There are a lot of plants that share the name Daisy, but when people talk about daisy in common, they are referring to the Bellis Perennis. It is considered as the archetype of all daisy species, and commonly known as the common daisy, lawn daisy, or English daisy. Most people, especially in England, know it by its other name, Bruisewort. This plant is a native to northern, western, and central Europe, but have been naturalized to all over the world ever since.

The name of Bellis Perennis derived from latin words which are bellus, meaning pretty, and perennis, meaning everlasting. Throughout history, people have found out many uses for this lovely-looking plant other than just its beauty and fragrance. You can use it for cooking, herbal medicine, ointment, even decoration. The health benefits of a daisy flower are quite a lot, that is why we will cover about its medicinal properties and health benefits in this article.

However, processing it to gain its medicinal properties takes some time, so researchers have developed a way to extract it to make it easier to process. Nowadays, an extract of daisy flower is not too hard to find and easy to use, you can find it at almost any drugstore or pharmacy nearby. The extract has been shown to stimulate the production of tyrosine within our body. Not only that, it also retains its astringent properties, which helped in treating an external wound.

Contents of A Daisy Flower Extract

The Pharmacological Importance of Bellis Perennis – A Review, by Ali Esmail Al-Snafi, a pharmacology professor, stated that a daisy extract contains the following:

1. Anthocyanins

Commonly found in red, purple, or blue colored plants; such as blueberry, raspberry, black rice, black soybean, etc. This secondary metabolite is known for increasing the antioxidant found in blood if consumed at a certain amount.

2. Flavonoids

As the most common group of the polyphenolic compound in ordinary human diets, researchers have found a lot of potential health benefits of consuming it, such as reducing inflammation, antioxidant, help against cardiovascular diseases, etc.

3. Polyphenols

Polyphenols are responsible for absorbing natural nutrients in your body, and they also found to contain antioxidant properties as well.

4. Polyacetylenes

Although polyacetylenes have no direct effect on human health, they are found in quite a large amount in a daisy flower extract.

5. Saponins

This ampyphatic glycoside is found in abundance on various plant species, including a daisy. Hence, it is known that daisy flower extracts have some traces of it as well.

6. Triterpenes

All animals, plants, and fungi create triterpenes on a regular basis, so it is a common finding in a daisy flower extract. So, there are many benefits of daisy flower extract for health.

In the past, a 16th-century herbalist John Gerard made a record that daisy extract could effectively treat a variety of ailments, such as a cough, bruises, migraine, pleurisy, swelling, inflamed reproductive tracts, kidney and gallbladder problems, digestive issues, fever, purifying blood, liver problems and extreme menstrual bleeding, swollen breast, and catarrh. To make it easy for our readers, we have compiled the main benefits of daisy flower extract that you can find below. Here are the benefits of daisy flower extract:

1. Brightening Your Skin

Daisy flower extract or frequently referred to as Bellis Perennis on ingredient labels is commonly used in cosmetics, beauty, or skin care products, whether it is made into serums, toners, lotions, ointments, etc. This extract contains a natural substance called L-arbutin that helps in brightening your skin.

Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays or pregnancy can cause overproduction of melanin resulting in hyper pigmentation or discoloration that become more and more obvious in age as dark spots. L-arbutin in the extract can block the formation of melanin, thus effectively reducing dark spots production. Furthermore, its organic acids, particularly tartaric and malic acid, also contributes in exfoliating the skin.

2. Reducing Dark Spots

The L-arbutin in the extract can block the formation of melanin, thus effectively reducing dark spots production. Furthermore, its organic acids, particularly tartaric and malic acid, also contributes in exfoliating the skin. Daisy flower extract also can be a good substitute of Hydroquinone, which is a substance widely used to resolve hyperpigmentation, as it is naturally derived instead of harsh and toxic ingredients.

It’s amazing that we can find so many remedies in our nature. Hence it is safer for even the most sensitive skin, even for pregnant women.

3. Prevent Premature Wrinkles and Sagging Skin

What’s more benefits of daisy flower extract? Daisy flower, a symbol of purity and innocence received its name relevantly from its ability to maintain our pure and innocent look as it seems like it has some anti aging properties. When our skin is frequently exposed to UV sun rays especially during the day, our collagen fibers are damaged, the scar tissues are buildup, and the creation of new collagen which is essential for healthy and supple skin interferes.

As we grow older, our skin doesn’t spring back the way it is like when we’re younger, hence wrinkling, drooping, and sagging begins. Women across the globe have been using skin care and even make up products containing daisy extract that has been proven to aid in keeping the skin look fresh and youthful.

4. A Remedy for Cold, Bronchitis, and Respiratory Tract

Daisy Flower Extract is renowned as an anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and expectorant agent often used in tea form to cure a cold, bronchitis, and other respiratory tracts. Nevertheless, Daisy was traditionally used as a cure for bronchitis as it leads to the hydration of mouth, eases the breathing, and was highly recommended for respiratory problems. It may also be used to gargle or as a mouthwash since it offers a remedy for mouth inflammation and sore throat.

5. Remove Digestive and Gastrointestinal Problems.

Since Daisy flower extract has digestive, diuretic, laxative, and purgative properties, it may be beneficial to increase your appetite as it can stimulate the digestion system and it has been proven effective to treat many digestive tracts, such as mild constipation, diarrhea, gastritis, liver, and gallbladder complaints.

