Medicinal plants

Tormentil – Application & Treatment for Health

Bloodroot

Bloodroot is a rose plant The plant can also be used as a medicinal herb.

Occurrence & Cultivation of Bloodroot

Bloodroot ( Potentilla erecta ) is a medicinal plant that belongs to the rose family ( Rosaceae ). It is also known under the names Tormentill , Durmentill , Siebenfinger , Rotwurz , Adderwurz or Ruhrwurz .

The term tormentil is attributed to the blood-red discoloration of the plant roots when they are scratched. The rose plant reaches a height of about 30 centimeters. A typical feature of the plant are its bright yellow flowers. The rootstock is red on the inside and dark brown on the outside. Several stalks are sprout from the tormentil. The serrated leaves are located on these.

Bloodroot blooms between June and August. The home of the plant is in northern and central Europe, but it can also be found in western Asia. The plant prefers to thrive in meadows, in sparse forests and in sunny places. In order for it to grow well, it should not be too warm. Bloodroot has several ingredients that can be used therapeutically.

These include primarily the tannins (tannins). 15 to 20 percent of the tannins come from the catechin type. It also contains the glycoside tormentillin, flavonoids and essential oils . Other ingredients include saponins, phenolic acid, gum, resin and the dye tormentol.

Effect & Application

Herbal medicine uses the tannins found in bloodroot roots for therapeutic purposes. After collecting the plant, the root is first crushed. The active medicinal substances are then drawn out with the help of alcohol. The tannins in tormentil have an astringent effect. They also have the property of changing the structure of proteins. This leads to a solidification or upper layers of skin and mucous membranes.

In this way, a hemostatic effect is achieved, which in turn allows wounds to be sealed. Tormentil also makes it more difficult for bacteria to penetrate the skin or mucous membrane. Nerve signals are transmitted weaker by the skin. This circumstance can have a positive effect on itching . Furthermore, the medicinal plant has an antibacterial, detoxifying, antispasmodic and immune-stimulating effect.

Bloodroot can be administered in different ways. It can be taken as a tea, among other things. To brew this, a cup or two of hot, boiled water is poured over the tormentil. The tea then steeps for another ten minutes. After straining, the patient can consume one to three teacups per day.

It is recommended to take a break from tormentil tea after six weeks of therapy. Instead, the user drinks another tea that has a similar effect. After this break, bloodroot tea can be served again.

Another possible application is the administration of a tormentil tincture. You can also make this yourself. For this purpose, the tormentil is filled into a screw-top jar. Then the user pours alcohol or double grain over all parts of the plant. After sealing the jar, this mixture is left to steep for six to eight weeks. Later, the mixture is strained and poured into a dark bottle. The dose for using the tincture is 10 to 50 drops daily. It is also possible to dilute the tincture with water.

Bloodroot can also be used externally. The tincture or tormentil tea can be used in the form of washes, poultices or baths.

Importance for health, treatment & prevention

The therapeutic effectiveness of tormentil was already known in the Middle Ages. At the time, the medicinal plant was even considered an effective remedy against the dreaded plague. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) recommended them to treat diarrhea . Bloodroot is still used today to treat acute, non-specific diarrheal diseases such as traveler’s diarrhea . It is also suitable for treating bacterial dysentery caused by the Shigella bacteria.

Other areas of application in the gastrointestinal area are intestinal cramps, bleeding in the rectum and a so-called irritable bowel. Due to its high content of tannins, the plant is often used to treat inflammation in the mouth and throat such as pharyngitis , stomatitis , gingivitis or sore throat . To do this, the patient rinses their mouth out with the tormentil tea or tincture.

There are also some external ailments that can be treated with tormentil. These include wounds , bleeding and various skin diseases. Treatment with the plant is also useful against loss of appetite , weakened immune system , fever , rheumatic diseases , gout , conjunctivitis of the eye, haemorrhoids , anal itching , bruises or burns .

Since tormentil is said to lower blood sugar levels, it can also be used as an adjunct to the treatment of diabetes mellitus . Another area of ​​application is gynecological problems. Tormentil can be used against bleeding in the uterus or excessive menstrual bleeding. It also promotes menstruation in women. Tormentil is rarely used in homeopathy. There it is used to treat acute or chronic intestinal problems.

A treatment with tormentil is not suitable if the patient reacts to taking it with nausea or other stomach problems. In this case, the patient should refrain from therapy with the plant. Simultaneous use with other medications is also not recommended.

Lisa Newlon
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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.