- Region
- North America
- Origin
- North America
North America · Herb · № 209
Helianthus annuus
Herb · North America
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Sunflower seeds and oil are rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid. The oil is used for dry skin; claims about scars or skin ageing have not been shown.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Not with a seed allergy.
Preparation
External: ground seeds in almond scrub for all skin types.
Use in traditions
Sunflowers were domesticated in North America some 4,000 years ago. The Hopi made dye from the seeds, and many peoples used oil from the seeds on skin and hair. In Russia the sunflower became an important oil crop in the 19th century, partly because its oil was not covered by the fasting rules. In herbal magic associated with making wishes come true, bringing luck, integrity and protection, and luck.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
The seeds contain vitamin E and oil; ground, they scrub gently without harming the skin.
Preparation and amount
External: ground sunflower seeds in a gentle facial scrub with almond and oats (see the recipe).
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
As food. The masks of the False Faces are 'fed' with the oil. In one creation story the sunflower was the first plant beside the Creator's lodge.
Preparation and amount
Eat the seeds; oil from the seeds.
Caution: Not with a seed allergy.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Makes wishes come true, brings luck, integrity and protection, luck, success, health, welcome, family, seeds: fertility.
Herbal magic and rituals
Attributed effects
In herbal magic associated with wishes, luck and loyalty.
Preparation and amount
The sunflower was domesticated in North America more than four thousand years ago. For many Indigenous peoples the seed was food and a source of oil and dye. Because the young flower follows the sun, in Europe it stands for loyalty and devotion.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Preparation and amount
In celebration and summer solstice rituals; let seeds sprout and plant them for abundance in the garden.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Powder and kitchen