin - dilute 15 drops of oil in 500 mg of warm water and wipe your face.

We have reviewed beneficial features and contraindications of Monarda, and finally - Interesting Facts about the plant:

• monarda and have similar smells, so they are often confused with each other. Although outwardly the flowers are not similar;
• monarda was often used in Indian tribes. Teas were brewed from it and added to food. The Indians noticed its positive effect on the body and actively used it in cooking;
• monarda has a lot of names - lemon mint, odorous balm, Indian feather, Oswego tea, American lemon balm;
• the root crop of the plant releases an essential oil, which repels underground pests. Therefore, the plant is often planted in their gardens and orchards near other crops.

Syn: wild bergamot, bee balm, horse mint, golden melissa, Indian nettle, Oswego tea.

Monarda is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants. Currently grown as ornamental plant and is used as a condiment. It is also used in folk medicine to treat various diseases and strengthen the immune system.

Ask the experts

flower formula

In medicine

Monarda in official medicine is not used, however, the essential oil of the plant is widely used in homeopathy and traditional medicine due to its broad spectrum bactericidal action.

Contraindications and side effects

Monarda is contraindicated in women during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in children. It is also forbidden to carry out aromatherapy with monarda essential oil in rooms where there are small children or pregnant women.

In cooking

Monarda has an unusual pleasant taste and fragrant aroma, so it is added to various dishes. Fresh herbs are added to salads, okroshka, cabbage soup, borscht and soups. It gives flavor to jelly and compote, pear and apple jam, fruit jelly. Monarda greens can also be cooked delicious condiments to fish and vegetable dishes- it goes well with mint, basil, oregano, tarragon and fennel. In sweet dishes, monarda goes well with orange peel, lemon balm, cloves and cinnamon.

In the food and alcoholic beverage industry, Monarda is used as natural flavor, preservative and antioxidant. It is most often used in the production of vermouth, due to which drinks acquire a refined aroma and taste. Monarda is also an exquisite spice. It has received the main distribution in the United States and England, where it is customary to add the spice to meat dishes and hot tea.

Monarda can be added when canning vegetables directly into jars. Vegetables will acquire the aroma of bergamot and will be stored longer due to the bactericidal properties of the plant.

In cosmetology

Monarda essential oil is part of Mirra creams and balms, a well-known Russian cosmetic company.

Monarda oil is also found in cosmetics for the care and treatment of problematic skin, hair, nails (including fungal infections), which has an antibacterial effect. Such creams good remedy for inflamed and oily skin and also for acne-prone skin.

Monarda essential oil is widely used in the preparation of anti-aging cosmetics, due to the high antioxidant effect of the oil.

Concentrated aromatic extracts from vegetable raw materials Monarda are used as fragrant biologically active additives for cosmetics and household chemicals in an aerosol package.

In other areas

In crop production

Most of the monards - perennials, above-ground part which dies off in the winter and re-grows in the spring. The value of edible monard varieties lies in the fact that the greenery of the plant persists from March to November, despite light frosts. Monarda is often used as an ornamental plant. Depending on the variety of the inflorescence, the monards can be red, white, pink and purple.

Monarda can be planted with seeds, sowing them in May in the ground to a depth of 1-2 cm. The temperature of germination of monarda seeds is about 20 degrees, but seedlings grow rather slowly. Monarda can also be grown seedling method. Seeds are planted in March, and seedlings are planted in the ground only after the end of spring frosts.

The grown seedlings of the monard dive at a distance of 10-20 cm from each other. It must be remembered that in the first year after sowing, the monard does not bloom.

Monarda prefers sunny places, although she also tolerates partial shade. The plant is undemanding to soils, however, it grows better on light calcareous soils and does not feel well on strongly acidic and very damp soils.

Monarda spreads very quickly over the territory due to underground shoots and crumbled seeds, so it is better to restrain the spread of the plant in the area.

Monarda is planted in group plantings, where it goes very well with sage, veronica, phlox, rudbeckia, catnip, aconite, cereals, gaillardia, yarrow, astilba in a contrasting color.

