MEDICINAL PLANTS

The mountain ash or rowan wild hunters is a beautiful tree with an oval crown and a height not exceeding 20 m. Its bark is smooth and grayish brown. Old branches are also gray, slightly less dark than younger ones. The leaves are alternate and imparipinnate and are four to seven pairs of lateral leaflets, oval or elongated and slightly toothed. The fruit is slightly larger than a pea and bright red. They are a colorful bunch. It breeds in the mountains of the Iberian Peninsula, usually mixed with oaks, beeches and firs.

FLOWERING

It blooms in May or into June. The fruits do not ripen until September, and it is from them that are extracted active ingredients utilized in medicine. These berries are prized for certain birds and may be the case that by going to collect them have disappeared completely, in fact, the Latin name "rowan" is derived from the term "aucupare" which means to hunt birds, as it were and are widely used by hunters to attract these birds. In any case, and always counting the birds leave us share these fruit-harvesting is usually done in September and October when the weather is fine still. Drying takes place in the sun or artificial dryers, without actually exceed 50 grados CelsiusC.

APPLICATIONS

Rowan berries contain various organic acids such as malic, citric and succinic. They also appear tannins, sorbitol, flavonoids, carotenoids and anthocyanin pigments. They are rich in vitamin C. In Spain, the fruit of this tree is not impressed by its medicinal virtues, but at other latitudes are attributed many properties: to cleanse and purify the blood, against coughing, hoarseness and bronchial catarrh, for gout, for induce menstruation, and so on. It has been very popular in folk medicine as diuretic remedy in case of kidney stones and rheumatism, and as a regulator of intestinal activity in both diarrhea and constipation. The consumption of these fruits is not indicated in case of obstruction of the bile ducts, and consumed in excessive quantities, the berries can be toxic. One more point: this tree and its fruit can be confused with other related species, that of the common mountain ash, whose fruits are very rough and intake as well, it becomes difficult if not treated before.

ADMINISTRATION

Given that the main virtue of the fruits of this tree is to be a good antidiarrheal, astringent, a good way to consume it in jam, fruit with boiling water and enough sugar. This jam is given sparingly and is an excellent remedy for diarrhea cut. In some countries the fruits ferment to produce various liquors.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Rosaceae
HABITAT: Mountains of the Pyrenees and Cantabrian mountains
FLOWERING: May and June
PART USED: Berries
CASTILIAN: Serbal de cazadores
CATALAN: Server de basc
GALICIAN: Escornabois

USES

Antidiarrheal Strong, Astringency, Anti-infective gastrointestinal Moderate.