MEDICINAL PLANTS

The bear's ear is a perennial plant framed within the family gesneriáceas. It is usually dry in summer reciura to re-emerge with the autumn rains. It has a short rhizome and a good head of fibrous roots. The leaves are all basal, forming a tight rosette applied on the rocks, so these leaves are ovate and narrow at the base to form the corner. The flowers are borne on scape that runs down the center of the rosette and usually do not exceed the height span. The fruit is an ovoid capsule containing numerous minute seeds. One grows on limestone cliffs of Catalan and Aragonese Pyrenees.

FLOWERING

It blooms from May to July inclusive. In his collection for medicinal purposes interested in the whole plant, especially leaves. These have the rough edge and are prominent veins on the underside, deepened and forming rolls on the upper face. They should be collected before the plant blooms, it is in this period when they perform their activities more closely. Once harvested are dried in drier at very high temperatures and then stored in airtight jars. When we collect is the entire plant should proceed similarly.

APPLICATIONS

The composition of the bear's ear is not known at this time. The old botanists not know this plant and it was not until the mid fifteenth century when people began to talk about it. Was used in folk medicine to combat all kinds of cold-related ailments. Thus, it was used as a pectoral, balsamic and antitussive. Even for a time was used to fight rebel cough, hence the name Yerva tussera, named for the Spanish of that era. A treaty was then stated that water from this plant (extracted through certain processes which are irrelevant to mention) served as a very effective remedy to break up stones in the bladder and kidneys. This does not exist under any other document, let alone any serious study about it, what makes us suspect that this action only exists in the imagination of the drafters. However, it shares a plant soft and almost free of side effects, which can be used without fear, just keeping the appropriate precautions.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion. From the leaves or whole plants can make a tea, and even cooking, taking the amounts that the physician deems necessary. It should soften a bit as it is bitter to the palate.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Gesneriaceas
HABITAT: Catalan and Aragonese Pyrenees
FLOWERING: May to July
PART USED: Leaves and whole plant
CASTILIAN: Hierba peluda
CATALAN: Borratja de roca

USES

Pectoral Moderate, Light Balsamic, Antitussive Leve.