Monarda: medicinal properties and contraindications

Monarda is a flower of the mint family. It is often called bergamot because the aroma of orange-bergamot and monarda are very similar. Monarda got its name in memory of Nicholas Monardes, who compiled descriptions of plants in North America in the 16th century. Other names for bergamot herb are American melissa, Indian nettle, Oregon tea, bee balm, and horse mint.

What is bergamot and what does it look like

The appearance of the plant is quite unusual. It has a dense, tetrahedral stem that reaches one to one and a half meters in height. Elongated thin leaves with pointed edges can grow to 15 cm long and cover the plant densely. Monarda blooms profusely; flowers may be pink, red, or purple depending on the type of plant. Hybrid varieties with burgundy or white flowers are known.

The taste of the leaves resembles mint, but it is sweeter and a little sharper. There are several varieties of monarda, which differ not only in appearance but also in aroma and useful properties:

1. Lemon monarda has a delicate citrus aroma. The flowering of this species is very abundant, it is often grown for decorative purposes. It is used in cosmetology and as part of perfumes. In the food industry it is familiar as one of the components of vermouth. In medicine, tea from its leaves is used.
2. Hybrid monarda is better than other species to help the digestive system and is also a strong immunomodulator. It is obtained by crossing double and dud. It combines both medicinal and nutritional properties and is often used to decorate gardens.
3. The duds contain B and C vitamins, which makes it effective in the treatment of many diseases. It is also the species that is used in dried form as a condiment. Monarda monarda contains the highest concentration of thymol compared to other species, which disinfects wounds and promotes their healing.
4. Double monarda is best known as a medicinal plant, decoctions and oil from which are used for colds, rheumatism, cardiovascular and other diseases. This plant is often used for decorative purposes, as this variety is very tall (up to 1.5 meters) and blooms beautifully.

Composition and Calories

The caloric value of the grass per 100 grams is close to zero. Its protein and fat content is also minimal. In the oil of monarda there are about 900 kcal per 100 grams, there are almost no proteins and fats.

Monarda contains a large concentration of essential oils. They have bactericidal properties, relieve inflammation and spasms, strengthen the immune system, and support the nervous system.

Vitamins C, B1 and B2 combined with flavonoids in monarda help the body fight poisoning, strengthen and stimulate the cardiovascular system. Other substances that also help heart and vascular function are anthocyanins. These pigments promote the removal of excess moisture from the cells of the body, strengthen blood vessels and help prevent attacks of hypertension.

Useful properties of bergamot herb

General benefits

The main use of bergamot herb is the addition to food, as well as the treatment and prevention of various diseases. The usefulness of the plant is difficult to overestimate:

1. Blood-relieving and regenerative properties are used to heal wounds.
2. Antifungal and antimicrobial properties are used in the treatment of colds, flu, recovery from complex operations.
3. Immunostimulating effect allows you to more easily tolerate disease and not get infected during epidemics of seasonal viral diseases.
4. Disinfecting and analgesic properties are known and widely used in dentistry: gargling with decoction or chewing fresh leaves has a mild analgesic effect, helps with stomatitis, periodontitis and other dental and oral diseases.
5. Monard tinctures, combined with abdominal massage with bergamot oil, help fight parasites and effectively eliminate them. Pumpkin seeds can be added to the remedies to enhance the effect.

For women

Due to the fact that monarda contains substances that stimulate the production of analgesic hormones, women can use its infusion to reduce cramps during painful menstruation.

Monarda contains flavonoids, which are structurally similar to female sex hormones. During and before menopause, the use of infusions, adding oils with monarda helps to reduce the concentration of lipids in the blood, to strengthen the cardiovascular system.

For men

A scientific study conducted on 1,500 men proved that regular consumption of flavonoids, which are rich in the herb bergamot, helps reduce the risk of severe prostate cancer by 30%.

With age, many men are at risk for cardiovascular disease. Monarda oil, which restores fat metabolism in the cells, reduces harmful cholesterol, prevents the formation of blood clots, helps clean the walls of blood vessels.

Pregnancy.

Production of hormones, stimulated by infusions and oils of monarda, can have a negative impact on the health of the mother and fetus. Consumption of the herb-bergamot in food, as well as its use for cosmetic and medicinal purposes during pregnancy is worth limiting due to the insufficiently studied mechanism of its effects and possible negative consequences.

When breastfeeding

The flavonoids in monarda make the use of the herb bergamot during lactation undesirable. However, we are talking about regular use of infusions, oils, teas. Adding the spice to hot dishes, massaging with fragrant oil or using a sachet of dried herb will not have a negative effect on the mother and child, provided there are no allergies.

