Cornflower

Centaurea cyanus – Cornflower, basket flower
Asteraceae, formerly Compositae – Aster family, formerly composite

The raw material is the cornflower ray flower – Cyani flos. From the flower heads harvested in June, the peripheral flowers are picked and quickly dried in an elevated temperature, ventilated. If the flowers are dried for a long time in natural conditions and in the sun, they change their colour (turn pale) as the blue colourant, cyanidin, is broken down. The dried flowers should be tightly sealed and stored in a dark place.

Cornflower – appearance and origin:

An annual found in Europe and Asia, in Poland as a common weed. The stem grows up to 80 cm, branched. The leaves are long, linear, the lower one are pinnate, arachnoid-like pubescent. The flowers are clustered into individual flower heads. The peripheral flowers are ray flowers, dark blue, sometimes whiteish. It blooms from May to August.

Cornflower – effects and use:

The raw material contains anthocyanin glycosides, mainly cyanin, flavonoids, bitter compounds and manganese salts.

It is a medicinal plant with a broad spectrum of effects: diuretic, choleretic and anti-inflammatory. Due to mild inflammatory activity, it can be used for conjunctivitis and blepharitis, and also for hypersensitivity to intense radiation from television screens and computer monitors.

Flower infusion is recommended for kidney disease with low urine output, edema caused by water and salt retention, glomerulitis and pyelonephritis, circulatory failure and kidney stones. Combined with other herbs, the cornflower is used for insufficient flow of bile to the duodenum.

Externally, it is used for stubborn wounds and ulcerations, and also for treating dandruff and tinea capitis. It is ideal for hair care.