Brownroot appears in the writings of Dioscorides as early as the 1st century AD. In the Middle Ages, the plant was a popular medicinal herb used mainly for the treatment of ulcers and swollen throat lymph nodes. Today, brownroot is no longer used in official phytotherapy, only occasionally in folk medicine.
Occurrence and cultivation of brownroot
The brownroot blooms from June to August. The herb can then be picked and dried in the shade. If you want to collect the root, it is best to do so in the spring. Brownroot (Scrophularia nodosa) belongs to the brownroot family (Skrophulariaceae). As the name suggests, folk medicine used it to treat scrofula. Today the disease is called lymphatic diathesis and includes chronic bronchial inflammation, otitis media, tonsillitis, other infections, allergies, eczema and neurodermatitis. The cause of the congenital disease is a weakened lymphatic system, which manifests itself in increased susceptibility of the skin and mucous membranes. The German plant name is derived from the brown color of the roots and leaves. The perennial plant, inconspicuous even in flowering, is conspicuous only by the unpleasant odor it releases when its leaves are rubbed. Brownroot has a square straight stem without branching and ovate stalked leaves tapering in front. It can grow up to one centimeter tall. Its panicle-like inflorescences bear small globular and brownish flowers. The capsule fruits contain many seeds. Brownroot blooms from June to August. The herb can then be picked and dried in the shade. If you want to collect the root, it is best to do so in the spring. It is then carefully cleaned, gently dried and crushed. The ancient medicinal plant is found from Europe to East Asia and even in North America. It likes shady places and moist soils in forests, under hedges and in riparian zones. The other species of brownroot are not used as medicinal plants.
Effect and application
The main constituents contained in brownroot include saponins, flavonoids, iridoids, glycosides (scrofulanin), resins, pectin and organic acids. The plant has decongestant, immunostrengthening, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic and mild diuretic effects. Medicinally used are mainly its roots and leaves. Brownroot can be used internally and externally. When used internally, the patient should limit the remedy cure to the duration of six weeks and then take a break from treatment for at least three weeks before continuing the therapy – if necessary. Internally, brownroot tea and diluted tincture are used. For external treatment, tea infusion, tincture, washes, baths and ointments with brownroot are used. The ointment can be prepared by the patient according to a common comfrey recipe. The tea is prepared as a cold extract with a teaspoon of dried crushed root and a glass of cold water. The mixture must steep in the cold water for at least eight hours before it is strained and drunk in small sips throughout the day. The tea can be warmed slightly afterwards. It is recommended to make the three-week cure once per season for scrofula. For the normal preparation, one teaspoon of leaves is poured over 250 milliliters of hot water and left to steep for ten minutes. After straining, two cups are drunk daily. To prepare brownroot tincture, 50 grams of roots are poured over 200 milliliters of vodka in a screw jar and kept closed and warm. The tincture must be shaken daily. After four weeks it can be strained and put into dark vials. Tea is used for the poultices, ablutions and medicinal baths: Depending on the size of the bath, one tablespoon to 500 grams of brownroot leaves are prepared as a cold infusion or warm tea and poured into the hot bath water after straining. The patient should then remain in the hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Brownroot – if used in prescribed dosage – has no side effects. However, patients with cardiac insufficiency, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use brownroot products.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
The main areas of application of brownroot natural remedies are skin diseases, especially of the face, and diseases of the lymphatic system. These include, for example, eczema of the facial skin and ear, acne, lichen, neurodermatitis, rash with weeping blisters and burns of minor extent. The compresses can be applied directly to the hard-to-heal, inflamed and suppurated skin area. The ingredients make the swelling go down and disinfect the affected skin area. Ulcers on other parts of the body and hemorrhoids can also be treated with a brownroot sitz or full bath. Chronic tonsillitis (angina tonsillaris) is treated by adding eight drops of brownroot tincture to a glass of lukewarm water and gargling with it. The user can also proceed in this way for normal sore throats. Lymph node swellings and allergies are combated with a tea cure. It strengthens the immune system. Edema in the body is also eliminated with brownroot tea. The saponins contained in it have a mild diuretic effect. It also treats, for example, rheumatic complaints. In case of constipation, the patient puts 3 to 5 drops of the tincture in water and drinks the mixture. In addition, brownroot has a mild cardiac tonic effect. It increases the contractility of the heart muscle, reduces its beating frequency and slows down the conduction of excitation. In homeopathy, the preparation Scrophularia nodosa is also used to treat skin diseases, diseases of the lymphatic system, gastrointestinal diseases and general physical weakness. The fresh plant trituration Teep is often used, of which the affected person takes one to two tablets three times a day.
