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Medicinal Herb Profiles

Fumitory – Herbal Uses and Benefits

Botanical Name for Fumitory: Fumaria officinalis.

One of the plant’s English common name “earth smoke” is a direct translation of the old Latin name of the plant, “fumes terrae”. It refers to the shape and color the plant’s gray-blue haze foliage which can from afar resemble smoke rising from the ground.

Other Common Names: Common fumitory, drug fumitory, hedge fumitory, earth smoke, wax dolls, fumaria (Spanish), reykjurt (Icelandic), Gewöhnlicher Erdrauch (German), fumeterre officinal (French), jordrøyk (Norwegian), jordrök (Swedish), jordrøg (Danish), peltoemäkki (Finnish).

Habitat: Fumitory is originally native to Europe and North Africa, but has been introduced to Asia, North America and Australia.

Description: Fumitory is a 10-50 cm tall, annual herbaceous plant that is usually classified in the poppy family (Papaveraceae) but has sometimes been placed in a plant family of its own (Fumariaceae).

The plant has smooth, thin and soft stems with gray-blue leaves. The flowers are purple-pink and bloom from April to October in the northern hemisphere. The fruits are spherical nuts (achenes).

Plant Parts Used: The entire plant, except the root, has been used in herbal medicine.

The plant material is collected at the beginning of flowering period and dried for later use in extracts, teas, pills (capsules), eye lotions and tinctures.

The herb has a bitter and salty taste, and the plant juice has a strong distinctive smell.

fumitory herb
Fumitoy Herbal Applications

Health Benefits and Medicinal Applications of Fumitory

Active Ingredients and Substances: Fumotory contains few toxic alkaloids, fumaric acid, flavonoids, chlorogenic and caffeic acid, bitters, tannins, mucilage, amino acids and resins.

Fumitory History and Uses in Folk Medicine

Fumitory is a plant that has followed humans as a weed in fields and gardens for centuries.

The herb has been used as an herbal medicine since times of the Roman Empire or even before that and from the Middle Ages to the 18th century it played a prominent part in traditional herbal medicine.

The Greek physician and pharmacologist Pedanius Dioscorides (40 – 90 AD) mentions the herb in his “De Materia Medica”, an important document on botany and pharmaceuticals and Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) wrote in his last work “Naturalis Historia” that rubbing the eyes with the sap or latex of fumitory produces tears in the same manner as acrid smoke.

In herbal medicinal literature from the 1400th and 1500th century the herb was recommended for arthritis, liver and spleen disorders and wound and rash healing.

Both Nicholas Culpepper (1616-1654), an English botanist and herbalist and Maud Grieve (1858-1941), also an English herbalsit, valued it highly for serious conditions such as liver disease and leprosy.

It was also used in folk medicine as a treatment for jaundice and as an allopathic medicine.

A Magic Herb

In ancient times, fumitory was regarded to have magical powers. The plant was burned in bonfires because it was believed that the smoke from the plant could protect against witchcraft and expel evil spirits.

According to an ancient legend the plant first come to be, not from a seed, but from a vaporous smoke rising from the earth.

Medicinal Uses in Recent Times

Fumitory Fumaria officinalis
Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) – Illustration ©The Herbal Resource
Fumitory is not used to great extent in modern day herbal medicine but it still has some medicinal applications. The herb is regarded to have diaphoretic (sweat-inducing), diuretic and blood purifying properties.

Animal studies support some of the traditional use in humans, and have shown that the herb may have a certain blood pressure lowering, slight diuretic and laxative effect.

The herb is used as a tonic to increase appetite, and it is believed to stimulate the smooth muscles of the intestines and thus strengthen peristalsis. It is also used as a tea as an herbal remedy for intestinal parasites.

In addition, the herb is thought to promote the function of both the liver and the gallbladder and have antispasmodic effect on the valve which opens and closes off the bile flow to the duodenum, thus normalizing the bile flow.

Therefore, it is sometimes used internally as a remedy for biliary colic (pain due to a gallstone temporarily blocking the bile duct) and migraine associated with digestive problems. In Germany, fumitory is approved for the treatment of biliary colic.

