The uricula is an inconspicuous plant that grows flat on the ground in sandy soils and fallow land. Its undemanding nature makes it an ideal lawn replacement plant. It has been known as a medicinal plant since the Middle Ages. Its medicinal properties have been reflected in the popular name kidneywort.
Occurrence and cultivation of the kidney weed
In addition to its medicinal benefits, the plant is popular with gardeners as a ground cover and lawn replacement plant. Urinary weed has the botanical name Herniaria glabra. The herb belongs to the clove family and is native to the temperate latitudes of Europe and western Asia. The plant can be an annual, biennial or perennial. It grows flat on the ground and the stems reach a maximum length of up to 30 centimeters. The herb branches along the ground and grows only up to three centimeters high. The bright green to yellowish leaves are ovate and wintergreen. The flowering period, with ray-shaped whitish-green flowers, extends from July to fall. The plant then forms a thin-walled nut fruit with black seeds. The herb prefers sunny locations and sandy soils. It can be found on dry sandy areas, slopes, sand pits, heaths and fallows. It also settles on pavement cracks or unused traffic islands. The main constituents of the uricula are saponins, flavonoids, coumarins and essential oils. Folk medicine attributes a diuretic effect to the contained saponins and flavonoids. The saponins cause the herb to foam like soap when rubbed and have earned it the popular name cuckoo soap. The ingredients of the herb are still pharmacologically too little studied.
Effect and application
Medicinal use can be dated back to the 16th century. In Austria, the herb is recognized as a medicinal product. In Germany, it is mainly used in folk medicine as a home remedy or in naturopathy. The components used as a remedy are the above-ground harvested and dried parts. The plant contains the most effective ingredients at flowering time. As a remedy, the herb is available in the form of dragées, tonics or teas. These are available in pharmacies, herbal stores or online retailers. Sometimes the plant is included in bladder and kidney teas or in finished medicines from the field of urology. The sources of supply of the herb are mainly wild collections, as it has no role in pharmacology or agriculture as a cultivated plant. The herb requires dry, cool and protected from light storage. It is used externally in folk medicine as a bath additive or wash and, according to tradition, helps with reddened skin and swollen limbs. In addition to its medicinal benefits, the plant is popular with gardeners as a ground cover and lawn replacement plant. It is suitable for rock gardens and natural gardens and scores highly for its tread resistance. It is a low maintenance plant that requires no further care once planted. This characteristic, along with the advantage of being evergreen, makes it ideal for greening graves or edging beds. However, it needs a sunny location and a sandy but not too dry soil to settle and thrive.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
In the fading Middle Ages and in modern times, the urinary herb was a versatile remedy: it was used for bladder and kidney ailments, venereal diseases. Meanwhile, more effective drugs for these diseases are in use in traditional medicine. Commission E, a German commission of experts evaluating herbal medicines, rejects therapeutic use of the herb. The effectiveness is not sufficiently proven. Only a weak antispasmodic effect has been scientifically proven. Individual studies investigated the benefits of this plant and found that it lowered hypertension and positively increased kidney function. Another study has shown that the plant had a strong antimicrobial effect against uropathogenic E.coli bacteria. This form of bacteria is responsible for urinary tract disorders. The study suggests that the herb may be effective in bladder and urinary tract disorders. In Austria, the herb is used for disorders of the bladder, kidneys, respiratory tract such as bronchitis, lungs and skin.Folk medicine and naturopathy attribute positive effects on bladder and kidney function to the urinary herb. It clears the respiratory tract through cough-soothing and expectorant properties. In addition, it has a disinfecting and wound-healing effect, so that it can be used externally as a poultice for reddened skin. As a flushing therapy, the teas are used for urinary stones and cramps. The diuretic effect is most effective with two to three cups of tea daily: about one and a half grams of the cut herb with cold water and boil briefly. Then let the tea steep for five minutes and finally pour it through a sieve. The herb tastes slightly scratchy and has a calming effect. Homeopathy also uses the fresh parts of the plant in the treatment of kidney diseases and diseases of the urinary tract. Side effects of its use are not known. However, lore does not replace a doctor. It is advisable to discuss any application in advance with the attending physician.
