Effect:
astringent, constipating, antipruritic, haemostatic, antibacterial, antibiotic, hypoglycemic, wound healing
Areas of application:
Bleeding, diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems, catarrh, gastric hyperacidity, infectious diseases, leucorrhea, nosebleeds, irritated skin, vaginal itching, vaginal inflammation, skin diseases, skin blemishes, eczema, varicose veins, wounds, food poisoning, dysentery, typhus, edema, hemorrhoids, heavy periods, intermenstrual bleeding, as an intestinal disinfectant, e.g. for enteritis
Plant parts used:
flowering plant parts, rhizome
Collection time:
July to September
Ingredients:
Tannins, pectin, sesquiterpene lactones, salicarin, mucilage, dye, essential oil, choline
Miscellaneous:
☕ Tea: 1 teaspoon of herb is poured with 1/4 liter of boiling water and left to steep for a few minutes. 2 to 3 cups per day are sufficient.
The purple loosestrife is a perennial, herbaceous plant that reaches heights of up to 2.5 meters and a width of 1.5 meters. Up to 50 upright, partially branched, hairy, four- or multi-edged stems can grow from the rhizome. The sessile (“petiole-less”) leaves are arranged in whorls of three or opposite, and alternately further up on the stems. The entire leaf blade is narrowly ovate-lanceolate to ovate with a pointed upper end. The primary leaves are oblong-elliptical and up to 3 centimeters long. The subsequent leaves have a rounded to heart-shaped leaf base, are narrowly lanceolate to ovate, up to 12 centimeters long and up to 2.5 centimeters wide. The leaf veins are clearly visible on the underside of the leaf. The flowering period is from June to September. Each spike- or grape-shaped inflorescence can contain a hundred or more flowers. The flowers are in small, usually three-flowered, dense, axillary, cymous groups with an ovate-lanceolate bract. The flower stalk is relatively short. The short hermaphroditic, reddish, pink or violet to white flowers are usually six-petaled and have a double perianth. There is a hairy, tubular and twelve-ribbed axial calyx. The small, triangular calyx lobes are reddish with long, hairy, awl-shaped appendages (external calyx) in between. The six or five free petals are usually more than 1 centimeter long and obovate with a rounded upper end. There are twelve stamens each, six shorter and six longer. They are inserted in two circles near the base of the axial calyx. (Wikipedia)
In the kitchen, the intensely colored petals are a beautiful decoration in dishes. The young shoots and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and are good in mixed salads and vegetable dishes as long as they don't taste too bitter. It can be used to flavor liqueurs and bitters. The red dye is used to color sugar and spirits.
It is also suitable as a bath additive and for creams to care for the skin. In the past, it was used as a hair conditioner to give hair a special shine.
In the past, the juice was used to tan leather and to impregnate wood and ropes to make them last longer.
A flower essence can be produced using the sun method (Dr. Bach). As a true Venus plant, loosestrife has the ability to revive interpersonal relationships, especially between men and women. It dissolves the stress factors and you become happier and more relaxed. The same thing happens when you smoke the dried root: harmony and harmony return. Old problems temporarily leave the room along with the delicate smoke.
Sun method according to Dr. Bach:
The sun method according to Dr. Edward Bach is based on the assumption that information from a plant can be transferred to water through sunlight. Water is an energy store. To do this, flowers or plants are placed in a glass bowl filled with water with the stem down on the surface of the water and placed in the sun.
Hildegard von Bingen: The loosestrife has a pleasant juice, and this is like a pleasant ointment for the aching intestines. Crush the herb and its seed moderately, and boil it in wine and honey, and strain it through a cloth, and drink it often.