MEDICINAL PLANTS

Cat's foot is a perennial herbaceous plant with creeping stem, horizontal, forming a dense turf due to their strong branching. Leaves awl-shaped ground and above are linear and are embracing the stem. The capitate flowers are arranged in terminal corymbs. This herb occupies a vast territory in central and northern Europe, penetrating even Siberia. Usually grows on dry slopes, edges of fields, meadows and forests, usually on sandy substrate. In the Iberian Peninsula can be found in the area of the Catalan Pyrenees and nearby mountains and in the Cantabrian mountain range.

FLOWERING

It blooms in late spring, almost going into the summer. Flower florets, harvested, within these there are a purplish color with white pistil and other hermaphrodites. The purplish flower heads are more valuable than white women. The collection should be done when the plant is flowering or about to bloom: they must cut the stem just below the capitulum; quickly be put out to dry in the shade and, once dried, store them in a dry place. The flower heads and dried, have a pleasant odor and bitter taste.

APPLICATIONS

The florets contain resin, tannic substances, fitosferina, a hydrocarbon and bitter principles. It is also abundant mucilage, flavonoids and potassium salts. In the presence of high amounts of mucilage, the cat's foot is credited with a significant antitussive and demulcent action, as part of the so-called pectoral species. It has also been shown to exert a remarkable action florets on the gallbladder, partly due to flavonoids that comprise it. It is therefore recommended its use in liver disease associated with bile secretion and in jaundice. It also has a diuretic effect, rather mild, because the potassium salts. Cat's foot is an alpine plant. Knowledge of its properties is relatively modern and that for many years been confused with similar species. Perhaps that is why today is not as well known as others.

ADMINISTRATION

Being a little-known plant until relatively recently not known forms of administration rather than infusion.
Infusion. Prepared by way of tea, for that added 30 gr. Of flower heads per liter of water, being able to take up to 3 cups a day. If what is sought are its beneficial effects on the secretion of bile, then you can triple the amount.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Composite tubulifloras
HABITAT: Mountains
FLOWERING: Late spring
PART USED: Capitate
CATALAN: Pota de gat, peu de gat

USES

Antitussive Strong, Mild diuretic, Mild Colagogo.