In other areas

Monarda - long flowering honey plant. Her bright beautiful flowers attract bees and butterflies to the garden, while scaring away harmful insects.

Monarda flowers and stems, even when dried, retain their attractive appearance. Such flowers can be used to make winter herbariums and compositions from dried flowers.

Classification

Monarda (lat. Monarda) is a genus of plants of the Lamiaceae family, which includes 20 species of annual or perennial herbs. Most often found in gardens perennial species: double monarda (lat. Monarda didyma), fistulate monarda (lat. Monarda fistulosa), lemon monarda (lat. Monarda citriodora).

Botanical description

Monarda is a genus of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The stem is straight, tetrahedral, branched (sometimes reaching more than 1 meter in height). Rhizomes are long, growing in all directions. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, slightly pubescent. The edges of the leaves are crenate-toothed. On the shoots are opposite, on short petioles, opposite each other.

The flowers are small, tubular-funnel-shaped, collected in one or more capitate inflorescences (6-7 cm in diameter), located one above the other along the stem of the peduncle. The flowering period is approximately from the end of June to August, about 50 days. The color of the flowers depends on the type of monarda, it is white, pink, crimson, red or yellowish. Monarda flower formula - ♀○H(5)L(2.3)T2.2P(2) or *H(5)L(5)T5P(2).

The fruits are very small, dry, cracking into 4 nuts. Seeds are small, ripen in late August or September, depending on weather conditions. The growing season of the plant lasts almost until the onset of persistent cooling.

Spreading

AT wild nature monarda grows in the forests of eastern North America, found on the prairies, along roadsides, wastelands, forming an impressive carpet of summer flowers. In Europe, it is grown mostly as an aromatic herb.

Procurement of raw materials

The above-ground part of the plant belongs to the medicinal raw material of all types of monards. It is cut at the very beginning of flowering, because it is during this period that the plant has the highest content of essential oil. Dry the cut grass in the shade or in a well-ventilated area. It is better to remove rough and thick stems immediately so as not to impede the preparation of fees and infusions in the future. It is not worth grinding the raw materials too much so as not to damage the essential oil glands, since if they are damaged, the oil evaporates, and this greatly reduces the quality of the raw materials.

Chemical composition

All aerial parts of the monarda contain up to 3% essential oil, concentrated mainly in leaves and inflorescences, there is little of it in the stems.

Monarda oil has a light yellow or red-brown color and a sweetish balsamic-lavender smell and consists of substances whose ratio depends on the phase of development, origin, population and type of plant. At the same time, phenols (thymol, carvacrol, p-cymol), sabinene, cineol, terpinene, limonene, myrcene are always present in the oil of any monarda.

Pharmacological properties

Monarda has a positive effect on gastrointestinal tract, the activity of the liver and gallbladder, improves digestion.

The most important property monarda is the stimulation of cardiac activity and the ability to relieve cardiac neurosis, due to the content of flavonoids and vitamin C in the leaves and flowers. Plant pigments anthocyanins strengthen the walls of capillaries, dilate the coronary vessels of the heart, and also have a diuretic effect.

Monarda essential oil contains flavonoid substances that have a strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, the oil is very effective against various pathogens (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, etc.). Especially valuable is the activity of its substances against representatives of three genera of mold fungi (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor).

The use of Monarda normalizes the cycle with dysfunctions in young women.

Due to the high content of thymol, the juice from fresh leaves promotes wound healing.

In addition, Monarda essential oil has a reproductive, anti-stress, antioxidant and anti-anemic effect.

Monarda also helps well with flu and colds, as it not only strengthens the immune system, but also helps fight various viruses and microorganisms.

Application in traditional medicine

Monarda occupies one of the first places among plants for its bactericidal properties. In folk medicine, it is most often used as a natural antiseptic. For better wound healing and in the event of skin infections, traditional healers recommend making lotions from freshly squeezed Monarda juice. Tincture rinse the throat and mouth with stomatitis and sore throat. Inhalations from monarda leaves help with diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, bronchial asthma, tracheitis).

