MEDICINAL PLANTS

The lesser burnet or grass ge-as popularly known, is a biennial or perennial plant belonging to the Rosaceae, plant family appreciated not only by the beauty of some flowers but also for understanding large number of species with numerous medicinal properties . This plant has stems 2 to 4 feet high, with angular stems and leaves composed of 4 to 12 pairs of leaflets, plus an odd in the extreme. The flowers are at the end of the stem and branches, grouped in showy clusters. One grows in uncultivated places, open woods and small roads of most of the country.

FLOWERING

The lesser burnet blooms from May. Harvesting for medicinal purposes only you look at the root: this should be collected in the early spring, or even to stop flowering when the plant begins to wilt. Once collected, we proceed to dry well, and later cut into pieces and store in airtight jars.

APPLICATIONS

Composition of lesser burnet know pretty soon now. Some subjects have been found tannins, which give the plant astringent, but the rest of the composition can not say more. In general, the use of this plant does not go much further than the actual substance of any astringent: sore throats, wounds, sores and diarrhea. In some villages in Spain, shepherds attach to this value as a unique herb healing. They also use leaves, crushed and applied as poultice. In some types of gastrointestinal complaints, with multiple bloody stools, certain preparations made from this plant provides excellent results. In short, this is one of the many plants that nature provides us, used since time immemorial, but with mild pharmacological actions. At least in the literature has not found any case where this plant is toxic, on the contrary, delving into his study, it appears that in some parts of Europe are added to the plant shoots to salads common, resulting in a dish very healthy. This custom is foreign to Spanish. Maybe in Catalonia was used as edible, but today has been relegated, as it is more convenient and nutritious to make a salad with any of the many vegetables that can be found in shops.

ADMINISTRATION

cooking. It is prepared with 40-60 gr. Burnet root in 1 liter of water. Let it boil the mixture for 1 / 4 h. And once hardened, is used to rinse, mouthwash and washing of sores or wounds. Leaf
crushed. Several leaves are pounded to a paste, which is applied to wounds, which dramatically accelerates healing.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Rosaceae
HABITAT: Places uncultured
FLOWERING: May
PART USED: Root
CASTILIAN: Hierba del cuchillo, hierba ge
CATALAN: Pinpinella
BASQUE: Gaitun
GALICIAN: Sanguinaria

USES

Astringency, Moderate Vulnerary, Antidiarrheal Leve.