Chrysanthemum flowers have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and are still used today to make herbal tea. The tea is believed to have numerous health benefits, including improving vision, reducing inflammation, and treating respiratory and eye problems. However, not all chrysanthemum flowers are safe to use as an herbal remedy.
Members of the daisy family, chrysanthemum flowers are a genus of flowering plants that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times. Chrysanthemums derived their name from the Chinese city where they were first cultivated: Chu-Hsian, which means “City of Chrysanthemums.” Today, mums, as they are also called, are some of the most cultivated potted plants found in gardens.
When used in herbal medicine, dried yellow or white chrysanthemum flowers are boiled to make a sweet herbal tea or tonic. This chrysanthemum tea is considered an excellent herbal remedy. Regular use of the herbal tea is believed to energize the body and improve vision, alertness and longevity. In general, the yellow chrysanthemum flower is effective in counteracting the effects of hot weather, as it has cooling properties. In fact, this cooling effect is also an excellent remedy for fevers.
Additionally, drinking chrysanthemum tea can help reduce shortness of breath and strengthen the lungs. It is good for treating headaches, dizziness, sore throat, and other symptoms associated with the common cold. Chrysanthemum herbal tea has also been a popular treatment for many inflammatory conditions, including the flu, tonsillitis, and pneumonia.
White chrysanthemum flower is often used to relieve high blood pressure, reduce inflammation of the liver, and help with coronary heart disease and high cholesterol. An infusion of chrysanthemum flowers can also be used internally and externally to treat various eye problems, from conjunctivitis and eye inflammation to dry eyes and redness. Herbal tinctures and mixtures made from chrysanthemum flowers can also be used as an effective skin treatment.
Not all chrysanthemum flowers can be used as an herbal remedy. Some can even be considered poisonous. Those popularly used to make herbal teas include the florist daisy (C. morifolium); Chinese Chrysanthemum, or Ju hua (C. indicum); and ox-eye daisy (C. leucanthemum). The latter is useful for treating asthma, night sweats, whooping cough, nervousness, and chronic cough. It can also be made into an ointment and applied to the skin to treat bruising, swelling, and gout.
Feverfew (C. parthenium) is a species of wild chrysanthemum that is commonly used in tablet or capsule form to treat depression, asthma, chest infections, colic, and flatulence. Additionally, feverfew can be added to various commercial products to help relieve insect bites. Dalmatian chrysanthemum (C. cinerariafolium) flowers can be dried and ground into a powder and used as a natural insecticide in the garden. This species can also be made into a lotion and applied to the skin as an insect repellent or lice remedy.
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