Willowherb - Cut Plant

Description

• PLANT:

Small-flowered willowherb (Epilobium parviflorum) belongs to the Onagraceae family. Willowherbs are plants associated with damp environments, growing beside streams and mountain brooks.
.This summer-flowering plant can reach 75 centimetres in height and has small reddish, pink or almost white flowers emerging from the valves at the tips of long, narrow pods. When dry, the pods open to reveal numerous seeds among a cotton-like material.
The taxonomy of the genus varies between botanists, but the current tendency is to include the formerly recognised genera Boisduvalia, Chamaenerion, Chamerion, Pyrogennema and Zauschneria within Epilobium.

• COMPOSITION:

Its composition contains flavonoids, the most important being derivatives of kaempferol, quercetol and myricetol. Sterols such as sitosterol have been isolated in some of these species, along with their glycosides and esters: sitosterol-3-glucoside, acyl-sitosterol glycoside and ß-sitosterol palmitate. They also have a high content of macrocyclic ellagic tannins: oenotheins A and B (10-14 %).
It has multiple properties thanks to its composition rich in pectin and mucilage, which help the body properly absorb the plant's main active constituents.

• COSMETIC PROPERTIES AND USES:

These properties apply to various conditions, notably helping to stop hair loss by acting as a DHT blocker.
Willowherb is also indicated topically for respiratory, skin and oral infections and has astringent properties, making it ideal for reducing inflammation and promoting proper wound healing.
It is decongestant, haemostatic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antitumoural.
One way to benefit from willowherb's effects is to apply it to the skin as an ointment, particularly when using it to regenerate tissue. As mentioned, it is an excellent wound-healing agent. Creams and preparations are available for this purpose, as are willowherb lotions that help to treat skin problems and sensitive skin.
It is also found in cosmetic lotions for sensitive skin or skin conditions. An infusion can also be prepared and applied to the skin with cotton wool or gauze. For wounds, a previously prepared willowherb infusion can be poured directly onto the wound and left to dry.