Selaginella,
Spikemoss
Only
one variety of Spikemoss has documented use in Herbal Medicine,
Selaginella tamariscina.
Four
are native to my region: Selaginella acanthonota (Spiny Spikemoss,
Sand Spikemoss), Selaginella apoda (Meadow Spikemoss), Selaginella
rupestris (Rock Spikemoss) and Selaginella tortipila. Two are
naturalized: Selaginella braunii (Treelet Spikemoss, Braun's
Spikemoss) and Selaginella kraussiana (Krauss's Spikemoss, Mat
Spikemoss).
Botany
in A Day tells us:
Medicinally,
the mashed plant can be simmered in milk and used internally or
externally for spider or snake bites.
Plants
for A Future states:
Medicinal
use of Selaginella tamariscina: The whole plant is astringent and
haemostatic. A decoction is used in the treatment of traumatic
bleeding, haemoptysis in pulmonary disease, gastro-intestinal
bleeding, metrorrhagia, haematuria, persistence of post-partum
lochial discharge, rectal prolapse and leucorrhoea.
Spirea,
Meadowsweet
Several
varieties of Spirea are used in Herbal Medicine. Five that are
shrub-form are native to my region: Spiraea alba (Narrowleaf
Meadowsweet), Spiraea corymbosa (Dwarf Spiraea, Rock Spiraea),
Spiraea latifolia (Broadleaf Meadowsweet), Spiraea tomentosa
(Steeplebush, Hardhack) and Spiraea virginiana (Virginia
Meadowsweet). Six have been naturalized, Spiraea japonica (Japanese
Meadowsweet), Spiraea prunifolia (Bridalwreath Spirea), Spiraea
salicifolia (Willowleaf Meadowsweet), Spiraea thunbergii (Thunberg's
Meadowsweet), Spiraea trilobata var. trilobata (Asian Meadowsweet,
Three-lobed Spiraea) and Spiraea ×vanhouttei [cantoniensis ×
trilobata].
King’s
American Dispensatory of 1898 states:
This
is a beautiful shrub, common in low grounds and moist meadows,
throughout the United States, flowering from May to August. The
herbaceous part is used, especially the leaves and bark. It has an
odor somewhat resembling that of black tea, and a very astringent,
bitter taste, which properties it imparts to boiling water in
infusion. It appears to contain tannic and gallic acid, volatile oil
and bitter extractive. The fruit is persistent, remaining through the
winter, and furnishing food for the snowbird.
Action,
Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Hardback has been found an excellent
astringent in summer complaint of children, diarrhoea, and other
diseases requiring this class of remedies, and is less offensive to
the stomach than most agents of this kind. It has likewise proved
efficient as a tonic in cases of debility, convalescence from
diarrhoea, dysentery, etc., and to improve the digestive functions.
Passive hemorrhages, and menorrhagia have been treated with it, while
as an injection good results have been obtained from its use in gleet
and leucorrhoea. It is generally given in infusion, the dose being 1
or 2 fluid ounces. A very elegant extract, not inferior to catechu,
may be made by carefully evaporating an infusion made by percolation,
and which may be given in doses of from 2 to 20 grains. A tincture,
well representing the virtues of spiraea, may be prepared from 8
ounces of the fresh leaves and bark to 1 pint of 76 per cent alcohol.
Photo:
Filipendula ulmaria 14.Related Species.—Spiraea Ulmaria, Linné.
This plant bears small white flowers in corymbs supported on long
peduncles. It is indigenous to Europe, where it is known as
Meadow-sweet and Queen of the meadow. It has been introduced into
this country and is frequently found in cultivation, in which case
the flowers are usually double. The chief constituent of this plant
is oil of meadow-sweet, first observed in 1835 by Pagenstecher. It is
heavier than water, strongly aromatic, solidifies at -20° C. (-4°
F.), and produces a deep-violet color with solution of ferric
chloride. It consists chiefly of salicylic aldehyde (C6H4OH.CHO)
(Dumas, Ettling, 1839), formerly called salicylous acid; some free
salicylic acid, a small quantity of methyl salicylate (Schneegans and
Gerock, 1892), and traces of piperonal (see Piperinum) and vanillin;
also very little of a camphor-like body and a terpene (Ettling).
According to Schneegans and Gerock, salicylic aldehyde does not
preexist in the flowers, but is formed during distillation by the
action of a ferment upon a substance as yet unknown; it is not
salicin. (See details regarding the chemistry of the oils obtainable
from the different parts and species of Spiraea, in Gildemeister and
Hoffmann, Die Aetherischen Oele, 1899, p. 550). This plant is
diuretic, astringent and tonic. It has been employed in fevers, like
Virginia snakeroot, in dropsy, and in retention of urine due to
prostatic enlargement. It relieves urino-genital irritation,
influences the prostate gland checking prostatorrhoea, and is useful
in gleet, chornic cervicitis, and chronic vaginitis with leucorrhoeal
discharges.
Spiraea
filipendula, Linné.—Europe. The pyriform or moniliform tubers
found upon the long radicles of this plant are reputed useful in
restraining excessive mucous discharges. Hydrophobia has also been
treated with it. The root contains sugar, starch, and tannin, and
when recent an essential oil, probably that common to other species
of Spiraea, and salicylic aldehyde, for the latter is known to be
present in the branches and leaves of this plant.
Spiraea
Aruncus, Linné.—Europe and United States. A perennial herb, with
slender racemes of many, small white blossoms. The herb has an
aromatic, bitterish, astringent taste, and the odor is pleasant. The
flowers, upon distillation with water, yield salicylic aldehyde,
while, the herb yields none, but produces hydrocyanic acid. (For
further details, see Gildemeister and Hoffmann, loc. cit.: also see
Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1892, p. 306.)
Botany
in A Day tells us:
Meadowsweet
is astringent, diuretic, and it contains methyl salicylate (similar
to aspirin or willow), used especially for arthritis, rheumatism and
urinary tract infections. Meadowsweet is becoming a popular herbs
because the salicylate content is much more reliable from plant to
plant than willow or poplars.
Plants
for A Future lists only Pirea alba:
Medicinal
use of White Meadowsweet: An infusion of the leaves is esteemed as a
restorative tonic.
Peterson
Field Guides Eastern and Central Medicinal Plants states:
Spirea
tomentosa: American Indians used leaf tea for diarrhea, dysentery;
flower and leaf tea used for morning sickness. Leaves and flowers
were once used to stop bleeding; also for leukorrhea. Other spireas
were used similarly.
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