For children

Due to the presence of potent essential oils in the composition, decoctions of monarda are not recommended for children under three years of age. Then you should try to give infusions of the herb bergamot to children with great caution, as they can cause severe allergies. Monarda oil should be avoided before the age of six in solutions for ingestion or for external use.

For weight loss.

Decoctions and oil help the body to digest food, having a positive effect on digestion processes. Monarda oil stimulates the liver and gallbladder as well as digestion. The quality of metabolic processes in the body is the key to success in the fight against excess weight, so with the limitations of the herb bergamot means can complement the diet for weight loss.

What is useful for tea with bergamot

Tea brewed from fresh or dried monarda is recommended to drink before a meal, in which case it stimulates the appetite and warms. Drinking the tea after a meal shortly before bedtime has a relaxing and soothing effect.

Tea recipe:

1. Pour one tablespoon of fresh or dried leaves over one glass of boiling water.
2. Infuse the tea for about 10 minutes.

Monarda can be added to herbal teas with chamomile, willow-herb and other ingredients.

Monarda oil: properties and application

Due to the fact that monarda oil is obtained from different species of the plant, the color, aroma and useful properties may vary. All of its species are quite light, quickly absorbed and colored orange. The most common monarda oil has an aroma with notes of rose, thyme, geranium and sage. Lemon monard has the strongest citrus scent. Before using the oil for aromatherapy, you should first conduct a cold inhalation, make sure there are no unwanted reactions and only then start regular sessions.

Bergamot herb oil is potent and is rarely used in combination with other oils. However, its combination with eucalyptus oil enhances its antiviral and bactericidal effect. Adding basil to it adds to the effectiveness of its healing properties. Other oils with which monarda oil can be blended are lemon, lime, geranium, almond, apricot or peach.

The aroma of monard oil excites the nervous system and helps fight fatigue and gives vigor. It helps to overcome troubles, supports in changing climate or time zones, in times of stress. Inhaling its vapor increases performance.

It promotes recovery from asthma, burns, infectious diseases. Its bactericidal properties help to fight viruses and fungal pathogens. Among the diseases in which the use of oil monarda listed pneumonia and bronchitis, otitis, and even tuberculosis.

Oil of monarda has a diuretic and diaphoretic effect, so infusions of aromatic herb help to remove excess moisture from the body with cystitis, and together with excess fluid get rid of toxins and other harmful substances. Not only folk, but also official evidence-based medicine recommends remedies with monarda for urogenital infections and inflammatory processes.

Monarda oil is considered especially useful in old age because it can alleviate the course of atherosclerosis, reduce the manifestation of anemia and oxygen deficiency.

The only known oil that can protect against radiation is monard ether. Of course, radiation doses should not be high, but the protective effect and benefits of use after radiation exposure have been proven in practice.

The highest concentration of beneficial substances is present in the oil obtained by industrial method of steam distillation. However, at home you can also prepare a remedy for compresses, inhalations and massages. To do this, add the dry herb to refined vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:10. Then heat the oil for 2.5 hours at about 60 degrees Celsius. When the preparation is complete, cool the mixture, filter it and pour it into storage containers.

Folk medicine application

Scientific literature mentions that Native Americans of North America used to eat monarda boiled, they cooked the stems and leaves with various seasonings or added them to meat dishes. Native American peoples were also known for the antiseptic properties of monarda. Fresh leaves were applied to wounds to accelerate their healing. Compresses with fresh leaves or with infusion of flowers and leaves are also considered useful for healing injuries and burns, dermatitis and other skin problems.

Infusions of monarda are successfully used to treat colds, coughs and other respiratory diseases. Prepare a healing drink is not difficult: a few spoonfuls of dried leaves and flowers, pour boiling water, cover and insist for 40 minutes. Also in folk medicine often used inhalation, inhalation of decoction or water vapor with oil of monarda for bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.

Foot baths with sea salt and decoction of monarda help in the fight against fungus, reduce foot sweating and get rid of unpleasant odor.

Gargling the mouth with this infusion helped Native North Americans in pain relief and reduction of inflammation.

Monarda oil in cosmetology

Monard oil has such a powerful wound healing and antiseptic effect that it is used not only for medicinal purposes. In cosmetology, decoctions and infusions of leaves of the herb bergamot are most often used for the prevention of problems and general care of the skin and hair.

Oil of monard is used for cosmetic purposes only in combination with other plant oils in minimal concentrations.

