Patience Dock Health Benefits

Patience dock is a plant in the same botanical genus as bugloss, which has similar properties, and sorrel, which differs in having a bitter, not acid, flavor. All these plants were used as vegetables in the Middle Ages and during famine.

Patience Dock Scientific Facts

1. Scientific Name – Rumex patientia L.
2. Other Names – Sorrel, spinach dock.
3. French – Patience.
4. Spanish – Romaza.
5. Environment – Roadsides and shady lands of Central Europe. Naturalized to America.
6. Description—A vigorous plant of the Polygonaceae family, it grows from 0.5 to 1 m high and has red nerves in its stem and large leaves. It has an acrid smell and a sour flavor.
7. Parts of the plant used medicinally – Dry root and leaves.

Healing Properties

The entire plant contains high amounts of iron and phosphorus, tannin, and glycosides with active properties on the digestive and urine systems. Its root has been used as a safe laxative, but it acts so slowly that some weeks have to pass to notice its effects. Thus, it is the name of patience. It has antianemic (because of the iron it contains), depurative, and mildly diuretic properties.

It is recommended for persistent constipation, depurative spring cures, eczema, digestive system atony, and anemia caused by a lack of iron. When externally applied, its leaves and roots are mashed, which have healing properties for skin sores and ulcers.

How to use Patience Dock

1. Its leaves are consumed as vegetables.
2. Infusion with 30 grams of leaves and/or dry ground root per liter of water. Drink two or three cups daily.
3. Fresh juice of leaves: a glass a day.
4. Poultices with mashed leaves and roots are applied on skin sores and ulcers.

DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.

REFERENCES

1. 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. 532. Print. [patience dock]
2. National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31827556/
3. NIH: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31827556/
4. NIH: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28300698/