MEDICINAL PLANTS

Shrub that can grow to five meters high and produces every year shoots that develop giving rise to new plants. Most characteristic of this plant is that it has hardened spines that act as deterrents in the case of wanting to pass through them, the reason that its cultivation is abundant farm as protection against human or cattle raids. The leaves consist of five lobes toothed, irregular size and serrated edge, the beam of which is green and a little more white underside. The leaf petiole is also equipped with sharp thorns and somewhat smaller than those presented in the main stem.

FLOWERING

Flowering occurs from May, with bouquets of flowers that come out only in the new branches this year. The petals are pink and are located at number five, its shape is round. Inside there are a high number of stamens. From its conception yields the known delay, which is botanically a berry, juicy, very dark, with numerous trails fructículos holding seeds. The fruit harvesting is done in the summer months, when fully ripe. As for the leaves, we proceed to collect the samples in the spring, if the party to collect are the flower buds will await its appearance in May.

APPLICATIONS

It contains tannins that give it an astringent and antidiarrheal action, as used in diarrhea and externally on wounds and skin ulcerations with subsequent improvement of them. It also contains sugar, pectin, inositol, lactic acid, oxalic acid and vitamin C, which together provide you with a diuretic, haemostatic and hypoglycaemic, why it is used in cases of diabetes, rheumatism, urolithiasis, oliguria, hemorrhoids .. . Its use is also effective in cases of stomatitis, vaginitis, pharyngitis, gingivitis and neuralgia, as it is considered to have good gastrointestinal anti-infective properties.

ADMINISTRATION

Decoction. Are added 35 grams of dried leaves to a quart of boiling water, leaving it in contact for two minutes in boiling, then remove from heat once, is left in contact for ten minutes and stirred. Then filtered, thereby obtaining a liquid which can take up to three cups a day.
Fluid extract. Forty drops are used in half a glass of water before each meal to alleviate pain and thus neuralgia.
Topical: Decoction. Add 20 grams to a liter of water, letting it boil for two minutes. Once filtered, the resulting liquid is applied on the wounds by using towels or preparing lotions. It is used in mouthwashes and gargles in case of pharyngeal disorders. Moreover, this liquid can be used in cases of vaginitis and vaginal irrigation.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Rosaceae
HABITAT: In hedges and banks
FLOWERING: May, June, July and August
PART USED: Leaves, flower buds and fruits
CASTILIAN: Zarzamora
CATALAN: Esbarzer
BASQUE: Kaparrarrte
GALICIAN: Sarça

USES

Antidiarrheal Strong, Diuretic Moderate, Hemostatic Moderate.