Why do people love this plant so much, and who does it help?
Helichrysum (Immortelle) arenarium — also known as the sand everlasting — is widespread throughout all regions of the country. It grows on sandy soils in steppes and dry forests, and more rarely on rocky ground.
Plants of Russia: Sand Immortelle (Helichrysum arenarium)
The immortelle is a perennial herb 15–40 cm tall. Its root is branched; the stem is upright and branches at the top. The leaves are lance-shaped. The flowers are small, yellow or orange, gathered into spherical clusters. The fruits are achenes with tufts of hairs. The plant blooms from June to August.
Chemical composition of immortelle: the flower heads contain essential oil, tannins, bitter substances, vitamin C, and carotene. The herb itself also contains essential oil, vitamins C and K, carotene, and tannins.
The medicinal raw material is the inflorescences, collected at the beginning of flowering, with short stems. The prepared material consists of bright yellow flower heads with stems no longer than 1 cm. It is stored in boxes or tins with lids.
In folk medicine, a decoction of the herb and flowers of immortelle is used to treat various liver diseases (as a choleretic agent), bladder disorders, and gastrointestinal diseases. Immortelle is also used to expel worms and as a hemostatic (to stop bleeding).
Because the plant contains a high amount of essential oils, immortelle is used both as a treatment and as a preventive remedy for endocrine disorders, cholecystitis, and metabolic problems.
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The bitter compounds in the herb stimulate the secretion of gastric juice.
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It can be prescribed as a mild laxative for constipation and colitis.
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Sand immortelle is effective for treating and preventing kidney and gallbladder stones and for cleansing sand and stones from the urinary tract.
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Thanks to its flavonoids and resin acids, it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
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The presence of galenic compounds stimulates the synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol and increases bilirubin levels.
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It is included in anti-parasitic remedies; decoctions are prescribed to remove worms from the body.
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Immortelle promotes blood clotting, making it effective for healing open wounds and for internal bleeding, including uterine bleeding.
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In combination therapy, it is used to treat diabetes and to lower cholesterol.
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The flavonoid compounds in its chemical composition have a sedative effect, so it is used for nervous disorders, stress, and to reduce heart rate (by relaxing blood vessels) and relieve spasms in the gastrointestinal organs — the stomach, intestines, etc.
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The dried flowers are effective for rheumatism and gout.
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It is prescribed alone or together with other herbs for cystitis and kidney diseases.
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Because it contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, aluminum, copper, and vitamins C and K, its decoctions and infusions have a general strengthening and toning effect.
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Immortelle infusions are also used to relieve coughs during colds (ARVI).
How to Take Immortelle
see continuation on next page
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