Medicinal Uses of Carnations
The more complicated and challenging the world becomes, the more we yearn for simpler solutions from gentler times. Homeopathy, ancient Eastern healing arts, holistic medicine---they seem pretty comforting when compared to dealing with the sterile bureaucracy of an HMO. Plants have long been used for more than mere decoration, and one of the earliest-known medicinal flowers is the carnation.
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History
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Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) are probably native to the Mediterranean region, but they have been so widely cultivated for thousands for years that it is hard to be certain.
As far back as 1652, Nicholas Culpeper stated in "Complete Herbal" that "[Carnations] are gallant, fine, temperate flowers, of the nature and under the dominion of Jupiter...they are great strengtheners both of the brain and heart...."
In her 2000 book "Edible and Medicinal Plants" Margaret Roberts states that "For about 2000 years, the bright petals of dianthus have been used medicinally to soothe, calm and quieten nervousness and anxiety, to treat kidney and bladder ailments, skin ailments like eczema, and constipation."
Internal Uses
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According to the "Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants" by R.N. Chopra, S.L. Nayar and I.C. Chopra, published in 1986 by the New Delhi Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, carnations are "alexiteric, antispasmodic, cardiotonic, diaphoretic and nervine."
This means that they are believed to guard against poisoning, ease muscle spasms (especially in the gastrointestinal system), improve heart health, help increase the production of sweat and calm the nervous system.
There is scant clinical data to support this, and more studies need to be done.
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External Uses
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Many commercial products such as soaps, perfumes and body lotions contain carnations, and Margaret Robert's book (mentioned in section 1 of this article) contains recipes for home-made carnation cleanser and lotion.
While no clinical studies have proven any special benefits of carnations, proponents of flower remedies do believe that it will soothe eczema and other skin rashes.
Psychological/Emotional Uses
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The most well-known proponent of medicinal flowers was British physician Dr. Edward Bach, who was born in 1886 and died in 1936. Oddly, his thirty-eight flower remedies do not include carnations.
The website Bois de Jasmin states that "In European herbal medicine tradition, carnation flowers have been prescribed for the nervous and coronary disorders. However, its probably most interesting usage has been recorded in the late 1600s, when the Countess of Dorset, England, made her own love potion, including carnation, lavender, bay leaf and marjoram."
Side Effects
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Carnations are edible. Used properly, medications made with carnations should not have any side effects,. If you are buying any kind of treatment that includes carnations, carnation extract or carnation oil, read the label to make sure there's nothing else in it that you might be sensitive to.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of valwebb17 at Photobucket.
