Umbelliferae – Apiaceae (Umbelliferae).
Part used: root.
Pharmacy name: femoral root – Pimpinellae Radix (formerly: Radix Pimpinellae).
Botanical description. A large femur in an open place reaches a meter height. The stem is hollow, furrowed and leafy only in the lower part. The leaves are pinnately dissected, the flowers are collected in 5-12-beam umbrellas without wrappers. The flowers are white, often pink. The saxifrage femur is sleeker and smaller. Its middle and lower leaves are thinner dissected. Both species bloom in June-August. They are common in meadows, along ditches, on sunny slopes, wastelands, along the banks of water bodies.
Collection and preparation. When collecting, one must be extremely careful, as the femur is easily confused with poisonous umbrellas! Roots are harvested either in spring (March-April) or autumn (September-October). After digging, they are freed from the ground, cut into strips, strung on a thread, hung out for drying for 8 days and quickly dried in the oven.
Active ingredients: essential oil, tannins, saponins, polyacetylenes, coumarins.
Healing action and application. Scientific medicine still uses this plant today mainly in the form of herbal products (tinctures and decoctions) against bronchitis and asthma. In folk medicine, it is strongly recommended also against sore throats. Gargle with tea or drink it for coughing. For rinsing, alcohol is often used on the rack, diluting 30 drops in a glass of water.
- Tea from the thigh: 1 teaspoon of herb with the top pour 1/4 liter of cold water, slowly bring to a boil, let it boil for 1 minute and strain. For bronchitis and asthma, drink 3 times a day for a cup of tea with honey. Tea is not sweetened for gargling. Use in gastrointestinal diseases hardly deserves attention.
My special advice. If you want to use thigh for chronic inflammation of the throat, it is better to mix it with two other herbs: Thigh 20.0 Chamomile flowers 20.0 Potentilla erectus 10.0 Brew as described above.
Use in homeopathy. The homeopathic remedy Pimpinella alba is prepared from the fresh roots of both species. It is prescribed for nosebleeds, headaches, tinnitus, also for gastrointestinal disorders and bronchitis in doses from D 1 to D6.
Application in folk medicine. The ancient Greeks and Romans did not know this plant, since it was not found there. The first femur was described in 1588 by Ya.T. Tabernemontanus, giving detailed recommendations for its use. In folk medicine, it is traditionally used for coughs, hoarseness, digestive disorders, urolithiasis, asthma, gout, dropsy, menstrual disorders, heartburn and neurotic palpitations. Sebastian Kneipp recommended the thigh for rheumatism and inflammation of the kidneys. Side effects, if you adhere to the therapeutic dosage, you can not be afraid.