Polytrichum commune
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| Botanical Nomenclature | Polytrichum commune |
| Common Name | Common Hair Moss, Common Haircap, Common Haircap Moss, Great Golden Maidenhair, Great Goldilocks |
| Taxonomy- Family | Polypodiaceae |
| Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Polytrichum commune is a perennial plant, growing up to 15cm, with dark green leaves in dense tufts. It is a dioecious plant, that grows in forests, moist ravines, walls, shady places and swamps. |
| Region Found | Epirus |
| Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Leaves |
| Active Substances | Tannins, resin acids, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, aliphatic tannins, aromatic and phenolic compounds |
| Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The herbal tea is used as anthelmintic, anti-diarrheal, diuretic and anti-inflammatory. It is recommended for the treatment of kidney stones and gallstones. In folk medicine of China it is used as antipyretic, hemostatic and anticancer agent, especially against lymphocytic leukemia. In India it is applied externally to the skin as a healing agent against burns and wounds. |
| Method of Administration | It is administered as diuretic in the form of herbal tea (a quantity of dried herb in a cup of boiled water, 2-3 times a day) and in the form of infusion made from the fresh plant (5-60 drops every 1-3 hours) 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.bryoecol.mtu.edu/chapters_VOL5/2Medicine.pdf 2) http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=3364 3) http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/polytrichumcom.htm 4) http://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/polytrichum.html 5)http://smu.edu.in/content/dam/manipal/smu/documents/Journal%20Issue%203/Bryophytes%20-%20The%20Ignored%20Medicinal%20Plants.pdf |