Monarda- a perennial herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family. There are more than a hundred varieties of monarda (fragrant, double, red, dotted, combed, scattered, etc.) Most of its species are unusually beautiful perennials and are grown for decorative purposes.

But in gardens they most often grow lemon monarda, better known as bergamot herb. Central and South America are considered the homeland of monarda. Bergamot is a moisture- and light-loving plant.

It is unpretentious to soil fertility, but grows poorly in acidic and marshy areas. It reaches a height of 1.5 m. Monarda is propagated by seeds, seedlings and dividing the bush. To prevent the rhizomes from freezing in winter, the plants are hilled up and the soil around is mulched with humus or leaves.

It blooms, as a rule, in the second year of cultivation and then monarda is used for culinary and medicinal purposes. The leaves and flowers are used to season fruit and vegetable salads. The main use of bergamot-monarda is in flavoring tea, kvass and fruit drinks, giving them a refined lemon-resin aroma. Fans of tea with bergamot herb claim that it is much better than store-bought tea with bergamot (by the way, such tea, as a rule, is not flavored with herb at all bergamot, and the essential oil of the fruits of an inedible citrus tree called "orange-bergamot", which has the aroma of bergamot). The aerial parts of lemon monarda contain valuable essential oil, similar in its properties to the oils of peppermint, basil, and lemon balm. Monarda has a bactericidal, wound-healing, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and emollient (protects the skin and mucous membranes from irritation) effect. It is believed that Monarda prevents the occurrence and growth of black mold, so it twigs are added to spicy mixtures when canning vegetables and other products. The website gallery contains several additional photos of monarda.

Bergamot monarda plant: growing and preparing for tea

In the last article, I briefly talked about what bergamot monarda is, what this plant looks like and what beneficial properties it has. Today I will continue the story about the plant of the Lamiaceae family with a story about propagation, growing monarda, as well as how to harvest and use it. Monarda is propagated in several ways.

Firstly, seedlings. Seeds are sown in mid-March - early April to a depth of 0.5-1 cm. Shoots appear after 6-10 days (sometimes later).

Seedlings are planted once every 18-20 days in small pots, preferably with a diameter of 8-10 cm, then the plants tolerate replanting more easily and bloom 10-15 days earlier. The seedlings are watered 1-2 times with a solution of nitrogen fertilizers (11.5 g per 1 liter of water).

In mid-May they are planted in open ground at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. Secondly, monarda can be cultivated by sowing seeds in open ground - in a permanent place as soon as the soil is ready.

In the initial stage of development, plants are very responsive to abundant but infrequent watering in dry weather. They are combined with fertilizing with complete mineral fertilizer. And finally, many gardeners practice Monarda reproduction by dividing the bush (mainly in spring), rightly considering this method the most convenient, and by cutting roots.

Monarda grows well after annual flower crops with a short growing season (gypsophila, iberis, etc.). This plant is an excellent honey plant. Monard honey fragrant and very pleasant to the taste. For preparation Monarda cut at a height of 20-30 cm from the soil surface (not lower!) 10-15 days after the start of flowering (mass flowering phase). The herb is dried, crushed and stored, like other aromatic plants. Monarda essential oil has an antimicrobial and fungicidal effect, so the leaves not only flavor tea, but are used for pickling cucumbers, tomatoes and mushrooms, placing the cut leaves in jars top part stem with inflorescences and leaves.Apple jam cooked with leaves monarda binata(Mahogany variety), tastes like jam made from rose petals (for 3 cups of sliced ​​apples - 10 g of fresh flowers and leaves of monarda bifoliata). We will be grateful if you share the article on social networks:

An aromatic plant and a beautiful flower. Monarda or bergamot? Properties and uses of monarda. Photo. Monarda oil

Monarda – aromatic and medicinal plant, honey plant, decorative flowering perennial with bright two- or three-story flowers. Monarda exudes a delicate lemon aroma, and just one leaf will give a cup of any tea an exquisite taste of tea

Monarda - plant

Monarda()- a plant from the family Lamiaceae (), close relative oregano (). The latter, however, is much inferior Monarde in beauty.

Monarda comes from North America, where the plant naturally lives in wet meadows, hills and forest clearings. Brought to the Old World, monarda has been successfully naturalized in warm regions of Europe and Asia.Name monarda given to the plant in honor of Nicholas Monardes, the author of a book on plants of the New World, published in 1569.

For its recognizable aroma and ability monarda flowers attracting dozens of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds (where they are found) at the same time, the plant is called Bee Balm, Horsenip, Lemon Balm, Oswego Tea (named after the Indian tribe). Monarda– an erect plant up to 120 cm tall.

Monarda leaves are 5-15 cm long, oval or oval-narrow, pointed at the ends, arranged oppositely on the stem. Monarda leaves, smooth or rough, depending on the type, have small jagged ends.

Monarda flowers simple or double (mainly in decorative hybrids), bisexual, tubular, bilaterally symmetrical, bilabial with bracts of leaves. Upper lip monarda flower narrow, the lower one is wider and drooping. All types of monarda are exceptionally fragrant due to the high content of essential oil in the roots, stems, leaves and flowers of monarda.At the time Monarda flowering grows long stems, in the axils of the leaves and on the tops of which charming “shaggy” flowers of bright colors appear: red, pink, crimson, lilac and white.

Monarda fistulosa, two-story flower (Monarda fistulosa) Monarda is an aromatic plant. Leaves

Double Monarda (Monarda didyma)

Monarda or bergamot?

In the English-speaking botanical tradition, monarda has a second name, which sometimes confuses those interested in plants and aromatherapy. Perhaps they call it bergamot Monarda for the similarity of taste and aroma that the leaves of both plants exude. - a variety of Seville orange (), the leaves of the plant are traditionally used to flavor the famous tea ().

If you add it to regular black (or green) tea monarda leaf, then the tea will become very similar to gourmet. And monarda and bergamot- essential oil crops. To avoid confusion with essential oils of monarda and bergamot, read the labels carefully. Bergamasco orange essential oil is called bergamot oil - and monarda essential oil - .

Properties and uses of monarda

The Indians also noticed antiseptic properties of monarda: they used the leaves of the plant to treat wounds and skin infections, and the tincture monards used for gargling and mouthwashing, healing teeth and gums, for headaches and fever, and also as a general stimulant and carminative. Later, scientists confirmed the observations of the Indians: in Monarde contains a natural antiseptic ().

