The common name says it all—these flowers are exquisitely beautiful and nestled in a cloud of lacy bracts and leaves.
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena) is a popular ornamental that is grown as an annual and often reseeds in gardens. They make good cut flowers, and if the flowers are left to seed, the seed pods are also very decorative and will dry on the plant and may be used for dried flower arrangements.
Love-in-a-Mist is also commonly cultivated for use as a condiment or a source of essential oil. The use of the seed in foods has also been reported to impart a nutmeg flavor and sweet scent.
The essential oil is yellow in color with a blue fluorescence, and has the scent described as a cross between wild strawberry and ambrette seed oil. The oil is used in perfumes and cosmetics, where it can impart a fruity and floral essence.
The seeds contain alkaloids, phenolic compounds, sterols, saponins, and fatty oils. It is reported that the essential oil contains about 9% damascenine, a mildly narcotic alkaloid with a blue color. There are some reports of toxicity with this compound, yet little scientific understanding.
In traditional medicine, Love-in-a-Mist is used as an analgesic, antipyretic, expectorant, and diuretic, as well as being used in regulating menstruation. It has also been used as a vermifuge and disinfectant.
Through scientific investigation, Love-in-a-Mist has been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-edema, antitumor, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial activities.
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*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.