Other than that, Daisy flower extract has antispasmodic properties as well, which is beneficial for digestive cramps remedy. As such, people who suffered from digestive and intestinal problems will found this extract extremely useful.

6. Treat Bruises, Open Wounds, and Cuts.

Daisy Flower Extract is quite recognizable for its anodyne quality (pain reliever), as the plant itself is eligible for healing and can be used to treat fresh wounds, sores, and scratches. Once had a great reputation as a cure for open wounds, the daisy was often applied directly on top of the wounds. Moreover, the antibacterial agents contained in daisy flowers were once collected and extracted into a liquid poultice that was used on the battlefield and in operations to treat wounded soldiers.

It is also said that in ancient Rome, the slaves of the surgeons who accompanied Roman legions into battlefield would pick sacks full of daisies for the sake of extracting their juice.Thereafter, bandages were soaked in the juice and applied to bind sword and spear cuts. During the middle ages, daisies were also regularly used for the treatment of bruises, sprains, or swelling of joints, which leads to its famed nickname as Bruisewort.

7. Heavy Menstruation Remedy

Daisy Flower Extract is especially recommended for women going through a heavy menstruation or pregnancy. The extract can be beneficial as a treatment for uterus problems accompanied by bleeding and debility. This homeopathic medicine can also be quite helpful in reducing uterine pain during pregnancy and after childbirth, in particular when the bruises in the abdomen are very severe.

8. Reduce Fever

Due to its diuretic effect, Daisy Flower Extract has the ability to promote sweating which contributes in reducing the fever whether it was used by compressing it on the forehead or as an infusion in a cup of tea.

9. Treatment for Breast Cancer

Homeopathy with daisy extract is used in the treatment for breast cancer. In some studies, it was found out that the consumption and usage of Asteraceae members, such as daisies, dandelions, sunflowers, etc.,  is beneficial especially when used in conjunction with a standard chemotherapy treatment.

10. Ease Rheumatic Pain

Daisy ointment is a good remedy for inflamed joints and wounds. The tincture relieves muscle fatigue and rheumatism. That’s one of the top benefits of daisy flower extract for health.

11. Detoxify Your Body

Daisy extract, when drunk as a juice, is ideal for removing dangerous toxins and harmful substances from your body. It was also known as the “blood purifier” since it was able to keep your bloodstream clean. This is why it is ideal for a spring body detoxification as the juice can be prepared easily.

12. HIV Treatment

Although there is still no conclusive result about this, ongoing research in using daisy extract in the treatment for HIV has been assessed since 1994.  Due to its apigenin, it is believed that a daisy extract can be a valuable asset in treating HIV.

More Daisy Extract Benefits

These are more benefits of daisy flower extract for health. The fresh leaves, flowers, buds, and petals have a pleasant taste and can be used in salads and sandwiches or added to soups or stew. Daisy leaves are a supreme source of vitamin A and C. It is exceptionally delicious when matched with cotton cheese.

Even the Germans regard daisy salad as delicious as corn salad. Moreover, the hard and green buds can be marinated in vinegar and used as an alternative for capers. Finally, even the flower heads are also edible. They are most often used for garnishing a dish, decoration of desserts, and they can also be made into candy.

How to Prepare Daisy Extract as  Remedies

The whole plant of daisy flowers can be used as medicine by processing it through decoction, infusion, tincture, ointment, compress or poultice. This is the recommendation intake to get benefits of daisy flower extract for health.

For Internal use:

You can use the flowers and leaves directly, although daisy flowers have more contents as a medicinal component. Here are some of the way to use daisy extracts as  remedies:

1. Infusion (extracting plants in the water): soak 3 grams of dried flower in 200ml water, then let it stand for 10 min. Afterward, strain and serve up to three cups a day, away from meals.
2. Daisy Tea: In a cup of boiled water, add 1-2 tablespoons of dried daisy flowers. Leave it until 15 minutes then strain.
3. Tincture (alcoholic extract of plants for use as medicine): macerate 30 grams of the leaves for 10 days with minimum 40% alcohol (vodka may be the best choice, but brandy will do). Shake it occasionally and keep it in dark place. Take about 20 drops three times a day.
4. Juice: Mix the flowers and leaves with a half quantity of water. Add some honey for better taste and for respiratory disease. You can also add some other fruits or vegetables. Drink one until three tablespoons a day.
5. Pickled: Heat vinegar and salt. Place the buds in a wide sterilized jar. Pour the hot mixture of vinegar and salt over them. Cover the mixture and leave it for a week. Stir every day. Move the mixture into a clean glass jar, pour a mixture of vinegar over it, close the jar tightly and let it age for two weeks in the refrigerator. After that period it is ready for consumption.

For External use:

Decoction (extracting the plants by boiling it in the water): Drown 100 grams of the flower and leaves in 1 liter of water. Boil and then turn off the heat. Let it cool for 15 mins. Strain and use for compress or washing.

• Fresh leaves, washed, then apply directly to sores and wounds
• Joint Ointment: Mash the leaves and add some mallow leaves (half of a number of daisy leaves). Fry the mixture in clarified butter, strain it while still hot into a glass jar. Rub the mixture onto sore joints 2-3 times a day.

Side Effects

There are no side effects known, although individuals who are sensitive to other members of the Asteraceae family may experience respiratory allergies. Although there are many benefits of daisy flower extract, we need to pay attention to its side effects too.