Monarda and is now used in industrial means for rinsing your mouth. Monarda essential oil actively used in aromatherapy (see below).

Dried monarda leaves and flowers added to aromatic potpourri, and stems with flowers - to winter bouquets and compositions of dried flowers. Fresh monarda leaves used as a spice in salads, fish and meat dishes, just like the ancient Indians, who added Monarda to game and poultry.

Monarda oil

The highest essential oil content is in monarda binate(). She, along with Monarda fistula() have long been used by Indians as a medicinal plant.

Growing monarda and bergamot for your garden

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Perennial Monarda varieties unpretentious and winter-hardy. These are beautiful honey plants with leaves and flowers that exude a wonderful aroma. Blooms monarda from July until the very end of summer.

Decorative look monards, a miracle - a scent that we all recognize well in the invigorating tea with bergamot, have made it one of the favorite flower crops of gardeners. Monarda feels great in the sun and tolerates partial shade.

She does not like the wind, which can cause bending of her delicate flower stalks. Loves light calcareous soils, but tolerates others soil compositions. Categorically does not tolerate heavy and swampy soils.

Like the vast majority of flowering plants, it craves a full range of fertilizers. With good feeding monarda flowers bloom more often and the colors are more saturated. Young shoots monards they do not bloom very profusely, its flowering reaches its climax after 4 - 5 years, when each bush, if treated lovingly and properly cared for, produces up to 100 or more flowering shoots. In order for the plant to feel comfortable, the site for future planting is prepared in the fall.

Carefully dig the soil, weed out the weeds, add humus and partially peat. When there is little rain, the plant needs abundant watering. Medicinal properties are also known monards.

They are provided by healing essential oils, vitamins B2, B1 and C. For the respiratory system and digestive tract monarda has a beneficial effect. During flowering, when the inflorescences contain the maximum amount of essential oil, harvesting time monards. The lower, above-ground part is cut to a height of 20 - 30 cm from the soil surface. After cutting, the grass is tied into small bunches and hung in a dark place, and after drying it is crushed.

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“Bergamot” received its name in honor of the Italian city of Bergamo, where it was first cultivated and sold as an oil. According to another version, the name probably comes from the Turkish word “beyarmudu”, which means “princely pear” or “beg armudy” - master’s pear. Bergamot received this name due to its unusual pear-shaped shape and the light yellow color that made the fruit bergamot is similar to bergamot pears, but in fact it has absolutely nothing to do with pears.

The first bergamot plantations were established in Italy in the mid-twenties of the last century..Bergamot, or orange-bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a plant of the Rutaceae family. Southeast Asia is considered the birthplace of bergamot.

Bergamot is the closest relative of orange, lemon and grapefruit. Bergamot is an evergreen tree, ranging from 2 to 10 meters in height. Branches with long, thin, sharp spines up to 10 cm long.

The leaves are alternate, petiolate, leathery, ovate-oblong or elliptic, pointed, green above, shiny, lighter below, slightly toothed, wavy. The flowers are large and very fragrant, solitary or collected in few-flowered axillary tufts, bisexual, white or purple, with a strong pleasant odor.

The fruit is spherical or pear-shaped, with a thick three-layer shell. The skin is peeled free of bergamot lobes without resistance. The pulp consists of a series of easily split segments, inside of which there are a few seeds.

It has a pleasant sour taste, less sour than lemon, but more bitter than grapefruit. Blooms in March-April. The fruits ripen in November-December. In practice, the pulp of the bergamot fruit is not used.

What is valuable about this fruit is the peel, which is a source of essential oil.. The distinctive aroma of bergamot is best known to us from the taste of tea.

Aromatic substances extracted from the skin of this sour fruit are used to flavor Earl Gray tea, Lady Gray tea, and sweets. Italians make marmalade from fruits.

It is also popular in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. Bergamot oil is used to flavor ointments and in perfumes. Bergamot peel is used in perfumery for its ability to combine with different scents to form a bouquet of scents that complement each other.

Approximately one third of men's and half of women's perfumes contain bergamot essential oil. Currently, it is not used in its natural form in perfumery, because causes photoburns of the skin at the site of perfume application when exposed to sunlight. Bergamot peel is also used in aromatherapy to treat depression.

The juice of the fruit is also used in folk medicine as a herbal remedy to combat malaria and digestive problems. The origin is stated differently in different sources. Somewhere it is reported that bergamot is a hybrid of several citrus plants, obtained by crossing orange and citron.

And other sources of bergamot are considered an independent species. Bergamot is not related to the Bergamot pear variety and Monarda grass, which is also commonly called Bergamot. Today there is no bergamot growing in the wild. You can also obtain bergamot fruits indoors.

Bergamot is grown in the same way as lemon or orange. But bergamot is less whimsical than its citrus relatives.

Growing.

Sowing is done with fresh seeds just taken from the fruits.. If you let them sit and dry out, they will lose the ability to germinate. Planted to a depth of 1 cm in humus mixed with sand.

Watering is moderate, without drying out the soil. Shoots appear after a few weeks. Up to 4 plants can appear from one seed - citrus fruits have several embryos per seed. They need to be replanted and planted after 3-4 leaves appear.

The best sowing time is late winter-early spring.. Then the seedlings will get more natural light. Sow more seeds than you need and gradually select only the strongest and most adapted to home conditions - dry air and lack of bright light.

Lighting and temperature.

You must always remember that citrus fruits are southern plants, therefore, they are demanding of heat and light. Do not forget that electric lighting promotes fruit formation, along with the necessary temperature conditions.

For flowering and fruit set, the optimal temperature is + 15-18? C. However, a prerequisite for your indoor citrus plants to bear fruit is a cold winter. The temperature in winter should not be higher than +12? C.

Watering and fertilizing.

From spring to autumn, citrus fruits must be watered generously with soft water that has settled for at least a day. Citrus fruits do not tolerate chlorine; hard lime water causes yellowing of the leaves.

They are very responsive to frequent spraying of the crown and will even gladly accept soft warm shower . Around February, plants begin to grow intensively, so they need to be fed a little weekly with liquid mineral or organic fertilizers until autumn.

Fertilizing and balanced nutrition accelerate the growth and development of the plant. Especially if it receives sufficient quantities of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers that stimulate fruit formation. The quality of the soil also matters - for good humus soil, citrus fruits will thank you with enhanced development and high-quality fruiting.

Soil and replanting.

