MEDICINAL PLANTS

The saponaria is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the family of cariofiláceas. It can reach up to 3 feet high. It has a fleshy stem, thickened noticeably at the nodes where the leaves come in pairs. In late summer, the stem becomes very hard and takes a viscous color, especially in the lowest. Leaves more or less wide, lanceolate shaped and narrow to form a short corner. Different species of wet places, it is easy to find on riverbanks, thickets and banks of most of the country, although most often com in the north.

FLOWERING

Flowers in spring and summer, from May. Are collected for medicinal use the rhizome and roots primarily, but also stems can contain active ingredients. It is very important that the harvesting is done on older plants because the active ingredients that increase as the plant develops. Once collected the root and rhizome, shed their green parts and put the sun or in drying at a temperature not exceeding 65 grados CelsiusC.

APPLICATIONS

In the rhizome and root saponin found abundant, essentially, resin and a saponin glycoside, in the more underground, can be found at concentrations above 5%. It is an interesting plant with diuretic actions, balsamic, expectorant and sudorific, but it is necessary to warn that it is not free of adverse effects. Indeed, although it has been widely used in the cure of many ills, is now little used because of its potential toxicity: in higher doses than those indicated or susceptible humans can cause irritation of the digestive mucosa and depressed respiratory or cardiac nerve centers. In the pharmaceutical industry this plant is used to prepare many medicine with expectorant effects. It is used in the preparation of toothpaste, soap and powder cleaners. The maceration of the root causes frothy, especially after adding sodium bicarbonate. It is precisely this property which makes it interesting for industrial purposes.

ADMINISTRATION

Remember, its use is subject to medical control.
Decoction. Prepared from 15 gr. Root per liter of water. Boil for 2 minutes. The right dose is 1 cup per day, half an hour before meals. You can marinate it can be toxic.
Syrup. Prepared in the traditional manner, with 60 parts of sugar and 40 of water, then add enough of the root. It takes 1 to 3 tablespoons per day.
Extract. You can use 2% as a gargle.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Carciofiliaceas
HABITAT: In the north shores
FLOWERING: Spring
PART USED: Rhizome and root
CASTILIAN: Hierba jabonera
CATALAN: Herba sabonera saboneta
BASQUE: Txaboibelarr, txabo

USES

Strong diuretic, Balsamic Moderate, Moderate Expectorant.