Dried flower, or herb immortelle, is a well-known plant that has a large number of healing properties and the least number of contraindications. The manufacture of various drugs is based on its flowers. But an inconspicuous steppe plant can be confused with other herbs, and poor harvesting will spoil the healing properties of dried flowers. Therefore, let's see what the immortelle looks like, how it helps in treatment, as well as how to properly harvest and store the plant.
Description
The immortelle grass is a perennial plant that belongs to the Astrov family. The immortelle has one upright shoot, the average height of which is 35 cm. There are herbs and up to one meter in height.
The plant may have additional shoots that do not bear fruit. The immortelle leaves are lanceolate 4-6 cm in length and are located on the stem alternately. Shoots and leaves have felted hairs, so their green color gets a silvery shade.
Rhizome branches weakly. The basket is collected in the corymboid panicle. A flower of immortelle spherical shape of yellow or orange color. Dried flowers bloom in mid-summer. Under favorable climatic conditions, a second bloom is possible in September. 
Immortelle propagated by seeds and shoots from rhizomes. This plant can be found in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Europe and Central Asia.
There are many names of plants, among which are cat's paws, dried flowers, golden, straw color, sandy minced, golden sandstone.
Did you know? It is believed that from Latin the name of immortelle is translated as "golden sun".
Chemical composition
Immortelle is popular for its flowers. They contain a lot of organic compounds - glycosides. The chemical composition also includes flavonoids, including naringenin and apigenin, kaempferol, as well as vitamins of group C and K.
Immortelle includes sugar, resin, tannins, essential oil. Among the macronutrients that are present in dried flowers, emit potassium, calcium, magnesium, ferrum.
Cmin sandy is rich in microelements: manganese, cuprum, zinc, chromium, aluminum, selenium, nickel, strontium, lead, boron. The composition of flowers Cmin includes various acids, including carboxylic and resin. 
But despite the beneficial properties of the substances that make up the immortelle has a number of contraindications. This is due to the large amount of ballast substances.
Important! You can not make any dosage forms of fresh flowers of immortelle, because they harm the mucous membrane of the stomach and mouth.
Useful properties of the plant
Cmin sandy can rightly be considered a medicinal plant. Indeed, due to its composition, it is used in folk and official medicine. From the dried flowers make essential little, infusions, ointments and other dosage forms.
Cmin sandy has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. For example, immortelle decoction can be used for pain in women. Introduce it by douching. The antibacterial effect of the plant is manifested by the presence of resin acids in the flowers. Gold leaf essential oil can be used as an anti-depressant, as it includes the vitamin-rich substance inositol, which also helps reduce blood cholesterol levels. Flavonoids, which are rich in plants, have an antispasmodic effect on the intestinal muscles.
Immortelle application
The healing properties of the immortelle flower are used in the treatment of cholecystitis, hepatitis and gallbladder diseases. In folk medicine, decoctions and infusions of the plant help to improve metabolism, as well as fight gastritis, intestinal obstruction.
For the treatment of cholecystitis also use Physalis broth.In official medicine, flamin is made from the extract of flowers. This drug is prescribed to combat diseases of the gallbladder. In its manufacture, flavonoids are cleared of ballast substances (fiber).
But the immortelle is used not only as a medical, but also as an ornamental plant. It is often added to bouquets, and some are made from it handmade jewelry based on resin.
Tincture
The immortelle tincture is prepared from pre-prepared and dried flowers. You will need:
- 10 g of dried flowers;
- 100 ml of 20% alcohol;
- dark glass container.
Crush the flowers and fill with alcohol. Let it brew for a week in a dark and cool place. Take 15-20 drops of dried flowers tincture diluted in 50 ml of water five times a day before meals. The course lasts 30 days. This recipe is recommended for use in the treatment of skin diseases.
Did you know? In India, there is a legend that gold flowers grew at the place of death of lovers, tormented by wild animals.
Decoction
Cmin sandy can be used as a choleretic drug. For the manufacture of this dosage form, you need to take one tablespoon of golden flowers and one cup of boiling water.
Pour the grass, put the tank with it on the steam bath for half an hour. Then remove the composition and cool. Next, strain the raw material and dilute the broth with one glass of hot water.
Broth should be left for two to three days at room temperature. Take half a glass 15-20 minutes before meals three times a day. 
Treatment is recommended for seven days. A decoction of golden sandstone can also be used as an anthelmintic and in the treatment of dermatosis.
