Are you someone that has ever been amazed by that purple-colored carpet covering meadows and bushes in late summer? This is the Heather plant, which is highly valued by bees as they produce honey, and people fond of natural remedies because of its properties.
Heather Plant Scientific Facts
- Scientific Name: Calluna vulgaris L.
- Other Names: Common Heather, ling, Scotch heather.
- French: Bruyére.
- Spanish: Brezo.
- Environment: It usually grows, forming extensive thickets in siliceous unfarmed lands of Europe and parts of North America.
- Description: Small shrub of the Ericaceae family, growing from 20 to 50 cm high, with small, opposed, numerous leaves. Its flowers grow along the stem, and their color varies from pink to purple-red and violet.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally: The flower clusters.
Heather Healing Properties
The entire plant contains a substance known as arbutin, which, when hydrolyzed by intestinal bacteria, becomes hydroquinone, a powerful urinary antiseptic. It also contains tannin, which gives the plant astringent properties, and flavonoids, with diuretic properties. It is recommended for:
- Urinary afflictions – Infection, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, burning sensation when urinating, cystitis, and pyelonephritis. Its antiseptic properties help the urine recover an ordinary appearance within a few days.
- Diarrhea – Due to its astringent properties.
How to use Heather
- Decoction with 50 grams of small branches or flower clusters per liter of water. Boil for ten minutes, then sweeten with honey and drink three or four cups daily after meals.
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. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 570. Print. [heather plant]
