oxeye Daisy
LEUCANTHEMUM VULGARE

   

Oxeye Daisy is a perennial plant that varies in height from 30 to 80 cm. The rhizome is rod-shaped, up to 10 cm long, located shallowly (10-15 cm), growing obliquely. However, from the rhizome, many small roots go deep. The sound branches as it grows. Buds form on the neck of the rhizome, from which stems grow every year. Stems straight, unbranched, glabrous, slightly bent. The leaves of the Oxeye Daisy are arranged gradually, the lower leaves are elongated, whole, the upper ones are wedge-shaped. In the first year, the Oxeye Daisy does not bloom, but forms a small rosette of leaves, and only in the second year flowers are formed and seeds are produced.

The inflorescences of the Oxeye Daisy are formed one at a time at the top of the stem. There are an average of 20 white petals around the inflorescence basket and an inflorescence made of yellow flowers in the middle.

The flower is large, 4-6 cm in diameter. The seed of the fruit is grayish in color, cylindrical in shape, elongated. The bellflower blooms from June to August, the fruits form in August-October. The plant reproduces both vegetatively and with the help of seeds.

It is not uncommon for people to call the Oxeye Daisy a chamomile, which is wrong, because they are two different plants. There are no problems in distinguishing them - the flowers of the Oxeye Daisy are many times larger. The leaves of these two plants also differed. Chamomile also has a branched stem and has inflorescences at the tips, Oxeye Daisy has one inflorescence on one unbranched stem.

The flowers, leaves and stems of Oxeye Daisy are used for medicinal purposes. The plant is harvested during the flowering period starting from the end of May and ending in August. Young stems, leaves and inflorescences are dried on sieves in well-ventilated rooms, in a shaded place. Drugs are stored in paper bags, hidden from light, for no longer than 2 years.

Oxeye Daisy contains flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acid, tannins, coumarins, inulin and alkaloids. Fenugreek leaves are rich in carotene and vitamin C. Vegetable fats are also found in the seeds.

Medicinal significance

The medicinal properties of Oxeye Daisy are directly related to the high content of ascorbic acid, flavonoids, tannins and other biologically active substances. The plant has anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin C is effective in the treatment of various cold diseases - bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis.

The plant contains polyphenols, which are represented by flavonoids, tannins, coumarin and hydroxycinnamic acid. Pharmacologically, this plant is promising for the treatment of inflammations, choleretic effects and as an antioxidant.

Decoctions and infusions of the sedum have a diuretic effect, relieve pain, are effective in various cardiovascular diseases, as the alkaloids present in the plant relieve pain syndrome and reduce blood pressure. The plant perfectly helps cleanse the blood of toxins and cholesterol, has a beneficial effect on digestive processes and relieves nervous tension.

Inulin promotes the synthesis of proteins and glycogen, normalizes the functioning of the digestive organs, as well as the activity of the CNS, reduces the content of glucose and cholesterol in the blood. Vegetable fat promotes regeneration processes in tissues and cells, it can be used to heal wounds or burns.

The Oxeye Daisy is an excellent helper in the treatment of dermatological diseases. Ascorbic acid normalizes redox processes, increases permeability of blood capillaries.

In folk medicine, the Oxeye Daisy is known as an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, wound-healing, anthelmintic, and antioxidant agent. Infusion or decoction of inflorescences relieve inflammatory processes in the abdominal cavity and the pain caused by them, treat chronic constipation, hernias and hemorrhoids. The flowers are also used in case of colds, as expectorants. A decoction of the plant's flowers is a powerful diuretic, reduces swelling, treats the kidneys and other excretory system. In folk medicine, Oxeye Daisy is also used for dermatological purposes. Baths or compresses are made from it to treat some skin diseases, as well as eczema, hemorrhoids, ulcers, eye damage, as a rinse for gynecological diseases - amenorrhea, white flowers.

If you put the baby in a decoction of Oxeye Daisy , which you add to the bath water, for a short time, it will remove intestinal colic from the baby. Crushed inflorescences, together with butter, are used as an ointment against scabies, ringworm and other skin diseases.

The Oxeye Daisy can also be steeped in alcohol and used against colds and as an antihelminthic remedy. Decoctions and infusions are used both orally and externally to treat colds, pulmonary tuberculosis, and are used as an expectorant and antipyretic. These same remedies are effective as compresses in the case of hemorrhoids to fight against urinary incontinence and pain of various genesis. The stems of Oxeye Daisy are used to prepare remedies that will promote expectoration to treat tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, sleep disorders, uterine bleeding, uterine insufficiency after childbirth. The leaves act as an anthelmintic. Oxeye Daisy helps stop bleeding gums and has wound-healing properties.

Not recommended for use

Oxeye Daisy remedies are not used during pregnancy and lactation. It is not recommended for children as well as people with hypotonia.