Choose a light one for young plants, and a heavier one for large ones. heavy soil. It is usually recommended to take a mixture of greenhouse manure, turf soil and leaf soil, adding coarse sand to it. For young plants:

>Garden plants>Monarda

General information about the plant "Monarda"

MONARDA(Monarda) is a perennial rhizomatous plant from the Lamiaceae family. Origin: North America and Mexico.

A genus of plants that includes about 20 species of annual, often perennial, grasses. The stems are tetrahedral, slightly drooping, the erect stem reaches a height of 60-90 cm. Tubular funnel-shaped flowers are collected in lush bunches.

The most popular color of the inflorescences is red, but there are also pink, white and purple varieties. Flowering time: July-September. The plant was brought to Spain after Columbus discovered a new continent, from there it spread throughout Europe, including here in Russia.

But Europeans learned about Monarda only 85 years later from the books of the doctor N. Monardes “Good News from the New World” (1569) and “ Medical history Western India" (1580). In these books, the plant was called "origanum canadiana" and "sweetweed vergina".

After 2 centuries, the plant was included by Carl Linnaeus in his classification of species ("Species of Plants", 1753), and the genus was named in honor of H. Monardes - "Monarda". Then they forgot about Monarda and remembered only a century later. In Europe and Asia, the flower began to be cultivated as an essential oil plant.

By the beginning of the 19th century, monarda was grown under the name "bergamot" - for its similarity to the aroma citrus plant- bergamot; Oswego tea - this is how the Indians of the Oswego tribe used it - bee or fragrant balm, Indian nettle, American lemon balm, Indian feather and mountain balsam, lemon mint. Monarda is undeservedly rarely used by flower growers to decorate the garden for its flowers - "tatters", but they have a special Charm. This bright, long-flowering honey plant with unusual flowers attracts many bees and butterflies to the garden, while repelling harmful insects. Bergamot exudes an amazing mint-lemon aroma, and just one leaf will give a cup of tea an exquisite taste.

Main types and varieties of monarda

The most widespread perennial species of monarda in gardens are: fistulosa (M.fistulosa L.), double (M.dydima L.), and lemon. In our country it grows only under cultivated conditions. Mostly tall hybrids of Monarda dvulata are grown.

Less known, but also beautiful, is the dwarf monarda, which is used as a seasoning. There are many more types of monarda, among which there are monarda: fragrant (M. clinopodia), medium (M. media), Russell (M. russeliana), soft (M. mollis ), Bradbury (M. bradburiana), dotted (M. punctata), red (M. rubra), comb (M. restinata), scattered (M. dispersa) and others. Under the name hybrid monarda (Monarda x hybridahort.) are united perennial varieties and forms of unclear hybrid origin with the participation of double and tubular monarda (fistula), up to 100 cm in height. Flowers of various colors, varieties of which were created in the USA, Great Britain, and Germany.

• Varieties with red flowers: "Cambridge Scarlet", "Adam", "Machogene", "Kardinal", "Prairie Glow", "Sunset", "Balance", "Squaw", "Petite Delight" - dwarf form, height 20-30 cm. Varieties with pink flowers: "Fishes", "Croftway Pink", "Rouse Quin", "Cratly Pink". Varieties with purple flowers : "Sinta-Sinta", "Fishes" and "Pawnee" (pale purple); "Blaustrumpf" and "Blue Stocking" (violet-purple). Varieties with burgundy flowers: "Burgundy of Moldova", "Praerienachl". Varieties with white flowers: "Snow White", "Schneewittchen", "Snow Maiden". Varieties with purple flowers: "Capricorn" - 90 cm, reddish-purple. The tall (up to 180 cm) variety "Pawnee" has a large "tuft" of light purple flowers around the green center of the inflorescence; the color of the center emphasizes the effectiveness of the inflorescence as a whole. The "Squaw" variety is especially recognized winter-hardy variety. Varieties with lavender flowers : "Elsiey's Lavender". The "Lambada" variety is most often grown as an annual.

How seasonal annuals are most often grown:

• Lemon monarda, or citrus monarda (Monarda citriodora), hybrid Monarda "Lambada", Monarda punctata, called horsemint.

Monarda - beneficial properties and applications

Monarda is grown not only as an ornamental plant, but also as an essential oil, medicinal and aromatic plant. These are beautiful honey plants with very fragrant leaves and flowers.

The leaves, stems and flowers of almost all types of monarda have a pleasant minty-lemon, tart smell. If you brew a leaf with tea, it will give the drink a pleasant tart citrus aroma and flavor.

Monarda has long been used as a fragrant and healthy spice that improves digestion, it contains valuable substances and has medicinal properties. Nowadays, monarda is widely used in mouthwashes, thanks to the natural antiseptic thymol contained in the plant. Monarda essential oil is popular in aromatherapy and has high bactericidal activity.

Of the 22 essential oils studied, Monarda had the highest effect on microorganisms; it can be used with the greatest success for the prevention of acute respiratory infections and influenza. The highest content of essential oil is found in Monarda dvata (M. didyma). It, along with Monarda fistulosa (M. fistulosa), has long been used by Indians as a medicinal plant.

The Indians noticed the antiseptic properties of bergamot: the leaves of the plant were used to treat wounds and skin infections, and the tincture was used to gargle and mouth, heal teeth and gums, for headaches and fever, and also as a general stimulant and carminative. Many do not even know that If you hurt your hand, you can help yourself right next to the beds: crush a monarda leaf and apply it to the wound for a while or treat it with juice. And in summer and autumn, during the canning period, it is good to put the shoots of this plant in a jar, thereby preventing spoilage of the product.

Monarda essential oil is believed to completely inhibit the growth of black mold. Monarda herbal tea recipe: 2 tsp. crushed leaves and inflorescences, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 20-30 minutes, filter and drink a quarter glass three times a day.

How to prepare monarda oil? Monarda (bergamot) oil extract is quite easy to prepare at home. You need to take dry monarda grass and refined vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:10.

Stir and heat bergamot oil in a water bath for 2-2.5 hours at a temperature of 55-60 degrees. Then cool the oil and filter. It can be used to treat wounds or put into the nose for a runny nose.

Before use, make sure you are not allergic to monarda. In this way, you can make oil from other useful plants.

Growing and caring for monarda

Perennial species of monarda are unpretentious in care and winter-hardy. Any is suitable for them garden soil. Grows superbly in both sun and partial shade. Propagated by spring and autumn division of rhizomes every 3 - 4 years. Before planting, add compost or peat.

Plant growing games

Monarda or bergamot.

