Want to learn how to use flower of an hour as medicine at home? Continue reading and find out how to make flower of an hour tea and more.
Flower of An Hour (Hibiscus trionum) is one of those overlooked, humble plants, often weeded out with a hoe, yet it possesses amazing healing properties when it comes to health. It’s no wonder it’s been known since ancient times, used for stomach pains and healing festering sores. However, the key health uses of flower of an hour are related to kidney and urinary problems.
How to Harvest Flower of An Hour
Flower of an hour is found in fields, along roadsides, in valleys, and on gentle hillsides, and is easily recognizable by its pale yellow flowers. Its flowers are dark red at the base and grow singly, hidden under its leaves. The best harvesting period is July to August. Collect the entire plant (stem, leaves, flowers) except for the fruit/berry – the capsules either in formation or fully mature. These should be removed before drying the plant, otherwise, they will open and scatter seeds throughout the dried plant material, contaminating it.
Spread out the harvested plant in a thin layer on paper sheets or mats in well-ventilated, shaded areas (this can be done in attics, on verandas, in sheds, or on balconies). The drying time is 10-15 days. You can also dry the plant in a dehydrator at 50°C/122°F. The yield is 6:1, meaning 600 grams of fresh plant results in 100 grams of dried plant. Store the whole plant in gauze or paper bags, and crush it just before processing/using it to preserve its healing properties.
How to Use Flower of An Hour as Medicine
There are four ways to use flower of an hour for its medicinal properties. For immediate use, the infusion and decoction are preferred, as they cannot be made ahead of time and stored for later use. The tincture and medicinal wine can be prepared for later use as they have a longer shelf life.
- Infusion: Steep 2 tablespoons of coarsely crushed dried plant in a cup of boiling water for 30 minutes, then strain. Drink sweetened with raw honey or unsweetened, to taste.
- Decoction: This method extracts the active principles thoroughly from the plant. Simmer 4 tablespoons of coarsely crushed plant in 500 ml/ 2 cups of water for 30 minutes over low heat. Replenish any evaporated water. Strain while hot. The usual dosage is one cup (50 ml) twice a day.
- Tincture: Soak 20 grams of dried flower of an hour in 100 ml of food-grade alcohol for 10 days; shake 3-4 times daily. Strain through cheesecloth or cotton. Allow it to decant in the refrigerator for 6 days, then strain again. Store in amber bottles with droppers. The dosage is 30 drops twice a day; shake before each use. The shelf life of the tincture is 2 years.
- Medicinal Wine: Soak 100 grams of coarsely crushed dried plant in 1 liter of white wine for 30 days, shaking it 2-3 times daily. Strain and store it in amber glass bottles, preferably 200 or 250 ml in size. The dosage is one small cup, approximately 30 ml, twice a day, before meals.
Medicinal wines were among the first potions used as treatment and were frequently recommended in the past, being also listed in the first edition of the Romanian Pharmacopoeia, published in 1862. Now let’s see what is flower of an hour used for.
What Is The Flower of The Hour Used For?
- Cystitis & Pyelitis: The primary therapeutic action of the medicinal preparations abovementioned is to address urinary tract conditions (pyelitis and cystitis) that are accompanied by fluid retention. In this case, drink 2 cups of decoction daily and/or 30 drops of tincture 3 times a day in a small amount of water or tea. A beneficial combination for various kidney conditions is a tea made from a blend of burdock root and flower of an hour, prepared similarly to the infusion.
- High Blood Pressure: Flower of an hour combined with dandelion makes a powerful diuretic tea commonly used for hypertension, especially when there is a kidney problem involved.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: Boil 1 tablespoon of willow bark in 1 liter of water for 10 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of dried flower of an hour, cover, and let it steep as it cools. Consume the warm tea throughout the day.
- Boils & Inflamed Lymph Nodes: Prepare a more concentrated flower of an hour infusion and use it to wash the boil, then apply a ichthyol-based ointment. For inflamed lymph nodes make compresses with this tea and apply locally.
Read Also: 20 Natural Treatments for Kidney Stones
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