Alecost
Other Names : Tanacetum balsamita, Balsamita major, Chrysanthemum balsamita, costmary, balsam herb, bible leaf, mint geranium, Menthe-coq, Balsemwormkruid, Frauenminze, Balsamkraut, Marienblatt
Special Precautions of Alecost
Contains till 12,5% beta-thujone, a toxic ketone, in the essential Oil
Health benefits and Uses of Alecost
Leaves of the plant have been found to contain a range of essential oils. A Spanish study found the oil includes carvone as the main component (51.5%, 41.0% and 56.9% in three samples), together with minor amounts of beta-thujone, t-dihydrocarvone, c-dihydrocarvone, dihydrocarveol isomer, c-carveol, and t-carveol. Levels of beta-thujone, a toxic ketone, were 9.8%, 12.5% and 12.1% in the respective samples. Alecost is seldom used in herbal medicine, though it does have a beneficial effect upon the digestive system.
- The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, digestive and laxative.
- They have been used internally as an aperient in the treatment of dysentery, and as a remedy for liver and gall bladder complaints.
- Externally used as a salve to treat burns and insect stings (bee stings) : It controls pain and ease swelling.
- They are considered to be virtually obsolete in modern herbalism.
