MEDICINAL PLANTS

This perennial plant is mainly characterized from the rhizome emerge because the leaves that remain on the base of the plant, while other stems are significantly longer at the ends of the flowers are born, but occasionally having a little leaf. The leaves are palmate venation and are divided into three or five portions, which have in turn with a series of dentitions in outline. They have a texture something robust, hairless. We locate in the northern half of the peninsula, especially in shady areas of oaks, canyons ...

FLOWERING

Flowering occurs in spring months, resulting in a very small flowers, whitish, but sometimes we can find or pinkish. They gather in groups of various flowers are arranged in the form of umbel. To collect, wait for the flowers bloom or are about to do.

APPLICATIONS

It contains a bitter substance that acts as a tonic when administered orally, topically but acts as an astringent on broken skin, thus achieving rapid healing and even complete healing of injuries. In its composition, we find other substances called saponins, which are capable of generating a certain amount of foam and is traditionally used in beverages to combat colds and mild flu-like processes. It has also detected a small amount of essence. The fresh whole plants at flowering time, contains a certain amount of vitamin C, considerably less than that seen after finishing the drying process. Vitamin C acts as a remedy for scurvy - a condition characterized by lack of intake of vitamin-almost eradicated in our day, but at times was quite common: it is characterized by falling one after another, each of the teeth. The disease usually was not to eat fresh produce, which were replaced by others of longer duration.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion. Five grams of leaves or whole plant when flowers bloom or about to be added to a liter of water, previously boiled, which is allowed to cool to room temperature, then filtered content. You can take a cup in the morning, another in the afternoon and another before bed, thus making alleviate cough and chest colds.
Decoction. He added five grams of the herb in a quart of water, letting it boil for ten minutes. The resulting liquid is used to make gargles, rinses to strengthen the gums and also to cure thrush.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Umbelliferae
HABITAT: Forest Pyrenees and Galicia
FLOWERING: Spring
PART USED: Leaves and whole plant
CATALAN: Sanícula
BASQUE: Ositxeka
GALICIAN: Sanícula

USES

Astringency, Moderate Vulnerary, Moderate Expectorant.