Sundew – Application & Treatment for Health
Sonnentau
The sundew is one of the lesser-known medicinal plants. It can be used to relieve spasmodic coughs, among other things.
Occurrence & cultivation of the sundew
The round-leaved sundew ( Drosera rotundifolia ) is a carnivorous plant. It belongs to the sundew family ( Droseraceae ) and has adhesive glands on its leaves.
A typical feature of the plant are the clear droplets that shine on it. However, behind these drops is a sticky liquid. Insects mistake it for nectar, so they end up on the sundew. If an insect gets stuck there, it becomes prey for the carnivorous plant and is digested by it.
The growth height of the round-leaved sundew is a maximum of 30 centimeters. Its round leaves are arranged in a basal rosette. A grape-like inflorescence is formed from the white flowers. The flowering period of the medicinal plant lasts from June to August. The round-leaved sundew is native to North America, East Asia and Europe. It also occurs in Germany. Since the species is considered endangered, it is under nature protection in this country. For this reason, the plant itself must not be collected in nature.
Effect & Application
The round-leaved sundew has been used by humans as a medicinal plant since the 12th century. All parts of the plant, with the exception of the root, are used for this purpose. Substances such as plumbagin are found in the sundew herb. These are derived from 1,4-naphthoquinone.
The naphthoquinones are said to contribute to the healing properties of the plant. Naphtoquinone has an antitussive and antispasmodic effect. Other ingredients are flavonoids, tannins, mucilage, bitter substances, malic acid, formic acid, citric acid, anthocyanin and essential oils .
There are different ways to use the sundew. The plant can be used in the form of ready-made preparations, as a tea or as a tincture. Nowadays, finished products are primarily used.
The traditional way of using it is to drink sundew tea. A teaspoon of sundew herb is poured over a cup of hot, boiled water. The subsequent brewing time is 10 minutes. After straining the tea, it can be taken in small sips. The usual dose is one to two cups per day.
Due to the strong effects of sundew, experts advise against drinking more than two cups of tea a day. In the event of an overdose, there is a risk of shortness of breath and coughing fits. In addition, there should be a break after six weeks of use in order to avoid negative long-term effects. In addition, the effectiveness of the medicinal plant remains in this way, since there is no habituation. After the break, the sundew tea can be used again for six weeks.
Another treatment option is the tincture. You can also make it yourself. For this purpose, dried or fresh sundew is filled into a screw-top jar. Then the contents of the glass are poured over with alcohol or double grain. The mixture must steep for a period of two to six weeks in order to develop its healing effect. After straining, the user pours the contents of the glass into a dark bottle.
10 to 20 drops of the tincture can be taken one to three times a day. It can also be easily diluted with water. Ready-made sundew preparations such as drops, syrup or lozenges are also available in pharmacies. There are both tinctures and homeopathic extracts such as globules or drops. Homeopathy often combines sundew with other remedies, which is called complex remedies.
Importance for health, treatment & prevention
The round-leaved sundew has been used as a medicinal plant since the late Middle Ages. Already at that time it was used against coughing complaints. At the beginning of the 14th century, the doctor Arnoldus de Villanova researched the medicinal effects of the plant and used it to produce his well-known “Goldwasser”, which he praised as a panacea. However, the research results of the doctor fell victim to the Inquisition. Later the sundew was used against tuberculosis , epilepsy , warts , infertility and psychoses .
Nowadays, the medicinal plant is primarily used to treat respiratory diseases such as coughs, spasms, whooping cough , bronchitis and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). For internal use, ready-made preparations, teas or tinctures are used to combat coughing. The sundew has an expectorant and antispasmodic effect. In this way, the patient can cough up the cough phlegm easily and relaxed.
Sundew also has an anti-inflammatory effect. This counteracts inflammatory processes within the airways. The sundew also has an antibiotic effect. It fights bacteria that are responsible for diseases such as bronchitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis and pneumonia . However, sundew should only be used to support antibiotic therapy.
Less well known is the effectiveness of sundew in indigestion . It can also be used to treat high blood pressure . When sundew is used internally, the urine takes on a green-brown color. This is due to increased protein breakdown within the organism.
Sundew can also be used externally in the form of an ointment or tincture. In the case of skin diseases, baths are taken, compresses are applied or the affected areas are rubbed. Sundew is used as a homeopathic remedy under the name Drosera. In low or medium potencies, the drug is used to treat coughs and other respiratory diseases.
Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.