The author's neighbor wanted her to cut down a Sunflower growing between their yards, telling her she didn't want her yard to look "trashy". She weeded around it neatly and left the Sunflower, then proceeded to research the medicinal uses for them.
"Sunflower gets its Latin name from the Greek—Helios, meaning “sun” and Anthos, meaning “a flower”. These plants are native to North America, Peru and Mexico. Both the Inca’s and the Aztecs worshipped Sunflowers. In the 1500’s, Spanish conquerors sent sunflower specimens to Europe. These plants were used as ornamentals, and some medicinal uses were discovered.
In the 1700’s, an English patent was granted for a process for sunflower oil. In the 1800’s, Sunflowers as food became popular. The Russian Orthodox Church forbade the use of oils during Lent, but conveniently didn’t include sunflower oil. In the 1900’s, Russian Farmers grew over 2 million acres of sunflowers (imagine how trashy that must have looked).
Sunflower production was brought to the United States
During World War II, the use of Sunflower oil increased. There was a shortage of the Russian Mammoth seed, so people began using the American Giant seed instead. The giant sunflowers grow one big flower, which usually gets too heavy to turn and follow the sun. For you DaVinci Code fans, there is an interesting side note about these types of sunflowers—their seeds conform to the Fibonacci sequence.
In 1997, the United States exported $260.4 million in sunflower seeds and oil products.
Usage
Sunflowers are a special plant, in that every part of the plant can be used. The seeds, flowers, leafs, stem and root all have uses.
Seeds
The seeds are eaten by people, birds and livestock. In fact, when sunflower seeds are used in a birdseed mix, the birds will pick out all the sunflower seeds and eat them, and turn up their beaks at the rest of the seed mix. So you need to be cautious about using sunflower seeds with birds! The seeds are also used medicinally, to calm the nerves, and for their antioxidant properties. A quarter cup of sunflower seeds has 120% of the RDA for Vitamin E. Vitamin E has significant anti-inflammatory effects that result in the reduction of symptoms in asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, conditions where free radicals and inflammation play a big role. Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer, help decrease the severity and frequency of hot flashes in women going through menopause, and help reduce the development of diabetic complications. Sunflower seeds are also high in magnesium, which helps reduce the severity of asthma, lower high blood pressure, and prevent migraine headaches, as well as reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Insufficient magnesium can thus contribute to high blood pressure, muscle spasms (including spasms of the heart muscle or the spasms of the airways symptomatic of asthma), and migraine headaches, as well as muscle cramps, tension, soreness and fatigue.
Sunflower seeds are also a good source of selenium, which inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. They are also high in B-1, B-5, phosphorous, tryptophan, copper, B-6, manganese, folate, fiber, iron and zinc. Sunflower seeds have no cholesterol. Sprouted sunflower seeds are an excellent source of amino acids and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Sunflower seeds may just be nature’s perfect food.
The sunflower seed oil is used in fuel, cooking, soap, lubricant, and candles.
Stems
Sunflower stems have been used to make paper, clothing, as fuel for fire, and to make microscope slide mounts. The stems were also once used to fill life preservers.
Leaves
The leaves of the sunflower plant have been used a livestock feed. They are also used medicinally. Sunflower leaf tea has been used to treat high fevers, and for lung ailments. Just a few tablespoons of sunflower leaf tea will stop diarrhea—so it is best to use it sparingly. The leaves have both diuretic and expectorant properties.
Flowers
The flowers on the sunflower have been used to make yellow dyes. The buds can also be cooked like artichokes. The early American settlers would plant sunflowers around their homes, believing that the flowers would ward off malaria.
Roots
A poultice of the root can be used for snakebites and spider bites. The roots have also been useful in treating rheumatism. The American Indians would crush the roots to make dressings for wounds.
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, ague, cardio-vascular problems, chest congestion, chest pain, colds, constipation, coughs, diarrhea, diuretic, eczema, eye sight, fevers, feverish tuberculosis, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, kidney inflammation, low sperm count, malaria, nail biting, pain relief, stop smoking, snake bites, stomach pain, treat worms, ulcers, whooping cough.
In Conclusion
The sunflower that started this is in full bloom. I have been pruning it, and it is growing tall, like the stately plant it is. An interesting thing about sunflowers—the more you prune them, the more flowers they grow. Perhaps my neighbor will change her mind about the sunflower, and perhaps she won’t. Regardless, they will always be welcome in my
yard. "
When we bought our land, there were Sunflowers growing everywhere. I pulled out tons of them the first year, not knowing what they were! The next year I left them, and planted more varieties to create a natural privacy fence. Right now they are all in bloom, and it is gorgeous! The birds love them, and have food available most of the winter.
It is great to know the medicinal qualities of these beautiful plants.