The primrose is also popularly known as the cowslip or medicinal primrose. The primrose plant with the delicate yellow flowers grows as a messenger of spring in many parts of Europe and thrives as a pretty ornamental plant in many gardens. The primrose has also been used for centuries as a medicinal plant in natural medicine.
Occurrence and cultivation of cowslip
The primrose plant with the delicate yellow flowers grows as a messenger of spring in many parts of Europe and thrives as a pretty ornamental plant in many gardens. Primroses belong to the primrose family (Primulacea ). The plant is found mainly in eastern Asia, the Near East, central Asia and Europe. Here it grows mainly in the lowlands and in the foothills of the Alps in sunny meadows, hidden in bushes as well as in sparse forests. In most Central European countries, wild primroses may only be collected with an exceptional permit, as the rhizome in particular, but also the parts of the plant on the surface, are protected. The flat-growing rhizome is firmly anchored in the soil with many small fibrous roots. The oblong-ovate leaves are wrinkled and short-stalked: they sit close to the ground. Sweetly fragrant golden yellow flowers appear on long, delicately hairy stems from March to April. The whole perennial grows 15 to 30 cm high. The low rosette of leaves remains green over winter. Some people have allergic reactions just by touching fresh plants. There is also a risk of an allergic reaction when drinking cowslip tea, for example, in the form of irritation of the mucous membranes.
Application and effect
Like many spring flowers, cowslip is considered a protective and fertility agent. Primroses consecrated on Palm Sunday, usually in the triple, are said to help against fever, sore throat and toothache. In addition, they were once thought to have demon-repelling powers. The most important active ingredients are saponins (primulic acid): these are found particularly abundantly in the roots, more sparingly in the sepals. In the yellow flowers, on the other hand, the active ingredients are not found at all. In addition, there are essential oils, tannins, flavones, silicic acid and primulaverine. Cowslip relieves cough and phlegm, it also has a diuretic effect, strengthens the heart and helps with insomnia and migraine. Even today, the plant is used in naturopathy as well as homeopathy, mostly in the form of an infusion/tea. Primrose tea made from dried roots, flowers and leaves is prepared with cold water and then heated until boiling. Primrose can also be mixed with other cough herbs, for example coltsfoot, mallow and violet. The famous Swiss herbalist Künzle recommended a tea brewed from freshly picked primroses as a pleasant-tasting remedy for headaches and stress-ridden nerves. Collectors should leave wild plant stocks untouched and instead use certified pharmacy products. Of course, the medicinal plant can also be cultivated in the home garden. It likes dry, calcareous soil and a sunny location. The plants are well suited for ground-covering carpet planting, for example, in front of shrubs. Before planting, the soil should be well fertilized with mature compost and some seaweed lime. The harvest time for the flowers is from April to May. For teas are used mainly the flowers with calyx, but without stems. The roots are dug up before flowering in March and the soil is washed off. Then the flowers should be carefully dried in an airy and shady place. The roots, on the other hand, can be split lengthwise and stored in a warm and shady place. The flowers can be left whole for single tea preparation, while small cutting is recommended for tea blends. The main and secondary roots should be cut uniformly small. Once dried, the flowers can be stored in opaque jars or porcelain jars, the roots can also be stored in wooden or aluminum cans.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Through the research of the ingredients, it was possible to prove especially the effect in respiratory tract disease. Cowslip is indicated in the treatment of stuck cough, in which it is difficult to cough up the tough mucus.It is especially suitable for chronic bronchitis, which is accompanied by complaints of the heart, here especially for older people (old age heart), because the slightly diuretic effect also provides a circulatory relief. For centuries, the primrose had an important role in folk medicine. The priest Sebastian Kneipp also recommended the use of the spring flower for healing purposes: “If you have a tendency to limb disease, drink a cup of cowslip tea for a long time. The severe pain will be relieved and eventually disappear completely.”
Today, its use is limited to alternative medicine and homeopathy. For example, primrose tea is a proven remedy for the medicine cabinet, but still can not replace a doctor in case of persistent cough. For a primrose tea, one to two heaped coffee spoons of dried flowers with calyxes can be brewed with a quarter liter of boiling water. The decoction brews for about ten minutes and is then strained. The tea should be drunk warm. If necessary, it can also be sweetened with a little honey or rock candy. In addition to teas, cowslip extracts are also available in pharmacies. As with any other medical treatment, side effects cannot be ruled out. When using primrose, allergic reactions may occur, as well as stomach pain and nausea. In particular, allergic reactions of the skin are quite common, because the ingredients of the plant not only irritate the bronchi as desired, but also sensitive skin. Therefore, insofar as (itchy) skin rashes suddenly appear in connection with the consumption of cowslip tea, the brew should no longer be drunk.