External Uses

Fumitory has for a long time been used to treat skin ailments such as rash, chronic eczema, psoriasis, scabies and acne. These uses may be due to the alleged purifying and detoxifying effect the herb is believed to have on the kidneys and liver, but it may also be due to the content of the fumaric acid.

Traditionally, the herb has been used in combination with the leaves of walnut (Juglans regia) as an external treatment for wounds, cuts and scrapes.

The herb is sometimes recommend as a remedy for hemorrhoids by adding the dried herb in a bath water or as a extraction in hot water as a eyewash for conjunctivitis.

Dosage and Administration

As an herbal infusion (tea): Add one or two teaspoonfuls of the dried herb to one cup of boiling water and allow it to soak for 15 minutes before straining. Three cups a day is often recommended for therapeutic benefits.

As a tincture: 1 to 2 ml three times daily.

Possible Side Effects and Interactions of Fumitory

Fumitory should only be used in small amounts. The herb has toxic effect in large doses and can cause severe diarrhea, muscle cramps and breathlessness.

If the herb is intended for therapeutic reasons is is advisable to do so under the care of a licensed herbalist or other health care provider knowledgeable about medicinal herbs.

Until more research is carried out to document the herb’s safety, it is advised that children and pregnant or breastfeeding women do not use it.

Supporting References

Barnes, Joanne; Linda A. Anderson & J. David Phillipson: Herbal Medicines. A guide for healthcare professionals. Second edition. London, Pharmaceutical Press 2002.
Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
Hoffmann, David: The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal. Shaftesbury, Element Books 1996.
Skidmore-Roth, Linda: Mosby’s Handbook of Herbs & Natural Supplements. St. Louis, Mosby 2001.
Volák, Jan & Jiri Stodola: The Illustrated Book of Herbs. London, Caxton Editions 1998.

Pheasant’s Eye Herb Uses and Toxicity

Botanical Name: Adonis vernalis.

The plant genus that pheasant’s eye belongs to is named after Adonis, a young man of great beauty which according to Greek mythology was loved by the goddess Aphrodite.

When he was killed by a wild boar it caused Aphrodite great sorrow and according to legend her tears were transformed into the beautiful pheasant’s eye flowers.

Other Common Names: Spring adonis, false hellebore, spring pheasant’s eye, sweet vernal, ox-eye, arontorpsros. (Swedish), ojo de perdiz (Spanish), adonis du printemps (French), Frühlings-Adonisröschen (German), troldøje (Danish), våradonis (Norwegian), kevätruusuleinikki (Finnish).

Habitat: Pheasant’s eye has its native range from the Black Sea and to the east through southern Siberia and towards the Altai mountains in central Asia.

The plant is also found in grassy mountainous areas in the south of Germany and Central and Eastern France.

It is often cultivated as an ornamental plant and thrives best in dry calcareous and well drained soil in semi shade or full sun.

Pheasant’s eye is a rare plant in most of its native range and it is therefore legally protected from foraging in most countries.

Plant Description: Pheasant’s eye is a perennial plant that belongs to the buttercup or crowfoot family (Ranunculaceae). It grows to 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) in height with light green leaves and smooth stems.

The beautiful yellow flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees, flies and beetles. The plant is self-fertile.

The flowers turn constantly toward the sun and close every night. They stay also closed in cloudy and rainy weather.

The plant is in bloom from March to May, and the seeds usually ripen from May to June. The seeds are spread by ants.

Pheasant’s eye is a very beautiful and distinctive plant when it is in flower, and the finely divided foliage makes the plant easy to recognize even when not in bloom.

Plant Parts Used: The above ground parts of the plant, apart from the leafless lower part of the stem, are used in herbal medicine.

The plant material is harvested every third year when the plant is in flower.

The plant material should be spread in a thin layer and dried quickly at temperatures of 50-60 ° C. During the drying the plant parts should be carefully turned several times.

Due to the herb’s toxicity, the collected material should be kept separated from other plants during the drying process.

The dried herb is odorless and used in tinctures and liquid extracts. The herb must be stored in containers with a tight lid to protect it from light and moisture. The herb has poor shelf life, and the stocks should be renewed every year.

Most of the herb used in herbal medicine comes from Eastern Europe and Russia.

