Toadflax - effect and application

Toadflax - effect and application

The common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) is an old medicinal plant, which is now almost completely forgotten. In the Celtic faith, it was very popular both as a magical plant, as well as a medicinal plant. Especially wounds, inflammations and indigestion were treated in ancient times often with toadflax. Here you can learn more about the healing properties and application of the traditional plant with the strikingly shaped yellow flowers.

contents

• Toadflax - effect and application
• Wanted poster for common toadflax
• Herbal Portrait: A Celtic protective herb
• Ingredients and effect
• Flavonoids as allround talents
• Carboxylic acids not only work against inflammation
• Caution, danger of confusion!
• Application and dosage
• Tea from toadflax is versatile
• Side effects and counterindications
• Studies on the effect of toadflax
• Buy flax herb
• Conclusion

Wanted poster for common toadflax

Scientific name: Linaria vulgaris
Family: Plantain plants (Plantaginaceae)
Popular names: Druut, female flax, flax herb, haricot, ladybird, small snapdragon, squirrel
Used plant parts: leaves
Ancestry: Europe
Main ingredients: Flavonoids, carboxylic acids
Application areas:

• Skin and mucosal inflammations,
• indigestion,
• wound treatment.

The inconspicuous toadflax with typical flowers is often found along the way. (Image: Manfred Richter / fotolia.com)

Herbal Portrait: A Celtic protective herb

The common toadstool, which originates from Central Europe, belongs to the family of plantain and brownwort plants (like all other herbs).Plantaginaceae). Originally it grew preferentially in coastal forests with gritty underground. However, when humans started to clear their forests about 7000 years ago, they were increasingly expelled from their natural habitat. But the plant was unruly and sought a new home on arable land, gravel fields and stony roadsides. Here, people were particularly struck by its strikingly shaped, pale yellow lip flowers. They remind a little of the throat of a lion, which explains the nickname "little snapdragon".

The common toadflax had a special meaning with the Celts. For example, toads were according to the Celtic tree horoscope as a protective weed for people who were born under the sign of the poplar or cedar. The date of birth is here either in February, May or August, with February, especially as a cold month, from May to August, however, as feared in pollen allergy sufferers. Likewise, it was used in Celtic superstition as an incense to protect against evil curses and curses. Anyone who wanted to protect his home from bad slander, also hung a bunch of toad over the house entrance. As a medicinal plant, the green plant parts of Linaria vulgaris were used by the Celts in particular for the treatment of

• allergic inflammatory symptoms,
• eye infections,
• respiratory infections,
• bladder infection,
• cholecystitis,
• ulcers,
• rashes,
• Liver inflammation (hepatitis),
• Gastrointestinal infections,
• nephritis,
• Water retention (edema)
• and wounds used.

It is noticeable that the applications concentrated primarily on sore or inflamed skin, mucosa and organ tissue.

Ingredients and effect

The anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties of Linaria vulgaris are largely based on the combined action of flavonoids and carboxylic acids. They are supposed to protect the plant itself from predation and disease. Since the plant's active ingredients make the toadflax particularly robust against inhospitable sites as well as pests and germs, it has survived the millennia despite all human extermination measures. Fortunately, because the protective ingredients of flax weed can do much good for human health.

Today, toadflax, which played an important role in Celtic culture and medicine, is being rediscovered. (Image: csbphoto / fotolia.com)

Flavonoids as allround talents

Flavonoids are phytochemicals, due to their

• hypoallergenic,
• antioxidant,
• antimicrobial,
• antiviral,
• antihypertensive,
• anti-inflammatory,
• vascular protective
• and antispasmodic

Effect are a very important part of many medicines. Especially medication against

• allergic reaction
  for example, skin irritation or eye irritation,
• Vascular and cardiovascular diseases
  for example, high blood pressure, heart disease or edema,
• Gastrointestinal complaints
  for example, in case of abdominal cramps or intestinal inflammation,
• other inflammatory organ diseases
  for example cystitis or hepatitis

often can not do without a certain flavonoid content.

Since flavonoids are particularly high in common toadflax, the herb can also help with the mentioned health problems. The most important flavonoid substances in Linaria vulgaris are linarin and Pectolinarin. These are special flavonoids, which occur only in the common toadflax.

Useful information: In vivo, flavonoids could also be detected as having an anti-carcinogenic effect. These are therefore discussed as possible natural products in cancer therapy.

