Cornflower

Bachelor's buttons, blue bonnet, bluebottle, bluebow, blue cap, blue centaury, Centaurea cyan us, cyani flos, cyani-flowers, hurtsickle

Cornflower is available as ray flowers, dried ray florets, and tubular florets of the cornflower plant. Several compounds including anthocyans, flavnoids, and bitter principles may be responsible for corn ower activity. The flowers are generally considered to have tonic, stimulant effects and an ability to stimulate menstruation, with effects similar to blessed thistle.

Reported uses

Cornflower is used as a diuretic, an expectorant, a laxative, and as a stimulant for liver and gallbladder function. It's also used to treat cough, fever, menstrual disorders, vaginal candidiasis, and eczema of the scalp. It's used externally as an eye wash to treat eye inflammationand conjunctivitis.

Administration

The use of cornflower is not well documented.

Hazards

Allergic reaction may be associated with the use of cornflower. There are no reported interactions with cornflower.

Those with an allergy to cornflower or any of its components, geriatric patients, pregnant and breast-feeding patients, and children should avoid use.

Clinical considerations

• Warn patient not to treat irregular menstrual periods with cornflower before seeking appropriate medical evaluation because doing so may delay diagnosis of an underlying medical condition. This herb should not be used to treat amenorrhea.
• Tell patient to remind prescriber and pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement that he's taking when obtaining a new prescription.
• Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a treatment with proven efficacy may be available.

Research Summary

The concepts behind the use of cornflower and the claims made regarding its effects have not yet been validated scientifically.