Pheasant's Eye herb
Pheasant’s Eye Applications in Herbal Medicine

Therapeutic Benefits, Application and Properties of Pheasant’s Eye

Active Ingredients and Substances: Adonis vernalis contains a variety of cardiac stimulating glycosides (cardenolides), in concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.5%.

It also contains cymarin as the main active substance, small amounts of adonitoxin, flavonoids and 26 other cardenolides.

A Herb for the Heart and Cardiovascular System

Pheasant's Eye Adonis vernalis
Pheasant’s Eye (Adonis vernalis) – Illustration ©The Herbal Resource
Pheasant’s eye contains cardiac glycosides that are similar to those found in common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). These substances improve the effectiveness and performance of the heart while at the same time lowering the heart rate.

The herb is considered helpful as a remedy for impaired heart function, mitral stenosis (narrowing of the heart’s mitral valve) and edema (swelling due to excess fluid buildup) caused by heart failure or poor blood circulation.

Unlike foxglove, pheasant’s eye has a mild sedative effect on the heart, and the herb is usually prescribed when the heart beats too quickly or irregularly. The effect is faster than using foxglove, but more short-lived.

Since pheasant’s eye is less toxic than foxglove and as the herb does not accumulate in the body as much as foxglove does, the herb can be used over a long period of time. However, the practical application of it is somewhat limited, as its substances are absorbed in an uneven manner.

Other Medicinal Uses

The herbs is regarded to have diuretic, sedative, antiarrhythmic, cardiotonic and vasoconstriction properties

Pheasant’s eye has a long history of use as a medicinal herb and it is still included in the Pharmacopoeias (an official publication containing a list of medications) of many European countries.

In the past the herb was used as a folk medicine for sexually transmitted diseases, fever, menstrual pain, bladder and kidney stones, epilepsy and intestinal worms.

Today, it is often used in the treatment of low blood pressure and due to its diuretic action it can be useful as a remedy to to counter water retention (edema). The herb has also been used as an anti-epileptic drug and it is thought to be effective against rheumatism.

The German Commission E Monographs, a governmental regulatory agency that was founded in 1978, approves pheasant’s eye for arrhythmia, and heart palpitations due to anxiety.

The herb is included in a homeopathic remedy called Adonis that is used as a treatment for angina.

Dosage and Administration

When the herb is used to treat cardiovascular diseases, it is done in the form of standardized powder, or to less extent as a tincture. The doses must be accurate to avoid adverse side effects.

The average dose of the powder is 0.6 g. According to the German Commission E, single doses should not exceed 1 g and the maximum daily dose is 3 g.

Pheasant’s eye should never be used for self-medication. The herb or any substances extracted from it should only be used under the guidance of a professional health care provider and then only in the form of standardized ready-made preparations.

Side Effects and Possible Interactions of Pheasant’s Eye

Pheasant’s eye is toxic, even in relatively small doses. The herb can cause vomiting and diarrhea in small amounts and in large amounts it can paralyze both the heart and blood vessels.

Supporting References

Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
Hensel, Wolfgang: Medicinal Plants of Britain and Europe. London, A&C Black Publishers Ltd. 2008.
Príhoda, Antonín, Ladislav Urban & Vera Nicová: The Healing Powers of Nature. Leicester, Blitz Editions 1998.
Stuart, Malcolm: The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. London, Orbis Publishing 1979.
van Wyk, Ben-Erik & Michael Wink: Medicinal Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press 2004.
Volák, Jan & Jiri Stodola: The Illustrated Book of Herbs. London, Caxton Editions 1998.
Williamson, Elisabeth M.: Potter’s Herbal Cyclopaedia. Essex, Saffron Walden 2003.

Polypody Root – Medicinal Applications

Botanical Name: Polypodium vulgare.

The plant’s genus name Polypodium derives from the Greek words “poly” meaning many, and “padus” meaning foot referring to the richly branched roots (rhizomes).

Other Common Names: Common polydody, polypod, polypody root, adder’s fern, brake root, female fern, oak fern, rock brake, rock polypod, sweet fern, golden maidenhair fern, polipodio (Spanish), polypode commun (French), Engelsüss, Tüpfelfarn (German), kallioimarre (Finnish), almindelig engelsød (Danish), sisselrot (Norwegian), stensöta, baggesöta (Swedish), köldugras (Icelandic), kou-chi (Chinese).

