MEDICINAL PLANTS

The opinion is a beautiful white plant belonging to the family of Rutaceae. It has a whitish branched rhizome is continued by an erect stem that can reach four feet high and even more if the ground is good. At the apex of the stem are a large pink flowers, leaves ovate-shaped, asymmetric, and the edges are slightly serrated. The beam has a deep green color, becoming paler on the underside. It breeds in some thick bush and forest, but not as usual ground floor but rather rare and scarce. In Spain it can be found north of the province of Tarragona and the Sierra of Guadarrama.

FLOWERING

The plant flowers from April to late June. When ripe the fruit, he explodes through a simple mechanism, thus projecting the seeds around. The rhizome is the part that interested, but the leaves also contain active ingredients useful from the therapeutic standpoint. Collect the rhizome and once clean and stripped of their green parts should be made to dry quickly if you have better drying room, where the temperature should not exceed 40 grados CelsiusC. The whole plant is full of tiny glands that give off an intense perfume of orange, the same fragrance can be appreciated even though the plant is dry.

APPLICATIONS

The leaves and flowers are rich in substance. We have also found an alkaloid called dictamnina which is slightly toxic and exerts its actions mainly on the uterus. In fact, the plant is attributed abortifacient properties, although less intense than other plants of the same family. Has been popularly used as a digestive, stomach tonic and carminative. In the composition of the plant also are structures called furocoumarins, which are substances with photosensitizing properties, so it is not surprising that following close contact with the plant appears dermatitis, especially after touching there is exposure to ultraviolet rays sun. It is appropriate for their collection or use gloves if this is not possible, to avoid having wet skin and sun exposure. What more fame has given to this plant is its strong fragrance, which on hot days can reach flood the environment. As to the properties previously mentioned, you need to check to what extent has therefore not been sufficiently studied. Usually this happens with all medicinal plants are attributed in principle endless properties based on their shape, color, aroma, etc., but as they are studying, they will discard.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion. With white sheets opinion can make a tea, at a rate of 1g. Freshly collected fresh leaves per cup of hot water. This infusion will take two cups a day after the main meals. You can prepare this tea from the fresh bark of the root, obtaining the same effects.
Decoction. At a rate of 2-3%, leaving prepares to boil the plant in water for a while. If we start from the dried plant, the proportion of active ingredients substantially reduces, and should therefore increase the time of decoction.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Rutaceae
HABITAT: North Tarragona
FLOWERING: April
PART USED: Leaves and root bark
CASTILIAN: Fresnillo, fraxinela
CATALAN: Dictam, lletinó

USES

Mild toxicity, Abortifacient Leve, Mild stomach tonic, .