Cmin sandy - one of the most useful medicinal plants. It is known by many names, but it is precisely this botanical that is rarely used by the people. This plant is better known as immortelle, dried flower or golden flower. This article will discuss the chemical composition, application, methods of harvesting immortelle and contraindications to its use.
Botanical description
Cmin sandy - This is a perennial flowering plant, which belongs to the Astrov family. This is a tall, straight flower with a stem up to 60 cm in length. The amazing silver color of the stem is caused by a fine down that grows on its surface.
The Astrovie family also includes: doronicum, gelenium, argirantemum, cineraria, helihrizum, orebeckia, cornflowers, brachic, wormwood and heliopsis.
Its leaves are also covered with down, short (up to 4 cm), thin. From the stem fall rarely, often remain in wilted form on its bottom.
Inflorescences are located on the top of the stem. Blossoms in early July and consist of 20-30 individual flowers. The inflorescences are shaped like panicles, covered with hard yellow or light orange scales from above. 
It is to the inflorescences that plant owes its name to the immortelle. They have so little moisture, and they are so tough that they do not fade even after cutting and remain similar to fresh flowers. Fruits from inflorescences appear in early autumn.
This is a simple ultralight seedling pubescent with hairs with small hooks. Sometimes the plant blooms again, if the autumn is warm and lingering.
Important! The flowers collected during a rain, do not possess practically any useful properties, and the infusion of them turns out watery and colorless. Before harvesting the immortelle, wait until its baskets dry out of moisture, whether it is rain or dew.
Spread
It is found only on the continent of Eurasia. The immortelle is harvested throughout Europe, in the Caucasus Mountains and even in the western part of Siberia. It prefers a dry continental climate, temporary drought tolerates firmly, grows on sandy soils of steppe and forest-steppe. 
Shadow does not like, with a lack of sunlight ceases to bloom, so in the eastern part of Russia almost does not occur.
Chemical composition
The inflorescences of the Cmin are of the greatest interest for traditional medicine. They contain bioflavonoids, their derivatives - glycosides, complex sugars. There are also a lot of tannins, organic acids.
The vitamin composition is not rich, but it contains an excess of vitamins K and C. In negligible quantities the immortelle contains resins, essential oils, alcohols, and fatty acids.
Did you know? The immortelle has its natural double - a flower with a very sweet name cat's paw. Both plants were discovered at about the same time, at the beginning of the 18th century, but they only got into the official botanical classification in 1794. It is possible to distinguish these plants among themselves by a single feature. The cat's paw has lilac flowers, and the gold flowers - golden. Use for medical purposes can only be golden flower baskets.
The mineral composition is represented mainly by potassium and calcium - 16 and 14 mg per gram of weight, respectively. There is a small amount of iron, and of the trace elements - magnesium and copper. 
Use in traditional medicine
The first golden flower is used to normalize the functioning of the biliary tract.. They are treated with gallstone disease, it helps the body to recover from hepatitis, an infectious disease of the urinary tract.
It is an effective liver cleanser.. It stimulates the work of liver cells, accelerates the excretion of toxins, metabolic products of pathogenic microflora.
It is successfully used in atherosclerosis.. Gold flowers eliminates choking of blood vessels with cholesterol plaques, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and increases their tone. This plant controls diabetes, problems with fat metabolism, obesity and facilitates their flow. It accelerates the elimination of precursors of bad cholesterol along with bile.
Contribute to the reduction of "bad" cholesterol consumption: apple or beet juice, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, ginger, iceberg lettuce, plums, corn, dried kelp, grapefruit, watermelon and cashews.
It is used in the treatment of chronic and infectious diseases of the gallbladder, bile ducts. Ointments and decoctions with immortelle extract - a reliable tool for the treatment of eye burns.
Medicinal properties
The pharmacological properties of dried flowers are expressed in the antispasmodic effect on the musculature of the internal organs. The tone of the blood vessels rises, the gallbladder stabilizes.
The outflow of bile improves and inflammatory processes are stopped, the level of bilirubin biliary pigment increases, the acidity of bile decreases.
Video: healing properties of immortelle sandy When used internally, this plant stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, has a diuretic effect, slows the formation of fecal masses. This effect on the body due to bioflavonoids and phenols.
Dried flowers have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties due to resin acids and an antibiotic called arenarine.
Important! The inflorescences of golden flowers contain a weak toxin, which tends to accumulate in the liver. The duration of one treatment course cannot exceed three months for adults and one and a half months for children. After this period, you need to wait a month so that the toxic products decompose and get out of the body, and only then if necessary continue treatment
Infusion
Prepared from both dry and fresh flower baskets. 30 g of fresh or 20 g of dried flowers should be poured 450 ml of boiling water and kept under a closed lid in a ceramic or enamelled container for ten hours.
