Stinging Goutweed: Applications, Treatments, Health Benefits

As evidenced by plant finds near excavated settlement remains, people of prehistoric times were already familiar with piercing cinquefoil. In the Middle Ages, folk medicine valued the plant as a natural remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis and for its decongestant and wound-healing properties. Today, the piercing hemp-nettle is not so much appreciated as a remedy, but rather as a tasty vegetable plant.

Occurrence and cultivation of the piercing hemp-nettle.

The herb is cut and dried in several layers in the sun. The leaves for preparation of salad and spinach dishes can be picked throughout the year. The piercing hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is also called hemp-nettle, spiny hemp-nettle and common hemp-nettle or common hemp-nettle. The name Galeopsis comes from the Greek and means something like “resembling a weasel”. Another possibility of interpretation is to trace the name back to Galium, the Latin name for the bedstraw. The name element “hollow tooth” probably comes from the fact that people thought the two protrusions on the lower lip of the flower were teeth. The annual herbaceous plant has a square stem with close-fitting hairs and strong thickenings at the leaf nodes. It usually grows no taller than 20 to 30 centimeters. The calyxes, which are open during June to October, also have many tiny hairs. The hermaphrodite flowers, about two centimeters in size, resemble deadnettle, have a double perianth and have different colors. There are white, yellowish, pinkish, purple, reddish-purple and blue-reddish piercing cinquefoil flowers. In the upper stem area, a large number of flowers are arranged in whorls. The hump on the lower lip of the flower makes it easier for bees to suck nectar. The two to nine centimeter long leaves have a lanceolate to ovate appearance and toothed margins. The very hard sepals can sting. This ancient medicinal plant is a cross between several species of hempweed and is harvested during its flowering period. The herb is cut and dried in several layers in the sun. The leaves for preparation of salad and spinach dishes can be picked all year round. The flowers of the piercing cinquefoil are also edible. They taste slightly sweet. The leaves have a spinach-like slightly bitter taste. In late fall, the four hard nuts appear, which contain tiny amounts of oil, but it is very difficult to squeeze. The ten or so species of hawthorn are very similar to each other and also have the same medicinal properties. They are found in northern and western Asia, Europe and in various regions of North America. In Central Europe, the hiker finds them bastardized in forests, roadsides, fences and fields. This ancient medicinal and culinary herb likes sunny to semi-shady sites and alkaline, slightly acidic, peaty, humus-rich and somewhat moist soils.

Effect and application

In the early 19th century, it made news as a component of “Lieber’s emaciation herbs” – an alleged miracle mixture – when authorities banned the hoax of overpriced Stechende Hohlzahn teas. Its nickname, vertigo herb, also dates from this time. Hollyhock contains flavonoids, resins, tannins, essential oils, iridoids, silica, and saponins. The most effective are the silicic acid and saponins. As a tea mixture (“herbs lungs and silica tea”) it was used in the past together with other medicinal herbs as a remedy against dangerous pulmonary tuberculosis. The tea mixture, which was kept secret by pharmacists, was extremely efficient because of its high silicea content. In addition, the ingredients of the piercing cinquefoil still have astringent, antispasmodic and expectorant effects. In addition, they are anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor, diuretic, digestive and appetizing. The ancient medicinal plant is used internally and externally. Most often it is used as a tea. In order to brew the piercing pine tea, the patient suffering from bronchitis, cough, sore throat or hoarseness takes two teaspoons of fresh herb (or one teaspoon of dried) and pours it with 250 milliliters of hot water. After 20 minutes – in the meantime the silicic acid has left – the tea is strained and drunk. To treat the symptoms, it is recommended to consume two to three cups per day as a multi-weekly tea cure.Honey is suitable for sweetening. Externally, compresses, washes, gargles and compresses are used. For the compresses and washes, the patient takes the tea decoction and treats redness, itching and inflamed areas with it. Silicea promotes wound healing, soothes irritated skin and has a decongestant effect. The compresses are prepared with fresh crushed leaves and simply applied to the area of skin to be treated. The area of application is the same. The gargle (tea decoction) helps with sore throat, hoarseness and inflammation of the mouth and throat. The oil pressed from the seeds of the pungent hawthorn, like the fresh leaves, has a blood-cleansing and tonic effect. In homeopathic use (teep tablets from D6, globules from D1, dilution from D2 and urine tincture) it is used against spleen complaints.

Importance for health, treatment and prevention.

Even today, natural medicine appreciates the versatile healing properties of the ancient medicinal plant. The saponins it contains have an expectorant effect and therefore help in respiratory diseases such as cough, whooping cough, bronchial catarrh, hoarseness and bronchial asthma. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it cleans and heals open and infected wounds and boils. In the body, it reduces the harmful effects of free radicals, protects cells and can even prevent cancer. Liver, spleen and gall bladder diseases are improved, digestive problems are effectively combated, blood is purified and inflammatory pathogens are flushed out thanks to its diuretic action. In this way, kidney and bladder ailments are also alleviated.