Dorothy FarrarForget Me Not
The forget-me-not is the flower of fidelity. Every spring these plants enchant many gardens and are really beautiful to look at with their light blue flowers. There are numerous legends about the forget-me-not, but only very few people know that it is also a medicinal plant.
General overview
The forget-me-not is a well-known and popular garden plant, it belongs to the borage family. The forget-me-not is popularly known under the names “The longer the dearer”, “Blue eyebright” or “Mouse ears”. There are many species of this plant, the field forget-me-not is used as a medicinal plant and is annual.
However, the forest forget-me-not lasts two years and the swamp forget-me-not is even a perennial specimen. Most of the time it is a very herbaceous plant, all species are actually very similar, apart from the location. Most of these flowers feature light blue flowers that are quite small. This is how “blue” came into being for loyalty and became an important symbol. In the past, forget-me-nots were said to have magical powers, and there was talk of an “invisible chain of loyalty”.
Occurrence and cultivation
The forget-me-not grows up to thirty centimeters high. In the spring, it first gets hairy leaves that look like a lancet. The leaves are soft and light green in color. The forget-me-not flowers from April to August and is at home in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. In North America, however, it must be cultivated. The field forget-me-not also grows in Central Europe, it is a very undemanding plant that can be found almost everywhere. However, the soil must not be dried out. However, if the soil is suitable and the location is sunny, it will thrive.
Application and effect
The field forget-me-not is also used as a medicinal plant, various ailments and diseases can be treated with the forget-me-not. This flower contains potassium , alkaloids and various tannins . The forget-me-not is used in the same way as the lungwort or the comfrey , but the healing effect of this plant is not very pronounced. A tea made from the forget-me-not is very well-known. To do this, the plant is simply poured with hot water and the whole thing has to steep for about ten minutes. Now the herb is strained and the tea is drunk in small sips.
The tea can also be used externally, skin inflammation or bruises can be treated in this way. Envelopes are simply placed on the affected skin. Washes and baths with this plant are also possible. In earlier times, the fresh plant sap was even used to treat nosebleeds. In homeopathy , forget-me-not is used very often, here the herb and the root are used. With this therapy, the forget-me-not is taken in the form of drops or tablets, but the liquid can also be injected.
A tincture is easy to make yourself, the healing ingredients are placed in a screw-top jar with a lid and completely covered with alcohol or grain. This mixture then has to steep for about six weeks. Then the tincture is strained and poured into a dark glass bottle. Of course, the bottle must be sealable, because the tincture has to be shaken from time to time. If that seems too cumbersome, these mixtures can also be bought ready-made.
What does forget-me-not help against?
importance to health
In modern medicine, the forget-me-not is hardly considered, although the effect against tuberculosis has already been scientifically proven. However, the effect is estimated to be so low that forget-me-nots are not used in medicine. This is actually surprising, because other medicinal plants are also considered to be very slightly effective, but are still used for therapeutic purposes.
The name forget-me-not dates back to the 15th century, the small plant is said to have asked God not to be forgotten. It probably didn’t have any effect, because forget-me-nots are ignored in medicine. It’s a pity, because it has very positive effects on health. The forget-me-not has an anti-inflammatory , toning, astringent and calming effect.
Natural medicine still uses these properties, bacterial infections, which also include pulmonary tuberculosis or bronchitis, are treated with forget-me-nots. Forget-me-not is more popular in homeopathy, where it is used to treat colds or swollen lymph nodes. Inflammation of the digestive system can also be treated. This plant also helps with diarrhea.
Even today, nosebleeds are reduced in this way and compresses are made with forget-me-nots in case of skin irritation. Side effects are not to be feared, but this medicinal herb must not be used in diseases of the thyroid gland . Pregnant women and small children should also refrain from the medicinal effects, simply because the properties of this plant cannot yet be scientifically proven.
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.