Some types of monards (monarda double (lat. Monarda didyma) and monard point (lat. Monarda punctata)) were used by the Indians of North America for colds for inhalation, for rheumatism, as a mild laxative, antimicrobial, antispasmodic for spasms and colic, and also as improving local blood circulation.

The Indians noticed the antiseptic properties of monarda: fresh leaves of the plant were used to treat wounds and skin infections, and the tincture of the plant was used to gargle the throat and mouth, improve teeth and gums, for headaches and fever, and also as a general stimulant and carminative. Oswego tea from Monarda leaves was also used by the American Indians to treat and prevent headaches and colds.

Monarda essential oil in folk medicine is used to treat burns, eczema, and hair loss. For treatment, not only pure essential oil is used, but also infusion, juice and gruel from leaves and inflorescences.

History reference

Monarda was brought to Spain after the discovery of a new continent by Columbus, but in Europe they learned about the plant only after 85 years. The physician Nicholas Monardes wrote the books Joyful News from the New World (1569) and A Medical History of the Western Indies (1580). In these books, the monarda was called "Canadian organ" and "Verginsky soul". Two hundred years later, Carl Linnaeus named this plant genus in honor of H. Monardes and included the monard in his species classification (“Plant Species”, 1753).

In Europe and Asia, Monarda began to be grown as an essential oil plant, as it has a diverse bouquet. strong aromas(mint, lemon, etc.). In the 19th century, the monarda was already cultivated under the names: bergamot (for the similarity of smell), Oswego tea (the Oswego Indians prepared healing tea from the monarda), bee balm, fragrant balm, American lemon balm, Indian feather, mountain balm, lemon mint.

Literature

1. Vermeulen N. "Annual Flowers. Illustrated Encyclopedia" Labyrinth, 2003

2. Muravyova D. A. Tropical and subtropical medicinal plants. - M.: Medicine, 1983.

3. Zamyatina, N. G. Robinson's Kitchen. Recipes from wild plants and flowers. - Moscow: Tsentrpoligraf, 2015.

20.09.2017

Monarda is common to garden plots country as an ornamental plant, but it deserves special attention due to taste and medicinal properties. It is more than just a decoration for your garden. Monarda is a versatile herb that was found various applications health and culinary. It has long been used as a medicine, spice or tea. Here you will learn more about it.

What is a monarda?

Monarda is very pretty plant with a wonderful fruity, minty aroma, on stems 90-100 cm long, in mid and late summer, magnificent flowers in the form of a crown of various colors, including red, pink and purple. In addition to decorative qualities, Monarda is valued for its culinary and medicinal properties.

All aerial parts of the plant are edible and are used in cooking as a flavoring agent, an additive to tea, and decorate the finished dish with flowers.

What does a monard look like - photo

general description

Monarda's homeland is North America and Mexico, but also in middle lane In Russia, it blooms well and profusely from July to the end of summer with beautiful pink, red, bright crimson and purple flowers.

The genus Monarda has at least 17 species and more than fifty varieties, but the best known are the fistulose, lemon, double and point.

Monarda bright flowers, collected in 20-50 pieces at the top of a branching stem.

The stem is square, grooved and hard, about 90 cm high. The leaves are distinctly serrated. Thin dense villi cover most stem and leaves. Roots are short, thin, creeping.

How is this seasoning obtained?

Monarda leaves, stems and inflorescences are used as spices. Most of the green raw materials rich in essential oils can be obtained during the period mass flowering this plant. In the first year of life, the monard does not bloom, so they begin to collect it from the second year.

How to store and prepare for the winter

For harvesting for future use, the branches are cut during flowering and dried in the shade. They can be ground in a coffee grinder and stored in a tightly closed glass jar.

The chemical composition of the monarda

The main components of Monarda are thymol and carvacrol.

Carvacrol also has an antibacterial effect.

Flavonoids (rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin, luteolin, quercetin) were found in the leaves and flowers of Monarda.

Monarda essential oil contains 34 components, the main of which are α-pinene (3.5%), β-pinene (2.9%), α-terpinene (1.7%), p-cymene (32.5), aliphatic aldehyde (6.3%), sabinol hydrate (1.9%), β-caryophyllene (1.1%), carvacrol methyl ester (5.5%), citronellal acetate (1.6%), thymol (12 .6%) and carvacrol (24.0%).