Toadflax is said to have a slightly bleaching effect on the hair. (Image: hedgehog94 / fotolia.com)

Carboxylic acids not only work against inflammation

Carboxylic acids are organic substances that, like flavonoids, have a very complex action. The flaxseed contains mainly the following carboxylic acids:

formic acid

• fungicidal (antifungal),
• anti-inflammatory
• and disinfecting.

malic acid

• antimicrobially,
• hypoglycemic,
• detoxifying,
• purifying,
• soothing,
• stimulates metabolism
• and digestive.

citric acid

• antibacterial,
• detoxifying,
• draining,
• diuretic
• and urinary stone prevention.

Due to the high content of hair-lightening formic acid, flaxseed was even used by the Celts to blond the hair. With regard to the healing effect of toadflax, the plant-specific carboxylic acids help especially in the

• wound treatment,
• inflammation,
• Resolution of indigestion
• and urinary tract diseases.

Especially the diuretic and urinary strengthening effect of citric acid is supported by another, the carboxylic acids related plant extract, namely the so-called iridoids. These compounds consisting of multiple sugar are also known for their antimicrobial and diuretic effect, which is a valuable aid especially in bladder infections.

Do not confuse: Visually related to toadflax, the snapdrag does not have the health-promoting properties. (Image: sakdinon / fotolia.com)

Caution, danger of confusion!

The lipped flowers of the flax-weed are the reason that it likes with another plantain plant, namely the real snapdragon (Anthirrhinum) is confused! This is not poisonous, has in contrast to the "small snapdragon" but no healing effect.

Due to its healing effect on the urinary tract, toadflax is too often confused with the equally diuretic lab herb. The medicinal plant also flowers yellow and has similar levels of flavonoids and iridoids. In addition, both labweed and toadflax are often referred to as "weed", which causes further misinterpretation.

Application and dosage

The common toadflax is harvested during flowering, between May and October. It is important to use only the above-ground parts of plants as herbs, whereby the plant should be dried quickly after harvesting. The ingredients of Linaria vulgaris produce namely a very intense, sharp-bitter smell, which can only be removed by adequate drying.

Tea from toadflax is versatile

Regardless of whether it is a disease of the bladder or another organ, internally Linaria vulgaris works best as a tea. Even for detoxification in the course of a diet, flaxseed tea is often used. Also, edema and other vascular diseases respond positively to toadflax tea. An envelope of tea-soaked compresses can also help with skin irritation or eye inflammation.

Who would like to try it with a natural bleaching, it can try it with a decoction of the flax herb, whereby the herbs must already be high-dosed here. Otherwise, the following dosages for toadflax tea apply:

Add two teaspoons of dried toadflax to a cup with 250 milliliters of boiling water and let simmer for about ten minutes. Then the tea is filtered and can (if necessary with a little honey refined) be enjoyed two to three times a day.

The flaxseed tea, like many other herbal teas, can be enjoyed with honey. (Image: John / fotolia.com)

Side effects and counterindications

• An overdose of toadflax tea can lead to watery diarrhea due to the strong dehydrating effect.
• Especially people who think that they can lose weight with flaxseed very quickly should be careful in this regard.
• Linaria vulgaris is unsuitable for pregnant women, because so far there are no study results that prove that toadflax is harmless to children.

Studies on the effect of toadflax

Since flax weed is an almost forgotten Celtic herb, there are not many studies that prove its curative effects. But there are a few interesting results.

Although the disinfectant effect of Linaria vulgaris has not yet been scientifically proven, the antioxidant effect of flax weed has already been proven in one study. He was in the study associated with the plant's flavonoid linarin.

In addition, a hitherto unknown African-born toadstool, Linaria tingitana, has recently developed anti-inflammatory effects. It was tested in vivo in a study on its wound healing effects in inflammatory edema formation on cell samples. With success, whereby the anti-inflammatory properties were due to the iridids of the flaxseed.

If you are looking for the support of the Leinkrauts with weight loss, it should not overdose. (Image: BillionPhotos.com/fotolia.com)

Buy flax herb

Toadstool tea is relatively unknown in the trade, which is why you have to search a bit to find it in the pharmacy or online. It is important, as with all herbal supplements, to look for trustworthy sources.

Conclusion

The toadflax is an extremely stubborn medicinal herb that, even by its strong will to survive in inhospitable terrain, firmly refuses to fall into oblivion than traditional herbs. For a good reason, because flax weed has proven to be supportive of inflammation.

You can easily prepare the herb as a tea and apply it either internally or externally. Only warn against the strong draining effect of the flax weed at this point, because it can lead to diarrhea in case of overdose. (Ma)