Habitat: Common polypody is native to Europe, North Africa, East Asia and eastern N. America. It is an introduced species in New Zealand.

The fern is often found growing in cracks in stones and old man-made walls, on forest floor and in rocky undergrowth.

It thrives best in humid, shaded or semi-shaded locations and prefers sandy soils. It does not grow well in lime.

Description: Polypody is a perennial 10-30 cm tall fern with evergreen fronds (leaves or leaf-like parts of ferns) that grow from a network of spreading rhizomes. The frond produces alternate triangular leaflets that become much shorter at the end of the frond.

The sori, a spherical, dot-like clusters of sporangia (produces and contains the spores in ferns and fungi), are formed on the undersides of the leaflets. The sori are first yellow or orange in color but become dark gray as they mature. The spores mature and spread in spring.

Plant Parts Used: It is the rhizome (root) that is used in herbal medicine.

The rhizomes are preferably collected late in the fall (October-November) and are eaten fresh or dried for later use in the form of decoction, liquid extracts and tinctures.

The rhizome has a sweet and licorice-like taste.

polypody herb
Polypody – Medicinal Herb

Health Benefits, Uses and and Claims of Polypody Root

Active Ingredients and Substances: Polypody contains saponin glycosides based on polypodosaponin (osladin and polypodoside A), echysteroids (polypodine A and B, inocosterone, pterosterone and abutasterone), phloroglucinol derivatives, essential oil, fatty oil and tannins.

The sweet licorice-like taste is due the substance osladin, which is very similar to glycyrrhizin found in liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

The rhizomes contain around 15% sucrose and 4% glucose.

Traditional Uses and Medicinal Applications in the Past

As herbal medicine, common polypody has been used ever since ancient times.

The Greek physician Hippocrates (450 BCE to 380 BCE) used the herb as a remedy for ailments associated with women’s health and Pedanius Dioscorides (40 – 90 AD), a Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist referred to it as a laxative and also wrote that it could be used to clear mucus from the lungs.

Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus) (AD 23 – AD 79), a Roman author and philosopher also recommended polypody as a laxative, and stated that the finely powdered root could be inhaled in order to treat nasal polyps.

Due to the rhizome’s sweet licorice-like flavor, it was once widely used as a kind of substitute for candy, a tradition that was very common and well known among the Saami people in Scandinavia.

In the past, polypody was used as an herbal remedy for ailments such as tuberculosis, gout, scurvy, abdominal pain and indigestion.

It was also used to induce sweating and urination but the herb had the strongest reputation as a a traditional remedy for coughs, the common cold and sore throat. These uses were also known by the Native Americans who chewed on the root and sucked the plant juice as a treatment.

Modern Day Medicinal Applications of Polypody Root

Common Polypody Polypodium vulgare
Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) – Illustration ©The Herbal Resource
Polypody it thought to stimulate bile production and it is regarded to have expectorant, diuretic and mild laxative properties.

Based on the herb’s alleged liver stimulating effect, it can be useful as a natural treatment for diseases like jaundice and hepatitis. In addition, it may be helpful as a remedy for indigestion and lack of appetite.

The herb is considered a safe remedy to use as a treatment for constipation in children, and was also previously used to treat intestinal parasites, especially tapeworms. Polypody has also the reputation to have blood cleaning and anti-rheumatic action.

Due to the herb’s expectorant properties it can be used to treat (in the form of herbal tea) respiratory ailments such as dry cough, bronchitis, catarrhs and other infections of the respiratory system. Polypody is often used in this regard in combination with marshmallow (Althaea officinalis).

Externally, the crushed fresh or dried powdered rhizomes can be applied on minor cuts, scrapes and wounds to speed up healing and reduce inflammation. Furthermore, the herb has been used as a remedy for psoriasis.

Polypody as Food

The rhizomes (roots) can be eaten fresh or used as a flavoring in soups and stews.

Since the substance osladin breaks down when exposed to high temperatures and prolonged cooking, it is best to add the rhizomes to the dish after cooing and allow them to soak for few minutes in the pot.

The rhizomes can also be ground and used as a substitute or addition to regular flour. This use was well known in the past and often done in the times of famine.

