Want to learn what are the health benefits of cowslip, the main cowslip uses for health, and discover the most effective natural remedies with cowslip? Continue reading this article and find out. Bur first.
Cowslip (Primula officinalis var. veris) is one of the most beautiful medicinal spring flowers that come out in mid-spring in forests and over hills. Its gorgeous yellow flowers can reach a height of up to 30 centimeters and are one of the most used spring plants in Romanian folk medicine. The health benefits of cowslip are very many. Its close cousin Primula eliator, the oxlip can be used the same way as cowslip, because it shares the same healing properties. Before we get to the health benefits of cowslip, let’s see how to harvest this medicinal plant.
In This Article You Will Find:
When to Harvest Cowslip?
Cowslip blooms in the months of April and May. The leaves and flowers are harvested in the spring and contain a considerable amount of vitamin C, both fresh and dried. The root is usually harvested in spring or autumn and is naturally dried in the shade before use. Now let’s get to the main health benefits of cowslip.
What is Cowslip Good For?
Cowslip flowers have a delicate scent, barely detected, similar to that of freesias, having a calming, nerve-strengthening effect. Its leaves contain vitamin C and beta-carotene, supporting skin regeneration, lowering cholesterol and iron absorption, as well as slowing down the premature aging of cells. Cowslip roots have a specific scent and contain saponins and volatile oils with reinvigoration action successfully used as a remedy in respiratory diseases. Cowslip also contains calcium, potassium, and sodium, making it a great aid in demineralization and anemias. Now let’s get to the specific health benefits of cowslip.
Health Benefits of Cowslip
Cowslip has very many health benefits, being an important component of many good quality supplements on the market. The most important health benefits of cowslip are the following:
- boosts the immune system against viral respiratory infection, allergies lung fibrosis, cold, and flu;
- relieves body aches, namely: headaches, kidney stone pain, rheumatic pains, gastrointestinal problems, and neuralgias;
- supports the human body through stress, agitation, and anxiety and can help in the case of mild forms of insomnia;
- relieves symptoms related to women’s problems such as menstruation cramps, hot flashes, various pains or nervousness;
- tones the heart muscle and the nervous system;
- helps in anemias by cleansing the blood;
- rejuvenates dull skin and reduces wrinkles.
These are the main health benefits of cowslip, but there are other health uses of this gorgeous spring flower. Here are two medicinal recipes to make with cowslip flowers and roots.
2 Medicinal Herbal Recipes with Cowslip
1. Cowslip Flowers Powder
After naturally drying the cowslip flowers in the shade, finely ground them using a coffee grinder. Keep the slightly fragrant powder in a tightly closed jar. Have one teaspoon of this powder three times a day on an empty stomach. Kept it under the tongue for 15 minutes, then swallowed it down with a little bit of water. You can find dried cowslip flowers below.
2. How to Make Cowslip Root Syrup Recipe
To make the most of the health benefits of cowslip, prepare the cowslip root syrup as follows. Wash thoroughly the freshly harvested roots and leave them to dry for 15 minutes, then finely chop them. Fill up one-third of a 400 ml (14 oz) mason jar with the chopped cowslip roots and fill in the rest with liquid honey, stirring constantly. Put the lid on and leave it at room temperature for three to four weeks. You will make a strongly scented syrup with miraculous healing effects for inflamed throat and chest.
10 Natural Remedies with Cowslip
1. Mild Flu
One of the main health benefits of cowslip is its tremendous aid in alleviating cold and flu. Have a tablespoon of the cowslip syrup in successive doses. This syrup disinfects the airways, restores epithelial cells, and stimulates immunity while helping to eliminate mucus secretions from the throat. It is also a great remedy for catarrh, laryngitis, and cough (dry, irritating, convulsive).
Cowslip syrup is also a great remedy especially in convalescence after acute respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bronchitis, flu). In this situation, you can have 1-2 tablespoons of syrup with a little water, 15 minutes before each meal. In addition, cowslip tea is one of the best expectorants, together with anise tea.
