The chrysanthemum is a staple in landscape gardening, available in a variety of colors and sizes. It is also an ancient, revered plant. It is the guest of honor at festivals and fundraisers, and a bedding plant of choice for seasonal color.
It is also believed to be a remedy for many ills. Like other Asian treatments re-discovered in the New Age, the chrysanthemum's powers are increasingly respected in the West.
Flower Essence Therapy
Flower essences are prepared by infusing blossoms in water and preserving the product with alcohol. Depending on the flower and its properties, they are used for smelling, massage, or internal consumption.
Harmony between the physical and spirtual realms is the underlying principle of flower essence therapy. It is often combined with meditation. Some holistic healers recommend chrysanthemum essence for relief of mid-life crisis and other aging-induced anxieties.
Tisanes and Treatments
The chrysanthemum is considered an herb, not just a decorative flower. The earliest form of its use as herbal tea is said to date back to Confucius in 500 B.C. The Chinese tea, or tisane, is made from the flowers of species Chrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum. It is also a source of vitamin B1.
Chyrsanthemum tisanes and poultices have been suggested for many ailments including fever, eye afflictions, acne, flu symptoms, high blood pressure and varicose veins. The tisane is made by steeping the dried flowers in hot water reduced about 10 degrees below boiling. Some sweeten it with raw sugar or wolfberries.
A poultice is prepared from flowers steeped in hot water for about 10 minutes. It is applied as a palliative compress for circulatory disorders.
Although used as a Chinese herbal remedy for more than two thousand years, there is not much available in the way of medical studies about the benefits of chrysanthemum teas and poultices.
Pyrethrins Provide a Natural Insecticide
Chrysanthemum pyrethrum is a natural insecticide. The active ingredient is called pyrethrin. Two forms of chrysanthemum pyrethrin are extracted from the seed cases and rendered into a form of oleorisin, i.e., essential oil from the plant is fixed with a natural resin. The result is a wholly natural product.
A significant feature of the chrysanthemum pyrethrins is their deadly effect on insects while being relatively harmless to humans and animals (a boon in stables against flies and mosquitoes, which may carry the dangerous West Nile Virus).
In insects pyrethrins act as a “knock down” because they paralyze the central nervous system. The pyrethrins are usually lethal but not always. In the latter case, they still act as a powerful repellant. This makes chrysanthemum-based products safe and attractive -- unless one is allergic to the plant. For example, people who are allergic to daisies are likely to be sensitive to chrysanthemum extract.
Pyrethoids are semi-synthetics made from pyrethrum. One such artificial product is allethrin, an insecticide ingredient that is also generally not harmful to mammals but may be contraindicated for those with allergies.
Asthmatics and COPD-afflicted individuals should proceed with caution on these and any other products that can be inhaled. Some people are known to have skin reactions to contact with chrysanthemums.
Kenya is the major producer and exporter of 70 percent of the world’s pyrethrum, making this pretty flower a boon not only for ailments and pest control, but for an emerging third-world economy as well. The plants are grown and flowers harvested by small farmers. Australia is another primary source.
Some natural pyrethrins found on the market are:
- Bug Buster-O, used by farmers and gardeners against whiteflies, caterpillars, aphids and worms;
- Fly Beater Barn and Stable Insect Fog and Spray for all types of flies, mites, chiggers, lice, fleas, mosquitoes and other flying pests;
- Bonide 688 QT Rtu 3 IN1 Pyrethrin Tomato & Vegetable Spray;
- Rotenone-Pyrethrin Spray for all kinds of garden bugs (not for sale in California);
- Pyranha Pyrethrin Shampoo, White, Qt, for dogs and horses;
- Insect Control Systems stable and barn spray.
For more information:
Chrysanthemum General Information and Remedies
Absolute Astronomy's Fact Sheet on Chrysanthemum and Pyrethrum
Linda Ashar - Linda C. Ashar is a lawyer, educator, horse breeder, freelance writer, and artist. Her 25-year law practice in Avon, Ohio, focuses on ...
