Folk names
Bishop’s wort, ammel, toothpick wort.
Plant description
Its home is the Mediterranean region, the plant was already known to the Egyptians as a medicinal plant, in the Middle Ages the bishop’s wort was known as a water-driving drug, it then fell into oblivion. In the meantime, Khella is being cultivated again in Europe and America. Khella is a hairless, erect herb and grows up to 80 cm high.
The stems have finely divided leaves. The white, small flowers grow in umbels that are put together. All in all, Khella is similar to our fennel herb, but the stems are stronger.
Ovoid fruits develop. In the Orient, the umbel rays, which are very hard when ripe and taste pleasantly spicy, were used to make toothpicks, hence the name toothpick herb. The whole plant is aromatic and excretes resin in the area of the umbels.
Medicinally used plant parts
The fruits
Curative effects and application
The drug has an antispasmodic effect, promotes blood circulation in the heart muscle, lowers blood pressure. The antispasmodic effect on smooth muscles also provides relief in spastic bronchitis and asthma. In addition, the weak water-driving effect should also be mentioned. The main active ingredient khellin is used in isolation and is found as a component of ready-to-use drugs. However also the other contents materials support the effect and supplement themselves in ideal way like one often finds that with vegetable preparations.
Side effect
Side effects may occur with overdose. These are nausea, dizziness, circulatory collapse.
