Cyanus, Blue-bottle or Cornflower

Picture Picture
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

 Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Picture Herbarium Blackwellianum, 1750

Botanical name:


Centaurea cyanus (syn. Cyanus major, Cyanus cyanus)
Great, Common, Double, Small-leaved, Mountain and Creeping types were used.

Parts used:


Flower

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Bitter

Classifications:


Astringent, Opthalmic, Cardiac, Alterative, Alexipharmic

Uses:


1. Clears Wind-Heat, Resists Poison:
-Fevers
-given for venom including bites of Scorpion, Spiders, Rabid Dogs, Vipers
-various Poisons
-Epidemic diseases, Plague (seed or flower)

2. Clears Heat, Brightens the Eyes:
-red, inflamed and painful Eyes
-flowers, juice or distilled water topically

3. Clears Heat, Moves the Blood, Stops Bleeding:
-blood stagnation and bruising, internal Trauma
-ruptured Veins, hematoma
-Spitting Blood

4. Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Fluid retention

5. Externally:
-applied to fresh Wounds
-ulcers and sores of the Mouth (juice)
-dropped into the ears for pain and inflammation of them


Main Combinations:


1. Bleeding or Trauma:
i. take Cornflower with Comfrey
2. Spitting of Blood, Cornflower with Comfrey, Plantain, Horsetail

Cautions:


None noted

Main Preparations used:


Distilled water of the Flowers was used