Storksbill Weed: Nature’s Remedy for Common Health Woes

Storksbill weed is a humble plant highly appreciated as a forage for cattle.

Storksbill Weed Scientific Facts

1. Scientific Name – Geranium cicutarium L.
2. Other Names – Alfilaria, Pin Clover.
3. French – Epingle de pasteur.
4. Spanish – Alfilerillo de pastor.
5. Environment—Native to the Mediterranean region, it is now widely spread throughout the Americas. It grows on dry, sandy soils.
6. Description—A herbaceous plant of the Geraniaceae family, it is small (30 to 40 cm high) and has finely cut leaves. Its flowers are purple or pink, and its fruit ends in a large thorn (2-4 cm) similar to a needle or pin, which gives the plant some of its common names.
7. Parts of the plant used medicinally – The whole plant, when fresh, and the leaves.

Healing Properties

Storksbill weed contains tannins, phenol, flavonoids, and potassium salts.

1. Hemostatic is its most outstanding property. It acts mainly on the uterus (womb); hence, it is successfully used to stop uterine bleeding (metrorrhagia) and excessive menstruation.
2. Mild diuretic and anti-inflammatory – It is used for nephritis and antispasmodic for urinary colic.
3. Astringent and vulnerary – It helps heal wounds, sores, and skin ulcerations in external applications.

How to use Storksbill Weed

1. Fresh plant juice is obtained by manually mashing 30 to 60 grams of the plant or in an electric blender. Drink two or three cups per day. Juice must be taken when fresh and can be sweetened with brown sugar, molasses, or honey.
2. Compresses – Apply some 50 grams of mashed leaves to the affected area.

Musk Weed

Storksbill weed grows together with musk weed (Erodium moschatum L’Herit), a similar species called musk geranium. Though it shares several common names with storksbill (Erodium cicutarium), both plants are identical to Herb Robert.

Musk geranium owes its name to its strong musk aroma. Its leaves, more significant than those of storksbill, are consumed as vegetables and used as forage for cattle.

From a medicinal standpoint, the leaves and the rhizome are the parts of the plant used, and their properties are pretty similar to those of storksbill.

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. 631. Print.
2. Al-Snafi, A. E. (2018). Chemical constituents and pharmacological importance of Geranium robertianum-A review. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy, 8(8), 68-97.
3. Ladio, A. H., & Lozada, M. (2004). Patterns of use and knowledge of wild edible plants in distinct ecological environments: a case study of a Mapuche community from northwestern Patagonia. Biodiversity & Conservation, 13(6), 1153-1173. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/B:BIOC.0000018150.79156.50
4. Yeşil, Y., & İnal, İ. (2021). An ethnobotanical investigation of wild edible and medicinal plants used in the Araklı district (Trabzon/Turkey). Acta Biologica Turcica, 34(3), 101-113.
5. Neag, M. A., Mocan, A., Echeverría, J., Pop, R. M., Bocsan, C. I., Crisan, G., & Buzoianu, A. D. (2018). Geranium robertianum L. and its bioactive compounds: phytochemical characterization, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Antioxidants, 7(10), 130. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/7/10/130