Physiological role

Monarda leaves and flowers have anthelmintic, antimicrobial, diuretic, expectorant, antipyretic and stimulating effects, and also affect:

• improved digestion;
• weakening flatulence;
• improvement of appetite;
• relief of colic;
• reduction of bloating;
• reduction of menstrual cramps;
• reduction of nausea and vomiting.

Health Benefits of Monarda

Thanks to healing properties Monarda is used in the treatment of:

• salmonellosis and other infections;
• bronchial asthma;
• chronic bronchitis;
• radiation sickness;
• colds;
• headaches;
• stomach disorders;
• fever and sore throat;
• flatulence;
• nausea;
• menstrual pain;
• insomnia.

Inhalations with this plant help with sore throat and bronchial catarrh (inflammation of the mucous membrane that causes an increased flow of mucus).

With antimicrobial and diaphoretic properties, monarda is useful for fighting colds and flu.

Monarda essential oil, which has shown itself well as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent, helps to relieve pain and speed up the healing of small wounds, insect bites. Helps to get rid of eczema, psoriasis, herpes and acne.

Before using an essential oil, a preliminary test for 24 hours on a small area of ​​​​skin is necessary.

Contraindications (harm) Monarda

Monarda should not be taken orally if there are problems with the thyroid gland. Contraindicated for pregnant women.

What is the smell and taste of Monarda

Monarda leaves have an aroma similar to a mixture of mint and oregano. It is not sweet like mint, but more spicy. The petals are "softer" in taste and smell.

Dried crushed leaves have a peppery flavor.

How and how much to store monarda

Monarda loses some of its aroma when dried, but retains its medicinal properties for up to a year. To dry, tie 8-10 stems with a rubber band and hang upside down in a dry, warm, ventilated area.

Store dried monarda in airtight containers in a dark place.

The use of monarda in cooking

The unusual aroma of monarda has found application in the kitchen. Here are some ideas:

• Dried monarda can be sprinkled on pizza, pasta.
• Fresh leaves are added to pesto sauce, and flower petals are used as a beautiful and fragrant garnish.
• The soft, slightly minty aroma of Monarda greens makes it ideal for making jelly. The apple cider is especially delicious.
• Dried leaves can be seasoned with lamb and fish.
• The aroma of fresh monarda is good in fruit and vegetable salads. Add some leaves to them. Flowers can decorate the finished dish.
• The leaves make a nice addition to iced tea or lemonade. This will be a great substitute for mint.

Before using fresh monarda, rinse the leaves and submerge the flowers in cool water to float any insects that may be hiding in the petals. Then hold under running water shake off and dry drops.

Flavored tea with monarda for enjoyment and health

If you like Earl Gray tea, then the taste of a hot drink with Monarda will seem familiar. One of the other names for Monarda is "wild bergamot". They named it so because the taste has citrus notes, similar to real bergamot, which flavors Earl Gray.

With the ability to support digestive system, Monarda tea is useful to drink after a meal. This drink is also loved for its calming effect.

How to make tea with Monarda:

1. Put a tablespoon of fresh or one teaspoon of dried monarda leaves in a teapot.
2. Pour in one cup (250 ml) of boiling water.
3. Let it brew for ten minutes. Sweeten if you like and enjoy.

Monarda is also added to the collection of homemade herbal tea to improve taste.

How to make honey from monarda

With the help of fresh monarda flowers, you can easily make healing honey:

1. Fill a small jar with flowers.
2. Pour honey into it, the flowers should be completely submerged, and the container is full.
3. Stir gently with a small spoon to remove air bubbles.
4. Close the jar and let the honey stand for 4-6 weeks. After this period, you can take the flowers out if you like, or leave them in the honey.

Add honey to warm water or tea or eat it with a spoon. Due to the anesthetic properties of monarda, this honey is very good at soothing a sore throat.