Dosage and Administration

Herbal cough medicine recipe: Add one or two tablespoons of the dried root or 20cm (8 inches) of minced fresh rhizome to one deciliter (half a cup) to hot (not boiling) water. Allow to steep for 15 minutes before straining. The recipe can be divided into 3-4 daily doses.

Herbal remedy for constipation: Boil 20 cm (8 inches) of the fresh rhizomes (or three tablespoons of the dried and finely chopped root) in 1.5 deciliter of water (one cup) for five minutes. Allow to soak for 3 hours before straining. Divide the brew into few daily doses. The laxative effect is due to the saponins present in the rhizomes.

Side Effects and Interactions of Polypody Root

Prolonged and excessive intake of polypody can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Some people may experience minor rashes after external use of the herb. The reason for this is unknown and the rash appears to be harmless and quickly disappear.

Supporting References

Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
Chevallier, Andrew: Damms store bok om medisinske urter. Oslo, N. W. Damm & Søn 2003.
Nielsen, Harald: Lægeplanter og trolddomsurter. København, Politikens Forlag A/S 1976.
Williamson, Elisabeth M.: Potter’s Herbal Cyclopaedia. Essex, Saffron Walden 2003.

White Dead Nettle Uses for Medicinal Purposes

Botanical Name: Lamium album.

Other Common Names: Blind nettle, stingless nettle, archangel, white nettle, ortiga muerta (Spanish), lamier blanc (French), Weisse Taubnessel (German), valkopeippi (Finnish), døvnælde (Danish), døvnesle (Norwegian), vitplister (Swedish), ljósatvítönn (Icelandic).

Habitat: White dead nettle is native to most of Europe and Central and North Asia. It has also been introduced and become naturalized in Eastern North America.

The plant prefers nitrogen-rich soils and it is often located on roadsides, around hedges, in forests, shrubby areas and in waste-places.

Description: White dead nettle is an herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae).

It grows to 20-50 cm high tall with horizontal rhizomes. The hairy, green and erect stems are hollow and four angled.

The alternate leaves are broad, heart-shaped and coarsely serrated. They look somewhat similar to the leaves of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) but do not sting hence the English common name “dead nettle”. These two plants belong to different plant families and are not related.

The white flowers are produced in whorls and are located on the upper part of the stem above the top leaves. The flowers attract various insects but mostly bees. The small seeds are spread by ants

Plant Parts Used: The above ground parts of the plant are used in herbal medicine. The plant is collected when in bloom and used fresh or dried at temperature up to 35 ºC for later uses. It has a sweet smell and a slightly bitter taste.

The young leaves can be eaten, raw or cooked. They can be added to salads or cooked as vegetables. The leaves can also be dried for later use as food. They are a good source of vitamin A.

The sweet nectar can be sucked directly from the narrow end of the small white flowers.

white dead nettle herb
White Dead Nettle – Medicinal Herb

Health Benefits and Medicinal Applications of White Dead Nettle

Active Ingredients and Substances: White dead nettle contains tannins, mucus, essential oil, saponins, choline, biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine and methylamine), flavonglycosides (e.g isoqueritrine), phenylpropanoid glycosides, chlorogenic acid.

It also contains rutoside, quercetin and kaempferol and iridoid glycosides (lamalbid, alboside A and B, and caryoptoside).

White Dead Nettle Uses in Herbal Medicine

White dead nettle has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries in Europe. Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a German abbess, writer and Christian mystique, was a great admirer of the herb and mentioned its benefits and healing properties in her writings.

The herb is believed to have astringent, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and soothing properties.

White dead nettle is primarily regarded as a “woman’s herb” and it has been used as an herbal remedy for painful and irregular periods, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), vaginal discharge, and as a tonic for the uterus.

The herb does also have other applications than those related to ailments associated with women’s health.

White Dead Nettle (Lamium album)
White Dead Nettle (Lamium album) – Illustration ©The Herbal Resource
It is thought to nourish and have overall positive effect on the urinary tract system and it has been used as a natural treatment for urinary tract infections and difficulty with urination in both women and men.

Because of herb’s astringent properties, it can be helpful in treating diarrhea, hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

A tea made from the dried leaves of white dead nettle has been used as an expectorant agent, cough suppressant and to sooth minor inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth and the pharynx (a membrane-lined cavity behind the nose and mouth).

