- AIDS- Antibacterial- Antifungal- Anti-inflammatory- Antioxidant- Boils- Cellular Regeneration- Cleansing/Detoxification- Coughs- Digestive Problems- Dizziness- Eyesight Disorders- Fever- Headache- HIV Infection- Liver Health Maintenance- Respiratory Health Maintenance- Sedative- Vascular Disorders

Overview:

Chrysanthemum Morifolii flowers,

Chrysanthemum morifolium

Ramat [Fam.Asteraceae], also known as Ju Hua in Chinese, are edible flowers native to Eurasia andIndia, commonly combined with tea leaves as a daily beverage in the Orient and also usedin traditional Chinese medicine particularly for their liver balancing properties.Chrysanthemum Morifolii flowers alleviate fever, headaches and disperse and remove toxinsfrom the body. Chrysanthemum morifolium flowers are also one of two primary ingredientsin a classical Chinese cough remedy called Sang ju yin that is available preformed in mostChinese herbal stores. Based on traditional use,

Chyrsanthemum morifolium

flowers arealso popularly used for treating dizziness, ocular inflammation, and skin boils. Additionally,the flowers have been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal and hypotensive effects. Theflowers also contain several strong anti-inflammatory compounds. In the Chinese MateriaMedicas, the flowers of several

Chrysanthemum

species are used to clear 'heat'

(inflammation and boils) from the body.

Chrysanthemum morifolium

was also used as asedative, for its cooling ability in headache and in influenza. Related plant,

Chrysanthemumsinense

, was recommended in the classical Chinese herbal work, the Pen Ts'ao, forpromoting menses and treating digestive, circulatory and nervous difficulties (taken as anextract made by steeping the flowers in wine).

Chrysanthemum morifolium

also possessesstrong activity against abnormal growths. Tests have shown that out of fifteen compoundsisolated from the edible flowers of

Chrysanthemum morifolium

, all showed potent inhibitoryeffects against abnormal cells. Evaluation of cytotoxic activity revealed that one compound,arnidiol, possesses a wide range of cytotoxicity (activity against abnormal cells).

Chrysanthemum morifolium

also contains a flavonoid compound called acacetin-7-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, active against HIV infection. Research in China using about 60 gramsdaily of

Chrysanthemum morifolium

flowers for lowering vascular pressure reported casesuccess rates of 17.1% very effective, 51.4% effective, 31.5% not effective.

Active Ingredients:

Chyrsanthemum morifolium

flowers contain: Fifteen pentacyclictriterpene diols and triols, consisting of: six taraxastanes, faradiol (1), heliantriol B(0) (2),heliantriol C (3), 22alpha-methoxyfaradiol (4), arnidiol (5), and faradiol alpha-epoxide (6);five oleananes, maniladiol (7), erythrodiol (8), longispinogenin (9), coflodiol (10), andheliantriol A(1) (11); two ursanes, brein (12) and uvaol (13); and two lupanes,calenduladiol (14) and heliantriol B(2) (15). These compounds were isolated from the non-saponifiable lipid fraction of the edible flower extract of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemummorifolium). The flowers also contain the anti-HIV compound, Acacetin-7-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside.

Suggested Amount:

Chrysanthemum morifolium

flowers are generally taken mixed withother herbal ingredients in various tonic and therapeutic preparations. Dosages as high as60 grams of flowers have been used daily for lowering vascular pressure.

Drug Interactions:

None known.

Contraindications:

None known.

Side Effects:

Chrysanthemum morifolium

fresh flowers and leaves, as with many otherCompositae plants, can cause contact dermatitis and eczema in susceptible persons – eventhrough airborne exposure in sensitive people. Those with extreme sensitivity to theseplants may experience allergic reactions from drinking Chrysanthemum tea, although this isusually not the case. It is best not to handle plant material without gloves, particularlyCompositae species including Chrysanthemum morifolium. [Sharma SC, Tanwar RC, Kaur S.1989. Contact dermatitis from chrysanthemums in India. Contact Dermatitis. 1989 Aug;