Diptam is a plant that is rarely found in Europe. It was also used as a medicinal herb in earlier times.
Occurrence and cultivation of the diptam
Diptam is a herbaceous perennial plant that has a whitish rhizome. Its height of growth varies from 60 to 120 centimeters. Diptam (Dictamnus albus) is the name given to the only species of the genus Dictamnus. The plant belongs to the rue family (Rutaceae). It is also known by various other names such as burning bush, ashroot, and deiwel plant. Diptam is a herbaceous perennial plant that has a whitish rhizome. Its height of growth varies from 60 to 120 centimeters. The leaves of the diptam are pinnate and reach a length of up to eight centimeters. Among their distinctive features is their lemony fragrance. They have oil glands that provide a translucent punctation. The flowering period of the diptam occurs in the months of May and June. The coloration of the flowers is mostly pink, occasionally red. They also have a distinctive lemon fragrance. The diptam is found in central and southern Europe. It is also found in Russian Siberia, the Himalayan Mountains, and China. In Central Europe, however, the plant has become rare. In Germany, for example, it has been under strict protection since 1936. For this reason, the collection of the diptam is prohibited in this country. To thrive, the diptam needs plenty of sun. It is also important to have a soil that has sufficient nutrients and lime.
Effect and application
In earlier years, diptam was highly valued as a medicinal plant. Its constituents include flavonoids such as diosmin, isoquercitrin and rutin, furanocoumarins such as xanthotoxin, bergapten and psoralen, and furanquinoline alkaloids such as dictamnine. The plant also contains coumarins such as umbelliferone, aesculetin, and limonides, as well as essential oils. The ingredients of diptam are believed to have healing properties. Thus, the plant has tonic, expectorant, antispasmodic, antibacterial and diuretic effects. However, there are hardly any approved medicines with diptam on the market. However, some products containing diptam are available, such as Sivesan Fennel Blend. It is offered primarily by dealers specializing in Hildegard medicine. It is also possible to make your own preparations such as a diptam tea, which is considered helpful against menstrual cramps. For this purpose, a diptam root is dried and crushed. The user pours one teaspoon of it over 250 milliliters of cold water, which he brings to a boil briefly. Then the tea preparation brews for 15 minutes. After straining, two cups of diptam tea can be drunk per day. Diptam root (10 grams) can also be administered together with 25 grams of lemon balm, 25 grams of shepherd’s purse, 25 grams of lady’s mantle and 15 grams of valerian root for metrorrhagia. This is acyclic bleeding coming out of the uterus. Two teaspoons of this mixture are poured over 250 milliliters of hot water. After brewing for 5 minutes, the tea is strained. The usual dose of the tea is 3 cups per day. Also known is the herbal powder Sivesan, the recipe of which was created by Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) and was considered a universal health remedy. The mixture consists of 25 grams of diptam root, 50 grams of galangal powder and 100 grams of powdered fennel fruit. It is taken 30 minutes after the midday meal. For this purpose, a teaspoon is added to half a glass of warm wine. The remedy promotes digestion as well as blood circulation, improves the complexion and has a strengthening effect during recovery. Diptam is also one of the components of the well-known Swedish herbs. In addition, it is an attractive ornamental plant, which is particularly popular as a cottage garden plant.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
As a medicinal plant, the diptam came into use as early as the Middle Ages. Hildegard von Bingen provided the first confirmed findings for its therapeutic use. Thus, the versatile medicinal plant served, among other things, for the treatment of stomach disorders, wounds and epilepsy. In addition, it was used in folk medicine as a remedy for worming. Diptam was also used as a preparation against female disorders and to promote menstruation.Even as a contraceptive or for the preservation of beauty it could be used. In addition, the medicinal plant had the property to strengthen the nerves and stimulate digestion. Another field of application was rheumatic diseases. Diptam was used as an embrocation. In modern times, however, the diptam is rarely used, so that it is almost forgotten as a medicinal plant. This can also be attributed to the fact that the plant was already one of the rare specimens in the Middle Ages. In addition, the positive properties of diptams could not be scientifically proven, so that traditional medicine abandoned its use. Another reason is the high content of alkaloids in the plant, which have a toxic effect. For this reason, diptam is nowadays used therapeutically almost only by homeopathy. There the mixing of the medicinal plant is done in certain dosages, which are absolutely harmless. Homeopathic indications include, first of all, irregular periods and stomach and intestinal complaints. Other indications include flatulence and foul-smelling stools. Another health risk of diptam is the furanocoumarins it contains. If these substances get on the human skin, they cause strong photosensitivity. If exposure to sunlight also occurs, this can lead to prolonged inflammation and blisters after touching the diptam.