For example, an oil for body and face massage can be prepared from a base vegetable oil with 2-3 drops of monarda oil added. One or two drops of other essential oils, e.g. rose oil, can be added to this mixture. A monard oil massage with tea tree, lavender and grape seed essence relieves nervous tension and is excellent for relaxation.

A few drops of the herb-bergamot oil as part of a complex cosmetic can be added to the bath for a warming and relaxing effect.

For the face

The substances in monard oil work well on skin prone to greasiness and the appearance of acne. Its benefits have also been proven for aging skin, for fighting wrinkles and restoring elasticity. Regular massage with monarda oil complex supports aging skin, slows down the aging process.

Adding monard oil to a moisturizer helps to reduce rashes, prevent the appearance of new acne, even out face tone, make the skin firmer.

Cream with monard oil is also useful after a long exposure to the sun in summer, chilblains and overcooling in the cold season. Monarda properties help the face to recover faster after exposure to extreme conditions.

Facial masks contribute to deep skin cleansing and reduction of rashes. One simple recipe:

1. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of dried monard leaves in 300 ml of hot water and insist for 10-12 hours.
2. Combine the infusion with blue cosmetic clay and mix thoroughly.
3. Add to the mask olive oil or other moisturizing oils, which will strengthen and complement the effect of the cosmetic.
4. Apply the mask for 15-20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly, removing all remnants. In case of itching, burning or other unpleasant sensations, rinse the mask with monard immediately.

To achieve a quality result such masks should be applied 1-2 times a week for a month. The mixture for the cosmetic procedure can be stored in the refrigerator, but it should be warmed to room temperature before use.

1 or 2 drops of cosmetic (diluted with other) monard oil added to a tonic or lotion will help to narrow pores and enhance the cleansing effect of the cosmetic product.

For hair

To treat seborrheic dermatitis and other diseases of the scalp, it is recommended to use monard oil. In order to strengthen the hair, give them shine and volume, use less concentrated remedies made from the herb bergamot. Raw material is simply brewed (2 tablespoons per 0.5 liters of water) and decoction washed the hair after washing the head.

In combination with several other oils, such as olive oil, you can prepare a mask that will help get rid of dandruff and reduce hair loss.

Procedures with a pulp of leaves and flowers of monarda or its oil should be limited in time, after half an hour the hair should be thoroughly rinsed.

Monarda uses in cooking

Stems, leaves and inflorescences are used for spice. The use of herb-bergamot in cooking is very wide:

1. Dried leaves can be added to meat and fish dishes, as well as pizza and pasta. It is important to add the spice a few minutes before the end of cooking to preserve the useful properties of the herb and its flavor.
2. Fresh leaves are used to decorate fruit and vegetable salads.
3. A traditional spring salad of radishes, green onions and eggs with the addition of a few leaves of herb-bergamot gets a new sound, enriched with lemon aroma and spicy flavor.
4. The monard greens perfectly complement a salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, bryndza and olives. Dressing the salad with lemon juice and a little garlic makes it low-calorie, hearty and very healthy.
5. Fresh monard leaves can be used in pesto instead of oregano or together with it.
6. Dessert jelly with the addition of bergamot herbs is fragrant and enhances the flavor of the fruit. Compotes, jams, kissel, morsels also acquire a minty-citrus flavor with the addition of the herb-bergamot.
7. Apple jam with monarda: 3 liters of sugar syrup, 5 small green apples and 10 grams of leaves of the herb-bergamot are needed for preparation. Finely chop the herbs, put them in a boiling syrup and cook on low heat for about 10 minutes. Then add diced apples and cook until tender.
8. Compote with monarda: half a cup of gooseberries, half a cup of red currants, 10 grams of herb-bergamot, 5 grams of basil should be boiled in boiling water to soften. Then chop the mixture, strain and boil for a few more minutes with the addition of sugar (3-5 tablespoons).
9. Fresh herbs added to tea or lemonade can replace mint and give the drinks a fresh spicy flavor.
10. Monarda leaves can be crushed, placed with water in ice molds and frozen. This will allow you to make drinks with fresh herb-bergamot leaves all year round.
11. Monarda is an excellent preservative, so it can be added when pickling and pickling cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes. Distribute stems and inflorescences of dill, herbs of cherries and currants on the bottom of a jar, put the top of the stems with monard leaves on top, under the lid. In this case, the aroma and taste of the herb-bergamot does not disappear and does not mix with other flavors, and the shelf life and quality of the vegetables in the preparation are improved.

To cook with fresh raw material, monard leaves should be thoroughly washed, infused in cold water so that all debris and insects float up, and then shaken off and dried.