How to replace monarda in a recipe

Dried monarda leaves can be substituted for oregano as both have a peppery flavor which is great for stews, bean dishes, pasta and pizza sauce.

Monarda - what is it and what is it eaten with? Video

Monarda is a fantastic example of a combination of beauty, usefulness and taste. They are amazing flowers at the same time. different colors, and a delicious ingredient in cooking, and medicine. If you want to use monarda, carefully study its medicinal properties, contraindications and methods of use, collected in this article.

Monarda is a perennial flowering plant which can be grown in the garden. It is used in decorative purposes, added to food, and also prepared from it medicines. On sale you can find Monarda oil and dried raw materials, and at home - make a decoction or infusion.

Monarda: medicinal and beneficial properties

Monarda, whose medicinal properties and contraindications are also known in official medicine, is a source of vitamins and natural essential oils that can react with body cells.

A fresh plant and an extract from it are useful and have several effects at the same time:

• relieve inflammation;
• stimulate cell regeneration, when applied externally, renews the skin;
• destroy fungal microflora;
• eliminate pain of spasmodic origin;
• act as a blood preservative;
• protect against the harmful effects of free radicals, are a powerful antioxidant.

Monarda is a plant that can be consumed internally in fresh. It is added to salads or seasonings are prepared from it for hot dishes. However, for use in medicinal purposes more useful is oil from the rhizome or decoctions from dried raw materials.

Indications for use in medicine

AT chemical composition monarda have a natural antiseptic - thymol. Since many inflammatory processes are associated with the reproduction of bacterial or fungal microflora, preparations of this plant have a complex effect and can be used for various diseases.

Monarda has found application in many pathologies:

• for sore throat, sore throat - as a rinse, it quickly relieves inflammation and destroys the infection;
• with food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea gently restores the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• for washing aseptic and purulent wounds;
• with conjunctivitis of bacterial and fungal origin in the form of lotions;
• in gynecology - as part of douching solutions;
• with anemia - to restore the normal composition of the blood.

In cosmetology, there are several ways to prepare:

• add a few drops of essential oil to 1 liter of water;
• pour dry raw materials with boiling water at the rate of 100 g per 1 liter and leave for several hours;
• infusion combined with white or blue clay as a face mask.

Another problem that Monarda is used to treat is foot fungus and dandruff (seborrhea). Both of these diseases are caused by a fungal infection, so they can only be dealt with with drugs that have a fungicidal effect. The use of conventional moisturizing creams will not bring results, unlike oil and decoction of Monarda - a powerful natural antiseptic.

Application in cooking

The taste and aroma of fresh monarda has citrus notes. Greens can be consumed fresh, as well as used as a dry seasoning in the cold season. Seasoning is suitable for meat dishes and hot salads. Also, parts of this plant are used to make alcoholic beverages - liqueurs or vermouth.

Fresh monarda greens are an original ingredient for summer appetizers and salads. It can also be crushed and used to make green borscht. Many also add it to fruit and berry cocktails, jams, pastries. AT winter time it is useful to prepare tea with dried monadra leaves and lemon - this combination improves immunity and helps the body in the fight against seasonal immunodeficiencies.

The benefits of essential oil, infusion

Useful substances are found in all parts of the plant, including stems, leaves and flowers. They are used to make butter. industrial way. In the process of obtaining it, the flowers are processed by steam distillation.

Monarda essential oil can be purchased at the pharmacy in finished form.

The homeland of the plant is South America and eastern North America. In Europe, it is grown in gardens and greenhouses, sometimes it can also be found growing wild. The collection of raw materials occurs during the period of mass flowering of the plant. For this, only adult specimens that have managed to accumulate a large number of useful elements. The stem is cut at a level of 20-30 cm from the ground. Then the flower is crushed together with shoots, leaves and flowers, dried in the sun and stored together with other spices in a dry, dark room.

Contraindications and possible harm

Monarda-based preparations have contraindications. They are mainly associated with the presence in the chemical composition of thymol, a strong allergen. If, upon contact with the plant, skin itching, swelling of the mucous membranes, and nasal discharge occur, taking it for medicinal purposes can be dangerous.