Content
The medicinal properties of meadowsweet oil are well known to folk medicine. The drug is used as a "remedy for 40 diseases", which already suggests its ineffectiveness. Official medicine does not know about such a medicine. Meadowsweet hydrolat can be found commercially as a fragrance. The manufacturer often indicates on the label that the drug is not a medicine, disclaiming responsibility for its medicinal use. This is justified. It is enough to take a closer look at the chemical composition of preparations from meadowsweet.
The chemical composition of the oil
On sale you can find hydrolat and oil extract of meadowsweet. Popularly, both funds are called oil. But this is not entirely correct. The chemical composition and therapeutic effectiveness are also different. The healing properties of meadowsweet oil and contraindications for its use are due to its chemical composition, the main components of which are poisonous:
- Methyl salicylate: especially poisonous when taken internally. The extract from flowers contains about 28% of the substance, from seeds - about 11%.
- Salicylic aldehyde: toxic in high doses, it is a raw material for the production of salicylic acid. The preparation from flowers contains 2.8% aldehyde, from seeds - 12.4%. Main areas of application: in the production of dyes, perfumery, as a fungicide and other industries not related to medicine.
But these same substances have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, so they are well suited for external use.
Other components that make up the "essential oil" of meadowsweet:
- phenol glycosides;
- ionol;
- catechins;
- flavonoids;
- α-terpineol;
- tannins;
- vitamin C;
- fatty acid;
- tannins;
- coumarins;
- etheric and aromatic compounds;
- camphor.
Meadowsweet hydrolat can be used for external use in the form of compresses and rubbing. It smells good. Oil extract is more often used for internal use, since the concentration of active substances in it is not so high.
Flowers and leaves are used to make meadowsweet hydrolat
Medicinal properties and scope of meadowsweet oil
Traditional healers use meadowsweet oil to treat very different diseases:
- diabetes mellitus;
- organs of the respiratory system: with pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma;
- hypertension;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: spasms or intestinal atony (these are the opposite phenomena), diarrhea, dysentery, gastritis and ulcers;
- epilepsy;
- skin diseases: festering wounds, diaper rash, psoriasis, boils;
- hepatitis A;
- inflammation of large nerves;
- migraine;
- ARVI;
- diseases of the female reproductive system, vaginitis, vulvitis and even infertility, however, in the latter case, the oil acts as an auxiliary component;
- arthritis and arthrosis;
- inflammation in the organs of the genitourinary system;
- helminth invasion.
A very wide spread of diseases indicates a low effectiveness of meadowsweet oil. But it does have a slight pain relieving effect and can kill bacteria.
How to make butter yourself
In industry, meadowsweet hydrolat with the maximum concentration of substances is obtained from flowers by steam distillation. This method cannot be used at home.You can prepare yourself only an extract based on refined vegetable oil:
- Pour the collected flowers into a glass jar, leaving a little space to the upper edge;
- pour raw materials with sunflower, olive or corn oil;
- heat in a water bath without boiling;
- cool, close the lid and put in a dark and warm place for infusion;
- after two weeks strain the contents of the jar and pour the liquid into another container.
As a result of all the manipulations, an extract of meadowsweet flowers based on vegetable oil should be obtained. In pharmacies and stores, you can most often find just such a drug.
Oil extract is less dangerous when taken orally than meadowsweet hydrolat
How to use
When taken internally, the benefits of natural meadowsweet oil are questionable, and the harm may be much greater than desired. The main components of an industrially manufactured drug are too toxic. A teaspoon of the product once a day for a month can be a time bomb.
But when it comes to "homemade meadowsweet oil", the requirements are less stringent. The main component of such a drug is ordinary refined vegetable oil. Substances from meadowsweet are found there in relatively small quantities. Harmful effects are likely to be mild diarrhea. And vegetable oil will be "responsible" for this.
Home extract from meadowsweet is taken with a meal, a teaspoon once a day. The course of admission is 30 days. Then they take a break for a month.
Since the product can cause excessive sweating, it is best to take it at night. Or calculate the time so that after taking the drug to stay at home for another hour.
Smarter uses of meadowsweet oil include a much lower dose:
- ingestion: ten drops once a day, course for a month;
- for a bath: 10-15 drops in warm water;
- for inhalation: 3-4 drops in an inhaler or aroma lamp.
At such a dosage, you can use meadowsweet hydrolat, manufactured by an industrial method.
Contraindications and possible harm
With external use of the oil, no contraindications have been identified. If there is no allergic reaction. But this is individual.
With internal use of the drug, there are much more contraindications. This is natural for toxic substances. Meadowsweet oil should not be used:
- hypotension;
- pregnant women;
- people with thrombocytopenia, that is, a low platelet count;
- people with a tendency to constipation.
If you do not take into account these nuances, a factory-made tool will do more harm than good. It is able to thin the blood. Astringents in the meadowsweet can help relieve diarrhea but worsen constipation.
Conclusion
The medicinal properties of meadowsweet oil are most likely greatly exaggerated. In any case, before you start taking it, you should consult your doctor. Perhaps this drug will not only be of no benefit, but also cause harm.
