Fireweed
Fireweed
Other Names:
Herb San
Antonio
, San
Antonio
Laurel
.
This beautiful mountains of Europe, in addition to brighten the view with its colorful, communicates
a
pleasant sweet taste of
herbal
teas made with it. In northern Europe is very much appreciated, and their tender shoots are eaten in salads.
Habitat:
spread throughout Europe and northern Asia. In Spain is in the mountains of northern,
central
and
Sierra
Nevada. One grows in cold mountain forests.
Description:
perennial plant of the
family
of Enoteráceas, whose rigid stem reaches 70 - 100 cms. tall. Its flowers have 4 petals and sepals 4 pink or
purple
alive.
Properties and indications:
the entire plant contains tannin, mucilage and pectin. It
has
astringent properties due to its tannin content, and emollients (desinflamar the skin and mucous membranes) thanks to its rich mucilages and pectin. Its most
common
applications are as follows:
Diarrhea
,
gastroenteritis
, and in general, all the inflammation of the
gastrointestinal
mucosa. In addition to its astringent effect, the
Epilobio
is anti - inflammatory. Short
diarrhea
, and abdominal discomfort disappear.
Stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucosa)
gingivitis
and
pharyngitis
: Implemented in mouthwashes and gargarismos
has
anti - inflammatory effect and leaves
a
pleasant
feeling
of freshness in the mouth.
Benign
prostatic
hyperplasia and treatment of
urinary
symptoms associated. Prevention and treatment of
influenza
. In topical use:
dermatitis
, stomatitis,
pharyngitis
, parodontopatías, wounds, skin ulcerations.
Use:
infuse with 50 grams of dried flowers and roots in
a
liter
of water, which takes 4 or 5 cups
a
day.
For external use and mouthwashes and gargarismos being undertaken with the same infusion to be used internally.
Used Part.
The flowers and root dry. of species Epilobium angustifolium L.
E
. parviflorum Schreb.
E
. hirsutum L.
E
. montanum L. and
E
. roseum Schreb. among others.
Active Principles.
Flavonoid derivatives kenferol, quercetol and miricetol (especially myricetin 3 - O - beta -
D
- glucuronide) Phytosterols: beta - sitosterol. Tannins elágicos macrocyclic: oenoteínas
A
and B (10 - 14%)
Drug Action.
The elagitaninos oenoteína
A
and B, more specifically, presenting an action antiadenomatosa
prostate
, by inhibiting the
activity
of the 5 alpha - reductase and aromatase, two enzymes involved in the aetiology of
benign
prostatic
hyperplasia (Ducrey et al; Lesuisse et al.
The tannins also have an astringent action (healing)
Anti - inflammatory:
the myricetin 3 - O - beta -
D
- glucuronide extracted from the leaves of Epilobium angustifolium L. experimentally introduced
a
powerful antiphlogistic action (more than ten times higher than that of indomethacin) and inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis (comparable to that of indomethacin) Hierman et al.
Excerpts hydroalcoholic and polyphenol fraction of
E
. hirsutum showed
a
significant inhibitory action of the
influenza
virus. And an increase in
nonspecific
defenses (Ivancheva et al.
The extract fluid Epilobium hirsutum presents an antitumor action in vivo (tumor ascítico Ehrlich, leucosis
P
- 80) Voynova et al.
Caution / Poisoning.
Take into account the
alcohol
content of the extract fluid.
Galenica forms / Dosage.
Infusion:
5 grams per cup. Three cups
a
day.
Dry extract (5:
1) 300 mg per Casula, one to three
a
day.
Fluid extract (1:
1) 30 - 50 drops, one to three times
a
day.
External use:
Glycolic extract (1:
5) in gels or creams.
Bibliography.
Ducrey B, Marston
A
; Göhring S; Hartmann RW; Hostettmann
K
. Inhibition of 5 alpha - reductase ellagitannins and
aromatic
by the oenothein
A
and B from oenothein Epilobium species.
Planta Med
, 63: 111 - 4, 1997 Apr.
Ivancheva S; Manolova N; Serkedjieva J; Dimov V, N. Ivanovska Polyphenols from Bulgarian medicinal plants with anti -
infectious
activity
. Basic Life Sci, 59: 717 - 28, 1992.
Lesuisse
D
; Berjonneau J; CIOTA
C
; Devaux
P
; Doucet B; Gourvest JF; Khemis B,
C
Lang; Legrand R; Lowinski M;
Machine
P
; Parent
A
, B Schoot; Teutsch G. Determination of oenothein B as the active 5 - alpha - reductase - inhibiting principle of the folk medicine Epilobium parviflorum. J Nat Prod, 59: 490 - 2, 1996 May.
Peris, JB; Stübing, G:
Vanaclocha, B. Applied
Fitoterapia
. Valencia: M. I. Official College of Pharmacists, 1995,
p
. 261.
Van Hellemont, J. Compendium of Phytothérapie. Bruxelles: Assotiation Pharmaceeutique Belge, 1986, pp. 143 - 4.
Voynova
E
, S Dimitrova; Naydenov
E
; KARADJOVA
P
. Inhibitory action of extracts of Maclure aurantiaca and Epilobium hirsutum on tumor models in mice. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulger, 17: 50 - 2, 1991.
Witchtl, M.
Herbal
Drugs and Phytopharmaceutical.
A
Handbook for Practice on
a
scientific basis. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 1994, pp. 185 - 7.
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