SAPONARIA

SAPONARIA

English: Soapwort.

French: Saponaire.

It is a perennial plant (who lives several years) with an underground stem (so - called rhizomes) that arise from the numerous shoots air, straight, cylindrical, green, though slightly reddish, a little more than half a meter in height. The leaves, two by two, one against another, there are some thickening of the stem (knots) very prominent. They are elongated, oval, finishing with the tip, with nervación parallel. The flowers, pale pink, with 5 beautiful petals, are clustered toward the top of the stems, flower stems arise from the same knots that the leaves. Pollination is carried out a moth that after sucking nectar with its long tongue, put the eggs inside the flower to ensure food for the larvae when they emerge from eggs. The fruit is a capsule which is elongated in the opening four cracks laying off the seeds. Its roots, long, branched hanging from the rhizome. They are able to find water which is very deep, so if planted in a garden, care should be taken with the neighboring plants, as it can steal all the water and also invade the entire land available. It is known also synonymous with grass.

LOCATION: It is a plant originating in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, although there are some species that live in the wild in interior regions of the Eurasian continent, but lack in America, Africa and Oceania. He lives in wetlands, swamp forests or on whose soil is rich in humus (organic matter resulting from the decomposition of plants low and falling of the leaves of trees)

COLLECTION: The flowering tops (ie, branches or stems that contain flowers and leaves) must be cut before flowering, when the buds are opening point, which usually occurs in early summer. The rhizome, however, started in the middle of must fall, immediately after drying the plant.

USES AND APPLICATIONS: We must act with great caution in the use of saponaria, because too much can be toxic. It is recommended to follow the advice, prescriptions and dosages given by specialists, who will be tailored to the needs of each individual person. However, it is worth mentioning the opportunities presented by our plant, at other times almost a panacea. In decoction with fresh or dried plant, is a good debugger. The root, chopped, also in decoction it is useful against cough. The rhizome, dry, has a very practical use for degreasing hair, just leave the whole night a piece of rhizome submerged in water, the next day, the water is soapy and may be tornado.

His name says everything (the Latin means toad soap) is the herb soap. Formerly, it was the root serve as soap, since it contains substances called saponins that produce foam on contact with water and was used for degreasing wool.

Sprig of saponaria, with details of their rhizomes and fruit. This plant has been cultivated since ancient times because, once crushed, serves as a substitute to soap. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry to prepare drops and syrups expectorants.

The water maceration of the rhizomes after adding sodium bicarbonate can be used as shampoo, because it produces a lot of foam.

Used Part.

The rhizome and roots.

Active Principles.

Abundant saponosides (5%) heterósidos of gipsogenina, essential oil, resin.

Drug Action.

Mucolytic, expectorant, antitusívo. Anti - inflammatory (the saponosides - inhibiting prostaglandin synthetase) local analgesic. Lipid (the saponosides combine with bile acids and inhibit intestinal absorption of cholesterol) Diuretic, sudorific, colerética.

Indications.

Bronchitis, emphysema, asthma. Oliguria, urolithiasis, cystitis, rheumatism, gout. Hepatobiliary dyskinesias, cholecystitis, hyperlipidemia, prevention of arteriosclerosis. In external use: myalgia, osteo inflammation, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis exfoliative, acne, stomatitis, tonsillitis.

Contraindications.

Gastritis, gastric ulcers (see side effects)

Do not prescribe oral dosage forms with alcohol content to children under two years or consultants in the process of alcohol addiction.

Side Effects.

The saponosides are responsible for their actions irritating to the digestive mucous membranes. When your prescription is required, this side effect can be prevented by adding to the preparations of drugs with saponaria mucilages (plantain, marshmallow, mallow, etc)

Caution / Poisoning.

Plant into disuse, largely because of its potential toxicity: A dose greater than those listed, or by individual susceptibility, may cause gastrointestinal irritation of mucous membranes and depression of the respiratory and cardiac nerve centers.

Take into account the alcohol content of the extract fluid from the dye and syrup.

Galenica forms / Dosage.

Internal use:

Decoction: 15 g / l, boil two minutes. One cup a day, half an hour before meals. Prepare and take immediately: macerated can be toxic.

Fluid extract (1: 1) 10 - 30 drops, 1 or 2 times a day.

Tincture (1: 5) 30 - 50 drops, one to three times a day.

Syrup (5% extract fluid) 1 to 3 tablespoons a day.

External use:

Decoction: 60 to 80 g / l, boil 10 minutes, applied as compresses or lotions.

Fluid extract (1: 1) 50 - 100 drops diluted in half a glass of water. Apply in the form of mouthwashes or gargarismos. You can add honey pink.

Glycolic extract (1: 5) in the form of creams or gels applied over the area to treat.

Bibliography.

Benigni, R; Capra, C; Cattorini, P. Piante Medicinali. Chimica, Pharmacology and Therapy. Milano: Inverni & Della Beffa, 1962, pp. 1432 - 6.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Dans la Plantes Les Thérapeutiques Moderne. 2. Paris: Maloine, 1986, pp. 384 - 5.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M; Trotin, F. Medicinal plants of temperate Regions. Paris: Maloine, 1980, p. 96.

Bruneton, J. Elements of Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy. Zaragoza: Acribia, 1991, pp. 305; 323.

Fernandez, M; Nieto, A. Medicinal Plants. Pamplona: Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, 1982, pp. 159; 233.

Lastra, JJ; Bachiller, LI. Medicinal Plants in Asturias, Cantabria and the cornice. Gijón: Ediciones Trea, 1997, pp. 229 - 30.

Mulet, L. Toxic Plants of Valencia. Castellon: Provincial, 1997, pp. 388 - 9.

Paris, RR; Moyse, M. Summary of Matter Médicale. Take II. Paris: Masson, 1967, pp. 134 - 5.

Rivera, D; Obon, C. The Guide INCAFE of useful and Poisonous Plants of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearics. Madrid: INCAFE, 1991, pp. 47; 388 - 9.

Trease, GE, Evans, WCh. Pharmacognosy. Mexico City: Inter - MacGraw - Hill, 1991, p. 519.

Van Hellemont, J. Compendium of Phytothérapie. Bruxelles: Association Pharmaceutique Belge, 1986, pp. 366 - 8.

Villar, L; Palacín, JM; Calvo, C. Gomez, D; Montserrat, G. Medicinal Plants of the Aragonese Pyrenees and other tierrras Huesca. 2. Huesca: Provincial, 1992, pp. 153, 215.

WICHTL, M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceutical. A Handbook for Practice on a scientific basis. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 1994, pp. 453 - 4.

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