MEDICINAL PLANTS

The guillom is a shrub that can easily reach 2 m high. Its branches are flexible and resilient, reddish younger. The leaves have a reddish tinge on the beam, which is oval and has a petiole which represents one fifth of the total length of the leaf, these same leaves have veins embossed on the underside, while the the beam are forming depressions. Along the stem the leaves are arranged facing each other. One grows in rocky places or in the same rocks, mainly in calcareous soils, from the Pyrenees to Andalusia.

FLOWERING

Within the same bush are male and female flowers, separate and distinct, are greenish yellow and curiously flowering occurs before leaving the leaves in March, being able to see so few male catkins that, after completing the mission pollination, fall the ground; the women, meanwhile, are retained to form the fruit. Harvesting for medicinal purposes mainly interested in the branches of the cortex. The collection is made in the spring, when collecting the bark, which is the used-and then carrying out the drying in the shade below 40 degrees C in well ventilated areas.

APPLICATIONS

It is used practically all the bark from the branches, possibly that of younger ones. The leaves are large number of flavonoids, responsible for its marked hypotensive action, so it is used in cases of mild to moderate hypertension. If you look carefully at the leaves, observe the presence of essential oils, an example is the betulinol, containing a certain febrifuge action, so their use as antipyretic good results. There are tannins in the bark, whose ratio can vary between 10 and 20% give it astringent and choleretic action, so it is used for liver problems. The sap has diuretic and antirheumatic, hence the processes used in gout and rheumatism. In Catalonia and neighboring land this plant is used to lower blood, ie, as a species clearly hypotensive.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion of the bark. Are added 35 grams of bark to a quart of water, leaving it in contact with water from the fire and boiled for ten minutes to reach 40 grados CelsiusC was added one gram of sodium bicarbonate, thereby increasing their effectiveness. You can take a total of three cups day.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Rosaceae
HABITAT: Rocky places
FLOWERING: March
PART USED: Bark of the branches
CASTILIAN: Guillomera
CATALAN: Pomerola, arbre de roca

USES

Moderate hypotensive, Mild inflammatory.