HEATHER

Description

It’s an evergreen sub-shrub of 20 to 60 cm high that grows spontaneously in acid soil. Stems are sinuous and branches are reddish-brown erect with small perennial leaves and displayed in 4 longitudinal lines. Narrow-linear leaves of 1-3 mm with two short projections at the base, glabrous and with turned edges; young small branches have grayish pubescence. Flowers are small and form compound elongated racemes; calyx has lanceolate and glabrous lobes; corolla is purple-reddish, anthers have two small protuberances horn-shaped. The fruit is a glabrous globulose capsule which holds plenty of seeds.

It is found in oceanic weathers (beech-tree and oak groves, etc.) in the west, north and northeast regions of the Iberian Peninsula. It should be harvested during the blooming period and kept in closed containers away from light and in cool and vented storage.

Part used

Flowering tops.

Indications

• Genitourinary infections, cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis (kidney infection).
• Urinary lithiasis.
• Diarrhea.
• Conditions where it is necessary to increase diuresis: edemas, over weight by water retention, hyperazotemia, hypertension.
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Rheumatism, gout.
• Topical use: wounds, eczema, trophic ulcerations, gingivitis, vulvovaginitis, periodontal disease.

Bibliography

Farmacognosia 2ª Edición. Jean Bruneton. Editorial Acribia.

The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide To Herbal Medicines. Mark Blumenthal. American Botanical Council 1998.

British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 1983

Matière Médicale. RR Paris- H. Moyse. Masson 1981.

Fitoterapia Aplicada. J.B. Peris, G. Stübing, B.Vanaclocha. Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Valencia 1995.

Fitoterapia: Vademecum de Prescripción. B. Vanaclocha . S. Cañigueral. Ed. Masson 4ª edición.

Plantas Medicinales. El Dioscórides Renovado. Pio Font Quer.

Guía de Campo de las Flores de Europa. Oleg Polunin. Ediciones Omega S.A. Barcelona, 1977.

Plantas Medicinales.  Margarita Fernandez y Ana Nieto. Ed Universidad de Navarra.  EUNSA 1982.

Guía de las Plantas Medicinales.Cuarta edición. Paul Schanenberg / Ferdinand Paris.

The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide To Herbal Medicines. Mark Blumenthal. American Botanical Council 1998.

Plantes Médicinales des régions tempérees. L. Bézanger-Beauquesne et M. Pinkas. M. Torch et F.Trotin. Maloine S.A. Editeur. Paris 1980.

El gran libro de las Plantas Medicinales. M. Palow.

Plantas Medicinales. Jan Volák y Jirí Stodola