Height 1.2-1.5 m. Stems are branched, up to 1.2 m tall, leaves are serrated, oblong-ovate. The flowers are surrounded by bracts, which visually increase the size of the flower. On one stem there are up to 9 inflorescence heads (about 5 cm in diameter), each with 200 flowers. There are about 1000 seeds in 1 g. Germination lasts 3 years.

In the homeland of monarda, in America, for its irresistible aroma and the fact that a lot of all kinds of fluttering creatures always swarm around the flowering plant, it is called bee or fragrant balm, American lemon balm, lemon balm and Oswego tea (named after the Indian tribe in which it was grown for flavoring drinks).

The Indians noticed the antiseptic properties of monarda: they used the leaves of the plant to treat wounds and skin infections, and the tincture was used to rinse the throat and mouth, improve the health of teeth and gums, for headaches and fever, and also as a general stimulant and laxative.

This is a bright, beautiful plant with unusual shaggy inflorescences, sometimes arranged in several tiers, somewhat reminiscent of an Indian headdress made of bird feathers. The flowers are small, fragrant, white, red, purple, yellowish or speckled, collected in dense capitate inflorescences with a diameter of 4-7 cm.

During mass flowering, the plant is quite decorative and emits a strong aroma. It is at this time that the greens can be harvested and, after drying, used as an additive to tea or when canning cucumbers and tomatoes. Fresh leaves are used as a spice in salads, fish and meat dishes, and vegetable marinades.

Monarda essential oil is popular in aromatherapy. It has a bactericidal and antiseptic effect. For injuries (wounds, fractures), use tea from dry or fresh herbs. Pour two teaspoons of crushed leaves and inflorescences into a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, filter and drink a quarter glass three times a day. The juice from fresh leaves is used externally to heal wounds.

Fresh monarda is used in homeopathy. Monarda essential oil has a strong broad-spectrum bactericidal effect (microorganisms, viruses, fungi, mycoplasmas) - anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-sclerotic, antispasmodic, radioprotective, anti-stress, adaptogenic, anti-anemic, anti-carcinogenic, high preservative effect. Has strong anthelmintic properties. Essential oil is a blood preservative, promotes tissue healing, helps in the treatment of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis.

The anti-sclerotic effect of monarda is manifested in the fact that it is able to “cleanse” the aorta of atherosclerotic plaques.

To harvest for future use, monarda is cut at least 30 cm from the soil surface, during the mass flowering phase, when the inflorescences contain the maximum amount of essential oil.

How to make monarda oil at home?
Monarda (bergamot) oil extract is quite easy to prepare at home. You need to take dry monarda grass and refined vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:10. Stir and heat the oil in a water bath for 2-2.5 hours at a temperature of 55-60 degrees. Then cool the oil and filter. It can be used to treat wounds or put into the nose for a runny nose. Before use, make sure you are not allergic to monarda.
In this way, you can make oil from other useful plants.

Medicinal tea from monarda

For tea 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed leaves, flowers (inflorescences) and stems are poured into 200 ml of boiling water, left for 20-30 minutes, filtered, added sugar to taste and drunk 1/4 cup 3 times a day.

First medicinal properties discovered by the Indians. They drank tea from monarda flowers against nausea and stomach cramps and as a warming drink for fevers and colds. Tea from the leaves was taken for cough. Externally, monarda was used by the Indians in the form of lotions for rheumatic pain, skin irritations, and a mixture of ground different types Monarda and sage helped with insect bites. Chewed leaves were applied to wounds and thus stopped bleeding.
TO 19th century Monarda began to be used for the same purposes in Europe. The healing properties have been confirmed by research. Fresh monarda is used in homeopathy. Its extracts have antibiotic properties.
The plants contain vitamins C, Bi and B2, essential oil, bitterness, and tannins. The fragrant flowers contain monardein, monardin. Especially a lot of essential oil is found in the inflorescences and leaves of monarda; there is very little of it in the stems.
Monarda essential oil has strong bactericidal and anthelmintic properties and can be used as an antiseptic when flavoring soft drinks.

Seasoning
Monarda can rightfully claim a place on the list of vegetable spice plants among our amateur gardeners. The plant is beautiful, healing and tasty.

Like a spicy flavor vegetable crop Lemon monarda is included in the catalogs of many countries. In the USA, for example, it is widely used as an additive to tea, a seasoning for meat dishes and salads to stimulate appetite and improve digestion.
Monarda is added to salads, to borscht dressing, to buttermilk cocktails, and is used in canning and pickling of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cabbage. Its use when cooking jam (for example, apple jam) guarantees against the appearance of a mold film on the surface.

Monarda is also used in canning vegetables, stewing meat and fish, and is used in the production of vermouth and cheese.

Monarda is added for flavoring to cabbage soup, soups, borscht, and okroshka. It is suitable as a tea substitute for the production of various tinctures and tonic drinks. Monarda adds a special aroma to jam from apples and pears , jelly, jellies, fruit marinades and compotes. In this case, monarda goes well with lemon balm, orange zest, cinnamon and cloves, anise or star anise, celery and parsley. Along with fennel, tarragon and mint Monarda can be used as a seasoning for fish soups and poached fish. To vegetables you can add a mixture of monarda with oregano, basil, bay leaf.

Monarda - as a remedy for mold.

It should be recalled: it is believed that monarda essential oilfully suppresses growth black mold. This is practically the only product that works flawlessly.

Growing monarda in the country is not particularly difficult - it is quite unpretentious, but still some nuances are worth paying attention to.

Monarda - perennial: tall branched stem up to 1-1.5 m high, dies in winter and is renewed in the spring. The underground part of the monarda (long, horizontallocated rhizome) is quite winter-hardy, can withstand frosts below -40°C, does not require digging for the winter and additional shelter.

Monarda grows very well in the sun and tolerates partial shade, but in this case the bushes grow shorter - about 100 cm, and flowering becomes less abundant.

The soil for growing all types and varieties of monarda is preferably fertile garden soil, but it also grows well on poorer soils; it only does not tolerate highly acidic soils and high humidity soil

The best predecessors of monarda are root vegetables, cabbage, and cucumbers.

Sowing monarda seeds in open ground. Monarda seeds are sown in open ground at the end of April-May, having previously specified the timing in the lunar month. sowing calendar. The seeds are very small, so when sowing they are not covered with soil. Shoots appear in 2-3 weeks. Seeds remain viable for three years.

Growing monarda through seedlings. If you sow monarda seeds for seedlings in the first half of March, then some of the seedlings may bloom in the same season. In August, the seedlings are planted in place. You can sow seeds in May-June, and in spring next year plant them in a permanent place.

