Monarda

In the fields and meadows, in gardens and flower beds, a delicate lilac flower with a delicate citrus scent, called the monarda, grows. Latin name Monarda.

This name combines a whole botanical genus of herbs and belongs to the Lamiaceae family.

The name of this genus was given by the Swedish naturalist and physician of the 18th century, Carl Linnaeus, in honor of the Spanish scientist and physician of the 16th century, Nicholas Monardes, who published a work on the new plants of America in 1574.

In the ranks of varieties of the genus Monarda, both annuals and perennials are found.

Here is a list of the main external characteristics inherent in the entire botanical genus:

• Stems are straight and branched. Reach up to 15 cm - 150 cm.
• The leaves are lanceolate and light green in color. The location is opposite. The length reaches from 6 to 15 cm, and the width is from 3 to 8 cm. The ends of the leaves are pointed.
• Inflorescences are basket-shaped. They consist of several flower whorls with a diameter of up to 6-7 cm.
• Flowers are small funnel-shaped tubes. Painted mainly in lilac, purple, purple and red. Blooms from June to September.
• The fruits are double dry nuts.

Ground stems are long and horizontal

The botanical genus Monarda includes about 20 varieties of the plant. Many of them are often used in gardening.

The most popular are:

• Lemon.
• Binary.
• Fistulate.
• Spot.
• Dwarf.
• Fragrant.
• Average.
• Russell.
• Soft.
• Bradbury.
• Red.
• Comb.
• Scattered.

The origin of this plant is attributed to the countries of North America.This flower was brought to Europe by Spanish sailors after Columbus discovered the New World. Due to its decorative effect and aroma, it has spread throughout the mainland, including our country.

Consuming Monarda spices is one of the many uses for this herb.

To make spices from this plant, you need:

• Collect monarda during flowering. It was at this time that it contained the maximum content of essential oil.
• Cut stems no shorter than 25 cm from the soil.
• Dry and grind.
• It should be stored, like other spices, in a tightly closed dry container.

As with the use of any other medicinal herb, care should also be taken when using monarda.

• Excessive use may cause adverse reactions.
• Do not take during pregnancy and lactation.
• It has an age limit: not for children under 5 years old.
• It is not advised to use aroma lamps with a monard in rooms with small children and pregnant women.

The most characteristic properties of all types of monarda are:

• Mint-lemon aroma, inherent mainly in the trunks and flowers of the plant.
• Honey-bearing property, due to which butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds (in those places where they are found) always circle above the flower.
• The third important quality of the monarda, characteristic of the whole genus, is that all flowers contain a huge supply of essential oil. The most meaningful flower in this regard is Monarda double (Monarda didyma).

These flowers are primarily used for extracting essential oils.

Monard oil has the following medicinal properties:

• It is used as a bactericidal and antiviral agent.
• It is used as a panacea for various types of inflammation.
• Monarda oil is an immunomodulatory tool.
• It has a strong antioxidant property.
• It is an anti-sclerotic and desensitizing agent.
• An effective antispasmodic.
• Important is such a quality as radioprotective.
• Helps with depression and stress.
• It is an adaptogenic tool.
• Recommended for people with anemia.
• And finally, it is one of the best anti-carcinogenic agents.

To make this extract:

1. Mix any purified vegetable oil and dried parts of the Monard flower in a ratio of 1:10.
2. Prepare a water bath and keep the mixture of oils in it for a couple of hours.
3. Then cool and strain. The healing oil mixture is ready.

Many of the healing qualities of Monarda essential oil can also be observed in oils of other herbs. For example, tea tree oil has similar medicinal properties and is also widely used in cosmetology. The aromatic and medicinal properties of lavender and clove oil are also similar to those of bee balm oil. However, only this oil can normalize the level of oxygen in the cells of the body.

Monarda oil is a unique remedy in its medicinal properties:

• it is the first and last scientifically proven oil to treat radiation sickness and protect against radiation. People with radiation sickness are advised to drink teas with bee balm oil.
• this tea also helps people with cancer after chemotherapy.

