MEDICINAL PLANTS

The polygon amphibian can live in water or outside it. If you are on earth, its stem grows stiff and rarely reaches more than a foot high, by contrast, grows in water when the stems are much longer, sturdy and thick and up to 2 feet long with ease. The stems are full of knots, each of these nodes is born a leaf attached by a corner long enough. The leaves are very large, so between elongated and rounded, no hair and it looks brilliant. The amphibious polygon can be found only in the north of the Peninsula, because there is more moisture in the south, although not very frequently found in Spain.

FLOWERING

Flowers during the summer months. The flowers are at the end of the stem, are very small and grouped in spikes, are composed of five petals, 5 stamens and have the pestle in two styles that protrude from the flower. Their color is usually pink, more or less pale. The part used of this plant is the rhizome, which can be collected at any time of year but during the summer months its components are more active because they were in full bloom, so you should collect it in recent months to take over their properties .

APPLICATIONS

Both the leaves and the rhizome contain tannin. The rhizome has other substances among which the oximetilantraquinona. It's a pretty little plant in Spain so it was never widely used. In other countries has been used to lower inflammation, as it is capable of getting the body tissues, thus causing the swelling subsides. Formerly was used to purify the blood of potential infections, but today there is no evidence of any further use for this purpose. Its applications in pharmaceutical preparations are very rare and is usually replaced by other plants more abundant and active.

ADMINISTRATION

cooking. Cut the rhizome and placed about 30 gr. About one liter of water. It is cooked for 20 minutes. After slip all traces of the plant and allow to cool. If the taste is not very nice you can add sugar or honey. It takes three cups a day after meals.
Poultice. Rhizome is crushed and placed on a cotton cloth. Subject is well placed on the wound to heal.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Polygonaceae
HABITAT: Calm waters
FLOWERING: Summer
PART USED: Rhizome

USES

Astringency, Purifying Light, Healing Light.