Lofant is a rare plant for private gardens and not a very familiar plant in European herbal medicine. But the set of unique properties of Lofant deserves a close acquaintance with this plant.

The botanical name of Lofant is "Lophanthus", in everyday life the plant acquired the name "Agastache" for multi-stemmed candle-shaped inflorescences, which depending on the variety, have different shades of white, blue or lilac. In total, about eleven species of this plant are known, which outwardly resembles Hyssop, for which Lofant got the names: Anis-Hyssop and Giant Hyssop. But the analogies for the plant did not end there, so the most popular type of Lofant "Anise Lofant" (Lophanthus anisatus Benth) acquired a number of other names - Nettle grate and Fennel grate (Agastache foeniculum Kuntze) for its anise aroma. And one more, no less popular than the previous one, the type of Lofant "Wrinkled Lofant" (Lophanthus rugosus Fish. Et Mey) in everyday life was called the Wrinkled grate (Agastache rugosa Kuntze). There are also several types of Lofant with unusual red flowers: "Lofant Mexican" (Agastache mexicana) or Mexican multicolor - has a more pronounced not anise, but a mint aroma and flavor; "Rocky lofant" (Agastache rupestris) - Rocky grate - has, unlike its species counterparts, a lemon scent.

The aromatic properties of Lofant equate it with a plant with a well-deserved primacy among the spicy - flavoring leafy spices - to Mint, which led to several more names for Aniseed Lofant - Licorice mint, for Rocky Lofant - Mountain mint, for Wrinkled Lofant - Korean mint, for Mexican Lofant - Mexican mint. The aromas and taste of Lofant's green mass have a dual smell and taste - the plant successfully combines the smell and taste of anise and mint, and even a rare lemon aroma for this plant (mint - lemon).

All the names of Lofant are not outdated and are safely used in cooking and phytotherapy, as well as in floriculture, because the Lofant plant is, in addition to all its other advantages, an excellent ornamental plant that can independently decorate any flower bed or greenhouse.

Lofant is very versatile in its useful qualities. But Lofant is more popular among herbs for seasoning and garden decoration, and less popular among plants with medicinal properties, which is a significant loss for the field of herbal medicine.

It is the therapeutic effects of the use of Lofant along with other medicinal plants that allowed this plant to take a worthy position among medicinal, and be mentioned in the literature on herbal medicine.

What is special about the Lofant plant, why should it be used as part of various herbal preparations and as an independent ingredient in herbal infusions? Lofant is a favorite plant of Eastern medicine (Tibetan medicine, Chinese medicine, Mongolian medicine). It is in these areas that the Lofant plant is cultivated as a medicinal one. For medicinal purposes, the ground part of the plant (flowers, leaves, young stems) is used, which is dried or used freshly harvested to obtain (squeeze) essential oils and ingredients for medicinal infusions.

The fresh aerial part of the Lofant plant contains essential oils in a very high concentration: methylchavicol, which is responsible for the anise aroma (over 50%) and methyleugenol, which is responsible for the menthol flavor and mint aroma (over 40%). The remaining 10 percent and less are substances: menthol itself, caryophyllene, cineole, caracol, anethole, linalool and camphene (camphor smell). Fresh Lofant greenery contains a set of vitamins and mineral salts, which allows the plant to be used in a wide therapeutic range.

The chemical composition of the plant gives a clear idea of how Lofant can be used in herbal medicine. You can give an incomplete list of situations in which it is appropriate to use essential oils and infusions from Lofant to relieve painful conditions. Infusions from Lofant are used:

• for bacterial infections of the mouth and throat for gargling - has a bacteriostatic effect (mild antiseptic);
• in diseases of the upper respiratory tract as an expectorant and for inhalations that facilitate breathing;
• for a soothing effect on the cough reflex - as a distraction;
• for antiseptic baths and lotions for abrasions, abrasions and cracks on the skin and mucous membranes, both in the oral cavity and for external use (baths for the skin of the hands or feet, hygienic baths for the urogenital area, body baths);
• as a stimulant to improve digestive function (enhances enzymatic activity);
• as an immunostimulating agent for colds;
• the flowers of the plant are brewed in the form of teas with a diaphoretic effect;
• weak infusions of Lofant flowers are used as a calming agent for the nervous system;
• strong infusions of flowers and leaves of Lofant have an opposite, stimulating effect on the nervous system.