Monarda oil is also used in the following cases:

• During acute respiratory diseases and bronchial asthma as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. You can be treated with aromatherapy, adding drops of oil to aroma lamps, or inhalations.
• To enhance the effect of antibiotics and speed up the healing process. To increase the effect of aroma lamps, eucalyptus oil can also be added there. For aroma lamps, a drop of Monarda oil per 15 square meters will be enough. It should be noted that aroma lamps with Monarda oil are contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 5-6 years of age.
• For the treatment of wounds, burns, ulcers and even fractures. With a fracture of the bones, a mixture of oils helps. For its manufacture, 10 ml are needed. wheat germ oil, 5 drops of monard oil and 2 drops of lavender oil. The fracture site should be smeared with this mixture or a compress should be made from it. For wounds, you need to mix a teaspoon of vodka with five drops of monard oil and wash the wound several times during the day.
• To get rid of worms. To do this, just mix 1 ml of glycerin oil and two drops of Monarda oil. Apply and rub them on your stomach.
• For foot fungus. To do this, mix a tablespoon of vegetable oil with monard oil. 5 drops will be enough. Apply to problem areas of the legs and put on socks. Do not remove for 2-3 hours.

Monard oil can also be used:

• As an effective anti-aging agent. Due to its composition, it is able to quickly renew body cells and slow down the aging process.As an anti-aging agent, it is ideal to massage with Monarda oil, or add it to face and body creams. To enhance the effect, you can add rose and lime oils.
• For oily and dry skin. It normalizes the work of the sebaceous glands, tightens pores and eliminates acne. Add a few drops of oil to tonics and face lotions and you will see the effect.
• This is an excellent tonic, it is a source of strength and vigor. Helps with chronic fatigue. To restore strength and energy, a massage of all parts of the body with Monarda oil is suitable.
• On the farm to kill mold. To get rid of black mold in residential areas, which is often seen in damp homes, dilute 15 drops of oil with 1 liter of water. Treat the premises with a sprayer with this liquid at least once a week.

In the kitchen, Monarda can be used as:

• Preservative in pickles, preserves, jams and when storing vegetables in pantries;
• Greens in salads.
• Add to soups and main courses.
• Brew teas and make soft drinks (cocktails).

Consider several recipes for using monarda in the kitchen.

For tea you will need: crushed leaves and inflorescences of Oswego tea, boiling water. Pour 2 teaspoons of monarda with 250 ml of boiling water. Do not touch for about half an hour. Strain and drink 60 ml for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Spring Salad Ingredients:

• 50 grams of fresh soft lemon mint branches with leaves;
• 50 grams of green onions;
• 1 egg;
• 20 grams of sour cream,
• a pinch of salt.

Wash branches and onions. Cut into small pieces. Add salt. Slice the egg. Transfer the egg to the previously chopped onion with monarda. Drizzle salad with sour cream and serve.

As a dressing, monarda can be added a few minutes (15 to 20 minutes) before the end of cooking. For borscht and cabbage soup, you can add 20-30 grams of Monarda, both fresh and dry. Suitable for this and branches with leaves, and the stems and inflorescences of the plant.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon Monarda
• 1 glass of water

Dilute buttermilk with water. Add monarda powder. Shake well and let it brew for 10-15 minutes in a cold place. This cocktail can be drunk as a soft drink, such as kvass.

For 100 g of fresh flowers and leaves of the Monarda, 1 kg of apples, 1 kg of sugar and 2 glasses of water are taken.

Rinse the apples, peel from the seed chamber, cut into slices. Prepare syrup from water and sugar, bring to a boil, add monarda and cook. After 5-10 minutes, add apples and cook until tender.

Thanks to the trace elements contained in the monard, it helps to keep food longer. In view of which it can be added during canning to cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage and other vegetables and fruits.

The healing properties of Monarda have been known since ancient times.

It can be used for:

• cystitis, vaginitis;
• acute respiratory diseases, runny nose, sinusitis, otitis media;
• different flu and pneumonia;
• fungal diseases of the skin of the extremities, eczema, psoriasis;
• pustular skin diseases (scab);
• respiratory diseases;
• tuberculosis;
• immunodeficiency states;
• atherosclerosis;
• stress;
• anemia, hypoxia;
• radiation sickness.