Externally, the plant has been used as a home remedy for skin rashes, eczema and acne.

Dosage and Administration

Herbal tea can be made by adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of the fresh or dried herb in boiling water. Allow the herb to soak for 5-10 minutes before straining.

For therapeutic purposes it is often recommended to drink one cup tree times a day.

Side Effects and Interactions of White Dead Nettle

White dead nettle is categorized as a “safe herb”. No contraindications, side effects or interactions with conventional medications or other medicinal herb have been reported.

Caution is advised when collecting the plant from the wild due to its resemblance to stinging nettle.

Supporting References

Blumenthal, Mark: The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Austin, Texas, American Botanical Council 1998.
Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
Chevallier, Andrew: Politikens bog om lægeplanter. København K, Politikens Forlag A/S 1998.
Heino, Raimo: Våra läkande växter. En naturlig väg till ett friskare liv. Stockholm, Bokförlaget Prisma 2001.

Orach Uses and Benefits

Botanical Name: Atriplex hortensis.

There exists numerous cultivars of orach. The most common is red mountain spinach or red orach (Atriplex hortensis var. rubra), a cultivar with deep beetroot-red leaves and flowers.

Other Common Names: Garden orache, arrach, garden arrach, mountain spinach, butter leaves, French spinach, armuelle (Spanish), arroche des jardins (French), Gartenmelde (German), tarhamaltsa (Finnish), havemelde (Danish), hagemelde (Norwegian), trädgårdsmålla (Swedish), uu qian bo cai (Chinese).

Habitat: Orach is native to Europe and Asia. It has been cultivated for centuries and is now widely naturalized in many countries with temperate climate.

Orach is an easy plant to grow, and it thrives in normal garden soil and prefers full sun. Red orach should be planted in partial shade as the leaves can become scorched in full sun.

The plant produces the largest and juiciest leaves when planted in moist and nutritious soil. The plant is propagated with seeds and as it grows very rapidly, it can be sown twice during the summer to ensure an ample supply of young leaves.

Description: Orach is a hardy annual plant belonging to the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) that can reach 50-150 cm in height, depending on the soil and the cultivar. It has an erect branching stem with scattered or opposite, triangular leaves with shallow toothed edges.

The leaves of garden orach (Atriplex hortensis) are green but other varieties can have red or yellow-green leaves.

Orach blooms from July to August with small and inconspicuous flowers that sit in clusters on the top of the stem. The flowers are uni-sexual (dioecious), with flowers of both sexes on the same plant. The flowers are wind pollinated.

The black seeds are small and enclosed in a thin, light-yellow membrane. The seeds can retain their germination capability up to three years.

Plant Parts Used: The young leaves are used as vegetable and to some extent as a medicinal herb.

The leaves can be harvested throughout the summer and used fresh or cooked in similar manner to spinach. The leaves is not particularly suitable for drying or freezing.

Orach herb
Orach (Atriplex hortensis)

Health Benefits, Culinary Uses and Medicinal Applications of Orach

Active Ingredients and Substances: Orach is loaded with of minerals and vitamins, especially iron and vitamin C. In addition, the plant contains triterpene saponins, flavonoids, betalain and oxalate.

Traditional Uses

Orach Atriplex hortensis
Orach (Atriplex hortensis) – Illustration ©The Herbal Resource
During the Iron Age (c.1050 BC – c.500 AD) and the Middle Ages, orach was used both as food and medicine, and it is considered one of Europe’s oldest kitchen herbs. There are records that show that the herb was used in ancient Greece for ailments related to the “glands” and as a remedy for boils,

Henrik Harpestræng (died 1244), a Danish botanical and medical author recommended the herb for jaundice and shingles and the Danish humanist Henrik Smith (1495 – ca. 1563) wrote; “there are three kinds of orach, the bright green, the black and the red, and they all can be used in the kitchen as well as in the art of healing”.

It was believed that the crushed leaves soaked in honey water could cure jaundice and the red variety had the reputation of being useful for ailments related to menstruation and the menstrual cycle.

Externally, the crushed leaves were used traditionally as wraps for minor wounds, cuts and scrapes and to remove warts.