2. Cold
This ancient folk medicine recipe combines cowslip flowers and elderflowers to prepare a healing tea. Put half a tablespoon of each in a cup of hot water and leave covered to infuse for half an hour. Strain the tea, sweeten with honey and drink it as hot as possible. This healing tea warms up the body and induces sweat to help eliminate toxins, relaxes the muscles, and protects the airways and kidneys from microbes. Drink several cups (4-5) of this tea during the day, when you feel that you’re on the verge of catching a cold. This is one of the top health benefits of cowslip.
3 Allergic Rhinitis
If the allergic reactions are aggravated by stress, this natural herbal tea can help tremendously, as this is one of the main health benefits of cowslip. Indeed, the best medicinal herbs for allergic rhinitis are cowslip, lavender, hawthorn, lemon balm, St. John’s wort, and goosefoots.
To prepare this tea, add a teaspoon of chopped cowslip root to 250 ml of water and boil for 5 minutes, then strain the decoction. Have 2-3 cups of this healing tea a day and drink it in small sips. You can also use this decoction for external compresses on the chest or forehead, for their calming and soothing effect. This herbal remedy can be used alongside other natural remedies for allergic rhinitis.
Read Also: 7 Powerful Anti-Allergic Teas
4. Nervousness and Stress
Have a teaspoon of cowslip flower powder three times a day. For stronger effects, combine each dose with a teaspoon of St. John’s wort powder. St. John’s is one of the best natural remedies for depression and anxiety. This simple herbal remedy works amazing for neuralgia, insomnia, and nervousness because one of the main health benefits of cowslip is soothing the nervous system.
5. Headaches & Migraines
Headaches and migraines can be alleviated by drinking tea made from calendula flowers and cowslip flowers. For this, add 1 tsp of each of these flowers to a cup of hot water, infuse for 10 minutes, and strain. Sweeten with honey to taste. You can drink the tea in the evening, before going to bed.
6. Insomnia
Another one of the main health benefits of cowslip is in relieving insomnia. If you suffer from chronic insomnia caused by depression or stress, this cowslip remedy from Maria Treben’s book “Health Through God’s Pharmacy” can help a great deal. Mix the following herbs:
- 50 g cowslip root
- 25 g lavender flowers
- 10 g St. John’s wort
- 15 g hop cones
- 5 g valerian root
Scald 1 teaspoonful of this herbal blend in a cup of hot water and let it infuse for three minutes. Drink the tea in small sips, before bed, while is still very hot. Sweeten with honey to taste. This tea should be preferred to any synthetic sleeping pill, that only damages the nervous system in the long run. It also helps in menopause-triggered insomnia.
7. Rheumatic Pain & Gout
Due to its purifying effect, cowslip eliminates all toxic substances that lead to arthritis (gout) and rheumatic diseases. This is one of the key health benefits of cowslip. Rheumatic and gout pains can be alleviated by drinking cowslip tea, especially on rainy days or during weather changes. Ideally, this cure is done every spring, because you have the best results when using freshly harvested cowslip flowers.
In addition, cowslip root decoction alleviates joint pains when used externally in compresses. To make the decoction, boil about three tablespoons of cowslip root in 200 ml of hot water for 5 minutes. Allow to cool down and apply to the sore joints. You can also use cowslip flowers infusion instead.
“Who has a predisposition to joint disease or limb disease (arthritis and rheumatism) should drink one to two cups of cowslip tea daily over a longer period of time. The strong pains will subside and in time they will disappear completely.”
Sebastian Kneipp
8. Blood Detox Tea
One of the most important health benefits of cowslip is aiding in body detox, especially blood detoxification. Due to its blood cleansing properties, the following tea works amazingly. Make a herbal blend by mixing:
- 50 g of fresh cowslip flowers
- 50 g of fresh elder buds
- 15 g of fresh nettle leaves
- 15 g of dandelion root
Scald a teaspoon of the herbal mix in a cup of boiling water, infuse for 3 minutes, then strain and drink two cups of tea a day, in small sips. It’s best to start drinking this tea in spring and continue for as long as the plants can be harvested fresh.
