Immortelle sandy, cymine - helichrysum arenarium l.

Family Asteraceae - Compositae

Бессмертник песчаный, цмин – Helichrysum arenarium L. Бессмертник песчаный, цмин – Helichrysum arenarium L.

Botanical characteristics. Perennial herbaceous plant up to 40 cm high. It grows on dry sandy soils.

Rhizome short, slightly lancet, with thin light roots. The stem is straight with the remains of dead leaves. Leaves are short-petioled, oblong-ovate, cauline leaves - sessile linear-lanceolate. Flowers yellow or orange, collected in corymbose inflorescences. Fruits are small, brown achenes. Blossoms in June - July, fructifies in August - September. Introduced into the culture, in view of the great demand.

Spread. It is fairly widespread in the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia, in the Caucasus, and in Central Asia. It grows on dry sandy soils, in light pine forests, on hillsides, in the fields, sometimes forming continuous thickets.

Used parts of the plant. Medicinal raw materials are unblown baskets with a stem up to 5 cm, which are dried in dryers at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C, and seeds harvested as they mature.

Chemical composition. Inflorescences contain: carbohydrates and related compounds: polysaccharides, pectic acids; Aromatic compounds, carotenoids, essential oil, organic acids: wine, oxalic; Tannins, coumarins: scopoletin, umbelliferone; Flavonoids: helichrysin, apigenin, luteolin, kemphenol, quercetin and their glycosides; Heterocyclic compounds: homoarenol, arenol; Quinones, vitamins, microelements. Seeds contain fatty oil.

Application. Immortelle is widely used in medicine. Flowers are included in the domestic pharmacopoeia of the 8th-10th edition and the pharmacopoeia of several countries of the world.

Galenic preparations (dry extract and granules) are used as a cholagogue for cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, cholangitis, hepatitis, dyskinesia of the biliary tract.

The drug "Arenarin" in the form of ointment is used for eye burns, erosions and corneal ulcers of various etiology, as a regenerating and antibiotic agent.

Included in the collection of M.N. Zdrenko, used for patillomatosis of the bladder and anacid gastritis. Preparations "Flamin" is used for chronic cholecystitis; "Aristochol" (Germany) with cholecystopathy and hepatopathy.

In practical medicine, cymine preparations are used as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, spasmolytic, normalizing metabolism, tonic; In the composition of medicinal fees for atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, gastritis, pancreatitis, gastric colic, constipation, as an anthelminthic agent, bleeding of various etiologies, bronchitis, laryngitis, impotence (especially seeds); Outside and inside - for the treatment of dermatitis. The extract is a part of preparations of "Holeflavin" - choleretic action and "Flastopiol" - possessing antiulcer properties.

It is used as a weak sedative and metabolism improving agent for atherosclerosis; Has a tonic effect, can slightly increase blood pressure; Stimulates the function of the stomach and pancreas, enhances intestinal peristalsis - is used for gastritis, pancreatitis, colitis, atonic constipation. But, in the main, immortelle is used in folk and scientific medicine as an excellent hepatic agent that regulates both bile formation and bile secretion . It is used for diseases of the liver, biliary tract and pancreas, it has a diuretic, anthelmintic, hemostatic effect.

In the experiment, the extract has antiviral activity, raises blood pressure, promotes rapid bile secretion, has hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties; Activates the secretory capacity of the pancreas; Arenarin is active against the influenza type B virus, increases the body's immunity, has anti-inflammatory properties; Essential oil increases the secretion of bile and bile acids; The sum of polysaccharides has an antispasmodic effect; Infusions and broths show bactericidal and phytoncidal activity.

In the folk medicine of many countries, cyme preparations are used mainly as a choleretic agent for liver diseases, as well as for nephritis, cystitis, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, diabetes, paralysis, facial nerve, eczema, tuberculosis, as a diuretic, laxative; In collections with diabetes, women's diseases, headache; Inside and outside - in the treatment of skin diseases, bites of rabid animals and insects.

Pharmacy preparation called flamin is prescribed orally 1 tablet 3 times a day for 30 minutes before a meal (with a small amount of warm water). Extract of immortelle dry - granulated powder from the flowers of immortelle take 1 g 3 times a day.

Preparation. For infusion take 10 g of flowers, pour 200 ml of boiling water, insist on a water boiling bath for 15 minutes, cool 45 minutes, filter. Take 1 tbsp. Spoon 2-3 times daily before meals.

Ready-made drugs are taken according to the doctor's instructions and instructions.

Contraindications. Immortelle is weakly toxic and possesses cumulative properties, therefore it does not apply more than 3 months in a row.