Medicinal Properties of Orach

Orach is consider to have invigorating, diuretic, emetic and laxative properties. Despite its medicinal properties it is a little-used herb in today’s herbal medicine

Since it belongs to the same family as spinach (Spinacia oleracea), it has many of the same medicinal properties and health benefits.

The herb stimulates nutritional uptake, and an extract (which does not taste particularly good) has been used as a spring tonic and an herbal remedy for fatigue and nervous exhaustion.

The herb has sometimes been used as a home remedy for sore throat and lung diseases and externally as a treatment for gout.

red orach herb
Red Orach (Atriplex hortensis var. rubra)

Orach Uses as Food

As a vegetable, orach is considered less valuable than spinach but has the advantage that it contains smaller amounts of oxalic acid.

Today, the plant is cultivated to some extent in France, where the herb is used as a vegetable in soups and stews.

The young leaves can be eaten raw and used as an addition in salads. The red variant gives a beautiful touch of color to the salad bowl.

Orach is not very aromatic, but the leaves have a mild and agreeable taste not unlike spinach and therefore fit well with other vegetables with sharper taste.

Older leaves should preferably be boiled before eaten, as they are a bit rough and bitter. The leaves of the red orach turn green when cooked.

The seeds are also edible. They can be ground to a flour and used in soups, or mixed with regular flour in bread making. The seeds are a good source of vitamin A but the disadvantaged is that the seeds very small and not easily collected in large amounts.

Dosage and Administration

No information is available regarding the dosages and doses of orach as an herbal medicine. The herbs is therefore best used as a vegetable in moderate amounts.

Side Effects, Interactions and Toxicity of Orach

No species belonging to the plant genus Atriplex contain toxic substances and are all more or less edible.

However, if the plants are grown with fertilizers, they can contain harmful amounts of nitrate in the leaves.

The seeds contain small amounts of saponins, but although these substances are poisonous, they are only slightly absorbed by the body and are therefore rarely harmful.

Supporting References

Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
van Wyk, Ben-Erik & Michael Wink: Medicinal Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press 2004.
van Wyk, Ben-Erik: Food Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press 2006.

Ragwort – Traditional Uses and Toxicity

Botanical Name: Senecio jacobaea.

Other Common Names: Common ragwort, mare’s fart, tansy ragwort, ragweed, stinking willie, stinking nanny, dog standard, staggerwort, stammerwort, cankerwort, cushag, hierba de santiago (Spanish), herbe-de-saint-jacques, cinéraire (French), Jacobs-Greiskraut (German), eng-brandbæger (Danish), landøyda (Norwegian), stånds (Swedish).

Habitat: Ragwort is Native to Europe, North Africa, Caucasus and Western Asia. The plant has been introduced to North and South America, Australia and New Zealand.

The plants thrives best in dry and rather nutrient-poor soil and can usually be found in cultivated fields, grazing pastures, along ditches and roadsides

The plant is regraded as a troublesome and often very dangerous weed and in some Australian states, farmers and landowners are required by law to the keep the plant at bay or eradicate it.

In New Zealand, farmers sometimes use helicopters to spray their farms with herbicides or they introduce the ragwort flea beetle to the affected area if ragwort is too widespread.

Description: Ragwort is a 40-80 cm tall, biannual (can exhibit perennial properties under the right conditions) that belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). The plant has erect, stiff and tough stems and thick roots.

The upper part of the stem is usually highly branched and produces many flower heads. The hermaphrodite bright yellow flower heads form dense, flat-topped clusters. The plant is in bloom from June to November (northern hemisphere). Pollination is done by bees, flies, moths and butterflies.

The green leaves are pinnately lobed and have rather unpleasant smell which explains some of the plant’s English common names like stinking willie, stinking nanny and mare’s fart.

Plant Parts Used: In the past, the above ground parts of the plant were used for medicinal purposes. The plant was usually harvested during the flowering period and used fresh or dried for later use.

ragwort herb
Ragwort – A Poisonous Plant

Health Benefits and Medicinal Applications of Ragwort

Active Ingredients and Substances: Like many plant species belonging to the genus Senecio (ragworts and groundsels), common ragwort contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (seneciphyllin, senecionine, jacodin, jaconine, jacobine, jacozine, otosenine and retrorsine).

Other ingredients in the herb are flavone glycosides, resins, mucilage and mineral salts.