When propagated by seed, the properties of the varieties may not be preserved, so it is more reliable to propagate monarda vegetatively.

The best way Monarda reproduction - dividing bushes in April when the soil warms up enough.

Monarda reproduces well and segments of rhizomes with a renewal bud- also in the spring, before the shoots have yet begun to grow. The bush is not dug up; it is enough to cut off a piece of the rhizome from the side. Seated according to a 40x40cm pattern.

Another way to propagate monarda is root green cuttings, taken at the end of May from young shoots about 10 cm high.

Great too the tips of the shoots take root in June monards.

In August-September you can, without digging up a bush, just pull out a few stems with roots and plant them.

For seed propagation Monarda blooms in the second year, with vegetative- usually blooms in the same season. The plants take root and grow very well. Over the summer, the bush increases in size by about 3 times.

By the time of flowering, charming shaggy flowers of bright colors appear in the axils of the leaves and on the tops of the stems: red, pink, crimson, lilac and white. Bushes 4-5 years old have up to 100-150 flowering shoots, which create a decorative effect from late June to October.

1-2 weeks after the start of flowering, monarda inflorescences can be collected for drying and use in salads.

During the first month after sowing, weeds are constantly removed, and then the monarda itself copes with them.

Monarda responds well to the addition of organic and mineral fertilizers: You can use Kemira or Agricola in granules and liquid mullein, diluted 1:10. Feeding should be carried out 2 times a month from mid-May to the third ten days of August.

Monarda is almost not susceptible to diseases, but for prevention in spring and autumn, plants and the soil under them can be treated with foundationazole and copper sulfate.

Pruning monarda is advisable as it loses its decorative effect, that is, at the end of the season, before that remove faded and wilted inflorescences.

Monarda is widely used in landscape design. In flower beds and containers, in flowerbeds and ridges you can find any types and varieties of monarda. It fits well into combined plantings of flowers and vegetables in ornamental garden. Practitioners claim that if you place or dig a container with monarda into a bed of tomatoes, late blight will bypass them.

Growing monarda for more than 5-7 years in one place is not recommended. To increase the productivity and decorativeness of the plant, it is better to renew the bush and replant it in a fresh place.

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Monarda is one of the most beautiful plants, belonging to the Lamiaceae family. You can meet it in almost all corners of the world, on various continents. Monarda owes its name to the famous naturalist Carl Linnaeus, who thus forever wrote the name of his colleague Nicholas Monardes into history.

This Spaniard was diligently engaged in the study of botany throughout his life, and Linnaeus considered it fair to name one of the plants he studied in his honor. Monardes himself in his works called monarda Canadian oregano. Several centuries later, this name was changed to lemon balm and remained in this form until Linnaeus proposed his own version.

Planting and caring for monarda is very exciting process, loved by thousands of gardeners around the world.

Description of the monarda

Monarda is a relatively tall rhizomatous plant. Usually its height reaches one and a half meters. Monarda leaves have a pleasant smell and oblong shape. It is easy to recognize monarda by the pointed edges of its leaves. Flowers collected in a neat brush have small sizes. Their diameter usually does not exceed 7 cm.

Monarda flowers are found in nature different colors, the most common are white and red options. Flowers grow along the entire surface of the stem, making this plant very beautiful. The seeds are located inside the monarda fruit, which appears to the gardener in the form of a small nut.

Monarda seeds have a high germination rate. They keep it for 3 years. Monarda does not require many areas for planting. The plant can be planted on the same piece of land for 7 years.

Gardeners love monarda not only for its external advantages, but also for its pleasant floral scent. Moreover, this smell is suitable not only for beautifying the territory. In recent years, it has become fashionable to use monarda as a spice. Many connoisseurs even add it to tea and make planting and caring for Monarda exclusively for this purpose.

Planting monarda in spring

Care and planting of monarda in open ground can be carried out before spring, if we are talking about hot regions. This process does not require special preparation from gardeners. You just need to wait for a more or less warm February day and send the seeds into the ground.

Seed stratification will take place until April, and the cool spring climate typical of Russia will only speed up and facilitate it. And in April, the gardener will be able to enjoy the emerging shoots, which will be so dense that in a few more weeks they will have to be thinned out.

You should not plant monarda on land plot which is covered with snow. The snow cover should be removed and the ground should be warmed, tightly covered with cellophane film. The heated soil will then be much easier to loosen and mix with sand.

When the site is ready, all that remains is to sow the seeds. Monarda does not need great depth: the seeds should be planted no deeper than 2-2.5 cm. You can also use soil to sprinkle the sown seeds, but many experts note that ordinary sand is much better suited for this purpose.

Sowing monarda in the fall

Caring for and planting monarda can be done not only in spring. Many gardeners carry out this process before winter. If you have chosen this option, you should proceed to planting only after the season has finally ended and all the seeds have been collected.

When sowing monarda before winter, it is very important to consider climatic conditions the region in which you live. For a successful process, it is necessary for a serious cooling to occur: on one side of Russia it comes already at the beginning of October, but on the other it will have to wait until December. Warm weather is dangerous because seeds can germinate ahead of schedule.

The seed bed should be prepared in advance, as the soil takes time to settle. A distance of at least 0.25 meters should be maintained between furrows. Seeds are sown no deeper than 2.5 cm.

By the beginning of spring, the resulting seedlings need to be picked. This will ensure garden plot beautiful and hardy bushes. Experts advise showing more patience, as monarda emerges very slowly.

Planting monarda and caring for it at home

Monarda, which requires a lot of effort from the gardener to plant and care for in the open ground, can also be grown at home. Moreover, this method is the most popular among Russians planting monarda.

In order for everything to work out, a number of conditions must be met:

• Seedlings are sown already in mid-winter so that in April they are ready to be transferred to open ground. For planting it, ordinary wooden boxes filled with drainage and soil suitable specifically for flowering plants;
• Seed placement should be at a level of 2 cm;
• It is important to maintain the temperature at least 20 degrees. To do this, the box can be covered with film or a plastic bag.

At home, monarda ripens much faster. In less than a month, the long-awaited shoots will appear, and after another 3 weeks, full-fledged leaves will already ripen. After this, you need to pick up the monarda as soon as possible into separate glasses or larger containers.

Monarda does not really like moisture, so you need to water it carefully so as not to harm the plant. Due to the abundance of moisture, rot may appear on its stem or leaves. But light is a necessary condition for the growth of monarda; it is very important that the plant always stands in a well-lit place.