9. Lung Fibrosis
One of the main health benefits of cowslip is for chronic lung problems, alongside other herbs. In addition to your treatment, this herbal maceration can greatly aid in lung fibrosis. Make a mix of the following dried herbs:
- 110 g St. John’s wort
- 100 g cowslip root
- 100 g linden flowers
- 100 g basil
- 100 g thyme
- 100 g birch
- 50 g elderflowers
Mix all the plants in a paper bag. In the evening, add 5 tablespoons of the herbal blend in 1 liter of room temperature water, and leave the herbs to macerate overnight. The next day, strain and drink the entire quantity during the day: one small glass (80 ml/ 2.7 oz) every hour, in small sips. Before swallowing down, pull the maceration through the mouth for 3-4 minutes.
Cowslip is one of the best natural lung cleansers, and it can also be used to clear out the lungs in the following herbal mix. Mix equal parts of:
- cowslip
- pine buds
- ribwort plantain leaves
- elecampane
- wild pansy
- fennel
- thyme
- licorice root
- poppy seeds
- yellow sweet clover
- elderflowers
Store the herbal blend in a sealed mason jar. In the evening, infuse in a thermos 3 teaspoons of herbal mixture in 300 ml of boiling water for 2 hours. Drink the entire infusion warm before bed. Follow this cure for at least 2 months, during which unpleasant symptoms can occur, such as a strong cough and sputum. To reduce them, add some lemon juice or honey to the warm tea. One of the key health benefits of cowslip is lung detoxification.
10. Anemia
Another one of the health benefits of cowslip is that it fights anemia due to its complex mineral content. For this remedy mix the following finely chopped herbs:
- cowslip
- dried bean husks
- raspberry leaves
- chamomile
Pour a cup of boiling water over a tablespoon of the herbal mix, cover, and leave to infuse for an hour and a half, then strain. Drink the tea in three reps before the main meals. Continue this remedy for three months. You can find the herbs below.
Natural Skincare with Cowslip for Wrinkles
In addition to the health benefits of cowslip above, cowslip salve is one of the best natural skincare for wrinkles around the eyes caused by sunlight exposure. In the 16th century famous book “Adam in Eden”, there was a chapter entitled “Herbal recipes” where you find the cowslip salve recipe, a highly valued recipe for its amazing effect against eye wrinkles caused by the sun.
Prepare the cowslip salve by sauteeing a handful of flowers in 1/2 cup of rendered pork lard. Strain and pour in a glass container with a lid. Allow for the salve to cool off and harden. Apply the salve on the eye area in the evening before bed. In addition, wash your face with a cowslip flower infusion. To make the infusion add a handful of fresh cowslip flowers in a liter of boiling water. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes, then strain. Use the cowslip infusion to wash the eye area, several times a day.
Cowslip Safety & Precautions
The use of cowslip is not recommended for people suffering from epilepsy. It is not indicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Before using dietary supplements with cowslip, consult a medical doctor or pharmacist.
Cowslip, The Miraculous Spring Flower
Cowslip is not just a beautiful and gentle spring flower, but a complete herbal medicine with amazing detox and cleansing properties for the whole body. Now that you know what are the main health benefits of cowslip and how to use cowslip in natural remedies, get ready to go out there and harvest this gentle flower yourself. Spring is the time for picking cowslip flowers and roots.
Read About The Health Uses of Other Spring Flowers:
Corydalis
Daffodil
Daisy
Lily of the Valley
Sweet Violet
Snowdrop
If you’ve enjoyed learning about the health benefits of cowslip and how to use it at home, share this article on social media so more people learn how to use this flower as herbal medicine. Stay healthy, naturally!
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