Helichrysium plintocalix
Immortelle brick-cup, Helichrysium plintocalix D. Sosn. (lat.)
Medicinal purpose
For medicinal purposes the flower corona only is used with 1-2 sm from the stalk part, which is cut by scissors or knife. It is strictly forbidden to cut the plant with stalk or pull out with the roots, as it will result in destroying this relatively rare plant. The gathered material is dried in cool, windy place and stored in wooded boxes with paper layers on the walls and the bottom. It can be kept for 3 years.
We have some 10-12 sorts of immortelle in our republic. Some of them have aesthetic importance; others are among most famous medicinal plants.
Immortelle brick-cup has significant medicinal qualities and use. This type is widely spread in our republic.
Immortelle is one of the ancient folk medicinal plants. Lots of nations have used this plant against bile-duct, stomach-intestine tract, and urethra diseases.
Amirdovlat has also used immortelle as vermifuge means, as well as against menstrual problems. According to father and son Nosals, immortelle cures jaundice in a few days when used as tea. They mention that the plant also stops bleeding, is good against liver cirrhosis.
In the Bulgarian folk medicinal practice, the flower extract was used against urethra inflammations; in Germany it is used to cure stomach diseases, particularly to stabilize the appetite.
According to N. G. Kovaleva, immortelle preparations provide some good results in case of hypertonic diseases and atherosclerosis; it also has general stabilizing qualities.
Immortelle has its unique place in the Soviet state pharmacopoeia. It has been scientifically proven that immortelle has cholagogue, stomach and pancreas secretion stimulating qualities.
It is proven in the Central Scientific Research Pharmaceutical Institute that immortelle extract and liquid decoctions have cholagogue qualities, dilute the bile; they lessen the quantity of bilirubin and cholesterol in the blood. In the modern medicinal practice, the flower corona of the plant is used to cure cholecystitis and hepatitis as a chologogue and resolvent means. This process in accompanied with elimination of pain in the liver area, vomits and pre-jaundice condition. Immortelle is less toxic, but the usage for a very long time can cause liver problems.
Recently, antibiotic arenarine is being generated from the plant, which has a significant influence on golden streptococcus. This quality is better developed in the immortelles growing in our republic rather than in the medicinal type.
According to our clinical data, immortelle extract and pills have provided good results against chronical cholecystitis, gall-bladder hypotonic inflammations, chronical gastritis, etc. It also helps eliminate pain in gall-bladder, evacuation function of stomach, etc. The cure lasting 2-3 days was favorable for patients’ general self-feeling.
Use
To make an extract, mix 3-5 grams of cut material with 500 ml cold water for 8 hours, and then drink 3-4 times a day. Or mix 3 tea-spoons of cut flower with 2 cups of cold water, soak for 8 hours and drink during the day.
To make a decoction, mix 16 grams flower with 300 ml water, boil for half an hour, cool and drink half of quarter cup, three times a day. Or add table-spoon of flower to 2 cups of water, boil for half an hour, and use 1 table-spoon, three times a day, 10-15 minutes before eating. Or pour 200 grams water into 10 grams of flower, leave for 30 minutes, then add additional 200 ml water and use 1 table-spoon, 3-4 times a day, before eating. Flower liquid should be used 30-40 drops, 3 times a day.
The immortelle is frequently met as pills, under the name of flamine (0.05 size pills). It should be drunken 1 pill, three times a day, 30 minutes before eating, during 2-3 weeks.
Other use
Antibiotic arenarine, which is generated from the plant, has the quality of eliminating the growth of phytopathogene bacteria. Thus is used in the agriculture against bacterial infections. It is also used in dying clothes into yellow color, as well as to protect clothes from insects.
Warning
These are folk remedies and are no guarantee is made as to either their effectiveness, or their safety.