It is better to avoid high temperatures; it is worth maintaining the climate at 20 ºC, otherwise the monarda will stretch too much. If this does happen, you need to add soil to the glass with the monarda - this will help avoid deformation of the seedlings.

As new leaves appear, the monarda needs to be hardened off. To do this, you should take it out at least once a day. cold balcony and leave there without heating for an hour and a half. The time that the monarda spends in the cold should gradually increase. And after 2 weeks it can be safely transplanted into open ground.

How to create conditions for planting monarda in the ground?

Monarda, which requires a lot of effort to plant and care for in the open ground, will be able to fully bloom in a short time only if the gardener creates all the necessary conditions for it. This is not difficult to do, but you still need to be very careful.

For monarda, you should choose a plot of land well heated by the sun, which is reliably protected from the wind at any time of the year. However, monarda will be able to adapt to semi-shaded places. She needs light soil, generously enriched with lime and minerals. The soil should be moderately moist, but not waterlogged, as this can negatively affect the growth rate of the plant.

Spring is the ideal time to plant and care for monarda. But you should choose a place in the garden for it in advance, in the fall. The selected area is cleared of all weeds, treated to protect it from insect pests, and enriched with manure (at least 2 kilograms per square meter).

Among the minerals that are especially useful for monarda are potassium salt, superphosphate and any lime. Also will not be superfluous nitrogen fertilizers, but they are added immediately before planting.

Planting monarda

Care and planting of monarda in open ground should take place after a sufficient number of leaves have formed on the seedlings. This will happen no earlier than 2-3 months from the start of planting work.

Monarda bushes should be located at a considerable distance from each other (about 60 cm). A newly planted plant needs abundant watering.

Monarda, transferred to open ground, is not at all afraid of Russian frosts. She can easily survive even sub-zero temperatures.

If the gardener used seed planting, he will see the first flowering only in the next season. But if he resorted to the help of seedlings, the monarda can bloom this year, but for this you need to take especially careful care of it.

Rules for caring for monarda

In spring and autumn, monarda does not need large amounts of water, but in summer it should be watered as often as possible. In the hottest weeks, monarda should be watered every day.

If a gardener, for some reason, neglects regular watering, the monarda may develop powdery mildew. In this case, caring for and planting monarda may be in vain, since the plant may not cope with this disease.

Monarda, like any flowering crop, needs active feeding. Agricola and Kemira are best suited for this purpose. The plant needs to be treated with them at least twice a month until the growing season comes to an end. Fundazol will help protect bushes from various pests. Bordeaux mixture can also contribute to successful control of insects.

Reproduction of monarda by dividing the bush

To successfully plant and care for monarda, the plant needs to be propagated. The easiest way to do this is by dividing the bush. In addition, only this method allows you to preserve the characteristics of a particular variety and avoid the emergence of beautiful, but much lower valued hybrids.

The bush cannot be divided until it is at least 3 years old. When the required period has passed, this procedure can be carried out twice a year: in mid-spring, taking advantage of the fact that at this time the soil is properly warmed up, and at the very beginning of autumn. In order for everything to work out, you need to carefully remove the monarda roots from the ground and separate them.

New bushes return to the ground to their previous depth level. It won't take long for them to grow. After just 2 years, the resulting bushes will grow greatly, and the method of dividing the bush will have to be used again.

Reproduction of monarda by cuttings

Another method of propagating monarda involves the use of cuttings. To implement it, the gardener will need at least 7 cuttings 0.1 m long. These should be shoots from a large bush that have not yet reached the flowering stage.

All leaves growing from below on the cuttings are cut off. The top leaves are not completely removed, but are trimmed.

For cuttings, you need to prepare in advance a spacious box where they will be planted. The container should be filled with a substrate rich in minerals. However, you can do without this - the cuttings will be able to take root in a container filled with water.

No later than after 3 weeks, the cuttings will develop a developed root system. After this, they can already be transplanted into open ground, without doubting that they will be able to survive in it.

Diseases and pests

Monarda is a plant that extremely rarely suffers from diseases and insect pests. The bushes have a strong innate immunity, which is explained by the fact that they contain essential oils.

However, during the hot months of the year, monarda can get powdery mildew. This disease is difficult for bushes to tolerate and can even die from it. To protect your pet from powdery mildew, the gardener should regularly water the plant and mulch the soil.

Of the harmful insects, the weevil can harm the monarda, but driving it away is not difficult. In general, planting a monarda and caring for it will not take much effort from the gardener if he can carry out all the necessary procedures on time.

Collecting monarda seeds

From year to year, monarda seeds ripen at approximately the same time. This occurs at the end of August or the first week of September. Since the seeds can spill out and die, during this period you need to monitor the bushes as closely as possible.

Monarda, planted and cared for in open ground throughout the season, will inevitably produce a sufficient number of dried seeds. In order for them to finally ripen, they are cut and left to dry in a cool, shady area of ​​the garden.

The resulting seeds can be immediately sent into the ground. But most often they are stored in order to be used next season. As noted above, monarda seeds have high germination capacity and do not lose it for 3 years.

Monarda obtained as a result of planting hybrid seeds will not be capable of performing parental functions. Seeds extracted from it will never give life to a new plant.

You can also leave the ripened seeds. In this case, birds will be able to feed on them during the winter months, and you will act as a breadwinner for a dozen feathered guests.

Preparing monarda for winter

One-year-old monarda is not able to cope with the harsh Russian frosts, so in the winter the flower beds are cleared of it. But the perennial monarda can withstand even extreme cold (down to -25ºC).

If even more severe frosts are predicted in your region in winter, you can help the monarda by covering it with cellophane, straw or hay for the winter. Since this coating can scatter throughout the entire area due to the wind, it is worth pressing it to the ground with any heavy load.

As soon as spring replaces winter, subzero temperature will remain in the past protective covering quickly moves away from the ground. This will help the plant quickly recover from hibernation and prepare for the new season.

Monarda varieties

Caring for and planting monarda in open ground would not be such an interesting process if this plant did not have many varieties. Below we will talk about only the most popular of them.

Annual species of monarda are usually classified as citrus, hybrid and spot varieties. Citrus monarda is the tallest annual plant in the world. Its height can reach 1 meter.

Leaves of this plant contain a large amount of essential oils, for which lemon monarda is often compared with basil or mint. This particular variety is used as a spice, adding the plant to tea to give it a unique taste.