The essential oil extracted form the plant contains germacrene D and 1-undecene as the main ingredients, but it also contains 1-nonen, myrcene, ocimene and beta-caryophyllene.

Traditional Uses

In the past, ragwort did have some medicinal uses, especially in England.

In folk medicine, the herb was used externally (mixed with pig fat) as an ointment for relieving pain in the arms, hips and legs.

The plant was also used to treat throat inflammation in humans and in horses. A poultice made from the plant was laid on the throat, or it was infused in water and used as a gargle.

One of the old English name for ragwort is “stammerwort”, referring to the common believe that it could be used to treat stuttering.

Until recently, ragwort extract was used internally as an herbal remedy for coughs and colds.

It was also used in the past to relieve pain related to sciatica, rheumatism, arthritis and gout, often in combination with wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) and lobelia (Lobelia inflata). These traditional uses were also know in the U.S.

Ragwort was applied on boils to get them to open up and in some parts of England, a branch of ragweed was worn as protection against variety of infectious deceases.

Medicinal Properties of Ragwort

Ragwort Seneca jacobaea
Ragwort (Seneca jacobaea) – Illustration ©The Herbal Resource
Ragwort is closely related to common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and has similar medicinal properties and applications.

Ragwort is thought to have purifying, sudorific and antipyretic properties. The plant is also regarded to have cooling and astringent effect.

Ragwort may be useful in treating burns, sores and eye infections and it may also be helpful as a gargle to treat mouth ulcers and sore throat. In addition, it is thought to ease the pain of bee stings.

A homeopathic preparation is made from the plant. It is used to treat variety of health conditions such as intestinal worms, internal bleeding, menstrual disorders and other female related ailments.

Despite its medicinal properties ragwort is a highly poisonous plant that should never be used internally in any form or externally on open wounds. The plant can also cause skin rashes in sensitive people just by a simple touch.

Dosage and Administration

Ragwort should never be used internally and it is regarded to be unsuitable as a medicinal herb due to its toxicity so any self medication of the herb is advice against and can result in serious side effects.

Side Effects, Interactions and Toxicity of Ragwort

Most plant species in the genus Senecio are potentially poisonous, and ragwort is probably the one considered most dangerous.

The herb contains a wide range of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids and cyclic diesters. These substances are carcinogenic and can cause severe liver damage (necrosis and cirrhosis) both in humans and animals.

Domestic grazing livestock normally avoids the plant in pasture and fields but hay can easily become contaminated with ragweed and pose serious health concerns. The toxic alkaloids are not destroyed by drying and because the toxins accumulate in the body, small doses ingested over long period of time can eventually lead to deadly poisoning.

Symptoms of ragwort poisoning in animals are digestion system failure, restlessness, hepatitis, blindness, shaking of legs or leg tremors and eventually total collapse. These symptoms can appear in few days to several weeks or even months. Once the symptoms have manifested, the animals usually die within days.

In the 1930s it was discovered that the so-called “Pictou cattle disease“, a liver disease particularly affecting cows, was due to ragwort.

In several countries, serious poisoning in humans has been reported when food grains have been contaminated with seeds from different Senecio species.

Some researchers believe that the high rate of liver cancer in rural Africa is caused by large amounts of ragweed in uncleaned bread grains.

Symptoms of poisoning in humans can be abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, enlarged liver, apathy and abnormal weight loss.

People have also been poisoned indirectly by consuming milk or honey that is contaminated with ragwort.

There is no specific treatment for ragwort poisoning, only general symptom relief and treatment of digestive disorders and liver damage.

Like so many plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), can ragwort cause allergic reaction (contact dermatitis) in sensitive people.

Supporting References

Barker, Julian: The Medicinal Flora of Britain & Northwestern Europe. Kent, Winter Press 2001.
Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
Hatfield, Gabrielle: Hatfield’s Herbal. London, Allen Lane 2007.
Stary, Frantisek & Zdenek Berger: Poisonous Plants. Leicester, Magna Books 1995.
Turner, Nancy J. and Adam F. Szczawinski: Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America. Portland, Timber Press 1997.
Williamson, Elisabeth M.: Potter’s Herbal Cyclopedia. Essex, Saffron Walden 2003.

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