Gallium

Gallium (Galium verum)

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Rubiaceae
HABITAT: Fields
FLOWERING: June (day 24)
PART USED: Sumidad florida
GALICIAN: Herba dos aganos

Gallium is a herbaceous perennial with a highly branched rhizomes and erect stems rising at the apex surmounted by a panicle of yellow flowers very showy. The plant has a slight odor and bitter taste honey, which is more intense in the flowers than elsewhere. This herb occurs naturally throughout Europe and Asia, being especially numerous in meadows, forests little thick, slopes and edges of fields. The madder root name is because the property is to coagulate the milk proteins.

FLOWERING

Gallium blooms in June, in certain areas is said to be exactly on the day of San Juan (June 24) when flowering reaches its peak. Legend or not, the case is that when it flowers filled the meadows of a beautiful yellow color that usually remains throughout the summer. In medicine flowering tops are used, they are cut when in full bloom, then they are left to dry in a well ventilated and not too important to give them the sun. If the drying process takes place in dryer should not exceed 45⁰C.

APPLICATIONS

The plant has anthraquinones, flavonoids, tannins and small amounts of coumarins, but really all these substances have no relation with the properties that are attributed to gallium. From this plant have been studied clotting properties and has established the presence of small amounts of yeast Lab, which would explain in part their ability to curdle milk, but according to several authors, this property would be given by the ferment Lab but the acidic nature of many components of the plant, which include citric acid. In any case, is a plant long used for their diuretic, antispasmodic and disinfectant. It also says that is an excellent plant for the treatment of urinary tract, it not only stimulates renal secretion but also eliminates the cramps. Finally, add it’s a plant by its bitter aperitif, astringent, so it is also used for poorly healing wounds, rashes and sores.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion. Take a good handful of fresh plants, increasing the amount in the event that was already dry, add up to a quart of boiling water. Once cold or pouring, you can drink as much as you like. This will lead to a rapid diuretic effect.
Decoction. Prepare 50 gr. Of flowering tops and added to a liter of water. Maintain infusion for 3-4 minutes. After cooling, can be applied in the form of baths or compresses on wounds, ulcers and rashes.
Its use as madder root is not entirely clear, and today there are better prepared to coagulate the milk proteins, so this plant is no longer used.

USES

Diuretic Moderate, Appetizer Leve, Mild Astringent