Flowers.
Similar to several other herbs, Leontopodium alpinum has been historically employed for particular health benefits. After drying out the herb, you can cut the flowers of the plant and prepare it in an alcohol solution. The resultant extract can be employed in the form of a therapeutic herb. People have traditionally known that edelweiss is helpful in treating diarrhea and dysentery. In fact, people in Germany called this herb as the "stomach ache flower". In addition, this herb was also used to treat diphtheria and tuberculosis. For this purpose, the herb was ingested after blending with honey and hot milk. One of the oldest uses of edelweiss is to treat rheumatic pain. In addition, this herb was also employed in the form of an astringent for helping to alleviate coughs. Earlier, people widely used edelweiss in the form of a therapeutic herb. They mixed the herb with honey and milk and took the combination internally for treating stomach aches. In addition, in old times, people also used edelweiss as a love potion. Following the discovery of edelweiss, scientists detected that the herb enclosed various compounds that were highly beneficial for our skin. Some of these phytochemicals include bisabolane derivates, luteolin, beta sitosterol and chlorogenic acid. In fact, chlorogenic acid itself is a family of organic compounds that occur naturally and it is the main polyphenol present in coffee. This phytochemical possesses anti-microbial properties and is known to be a potent antioxidant that has proved to slow down the growth of tumours. In addition, chlorogenic acid also possesses the ability to counteract free radicals even before they can cause any damage to DNA, thereby aiding in putting off the signs of aging. On the other hand, luteolin is basically a flavonoid. It is among the various citrus bioflavonoids that are supposed to offer numerous health benefits. This flavonoid scavenges free radicals and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. At the same time, luteolin has the ability to lower the seriousness of various allergic reactions. Similarly, derivatives of bisabolane present in the herb have anti-inflammatory attributes. Beta sitosterol contained by edelweiss is basically a plant sterol having a chemical structure akin to that of cholesterol. Within our body, this substance possesses the ability to lower the levels of harmful or LDL cholesterol in the blood stream. At the same time, when applied topically, this compound works as an anti-inflammatory agent, thereby aiding to calm as well as alleviate the irritated skin. Owing to the presence of the above mentioned compounds as well as some others, it has been found that edelweiss is a potent antioxidant that helps to shield the skin from the negative effects of aging. It is important to note that edelweiss contains phytochemicals that possess the ability to absorb ultra violet rays of the sun. It is believed that the herb has obtained this quality since it is found growing naturally at high altitudes. This is the main reason why this herb forms an important ingredient in various natural products that help to block the harmful rays of the sun. When you combine all the above mentioned properties of edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), you get an amazing herb that combats all the negative elements that are responsible for aging, such as free radicals, ultraviolet rays and various oxidative stressors. At the same time, this herb provides the requisite nourishments to the skin, making it healthier from inside out. Additionally, this herb also protects the skin from all types of inflammations, combats bacterial invasion and offers the skin an overall calming and soothing effect.
Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) is irregularly distributed and this plant has a preference for places having rocky limestone soils. Usually, this species if found growing naturally at altitudes between 1800 meters and 3000 meters. This plant is covered by a dense hair, which is believed to be an adaptation for growing at high altitudes. This dense hair covering protects edelweiss from various environmental issues such as extreme cold, dryness and even ultraviolet (UV) radiation. As this herb is normally found growing in inaccessible locations, it is normally associated with several countries in the Alpine region that usually witnesses mountaineering activities. This species is also cultivated in gardens, as it has an attractive inflorescence accompanied with unusual silver foliage. Edelweiss plants can be propagated from their seeds.
In recent times, researchers are exploring the protection mechanisms of edelweiss, as it has been thriving successfully in the nature despite being exposed to high altitudes as well as extreme sunlight and draught situations. Findings of some of these studies have corroborated that the extract obtained from edelweiss encloses highly potent antioxidants as well as properties that help to protect its cells. In addition, scientists have found that this herb possesses anti-microbial as well as anti-inflammatory properties.
