Horse sorrel

HORSE SORREL —

 

Rumex coniertus (L.) Willd.

Buckwheat family — Polygonaceae

 

What does it look like? Perennial herbaceous dioecious growth 30-50 cm tall. Its rhizome is short, pulpy. The stem is furrowed, directed upwards; it is characterized by pits (dry membrane tubes covering the nodes of the stem). The leaves are alternate, large, arrow-shaped, like the roots, they taste astringent. The flowers are small, greenish-reddish, collected in an oval panicle. The fruit is a three-sided nut.

Blooms in May – June.

Where does it grow? On flooded meadows, in forest clearings, along river banks – in most of the territory of Ukraine, except for the Carpathians and Carpathian regions.

What and when are collected? Roots in spring and autumn, as well as seeds.

When is it used? Horse sorrel roots contain tannins, anthraquinone derivatives, emodin, flavonoids, rutin, carotene, vitamin C, iron, sorrel-calcium salt. By enhancing the activity of fibrin, sorrel has a hemostatic effect, similar to calcium. It is used to treat enterocolitis and diarrhea (even infectious origin — dysentery). Small doses of the roots cause an anti-laxative (fixing) effect, large doses have a laxative effect. In the form of a powder against diarrhea, 0.5-2 g of powdered seeds or 0.25 g of powdered sorrel root are used three times a day.

In the form of a decoction against constipation, use 2 tablespoons of crushed roots, boil for 7 minutes in 1 glass of water and drink 1 tablespoon, three times a day, also use in the form of a powder – half a teaspoon of powdered roots (0.5 g) , drinking water, for the night.

They drink water infusion (15 g per 100 ml of hot water, for 1 hour, with spoons) and alcohol tincture of sorrel roots in a ratio of 1:4 (20-30 drops three times a day) for chronic cough and for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, even with bloody diarrhea, especially in children. Alcoholic tincture, in addition to its hemostatic effect (in case of intestinal, pulmonary, hemorrhoidal bleeding), also lowers blood pressure in hypertensive diseases of the I-II degrees.

In case of chronic colitis, a mixture of powdered horse sorrel root and comfrey root is used equally, 1 teaspoon each with syrup, honey or milk, three times a day.

 

For pale weakness (chlorosis), take 2 tablespoons of a mixture of powdered horse sorrel root and nettle leaves in a ratio of 1:2 with syrup or milk, three times a day.

Old scabies are treated by washing the body with a strong decoction of horse sorrel roots .

A variety of horse sorrel – sour sorrel , or sourdough (Rumex acetosa L.), – sour in taste from oxalic-potassium salt and vitamin C, – is used as a food product and for the treatment of scurvy and vitamin A and K. Decoction of leaves (borscht) is used as a hemostatic agent (for excessive menstruation) and to stimulate liver function to increase bile secretion. It also has an anti-allergic (blood-healthy) effect on various rashes on the body and itchy skin.

And also pay attention to the article Sour Sorrel