- Botanical Name(s): Antennaria Dioica
- Popular Name(s): Mountain Everlasting, Cudweed
- Parts Used: The flowering herb
- Habitat: Cat's Foot is found in Europe, Asia and North America.
Description: Cat's foot is an herbaceous perennial plant growing to a height of 10-20 cm. The plant bears a rosette of basal spoon-shaped leaves which are 4 cm long and 1 cm broad. In summer, the herb bears an 8 in tall flower stem that develops bearing clusters of white, pink or yellow flower heads. The flowers appear from May to August in cymose clusters.
Uses: Cat's Foot has cholagogue properties. It stimulates the flow of gastric juices and pancreatic secretions. It is used to cure dysentery too. Ground ivy found its way to America and became a part of the pharmacopoeia of the settlers. Because of its high vitamin C content, herbalists and doctors found ground ivy helpful in treating scurvy. American physicians in the 19th century had a vast range of uses for the herb. They administered the sap or a tea to treat asthma, coughs, consumption, and ulcers in the lungs, and they recommended ground ivy for intestinal gas and fever as well. Doctors also prescribed the tea to treat painter's colic, or lead poisoning.Ground ivy is tonic, diuretic, and a decongestant, and is used to treat many problems involving the mucous membranes of the ear, nose, throat, and digestive system. A well-tolerated herb, ground ivy can be given to children to clear lingering congestion and to treat chronic conditions such as "glue ear" and sinusitis. Throat and chest problems, especially those due to excess mucus, also benefit from this remedy. Ground ivy is also a valuable treatment for gastritis and acid indigestion. Further along the gastrointestinal tract, its binding nature helps to counter diarrhea and to dry up watery and mucoid secretions. Ground ivy has been employed to prevent scurvy and as a spring tonic, and is considered beneficial in kidney disorders
No comments:
Post a Comment