White Lily
The white lily is a member of the Liliaceae family. Its Latin name is Lilium candidum L.
The white lily’s family name is Liliaceae Juss.
Description of the White Lily
The white lily is a perennial herbaceous plant with a bulb consisting of numerous fleshy, imbricated scales. Its flower stems are bare and erect, leafy, and range in height from eighty to one hundred twenty centimeters. The lower stems of the white lily are alternate, obovate, and drooping, while the upper leaves are lanceolate and cling to the stem. The flowers of this plant are white, large, and fragrant, with a simple, funnel-shaped perianth consisting of six recurved leaflets. The white lily has only six stamens, and the pistil has a thick, three-lobed stigma and a superior ovary. The fruit is a hexagonal capsule containing numerous flattened seeds. The white lily blooms from June to August.
In the wild, this plant is found in the Caucasus and Transcaucasia. It prefers forested mountains. It is noteworthy that this plant can also be cultivated as a garden and houseplant.
Description of the medicinal properties of the white lily
The white lily has very valuable medicinal properties, and the bulbs, flowers, and leaves of this plant are recommended for medicinal purposes. Flowers and leaves are recommended for harvesting between June and August, while bulbs are best harvested in the fall and early spring.
It should be noted that the chemical composition of the white lily is not yet fully understood. However, it has been proven that the bulbs of this plant contain vitamins, sugar, and mucilaginous substances. White lily bulbs have analgesic, diuretic, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory properties, while the leaves and flowers of this plant have analgesic and emollient properties.
As for traditional medicine, alcohol tincture, which is prepared on the basis of white lily bulbs, has become quite widespread. This healing agent should be used for chronic bronchitis as a very effective expectorant, and in addition it is also used as a diuretic and tonic. For various pains in the lumbar region with radiculitis, pain in muscles and joints, it is recommended to use a decoction for rubbing. To prepare such a decoction, you will need to take two spoons of white lily flowers and two spoons of leaves of this plant, which are infused for three weeks in the sun in one hundred and fifty grams of sunflower oil.
In addition, the crushed bulb of this plant is used as an external remedy in folk medicine for furunculosis and abscesses. Actually, for this application you will need to use an onion that has been boiled with milk.
A decoction prepared from white lily flowers will help remove freckles. This decoction is prepared with honey and mustard flour: all ingredients must be taken in equal proportions. For cosmetic purposes, it is recommended to use water that has been distilled with the flowers of this plant to wash your face. Due to the fact that the chemical composition of this plant has not been fully studied, its medicinal use may not be complete.
