Epilobium angustifolium
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| Botanical Nomenclature | Epilobium angustifolium |
| Common Name | Willow Herb |
| Taxonomy- Family | Onagraceae |
| Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Epilobium angustifolium is a perennial plant, growing from 60 to 160cm, with thin, green, lanceolate, wavy leaves and large, pink or white, hermaphrodite flowers. The flowering and the harvesting take place from June to September. |
| Region Found | Ioannina (Gramos, Peristeri, Pindos, Smolikas, Vikos-Aoos) |
| Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Flowers, leaves, root |
| Active Substances | Flavonoids, tannins, mucus, esters, sitosterol, glycosides |
| Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The whole plant has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, soothing, tonic, hypnotic, antidiarrhoeal and hemostatic properties. The herbal tea is administered for the treatment of prostate, cystitis, nephritis, mucous colitis, infections of the urinary and bronchi. The ointment from the dried leaves relieves various skin problems especially in children. In folk medicine the herbal tea (of dried leaves and root) is administered for the treatment of dysentery, the irritable bowel syndrome and abdominal cramps. The poultice of the root's bark is applied against burns, wounds and swellings. |
| Method of Administration | The plant is administered as antidiarrhoeal, soothing, tonic and anti-inflammatory in the form of herbal tea (0.8g of dried herb in a 1L of boiled water, twice a day, once in the morning before eating and once in the evening pre decubitus). The ointment of dried flowers is applied externally in children and infants. Finally, the poultice of peeled root is used against various skin problems. Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
| Toxicity- Adverse Effects | No toxic reactions have been reported. |
| References | 1) Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 156-157, 2) http://montana.plant-life.org/species/epilob_angus.htm 3)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23796429 4)http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/science-and-innovation/science-publications-and-resources/resources/canadian-medicinal-crops/medicinal-crops/chamerion-angustifolium-l-holub-fireweed/?id=1300903819413 5)http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Epilobium+angustifolium 6)http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/w/wilher23.html |