Lofant is popular as a general tonic in Eastern medicine.

Lofant is contraindicated for people with an overexcited nervous system (strong aromas can have an undesirable effect of excessive excitement on the nervous system), and Lofant is also not useful in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract associated with inflammation and injuries of the intestinal mucosa and stomach ( gastritis, colitis, ulcers and erosion) and with excessive secretion of enzymes, for example, high acidity. It is worth refraining from using Lofant's infusions inside for medicinal purposes for people with symptoms of dysbiosis and dysbacteriosis.

Lofant for food is especially popular in Asian cuisine (Japanese, Chinese, Korean), as well as in the cuisine of the peoples of the Far East of Russia, in the countries of Southern and Eastern Europe, in the Crimea, in the Caucasus, in South America. Lofant has a sweetish flavor and goes well with almost any food ingredient.

As an edible plant Lofant is flawless in salads of berries, fruits and herbs (Lofant stems are boiled or steamed, Lofant leaves go raw for herbs or as a dry powder for seasoning). Vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, pumpkin, squash, squash, bell peppers in combination with spices or herbs from Lofant acquire a special taste - both raw and baked. With the participation of Lofant, you can prepare creams, mousses, fondants, marshmallows, ice cream, sauces, gravies, cocktails, milk drinks, teas, juices and smoothies. Fresh Lofant is added when cooking jams, jams, compotes, jelly and for preparing medicinal fruit drinks and soft drinks and summer cold soups. Lofant is used as a seasoning in winemaking, in the preparation of beer, kvass, low-alcohol home drinks.

Lofant, as a dry seasoning and fresh, is used for canning sweet vegetables, fruits and berries and for making marinades (meat, fish, seafood). Lofant is a rare seasoning that goes well with fish dishes. Lofant is indispensable for meat products, smoked meats, cheeses as a dry and fresh seasoning.

Lofant is used to flavor bread, baked goods, confectionery in the form of a dry powder - it is added to the dough as cinnamon powder.

Lofant has many advantages as an essential oil crop:

• Lofant oils are used for aromatic baths;
• brooms from stems with Lofant leaves are used in bath procedures;
• Lofant essential oils are suitable for aromatizing the atmosphere of premises,
• oils and their derivatives, which include Lofant esters and oils, have a high perfumery value and are suitable for aromatizing the body.

And finally, Lofant in all its varieties is an excellent melliferous plant and a plant for aromatizing and disinfecting the air. Blooming Lofant exudes perfumery aromas and heals the street atmosphere, attracts the attention of insects - honey plants.

The Lofant bush is impressive in size, sometimes growing up to 28-31 inches, and even up to a meter in height. The plant can occupy an entire flower bed or alpine slide. Lofant is winter-hardy, despite its "southern roots", and grows wild in the northern regions of America and northern Europe. This plant is a perennial, but it has its own characteristics of growth and reproduction. Lofant multiplies faster by shoots and division of the bush than by seeds (seeds germinate at a temperature of about 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius). Lofant winters well, grows quickly, blooms in the first year and gives seeds, blooms luxuriantly and abundantly, gives a rich harvest of seeds (also a source of essential oils in addition to flowers and greenery). On the greens from the bush - the first years cut off the stems and leaves selectively, allowing the plant to grow a powerful root system in the first season.

The plant is accustomed to various weather conditions, practically not susceptible to typical plant diseases and attack by insect pests.

Lofant can be grown as an annual on a balcony, terrace or on a windowsill in an impressive flower pot. The plant loves good lighting, will bloom and smell sweet at home, but does not form seeds due to the lack of pollination by insects. Lofant is a great plant for a home green pharmacy, and a deodorant plant for living quarters.

Lofant is a very successful plant for all occasions. This plant just needs to be grown on your site in order to enjoy its appearance and beneficial effects.

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