In addition, it improves digestion, kills bacteria, rejuvenates. Due to the ability to oxidize, it reduces the high oxygen content in the cells.

Below is a recipe for using bee balm essential oil for dermatitis and children's laryngotracheitis:

For the treatment of dermatitis, mix 0.001 l of monarda oil, 0.002 l of laurel oil, 0.001 l of geranium oil and 0.0065 l of walnut oil. Apply to problem areas at least 4 times a day until recovery.

With Monarda essential oil, you can prepare nasal drops for children's laryngotracheitis. To do this, you need to take 5 drops of Monarda oil, Patagonian pine, spruce and one drop of eucalyptus oil. Add also 30 ml of hazelnut oil. Rinse your nose with sea salt solution and put 2 drops into each nostril. Repeat the procedure 3 times a day until recovery.

Flowers of bee balm have found application in the economy:

• It is put together with vegetables so that they are better stored in the pantry.
• The smoke of a burnt dry plant fumigates fruit trees from aphids.
• Use it for spraying cabbage from caterpillars.

Monarda is a very decorative plant. On the basis of the species discussed above, about 50 varieties and hybrids have been bred. All of them differ mainly in their color.

Consider several groups of varieties:

In the USA, Great Britain and Germany, perennial varieties of monarda with a height of about 100 cm have been created with double and fistulose monarda.

Dwarf varieties of monarda with red flowers: "Cambridge Scarlet", "Adam", "Mahojin", "Cardinal", "Steppe Blush", "Sunset", "Balance", "Indian", "Little Delight". Since the varieties are bred abroad, there may be other translations of the names of the same varieties. Reach no more than 20-30 cm in height. Among them, "Squaw" ("Indian") is the most frost-resistant variety.

Pink flowers in varieties "Fisches", "Croftway Pink", "Rose Queen", "Cratly Pink".

Popular purple varieties of monarda: "Sinta-sinta", "Pony" (pale purple); "Blaustrumpf" and "Blue Stocking" (violet-purple). Variety "Pony" is the highest. Reaches up to 180 cm.

• There are also burgundy flowers of the Monarda: "Burgundy Moldova", "Prerinakht".
• Hybrids with white color: Snow White, Schniewitchen, Snow Maiden.
• There is a variety with lavender flowers: "Elsiez Lavande".
• And finally, varieties with purple flowers: "Capricorn" - 90 cm, reddish-purple.
• There is a variety "Lambada", which is grown for 1 year.

Bee balm is a rather unpretentious plant, it can bloom both in places under the sun and in slightly dark places. However, it is sensitive to soil characteristics and content. Prefers slightly acidic and not very wet soil. Grow from 1 or more years. It can reproduce by roots every three to four years in spring and autumn.

The stages of cultivation of lemon mint consists of proper planting, fertilizing, loosening, watering, fertilizing, cutting and sheltering in winter:

• You can plant in gardens, vegetable gardens, flower beds and borders. Many designers love this plant for its ability to decorate penumbra sides.
• When planting, top dressing should be carried out from nitrofus and lignohumate.
• And after flowering, fertilize with superphosphate and calcium sulfate.
• To prolong flowering, remove faded flower heads.
• In winter, cut off all above-ground parts. And the roots are able to survive the winter and in the spring again grow the aerial part.

Monarda is prone to fungal diseases, especially Puccinia rnenthae. In case of damage to flowers grown for bouquets and decorations, preparations with copper are used. And for flowers grown for the purpose of subsequent use as food additives, it is advisable to treat with onion and tansy infusions, garlic infusion and tomato tops.May be affected by powdery mildew, which may indicate overfertilization above the norm and dryness of the soil.

• Monarda is often confused with bergamot. However, apart from a similar citrus smell, these two plants have nothing in common. Even before the 19th century, it was grown under the name bergamot.
• The unique properties of this plant were known among the tribes of the old New World. It was sometimes even called Oswego tea, after one of the Indian tribes, and Indian nettle.
• Mountain, bee and odorous balm; American Melissa; Indian pen; lemon mint and horse mint all refer to this particular plant.
• The essential oil contained in the roots of the monarda can repel many harmful parasites in the earth.