This amount of infusion will be enough for one day of application. It should be divided into three equal portions and drink 150 ml before each meal.
With long-term storage, the infusion loses its properties, so you need to harvest a new portion every day. Infusion, condensed over low heat to half the volume, has more pronounced properties. It should be consumed once a day before bedtime, 150 ml. 
Treatment of such portions of the infusion is suitable for those who suffer from a weak form of gallstone disease, has a sluggish infectious diseases of the urinary tract. This drug does not irritate the mucous membranes of the esophagus, so it can be used in acute gastritis to alleviate the symptoms.
Did you know? Beautiful double flowers of dried flowers often can be found on the graves. The ancient Slavs believed that these flowers take to themselves the soul of a deceased person and will keep it in perpetual happiness. According to those beliefs, the immortelle could not be plucked or cut off, especially if he grew up on his own at the burial site.
It has an antibacterial effect, is used for tuberculosis and minor internal bleeding. Infusion of immortelle is useful for women in the first days after childbirth. As a normalizing fat metabolism means suitable for people who are overweight.
Use in floristics
Golden flower symbolizes health and longevity, therefore it is included in decorative herbal compositions. It is used in dried form for interiors in a rustic and eco style, on its background photo shoots a la Rus are filmed. 
Best of all, this plant is combined in compositions with decorative chamomile, lavender, St. John's wort, decorative sunflowers and thyme.
Contraindications
Broths and tinctures of this plant increase the tone of blood vessels. As a result, blood pressure rises, therefore, for hypertensive patients and people with arrhythmia, it is forbidden to use gold flowers. Another contraindication is individual intolerance to the plant. It can be determined only after use, so make the first portion of the medicine small.
Important! Decoction of flower baskets of this plant has a more active effect than the infusion. It should be applied in smaller doses (not more than one third of the norm).
Even the immortelle belongs to the weak-eating plants, so it can not be used for more than three months in a row. Be sure to take a one-month break between treatments.
Harvesting and storage of raw materials
These plants bloom in early June, and the seeds form in late August. Start collecting the inflorescences as soon as the center of the basket opens. If the inflorescences unfold completely, then after drying they fall off, and only the receptacle remains.
Collect the golden flowers in clear weather, as soon as the flowers dry the dew. In order not to tear the stems off the root, use a pruner or shears. So that the inflorescences can be dried in a suspended state, cut them together with a short stem. 
In one season, inflorescences can be collected from one site up to eight times depending on the weather, as the stem constantly releases new baskets. Gather this medicinal plant away from industrial areas, busy roads and waste disposal areas.
Did you know? There is a beautiful but sad Indian legend explaining the appearance of this plant. She tells of two lovers who on the evening of their wedding went into the forest and were torn to pieces by wolves. A hunter who was passing nearby discovered this terrible picture. He noticed strange golden flowers sprouting through the bloody land and, having decided that these were the souls of the beloved, he wished them to live forever.
Immediately after collection, start drying. Spread the baskets on a thick burlap or parchment, transfer them to a warm, dry room. Make sure that the inflorescences do not fall into direct sunlight - this will reduce their beneficial properties.
From time to time, ventilate the room and turn the cut inflorescences so that they dry out evenly. On average, drying lasts up to a week. 
Determination of readiness is simple: try to break a few thick stems. If they have become brittle, then inflorescences can be removed for storage.
It will be useful for you to learn about the most useful medicinal plants.
It is possible to store a gold-flower no longer than three years from the moment of harvesting. Spread it in paper bags or canvas bags, fold in a dry, cool place. Mark the date of harvesting on the bags and air the herbs every two months so that they do not get a musty smell of mice.
Cmin sandy is a beautiful and useful plant. It has been used in folk medicine since ancient times and serves to cleanse and restore the human body. The therapeutic effect of this plant is due to its complex chemical composition. Medicines containing gold flowers have a disinfectant and tonic effect.
Feedback from network users
Previously, we ordered grass to everyone who went to the south to rest, as it does not grow in our region. Now there is no problem - sold in pharmacies. Recommend.
Immortelle has antibacterial activity. The drug improves bile secretion. The immortelle has an analgesic effect on the smooth muscles of the intestine, biliary tract, gallbladder, blood vessels. Well prevents vomiting and nausea. Need 2 tbsp. l flowers pour a glass of water and insist on a water bath for 15 minutes. Mom with pain took 1 glass 2 times a day. Very widespread use of immortelle flowers in traditional medicine.
Collect this plant can only be in the summer, when flowering has just begun. Store it in suitable conditions, use it in moderation, and only benefit from this amazing plant.
