The name of the forest sanicle was derived from the Latin word “sanare” (“to heal”) and shows the high esteem in which the medicinal herb was held in the Middle Ages. It was even used as a panacea in the past. Hildegard von Bingen also frequently used it for treatment.
Occurrence and cultivation of the forest sanikel.
The name of the forest sanicle was derived from the Latin word “sanare” (“to heal”) and shows the high esteem in which the medicinal herb was held in the Middle Ages. The forest sanicle (Sanicula europaea) grows up to 20 centimeters high. The inconspicuous plant belongs to the umbelliferous family (Apiaceae) and is also called forest burdock, broken herb and Scharnickel. The perennial herbaceous plant was first scientifically described by Carl von Linné in 1753. The dark green foliage leaves, growing close to the ground, have a toothed margin with awn-like tips. The roundish to heart-shaped leaves sit on long stalks and have a hand-like shape as they are divided three to five times. The stem has only a few, if any, deciduous leaves. The woodland sanicle blooms from May to July. This is when tiny white or pink flowers grow on double corymbose inflorescences. The umbels have a head-like shape. Then, starting in August, two partial fruits are formed in hooked double achenes. The basal leaves are collected during flowering, hung in a shady place to dry, and powdered. The forest sanicle root is dug up for medicinal use in autumn, carefully cleaned and gently dried. The herb has an intense aroma, indicating strong medicinal properties. Forest Sanicle is found in North Africa, Eurasia and Europe. In Germany it is widespread. The hiker can find it in the alpine areas even up to 1,500 meters above sea level. It stands as a solitary plant in semi-shady locations at the edge of beech and floodplain forests. The ancient medicinal herb loves moderately moist, alkaline and calcareous soils. If you want to grow it in your garden, plant the seeds in late summer. In addition, the plant can still be propagated by division.
Effect and application
Forest sanicle contains flavonoids, acids, triterpene saponins, acylsaniculosides, laniaceous tannins (chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid), allantoin, essential oils, bitter substances, mucilages, minerals (especially calcium and silica) and vitamin C. Its astringent properties stop bleeding in internal and external wounds. In addition, the medicinal plant strengthens the immune system and has an anti-inflammatory effect thanks to its flavonoids and vitamin C. It has purifying, digestive, mucus-forming and wound-healing effects. The herbalist nun Hildegard von Bingen, for example, used a decoction flavored with honey and licorice to treat gastrointestinal bleeding and excess stomach acid. Forest Sanicle is used internally and externally as a tea, alcohol-based tincture, poultices, compresses, healing baths, healing ointment and in homeopathic application in the form of globules, dilutions and mother tincture. Medicinally effective are the dried herb (leaves), the root and – homeopathically against diarrheal diseases – the fresh flowering herb. The fresh plant trituration Teep is administered in the form of one to two tablets four to five times a day. To prepare the forest sanicle tea, the patient pours one teaspoon (four to six grams of herb per day) with 150 milliliters of boiling water, leaves the tea to brew for eight to ten minutes and then strains it. He drinks two to three cups of the tea daily until the symptoms subside. The medicinal forest sanicle tea can also be used as a nasal rinse to treat sinus catarrh. The alcohol-based tincture diluted with water is used, for example, as a mouth rinse for gingivitis. It is performed immediately after the main meals and before going to bed. For open wounds, compresses with filtrates of fresh sanicle leaves and flowers boiled in butter and cooled to 38 degrees Celsius are helpful. The versatile old natural remedy is also added to blood purification teas or tea mixtures against stomach ailments and coughs. For example, a tea mixture for flatulence and gastrointestinal complaints contains forest sanicle herb, peppermint leaves, caraway seeds and fennel fruit. The patient pours two heaped teaspoons of it over a quart of boiling water and lets the tea steep for ten minutes.Forest Sanicle preparations should always be taken only in the prescribed dosage. Then side effects can not occur.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Natural medicine recognized the use of forest sanicle in the treatment of mild respiratory diseases. It is still performed today because of the bronchial mucus-forming effect of the saponins. This enables the patient suffering from dry cough to expectorate. The wound-healing effect of the medicinal herb is also proven. Travelers of ancient times therefore always carried a sanicle root with them. To heal internal and external wounds, several ingredients act synergistically: the tannins are astringent and stop bleeding by contracting the blood vessels. The essential oils and saponins of wall sanicle disinfect the wound and prevent infection. The allantoin promotes the formation of new cells. Thus, the wound is closed more quickly. The fact that wall sanicle even heals broken bones thanks to its high calcium and silica content is proven by the fact that it used to be called fracture herb. Even today, it is used in naturopathy to treat osteoporosis in the elderly. It is also used to treat gastritis, gingivitis and inflammation of the mouth and throat, as well as – in external application – ulcers, itching and skin rashes. In addition, forest sanicle natural remedies help with flatulence, diarrhea, bruises and strains. Thanks to their antifungal effect against Candida fungi, even in case of fungal infestation in the intimate area. For example, the forest sanicle tea is used as a vaginal douche and the 10 percent urine tincture is used in vaginal suppositories.
