Cornflower
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Brief Background:
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is native to Europe, where it is considered a weed in fields. However, it is also used as an ornamental flower because of its intense blue flowers, and has become naturalized in North America and Australia. Blue cornflower has been used to flavor teas and to reduce ocular inflammation. Some preliminary studies indicate that cornflower may have anti-inflammatory properties, and blue cornflower did reduce the recurrence of urinary tract stones in one clinical trial.
Expert Opinion and Historic Precedent:
In European phytotherapy, Centaurea cyanus flower heads are used to treat minor ocular inflammations.