She was born in Holland, where local breeders spent several years developing a new plant. Lemon monarda was also used in its creation, so the leaves of the hybrid variety smell the same as the leaves of the variety described above. Caring for and planting a hybrid variety of monarda is a process that is fundamentally different from the breeding of other varieties.

Known in wide circles under a different name. Botanists commonly call it horsemint. It is not difficult to distinguish this variety from others due to the large orange leaves, completely surrounding the inflorescence.

The types of perennial monarda include double, fistula and hybrid varieties. Botanists learned about the double monarda in mid-17th century centuries and first described it in their works.

This variety has a considerable height - about 80 cm. The leaves are oval, pointed, practically odorless, but very beautiful, which makes the double monarda very popular among gardeners. The flowers have a distinct purple hue, which becomes even more intense towards the end of flowering.

Monarda monarda is also known as wild bergamot. Its homeland is North America, where it grows freely without anthropogenic influence. Fillet monarda is one of the tallest varieties and reaches 120 cm.

Soft fluffy hairs grow on the surface of the leaves. The flowers are pale lilac in color. Russia became the birthplace of the dwarf monarda. Caring for and planting monarda of this variety requires special attention from the gardener.

The hybrid perennial monarda is famous for its color diversity. Its flowers can be white, red, violet, purple, and this is only part of a long list of colors and shades found in nature.

Medicinal properties

Caring for and planting monarda in open ground can also have practical benefits, since the plant has unique healing properties. Monarda contains not only essential oil, but also a whole complex of vitamins, among which vitamins of group C occupy a special place.

Essential oil is an unsurpassed antidepressant. It can also be used as an anti-anemic property, and even helps a woman with the implementation of reproductive function. If you consume essential oil regularly, you will minimize the possibility of suffering from radiation sickness or the formation of sclerotic plaques.

Monarda is actively used as a cosmetic product. It helps in treating oily skin in people over 45 years of age.

Contraindications

Yes, caring for and planting monarda certainly brings a lot of benefits. But there is a category of people for whom cultivation of this plant is strictly contraindicated. Under no circumstances should it be consumed by pregnant or lactating women. Monarda can also be dangerous for young children (under 5 years old).

Among others, concentrated aromatic extracts from plant raw materials of monarda have been studied as fragrant biologically active additives for cosmetics and products household chemicals in aerosol packaging. Monarda essential oil is used in the production of creams and balms by the famous Russian cosmetics company Mirra. This cosmetics does not contain artificial preservatives, and their role is played by essential oils.

Medicinal properties of monarda

Modern research medicinal properties Monardas are held quite actively. Quite a lot of pharmacologically significant capabilities of this plant have been identified.

Monarda acts as a mild anthelmintic, and unlike others (santonin wormwood, citvar wormwood or synthetic drugs) does not cause poisoning in case of overdose. The most important feature Monarda is a stimulation of cardiac activity and the ability to relieve cardiac neuroses, which is explained by the content of flavonoids and vitamin C in the leaves and flowers. Anthocyanins have a diuretic effect, and also strengthen the walls of capillaries and dilate the coronary vessels of the heart.

The Yalta Research Institute of Physical Methods of Treatment and Medical Climatology tested and received copyright certificates for the use of Monarda fistula EO as a radioprotective agent for the treatment of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and tracheitis, as a means of promoting the engraftment of foreign tissues, and as a blood preservative. The presence of flavonoid substances in the essential oil, which have a strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect, explains its effectiveness against various pathogens (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, etc.).

Despite the fairly wide range of immunomodulators available, the use of volatile essential oils, including monarda, in this capacity seems justified due to their inherent mild, prolonged immunomodulatory effect and the almost complete absence of adverse reactions in the range of low (natural) concentrations used.

There is evidence that when the environment of an isolated room was saturated with natural dosages of volatile fractions of EOs, a decrease in the level of air microflora and atmospheric moisture condensate was noted. V.V. Nikolaevsky and co-authors (1988) found that essential oils of monarda, lavender, etc. affect the functional activity of T-lymphocytes. Monarda EO activates the function of the bursa of Fabricius of the thymus and spleen when their accidental involution is incomplete, causing immunodeficiency in broilers.

Of particular interest is the use of monarda EM for the treatment of diseases of the bronchopulmonary system. Received in Adygei state university and Tomsk Medical Institute, the results showed high antimicrobial properties of EM monarda and the possibility of using it for aerating the air of auditoriums, classrooms, cinemas, medical, children's and others public premises, especially during outbreaks of influenza and other colds. It was effective against protozoa - Trichonosomes, Amoeba.

Monarda binate normalizes the cycle in case of dysfunction in young women; it is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Genus Monarda very promising as a source of antifungal substances active against representatives of three genera of molds (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor), which can release mycotoxins and thereby poison food, as well as against pathogens of fungal diseases, in particular Trichophyton mentagrophytes, causing shingles in humans and ringworm in animals.

Monarda essential oil is used to treat burns, eczema, and hair loss. For treatment, you can take pure essential oil, as well as infusion, juice and gruel from leaves and inflorescences. Baths also promote the healing of wounds, ulcers, and eczema. Monarda helps well with acne, seborrhea, and peeling skin.

Monarda and its oil turned out to be promising for the creation of special recreational areas, which were located at hospitals, clinics and some children's. A significant improvement in the air environment of indoor spaces can be achieved by using for their “greening” plant species whose volatile emissions have pronounced phytoncidal properties, i.e. capable of suppressing vital activity. In this connection, it is recommended to use phytoncidal plants indoors to improve the health of the environment. Already at a concentration of 5 mg/m³, volatile emissions can change and improve air environment. EM monarda reduced air contamination by staphylococcus, streptococcus, diphtheria and pertussis bacilli by 10 times.

The effect of monarda essential oil on the activity of metabolic processes, the rate of cell division and the state of cytoplasmic membranes was also studied. Monarda EM reduces the intensity of DNA synthesis, and the permeability of lymphocyte membranes decreases. At the same time, the number of viable lymphocytes does not decrease. When adding essential oil to a fibroblast culture: 0.5% emulsion leads to their death, and 0.005-0.0005% stimulates the growth and division of these cells.

From all that has been said above, it is clear that the most promising direction The use of monarda is the development of antimicrobial, fungistatic and immunomodulatory agents based on it. It is also possible to use plants of the genus Monarda to create phytoncidal compositions to improve the habitat.

