MEDICINAL PLANTS

The Carra is a perennial. The base is the only wooden part and maintained throughout the year. The rest of the plant is renovated, sprouting new leaves and branches at the ends. It is a shrub that reaches a little more than three feet high. It has much hair on the leaves and stems, which gives a whitish appearance. The leaves are distributed around the stem and are usually paired, are so numerous and lanceolate. One grows in limestone areas, on mountainsides always give you the sun and river basins exhausted. Can be found throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

FLOWERING

The flowering season begins in late winter and continuing throughout the spring. This plant has two types of flowers: the female, who are isolated and are attached to the stem by a small corner, and the masculine, who are meeting in groups. The fruits are very small and, like the rest of the plant are covered with hair. The main part are the seeds collected, although in some cases-depending on the area and use to be granted to this plant, is harvested as a whole.

APPLICATIONS

The seeds of the plant are mainly composed of two substances called saponins neutral and acidic saponin, which are characteristic of many species of this family. It is mainly used as a purgative and laxative like most plants of its family, but not very convenient to use as a laxative because it produces too strong an effect on most occasions. There are also other plants capable of performing the same function but do not have these contraindications. In some areas of the Levant was used as a home remedy to combat all kinds of conditions, such as liver and kidney pains. Also used as a poultice to combat rheumatism. It has also been applied in applications as diverse as syphilis, animal bites of rabid dogs and even credited him as engendering properties. The Arabs and Africans used this plant to cure diseases in women.

ADMINISTRATION

cooking. Place 100 gr. Of the plant in water, heated and have a cup before meals. And was used to cure diseases of the liver and kidneys. It is also used in this way to cure the animal bitten by a dog that had rabies.
Poultice. The plant is crushed and placed in a cloth, is applied to any area affected by rheumatism.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Euphorbiaceae
HABITAT: Among limestone
FLOWERING: Late winter
PART USED: Seeds
CASTILIAN: Hierba de Santa Quitoria
CATALAN: Botja blanca

USES

Strong Laxative, Laxative Moderate, Mild Colagogo.