Moldavian dragonhead
StarDracocephalum moldavica
Synonyms: Moldavica moldavica, Moldavica suaveolens, Ruyschiana moldavica, Dracocephalum fragrans, Dracocephalum moldavica f. albiflorum, Nepeta moldavica, Moldavica setosa, Moldavica punctata
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In the traditional medicine of Central Asia and Mongolia, Dracocephalum moldavica has been used to clear stomach and liver heat and to settle digestion, and the aromatic herb is taken as a calming digestive remedy (Dastmalchi et al., 2007). Its lemon-scented essential oil, rich in geranial, neral, and geranyl acetate, has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Gallery
Botanical Description
Dracocephalum moldavica, the Moldavian dragonhead or Moldavian balm, is an aromatic annual herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) growing 30 to 80 cm tall. The erect, branching, square stems carry opposite, oblong-lanceolate leaves with coarsely toothed margins that emit a strong lemon-mint fragrance when bruised. The two-lipped flowers, blue-violet to occasionally white, are clustered in whorls forming loose terminal spikes, each subtended by spiny-toothed bracts; they bloom through summer and are highly attractive to bees. The fruit consists of four small oblong nutlets enclosed in the persistent calyx. Native to the meadows, steppes, and slopes of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, it is widely cultivated as a melliferous, culinary, and essential-oil crop and is naturalized in scattered temperate regions.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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