MEDICINAL PLANTS

The cimbalaria is a small herb belonging to the family of Escrofulariaceas, which consists of about 4500 species of herbaceous annuals or perennials, spread the warm countries, temperate and cold almost the entire globe. It is an herb that resembles the shape of ivy leaves, although these are much smaller and fragile. The flowers are small, spurs at the base of a lilac and violet. The fruit is a round capsule filled with tiny seeds ovoid, dark and very uneven surface. One grows behind walls and rocks, slightly moist shady places almost the entire country, but is distributed differently by region. She is originally from Italy.

FLOWERING

It blooms throughout the spring and summer, well into the fall, although in warmer countries are flowers all year. Mainly interested in harvesting the flowers, consisting of calyx and corolla of one piece, divided into five lobes both more or less unequal. These flowers can be collected virtually all year round, making them dry in the shade or drying, at temperatures not too high.

APPLICATIONS

The plants in this family do not produce alkaloids, and if they do it in minute quantities, so it's not worth taken into account. The most important thing is that these herbs produce large amounts of glycosides, some of them highly active and very toxic drug, especially if used in a home, without the consent of medical staff. From the composition of this plant is known as the data we have are very old and thus unreliable. Is known to contain some acids such as tartaric acid, tannic and snapdragon. The rest of its components can not say much more. As for his virtues, it has been always considered a good remedy to combat scurvy, which, as we know, is that disease caused by a vitamin deficiency: vitamin C or ascorbic acid. The reason for using this herb to resolve this major shortcoming is its sweet taste rather than its composition, it is not known to contain significant amounts of this vitamin. Other uses that have been given is as a tonic and diuretic, but without much activity. In this genre there are some species more marked properties, so the cimbalaria currently is rarely used.

ADMINISTRATION

As there is a plant widely used, there is little information in their popular uses. Generally, flowers are often used, as already discussed above-prepared infusion: just a handful of dried flowers in a cup of boiling water to run after the main meals.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Escrofulariaceas
HABITAT: Italy
FLOWERING: Spring and fall
PART USED: Flowers
CASTILIAN: Palomilla de muro
CATALAN: Picardía
BASQUE: Murruntza

USES

Mild antiscorbutic, Mild tonic, Mild diuretic.