Horseweed Benefits

The North American Indians have known about the horseweed benefits since ancient times to treat uterine bleeding and excessive menstruation. In Europe, its essence was used during the First World War as a hemostatic substance to stop hemorrhaging. A highly appreciated plant in the United States and Canada, it is becoming more well-known and used throughout Europe.

Horseweed Scientific Facts

1. Scientific Name – Erigeron canadensis L.
2. Other Names – Canadian fleabane.
3. French – Vergerette du Canada.
4. Spanish – Erígeron.
5. Environment – Native to North America, it was brought to Europe in the 17^th century, where it quickly spread. The plant is also known in South America. It grows on unfarmed lands, roadsides, and slopes.
6. Description – Herbaceous plant of the Compositae family, growing up to one meter high, with many elongated and narrow leaves and white-creamy colored flowers.
7. Parts of the plant used medicinally – The leaves.

Horseweed Benefits

The whole plant contains tannin, resins, flavonoids, gallic acid, and choline, besides an essential oil (oil of fleabane), which consists of limonene, dipentene, and terpineol. The horseweed has the following properties.

• Hemostatic: It is mainly used to stop excessive or prolonged menstruation. It is also effective in some cases of hematuria (blood in the urine). It is worth remembering that a physician must check out any abnormal bleeding.
• Antidiarrheic: It stops simple diarrhea but is also helpful for dysentery (diarrhea, accompanied by mucus and blood) and typhoid fever.
• Diuretic and antirheumatic: The plant aids the elimination of uric acid in the urine, thus is recommended for gout, hyperuricemia (excess of uric acid), and kidney lithiasis (kidney stones).

How to use Horseweed

1. Infusion or decoction with a tablespoon of dried leaves per cup of water. Drink two or three cups a day.
2. Dry extract: The usual dosage is one or two grams a day, distributed over two or three intakes.
3. Enema, with the same infusion or decoction employed for internal use.

REFERENCES

• George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. Vols. 1 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 268. Print.