Abies alba
Botanical Nomenclature | Abies alba |
Common Name | European Silver Fir |
Taxonomy- Family | Pinaceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Abies alba is a perennial (up to 600 years old), evergreen tree growing from 30 to 50m. The tree trunk has a characteristic gray white color, gray branches and small, dark green needles. The development of the leaves takes place in January, the flowering lasts from April to May and the fruiting happens from September to October. |
Region Found | Epirus |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Leaves, bark |
Active Substances | The essential oil contains ethyl bornyl, camphene, 3-carene, limonene, alpha-pinene, caryophyllene, beta-phellandrene, borneol, bicycloheptene, alpha-terpinene, ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), 2 , 2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzthiazoline, 6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), trypsin, 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The herbal extract has antibiotic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant and soothing properties. It is recommended in the form of herbal tea for the treatment of common cold, cough, fever, bronchitis, cystitis, leucorrhoea, ulcers and colics. The resin and the essential oil of the plant are applied externally to the skin against rheumatic pain and neuralgia. |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered in the form of herbal tea (a spoon of dried leaves in a cup of boiled water, 2-3 times a day). It is applied externally to the skin in the form of essential oil as sedative and analgesic. 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 side effects have been reported. |
References | 1)http://www.plantpoints.com/gr/plant_info.aspx?plant_id=7 2)http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Abies+alba 3)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675024/ 4)http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/abies-alba=silver-fir.php 5)http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-323-fir.aspx?activeingredientid=323&activeingredientname=fir 6)http://www.healthy.net/Materia_Medica/Fir_Abies_alba_and_other_species_Aromatherapy_Materia_Medica/37 |