Honey from fresh monarda flowers has many beneficial properties:

1. Place monarda flowers in a container of about 300 grams, filling the container about one-third full.
2. Pour the flowers with honey, and the container should be completely filled.
3. Stir the mixture thoroughly to remove the air.
4. Close the jar tightly and leave it for a month and a half in a dark, cool place.

Honey soaked in oils of monarda flowers has a pleasant fragrance, and can also fight sore throats with colds.

Health Hazards and Contraindications

Monarda oil is a potent substance, it intensely affects all systems of the body. Its use is possible only after consulting with a specialist and in many cases only after other, less intensive means have failed to achieve the desired result. It is necessary to study very carefully the dosage recommended by the manufacturer of the ready-made monarda oil. If you make your own medicines from the herb bergamot, the concentration should not exceed 3-5 drops per 10 ml of the base for massage, applications or gargles. Another option to soften the effects of a powerful remedy is to mix the herb-bergamot oil with other essential oils.

Like many plants rich in essential oils, monarda can cause an allergic reaction when consumed orally or applied topically. A sensitivity test is recommended before first use for medicinal or cosmetic purposes.

People with diagnosed hypertension, other pathologies of the cardiovascular system, ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, decoctions of herb-bergamot is not recommended. During an exacerbation of the disease and even in remission, monarda can provoke a deterioration in health.

Due to the content of substances that stimulate the production of various hormones, monarda is not recommended for use in diseases of the thyroid gland and other problems with hormonal status.

When to pick and how to dry

Monarda successfully grows in the middle belt of the European part of Russia and in other areas with a temperate climate. It is not demanding to light, watering, well tolerates frost. However, in order for the plant to grow successfully for several years, it is necessary to fertilize the soil, remember that the fragile stems can break in a strong wind, plant bushes at a distance of at least half a meter from each other.

Monarda does not flower in the first year of life. The highest concentration of essential oils in plants of the second year and older. It is better to schedule the collection of the herb for the flowering period. The top part of the plant should be cut, about 20-30 cm from the soil surface. Leaves for drying should not have any damage or spots. The collected branches are dried in a darkened room, then they are crushed and stored in a glass container, covered with a cloth or in a bag that allows air access.

The fragrance of dried herbs is less than fresh herbs, but the useful properties last about a year. Before drying, you can separate the leaves from the stems, they contain minimal useful substances, and the coarse fibers make them unsuitable for cooking.

In addition to drying, monard greens can be stored frozen. Leaves are separated from the stem, washed, dried to remove moisture and placed in a container in the freezer. Greens prepared in this way are not suitable for salads, but retain their flavor and can be used in meat dishes and soups.

Monarda oil can be stored for three years or more, due to the fact that it contains strong preservatives.

Interesting facts about bergamot

1. Monarda is a relatively new crop in Russia. It began to be actively explored in the 80s of the XX century, and it also became widespread among gardeners around the same time.
2. Monarda is a beautiful ornamental plant. Experienced gardeners believe it deters pests from neighboring plants and also helps improve the taste of companion plants, such as tomatoes.
3. The useful properties of the herb-bergamot can be used as part of fragrance mixtures. Dried monarda inflorescences can be mixed with laurel leaves, rose petals, bark and cones, supplemented with essential oil of eucalyptus or lavender. The resulting mixture can be used in transparent containers to decorate rooms and saturate the air with a pleasant smell or in sachets to give a pleasant fragrance to things in the closet. Sachets of monarda, lavender, rose can also be placed in a pillow.
4. Monarda oil can be used for disinfecting rooms and objects in families where there are sick family members. Treating with a small amount of such oil will help to prevent the spread of the disease.
5. Home use can save money on buying a variety of products and avoid the use of synthetic toxic household chemicals. Dried monarda placed along walls and inside furniture helps to fight domestic insect pests, including getting rid of bedbugs and cockroaches. Monarda oil helps stop the spread of black mold in damp rooms. Smoke from burned stems and leaves helps control pests on garden trees. Spraying water with an infusion of bergamot herb discourages bugs and caterpillars on cabbage and other vegetables. Bergamot roots release special substances into the soil and repel underground pests.
6. The only way to obtain monarch oil that maximizes its beneficial properties is through steam distillation. If the package of ready-made monard oil says that it was produced by cold-pressing, it can mean that the product is fake or does not have the declared useful properties.
7. Industrially produced cosmetics with bergamot in their composition do not contain preservatives. Bergamot herb oil itself is a natural preservative that does not require the addition of synthetic counterparts.

Monarda photo