The east of North America and South America are considered the birthplace of Monarda. Currently, 4 types of plants are cultivated: hybrid, double, fist, lemon. Monarda is most often used as a spice, but it also has medicinal properties.
Monarda contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals, bitterness, essential oils, tannins. The fragrant flowers include monardin, monardin. Monarda is used as a seasoning, adding to salads and other dishes. The plant gives aroma to jam, jelly, jelly, compotes. It is also added to tea for flavor. When canning, you can put the monarda in jars, in this case the product will be better preserved.
The stems and leaves of the plant improve digestion, have a bactericidal effect on the body, destroying pathogenic flora, fungi, viruses. In addition, monarda has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory properties, it is used as a means of preventing influenza and acute respiratory infections, for the treatment of chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma. Monarda leaves contain thymol - a substance that has a strong disinfecting effect, fresh plant sap helps well in the treatment of long non-healing wounds. You can use the leaves of monarda as a first aid for getting wounds, cuts. It is enough to wrinkle the sheet a little and attach it to the wound.
The largest amount of thymol is contained in the monarda fistus.
Monarda has the ability to normalize too high a level of oxygen in the body, as a result the risk of toxic tissue damage is eliminated, the energy potential of cells and their viability are enhanced. If you regularly eat monarda, lipid metabolism indicators will improve, cholesterol levels will decrease, blood vessels will be cleared of atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, it is useful to include the plant in the diet for people with atherosclerosis. Monarda has anthelmintic properties, it can be used to destroy worms.
To prepare an infusion of monarda, put 2 tsp in a cup. fresh or dry or leaves, pour 200 ml of boiling water, cover with a towel. Strain after 20 minutes. Drink a quarter cup infusion 3-4 times a day. The leaves of the plant can be chewed for diseases of the oral cavity, inflammation of the gums, stomatitis, as well as for toothache. Essential oil of monarda exhibits anti-sclerotic, antispasmodic, anti-stress effect. It is used externally for eczema, and it is also used to strengthen hair. Due to its radioprotective properties, the agent can be used to treat 1-2 degree burns.
In folk medicine, monarda is used to improve the functions of the gallbladder and liver, to activate digestion, as well as for genitourinary diseases.
The plant, infusion, tea, essential oil of monarda is not recommended for use during pregnancy and lactation, for children under 3 years of age, as well as for intolerance to the drug. Monarda can cause allergic reactions, which are manifested by skin rashes, edema. Similar symptoms can be caused not only by decoctions and tinctures, but by inhalation of essential oil or the aroma of plant flowers. It is not recommended to use monarda in case of hypertension; it should be used with caution in case of gastrointestinal diseases. The benefits of the plant for the treatment of gynecological diseases have not been proven, often doctors do not recommend douching with herbal infusions.
