High cinquefoil is a species of plant belonging to the genus of cinquefoil (Potentilla). It belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and is native mainly to Eurasia. In addition, the high cinquefoil serves as a medicinal plant, but is rarely used as such, as it also has side effects.
Occurrence and cultivation of the high cinquefoil.
In principle, the high cinquefoil does not play too great a role as a medicinal plant. Nevertheless, it is used for various ailments. The reason for its use are the ingredients of the herb. The botanical name of the cinquefoil is Potentilla recta. In addition, it is also called erect cinquefoil. In English, the plant is called Rough-Fruited Cinquefoil or Sulphur Cinquefoil. The parts of the plant used in medicine are the leaves and the roots. The leaves can be collected in spring and summer and the roots in autumn. High cinquefoil should be sown in spring. In the frost-free period of the next year, the herb can be planted out. High cinquefoil is a perennial, herbaceous plant. It reaches a height of up to 80 centimeters, with a minimum growth height of 20 centimeters. The stem is erect and usually stiff and stable. It is leafy and branched in the upper part. Long hairs surround the stem, with short bristle hairs in the interstices. In the upper part, the stem of the tall cinquefoil has glandular hairs. The leaves are alternate and divided into blade and petiole. The leaves are obovate-lanceolate, but can also assume an ovate shape. Their margins are often strongly serrated and their length ranges from three to eight centimeters. Similar to the stem, the leaves are densely and long haired. In return, they are not tomentose. The high cinquefoil also has stipules. The flowering period of the herb is between May and September, and the inflorescence is terminal and paniculate. The flowers are hermaphroditic and have a diameter of 20 to 25 millimeters. They are pentate and radially symmetrical. The outer sepals enlarge over time to up to twelve centimeters. They are slightly longer than the normal sepals. High cinquefoil has triangular and pointed sepals – five in number – while the five corolla leaves are pale yellow or golden yellow in color and heart-shaped. The seeds develop from the flowers at the end of late summer. The chromosome number of the tall cinquefoil is 2n = 28, 25 or else 42. It was originally widespread in Southeastern Europe, Central Asia and Southwestern Asia. Currently it is found in Europe and is native as far west as Spain. It also grows in the northern hemisphere as far north as Scandinavia, and throughout the Mediterranean, Africa, Iran, and Anatolia. In addition, the high cinquefoil spreads further into Central, Western and Northern Europe. In Germany it forms a rather rare adventitious plant. Preferred habitats of the plant are base-rich and dry areas such as ruderal grasslands, gravel pits and parks. However, it is also found on railroad embankments and flood embankments.
Occurrence and cultivation
Basically, the high cinquefoil does not play too great a role as a medicinal plant. Nevertheless, it is used for various ailments. The reason for its use are the ingredients of the herb. It contains flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes and fatty acids. In particular, flavonoids and tannins are often found in medicinal plants. The medicinal herb can be used internally or externally as a tea, poultice or mouthwash. For the preparation of cinquefoil tea, one teaspoon of the roots is infused with 250 milliliters of boiling water. After brewing for five minutes, the whole can be strained. After a short cooling, the tea can be drunk. It should not be sweetened in order to preserve the active ingredients in the best possible way. The tea can also be used for gargling. It helps against complaints in the area of the oral cavity. In addition, the leaves can be crushed. The juice that appears has a healing effect. A poultice made from the mass can be placed on the skin to treat skin diseases or wounds that are difficult to heal. However, the favoring of scarring is problematic. This effect is also caused by ingredients of high cinquefoil. This side effect is a reason for the rather rare use of the plant.In the past, the seeds of the high cinquefoil served as food in times of need. Today the plant is found as an ornamental plant in gardens. As a medicinal plant, cinquefoil was already used in the Middle Ages and antiquity. This is evident from various preserved records.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
The main applications of high cinquefoil are wounds and diarrhea. Since there are now various plants that do not have side effects in medicinal science, it is hardly used for wound healing. All in all, gargling with the tea of High cinquefoil can help against inflammation in the mouth area and relieve gum inflammation. The tea is said to help against diarrhea and combat discomfort in the intestinal area. This is due to the constipating effect of cinquefoil. Thus, the herb simultaneously has antidiarrheal, antibacterial and hemostatic (astringent) effects. It is also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Besides bacteria, cinquefoil also fights viruses and is immunostimulant. Thus, the tea has a positive effect on the body’s defenses. Nevertheless, the use should be discussed with an alternative practitioner or physician. Medicinal plants often interact with other medications or plants. In addition, a doctor should be consulted anyway if the symptoms persist for a long time. Self-treatment for prolonged diarrhea or inflamed wounds is not recommended.
