Common hazel root is a species of plant belonging to the family of Easter luceraceae. With botanical name, the plant is called Asarum europaeum. The common hazel is found mainly in the forests of Europe and Asia. In the past, the plant was popular for its medicinal properties, which are hardly known in modern times.
Occurrence and cultivation of the common hazel root.
The common hazel root is an evergreen and herbaceous plant that grows perennially and can reach growth heights between five to ten centimeters. In the process, the plant forms a so-called rhizome, which acts as a survival organ. The upper parts of the plant are slightly hairy. All parts of the plant emit an intense odor. The rhizome, for example, is reminiscent of pepper in its scent. The shoot axils grow creeping on the ground and form a few lower leaves, which are brownish to green in color. In addition, the common hazel always has two evergreen stem leaves with long petioles. Their leaf blade is in many cases heart-shaped or kidney-shaped with shiny upper side and hairy lower side. The flowers of the common hazelwort stand directly on the ground and have a pitcher-like shape. Their color is usually brown-red, and they also have three characteristic spikes. The flowers also have a strong scent of pepper. The flowers of the common hazelwort are capable of self-pollination. However, cross-pollination is also possible, often via insects. In the flower there is a strong stylar column, which consists of several individual and intergrown styli. While the flower is pre-female at first, it develops into a male flower over time. Then it opens completely and the so-called perigonal lobes bend outward. In addition, the common hazelwort imitates certain characteristics of fungi with its flowers, thus attracting fungus gnats. These play an important role in pollinating the flowers. The flowering period extends from the end of March to May. Common hazelwort is found in Eurasia and thrives in deciduous forests on calcareous and moist sites.
Effect and application
Basically, when using the common hazel root for medicinal purposes, it should be noted that it is a poisonous plant. Due to its toxicity, it is no longer used in folk medicine today. Only in homeopathy is the hazel root still used in some cases. However, it should only be taken in sufficiently diluted potencies. Thus, the common hazel root can be used as a homeopathic preparation, whereby the potency must be at least D3 or higher. The preferred dosage form for the active ingredients of common hazel root are the globules typical in homeopathy, which are swallowed with a little water. Common hazel root should not be taken in any other way. In particular, raw or dried parts of the plant should not be consumed in any case. Taken as a homeopathic remedy, common hazel root can be used, for example, for colds, cough complaints and problems of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it can provide relief from an irritable stomach. The corresponding preparations are traded under the name Asarum. If parts of the common hazel root are eaten, severe symptoms of poisoning may occur. The roots and leaves of the plant have a peppery taste. The rhizome has essential and camphor-like constituents that can irritate mucous membranes and cause internal bleeding.
Health significance, treatment and prevention.
The use of common hazel root in medicine has a long tradition. Thus, in the 18th century, the plant was popularly used as an emetic, past which the dried rhizomes were used. They were also powdered and mixed into a special snuff. The rhizomes were collected and dried mainly in August. However, nowadays medicinal use of the rhizome is strongly discouraged. The substances it contains can cause significant symptoms of poisoning and affect health. Not only the rhizome, but the entire plant is poisonous. Contained, for example, essential oil and the poisonous substance asarone. This is contained in variable quantities in the plant and leads to a number of symptoms.The typical symptoms of poisoning caused by the consumption of common hazel root include a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, as well as nausea, stomach pain and vomiting. The mucous membrane of the mouth and the tongue are numbed. In particularly severe cases, gastroenteritis with severe diarrhea may occur. Uterine bleeding can also occur, as the plant contains substances that are strong overall in promoting bleeding. In the worst case, central respiratory paralysis and consequent death may occur. Especially when the rhizome is chewed, anesthesia of the tongue and oral cavity can occur. Special phenylpropane derivatives are responsible for this, especially the so-called trans-isoasarone as well as trans-isoeugenol methyl ester. The nausea caused by eating parts of the common hazel root is due to the essential oil. In earlier times, common hazel root was used, for example, in veterinary medicine, but it was also used for hair care. For this purpose, it was mixed with water and applied to the hair. Also an ingestion of the common hazel root in combination with vinegar was described, which was supposed to cleanse the head.
