HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SMARTWEED 7699Further information in:
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.Smartweed
Persicaria hydropiper
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the leaves and the
whole plant harvested during the flowering season.
Flower and Fruit: The greenish pink flowers are in sparse,
thin, hanging false ears. The 4-bract involucre is inconspicu-
ous with a reddish tip and is glandular-punctate. The flowers
are androgynous. There are 6 to 8 stamens, 2 of which have
no function. The fruit has a flat and a domed side. It is black,
punctate, nut-like, roughly bumpy and surrounded by a
remaining epicalyx.
v -
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows from 30 to 50 cm
high. The branched stems, which are from 60 to 90 cm long,
are first creeping and later semi-erect and often tinged red.
The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, short petioled, narrowed at
both ends and alternate; they are glandular and ciliate on the
under surface. The leaf sheaths at the base of the leaves.are
loose, glabrous and ciliated at the margin.
Characteristics: Smartweed has an extraordinarily hot,
pepper-like taste and is often used as a pepper substitute. The
plant has characteristic long, thinly curved, hanging, flower-
ing branches.Habitat: The plant is indigenous to large parts of Europe,
Asian Russia and Arctic regions.Production: Smartweed is the fresh plant, in flower, of
Polygonum hydropiper. The flowering herb is cut and
washed, the roots are removed and discarded and the herb is
dried in the shade.Not to be Confused With: Polygonum hydropiper is some-
times adultered with polygonum persicaria, P. mite and P.
minus.
Other Names: Water Pepper, Arsesmart
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Flavonoids: including rhamnazin, rhamnazin bisulfate, persi-
carin (isorhamnetine sulfate) quercitrin, and hyperoside
P-cumaroyl glycosides: hydropiperoside
Sesquiterpenes: sesquiterpene aldehydes (pungent sub-
stances), polygoidal (tadeonal), and warburganal
TanninsEFFECTS
Smartweed is a hemostyptic.
INDICATIONS
Unproven Uses: In folk medicine Smartweed is used
internally for uterine bleeding, menstrual bleeding, bleeding
of hemorrhoids (piles), gastrointestinal bleeding, rheumatic
pain, as a diuretic, for bladder and kidney disease and gout;
and used externally for poorly healing wounds, sprains,
contusions, rheumatism and gout.Chinese Medicine: Smartweed is used for severe digestive
problems, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, scabies and external
wounds in China.Homeopathic Uses: Polygonum hydropiper is used to treat
varicose veins.
PRECAUTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages. The consumption of larger quantities of the fresh
kraut can lead to gastroenteritis. External use is not advisable
because of the drugs irritant effect on the skin.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Smartweed is available in crude
powder form for oral intake and in parenteral form for
homeopathic use.Preparation: Tea — Pour 1/4 Liter hot water over 1 heaped
teaspoon drug and strain after 10 minutes.Daily Dosage: Tea — 3 times a day.
Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every
30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);
parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once
a day (HAB34)
LITERATURE
Asakawa Y, Takemoto T, (1979) Experientia 35:1429.
Barnes CS, Loder JW, (1962) Aust J Chem 15:322.
Furuta, T. et al., (1986) Phytochemistry 25(2):517..
Fukujama Y et al., Hydropiperoside, a novel coumaroly
glycoside from the root of Polygonum hydropiper. In: PH
22:549-552. 1983.
Kifakh SY, Blinova KF, (1984) Khim Prir Soedin 5:658.
Further information in:
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.