But the most interesting thing is that the effect is not limited to the antimicrobial effect. According to research, there is a comprehensive increase in immunity. In addition, the level of corticosterone in the body increases.

Monarda has a pronounced radioprotective effect (protects destructive effects from radiation). With total irradiation of mice at a dose of 1000 R, it increased the life expectancy of animals by 3.2 times and increased their survival rate by 18.3 times due to a decrease in death from secondary post-radiation bacterial complications, an increase in nonspecific resistance of the body, partial and temporary removal damage to the hematopoietic system.

The literature points to such important properties of monarda as stimulation of cardiac activity and the ability to relieve neuroses, which is due to the content of flavonoids and ascorbic acid in the leaves and flowers (it accumulates most in the regrowth phase).

Plant pigments anthocyanins - substances of flavonoid nature - have a diuretic effect, strengthen the walls of capillaries and dilate the coronary vessels of the heart. The antisclerotic effect of monarda is associated with an inhibitory effect on lipid-oxidizing enzymes.

Use at home

Now a few words about how to use Monarda at home. As cold remedy take 2-3 tablespoons of crushed raw materials (fresh or dry leaves, inflorescences), pour 0.5 liters of water, boil for 8-10 minutes in a sealed container. Breathe the extract vapors for 10-15 minutes. Strain the infusion and drink it warm, ¼ cup 3-4 times a day. It is good to rinse your mouth and throat with this decoction.

Can cook infusion. To do this, boiling water and raw materials in the same proportions are infused for 15-20 minutes in a closed enamel or porcelain container.

If you are prone to allergies or very sensitive skin Still, it is better to prefer chamomile or calendula.

Against salmonella. Pour two tablespoons of crushed monarda raw material into two glasses of boiling water. Strain the cooled infusion and drink throughout the day.

Photo: Elena Malankina, Rita Brilliantova

Monarda is the name of a number of plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Their herb is endowed with a citrus aroma and has known medicinal properties. Information about existing indications and contraindications for taking drugs from the plant, as well as some recipes and detailed video material can be found in the article.

Description of the plant

Thanks to the smell emitted various parts monarda, it is often called bergamot. Actually it's two absolutely different plants. Monarda is an herb and bergamot is citrus tree, a variety of Seville orange. The plant came to Europe from America, where it was used by the Indians as a flavoring base for drinks and a medicine.

The plant looks like this:

• stem erect, branched, up to 1 m in height;
• serrated leaves have an oblong shape;
• the flowers are collected in inflorescence-heads, which are located one above the other along the stem.

Currently, 22 species of monarda and more than 50 hybrid forms are known. Most plants are grown in cultivation.

Some plant varieties

• Falve monarda is not only a medicinal plant, but also a spicy and melliferous plant. Moreover, his pink flowers They are distinguished by their decorative properties, which allows you to plant bushes in various garden compositions. In cooking it is used as a seasoning. As a medicine, it has bactericidal, expectorant, and digestion-improving properties.

Palmate monarda

• Double monarda is a very decorative perennial. Its flowers are bright red. This particular variety is called “Oswego tea,” since its aromatic infusion was consumed as a hot drink by the Indians of the tribe of the same name.

Double monarda

• Lemon-smelling monarda is a plant with a pronounced citrus aroma. It grows well in the garden in both sun and shade.

Lemon-scented monarda

• Dwarf monarda - this variety has a not so tall stem and smaller flowers. Its dried herbs and flowers are used in cooking.

Dwarf monarda

• Random monarda or "oriental bee balm" - endowed with lilac flowers. A very good honey plant.

Attention! Only the first two varieties of the plant are used as a medicine, and in homeopathy the double monarda is considered more effective.

What are the benefits of monarda?

All aerial parts of the monarda contain large quantities essential oil. In aromatherapy it is considered the best antiseptic. In addition, preparations from the plant relieve fever and cramps. Experts recommend Monarda preparations for the following conditions:

• various inflammations in the mouth, sore throats, tonsillitis;
• teenage pimples, acne different ages, boils, fungal infections skin;
• colds, flu;
• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• dandruff with oily seborrhea;
• conjunctivitis;
• shallow wounds, ingrown nails, abscesses;
• diseases of the genital and urinary organs.

Monarda is used in cosmetology and folk medicine

Monarda preparations

Powder, decoctions and infusions of herbs and flowers are widely used for cosmetic purposes. They are used as washes, rinses, added to masks, etc. A wonderful remedy for treating skin problems is monarda essential oil. Add a few drops of it to baths, ointments, creams, masks, etc.

Monarda grass is recommended to be added to herbal preparations used for colds. It contains vitamins C and group B, which allows decoctions to work as a means of gently enhancing immunity. Monarda extract, together with other drugs, is used as an effective anthelmintic.

Advice. Dried stems and flowers of monarda are good for rearranging things in the closet. This prevents moths from damaging natural fabrics.

Gardeners have also found uses for the plant. Its infusion is used as a remedy for aphids and other insects that cause considerable damage. In cooking, dried monarda is used as a spice for meat and fish, side dishes and salads.

When should you not use Monarda?

There are certain contraindications to the use of monarda preparations:

• allergy;
• persistent increase in blood pressure;
• some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver;
• pregnancy, lactation period.

Of course, before you start using Monarda drugs, you should definitely consult your doctor. Indeed, in many cases they only help relieve symptoms, but they cannot completely cure the disease.

Dried monarda

Recipes for medicines from monarda.

1. Oil. Dry aboveground part plants in a ratio of 1:20 are mixed with purified from impurities vegetable oil. The container with this mixture is placed in a water bath and heated for at least 3 hours. The resulting oil is cooled and then filtered. The drug can be stored for no more than 2 months in a dark bottle.
2. Infusion on water. 1 tsp dried monarda is poured with a glass of boiling water. Let it sit for a while. You should drink this amount throughout the day.
3. Decoction for inhalation. 2 tbsp. dried herbs and flowers are poured with water in a volume of 0.5 liters. Leave for 1 hour, then boil for 10 minutes. The resulting decoction is poured into a special inhaler and the vapors are inhaled for 15 minutes.
4. Wound healing pulp. 2 tbsp. herbs pour 1 tbsp. boiling water Leave to cool with the lid tightly closed. Strain. You can wash the skin around the injury with water, and the pulp itself, wrapped in an easily permeable cloth, can be applied to the wound.

Monarda is an unusual flower. This guest from America is able to decorate the garden and improve health. With all its advantages, the plant is absolutely unpretentious and is accessible to everyone to grow.