Dorothy FarrarBerg-Flockenblume
The mountain knapweed is a medicinal plant that was valued in earlier times. Today, however, it rarely occurs. Mountain knapweed (Centaurea montana) is a plant belonging to the knapweed genus (Centaurea). It is part of the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Definition and Occurrence
The mountain knapweed is a perennial plant. It has a growth height between 15 and 70 centimeters. It features narrow leaves that are oval in shape. The end of the leaves is usually pointed. From May to August, the deep blue flowers appear, the color of which is violet on the inside. The seeds of the plant emerge from the flowers of the mountain knapweed in autumn.
If the autumn is mild, there is sometimes a second flowering period between September and October. However, this is less intense than in the summer months. The flowers are pollinated by hoverflies and butterflies. The mountain knapweed is native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. There it thrives at an altitude that varies between 500 and 2200 meters. In Germany, the plant has a moderate to large distribution. Only in the east of Bavaria and in the north of the country does it occur rather rarely.
Their most popular locations include light, fresh forests or forest edges, mountain meadows and tall herb corridors. The mountain knapweed prefers calcareous humus-rich soil and a sunny to partially shaded location. If the medicinal herb feels comfortable where it grows, it spreads via seeds and runners. Because the mountain knapweed is only rarely found, it is a nature reserve in numerous regions. It is not allowed to be picked there.
Ingredients, effect and dosage
The most important ingredients of the mountain knapweed include tannins , flavonoids , bitter substances and anthocyanins, which can be used for therapeutic purposes. The medicinal plant is mainly used in folk medicine. This primarily appreciates its astringent, anti-inflammatory and haemostatic effects. In addition, the knapweed has a drying effect. This property is used for the treatment of diarrheal diseases, which can be treated in the form of a tea infusion.
To prepare a mountain knapweed tea, the user pours 250 milliliters of boiled water over a tablespoon of flowers. After a brewing time of about 10 minutes, the tea is strained, which has the property of strengthening the liver , bile and digestion . It also stimulates the patient’s appetite . As a rule, the flowers of the mountain knapweed can only be found in certain tea blends. These include, for example, cough teas.
The ingredients of the mountain knapweed are also suitable for external use. This is how the tea can be used to make poultices against eye problems. These are placed as a compress on a swollen eye, among other things. According to popular belief, compresses made with mountain knapweed are particularly effective for people who have blue eyes.
Alternatively, a porridge can be made from the fresh flowers of the plant. The patient then applies this pulp of crushed flowers to ulcers or wounds. Since the mountain knapweed also has a diuretic effect, it was often used in kidney and bladder teas in the past. Another form of administration of the medicinal herb is the mouthwash solution. The patient gargles with the tea if he suffers from an inflammation of the mouth.
What does the mountain knapweed help against?
importance to health
In the southern German regions, the therapeutic effects of mountain knapweed were appreciated by the so-called herbalists who lived in the villages. In the Middle Ages, ointments were made to treat wounds. The medicinal herb was also used as a hair care product. Today, however, the mountain knapweed is of little importance in herbal medicine. The medicinal plant has disappeared in many places due to modern agriculture and the development of ski areas.
In the native regions of the mountain knapweed, however, the plant is still used to treat various ailments and diseases. This includes primarily diarrhea. This is how the mountain knapweed calms an irritated intestine . It is also effective against coughs and affected mucous membranes. For example, a tea made from mountain knapweed relieves a sore throat. In addition, the plant can also be used to treat inflammation in the eyes and lid edges.
An infusion of mountain knapweed is also helpful for bleeding gums, as the medicinal herb has anti-inflammatory properties. Other areas of application are constipation, constipation, dropsy and menstrual problems in women. The mountain knapweed is also used in homeopathy under the name Centaurea. Fresh whole plants or their roots are administered to treat gastrointestinal complaints, wound healing disorders or bleeding.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.