MEDICINAL PLANTS

Dove's foot is an annual herb that every year takes a long, narrow corner branched reddish stems which many knotty tear, full of very fine hairs and applied almost invisible. The leaves are held on a long stem and are divided into three or five segments very deep, following a palmate venation. The flowers are borne in pairs and are supported by a long common steel bar. The leaves are grassy flavor and mucilaginous notice anything. It breeds in slopes and uncultivated places, better if they are cool places.

FLOWERING

Flowering starts in April, stretching into the late summer in selected mountain areas. It produces flowers with pink petals that are located in the axils of the leaves individually. Harvesting takes place in late summer, collecting the entire plant. For better conservation are recommended a series of cuts across the grass to reduce the size of the portion to dry, in which case it proceeds to an operation much faster, thus improving the outcome. Its cultivation can be done both by seed and cuttings.

APPLICATIONS

Throughout the plant we can find a number of catechists tannins that give an astringent, thanks to which it is appropriate in cases of diarrhea and also to apply to the skin, and healing to thrush, mouth ulcers, gingivitis, pharyngitis, vaginitis, bruises and sores. It also contains polyphenols and to a lesser amount, you can detect the presence of essence. This makes it a good anti-infective gastrointestinal, because it acts against inflammation, is also a good styptic to be used in cases of metrorrhagia, that is, urinary tract bleeding. Furthermore, it is considered that has some analgesic effect.

ADMINISTRATION

Decoction. Twenty-five grams are added to the dried plant to a liter of water, letting it boil for ten minutes, then proceed to make filtration. It can take up to three cups a day to get an effect as well as gastrointestinal anti-infective, along with an antidiarrheal effect.
Powder. It may take a gram of powdered herb due three times a day, being the most convenient and usual to the capsule.
Decoction for external use. It took forty grams of the herb, adding them to a quart of water and letting it boil for fifteen minutes. The liquid obtained after cooling to room temperature can be used to make douching or as a mouthwash.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Geraniaceae
HABITAT: Fresh slopes
FLOWERING: April
PART USED: Whole plant
CASTILIAN: Pico de palomas
CATALAN: Forquilles

USES

Antidiarrheal Moderate, Astringency, Mild Analgesics.