Infusion
Infusion of immortelle is used most often, because it has the greatest benefits to the human body and does not cause harm. Its benefit lies in the treatment of cholelithiasis and gastrointestinal disorders.
Improvement of the gastrointestinal tract also contributes to: stonecrop purple, calendula, kalanchoe, bathing suit, chervil, silverweed white, gentian, sage, Kale cabbage, volyagodnik, squash.
To prepare the infusion, you will need:
- 80 g of flowers;
- 1 liter of boiled water.
You need to fill the flowers with water and let it brew for 10 hours in a dark place. After filtering the flowers, take the infusion three to four times a day half an hour before meals for half a glass.
Infusion can be prepared from the collection of herbs, which includes dried flowers. For example, three parts of immortelle flowers, five parts of yarrow leaves and two parts of rhubarb (root). Pour the collection with one glass of boiling water and insist a quarter of an hour. It is necessary to drink at one time. This infusion can be taken within five days.
Important! Infusion of immortelle increases the acidity of the stomach.Another recipe for collecting herbs includes
- 40 g of dried flowers;
- 30 g leaves of water trefoil;
- 20 g mint (pepper);
- 20 g of coriander fruit.
But from 110 g of collection you will need only 20 g. It is this amount that you need to pour 400 ml of boiling water and let stand for 20 minutes. Be sure to filter all settled grass. Take three times daily before meals with 100 ml as a choleretic agent.
Butter
Tsmin essential oil is produced by steam distillation of fresh flowers. Therefore, it can be bought in stores or pharmacies in finished form. The color of the oil is light yellow, and the aroma is honey.
Tsmin oil is used in massage and even in soap making. It does not cause irritation on sensitive skin, therefore mixtures of essential oils with the addition of tsmina oil are used for massaging infants.
The immortelle oil has anti-inflammatory, soothing, antiseptic effects, therefore it is recommended for people with skin diseases such as acne. One of the advantages of using oil is its mucolytic property, which helps in the treatment of bronchitis.
In cosmetology, to get rid of acne is also used monardo, echinacea, laconosa, hazelnuts.
Contraindications
Despite the many medicinal properties of dried flowers, doctors distinguish a number of contraindications in which any medicinal forms from the plant are prohibited.
Such a contraindication is flatulence, because the immortelle includes a large amount of ballast substances that enhance this ailment.
Also, Cmin in any form should not be taken by hypertensive patients and people with liver diseases, because Cmin has a cumulative property, due to which accumulated substances may not be excreted by the body.
Preparation and storage of medical raw materials
Proper collection and harvesting of raw materials will help preserve the herbs for a long time. During the collection, the first stage of the preparation of dried flowers, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Peduncle is cut off before the beginning of flowering throughout the basket, then petals will remain in the receptacle, and tsmin can be used. If you miss this moment, the flower will quickly bloom and become unusable.
- Collect immortelle in dry weather.
- Do not tear out the plant, but cut it with a harvested tool.
- The collection of material can be carried out in the same place, because the immortelle blooms every 7-10 days.
Important! If you decide to collect dried flowers yourself, then be careful, because it can be confused with the cat's claw of the dioecious. These two types of herbs are distinguished by the color of the petals. In the feline paws of dioecious, they are pale pink or white. This plant is forbidden to use as a medical.
The second stage of preparation of tsmin sandy includes the drying of grass. It is necessary to start drying 4 hours after collecting the material. Cmin can be decomposed on cardboard or paper in a thin layer, so that each flower is dried.
The whole process should take place in a dry room, with the possibility of airing. One of the conditions of the workpiece - the sun's rays should not fall on the flowers. The temperature in the room where you will be drying should be + 22-26 ° C.
You can check whether the herbs are ready with a little dough: break a part of the stem or a flower. If the material crumbles well, then we can safely move on to the third stage - storage. 
The material is stored for three years in a dry, cool place. In the form of a container, you can use cardboard boxes, inside which cotton fabric is put. The box also must specify the date of manufacture of the material.
So, the herb immortelle, despite the large number of medicinal properties, has its own contraindications. But its use is limited not only by contraindications, but also dosages.
Before making or buying a variety of medicines from the Cmin, consult with your doctor. And do not forget that in the case of independent production of infusions, decoctions or tinctures, a date must be put on the packaging. Damaged dried flower products can adversely affect your health.
