Monarda punctata

Monarda punctata
Family:Monarda punctata; Antiseptic; Carminative; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Rubefacient; Stimulant; Stomachic; Vesicant.
Common name:Horse mint
Horse mint was traditionally taken by several native North American Indian tribes to treat nausea and vomiting and to encourage perspiration during colds. It was also applied externally as a poultice to treat swellings and rheumatic pains. Nowadays it is used primarily to treat digestive and upper respiratory tract problems. The leaves are carminative diaphoretic diuretic emmenagogue rubefacient stimulant stomachic and vesicant. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of flatulence nausea indigestion catarrh in the upper respiratory tract and to induce sweating and promote urination. The herb is principally used externally as a rubefacient applied as a poultice it helps to lessen the pain of arthritic joints by increasing the flow of blood in the area and thereby hastening the flushing out of toxins. The leaves can be harvested before the plant flowers or they can be harvested with the flowering stems. They can be used fresh or dried. The plant is a rich source of the medicinal essential oil 'thymol' which is antiseptic. The plant has been commercially cultivated for its essential oil though this is now produced synthetically. Thymol is also an effective hookworm remedy but must be ingested in such large quantities that it can prove fatal to the patient.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 04:34 []