PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS EUROPEAN GOLDEN ROD / 289

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients; Used

in Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York

1980.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

jf? Schuiz R, Hansel R, Rationale Phytotherapie, Springer Verlag

Heidelberg 1996.

Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer

Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena. New

York 1995.

Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

European Five-Finger Grass

Potentilla reptans

^ DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh flowering

plant and the roots.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are solitary or in pairs on

long thin pedicles opposite the leaves. The calyx has 5

segments and is 10 to 25 mm across. The golden yellow

petals are obcordate and up to twice as long as the calyx. A

ring-like swelling at the base of the stamens exudes a kind of

honey. The small fruit is oblong-ovate and wrinkled.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a herbaceous perennial

with a thin, divided rhizome and rosettes of basal leaves. The

basal leaves produce 30 cm to 100 cm-long flowering stems

from their axils, which are rooted at the nodes. The stems are

pubescent or almost glabrous, have no glands and are often

tinged red. The cauline leaves are long-petioled and 5 to 7

digitate. The basal stipules are fused to the petiole. The

leaflets are obovate, 10 to 70 mm long, dentate to serrate and

pubescent or almost glabrous.

Habitat: Europe. The plant is common in Europe, Western
^ Asia, North America, Ethiopia and the Near East. Potentilla
canadensis is indigenous to Canada and the U.S. and is very
similar.

Production: European Five-Finger Grass and root is the

complete plant of Potentilla reptans.

The drug is a mixture of green and brown in color and has no

particular smell or taste. The roots are dug up in September/

October and then dried in a sunny, airy place.

Other Names: Cinquefoil, Five Fingers, Five-Finger Blos-

som, Sunkfield, Synkfoyle

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Tannins (6 to 12%)

Flavonoids: including quercetin-3,7-diglucuronide

EFFECTS

The drug is astringent and has wound healing effect due to

the tannin content.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: European Five-Finger Grass is used inter-

nally for diarrhea and fever; externally for inflammation of

the mucous membranes of mouth and gums, toothache, and

heartburn.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. There have been complaints of gastrointestinal

upset in conjunction with the drugs use reported in the

literature.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Available as crude drug and as an

infusion for internal and external use.

Preparation: A decoction for internal use is prepared by

adding 3 gm of drug per 100 ml of water. A decoction using

6 gm of drug per 100 ml of water is used for external

application and mouth rinses.

Daily Dosage: Internally, 2 to 3 cups of a decoction prepared

according to the formula above are administered daily.

Externally, a decoction using the formula above is adminis-

tered as a gargle, mouthwash or rinse. Moist compresses may

be applied to affected areas of the skin.

LITERATURE

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

European Golden Rod

Solidago virgaurea

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried aerial

parts collected during the flowering season, the fresh

inflorescences and the flowering twigs.